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A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

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Israeli troops cross into Syrian side of border buffer zone after Bashar Assad’s ouster

Israeli troops cross into Syrian side of border buffer zone after Bashar Assad’s ouster

Ron Kampeas, JTAPublished December 9, 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli troops to occupy the Syrian side of a buffer zone on the Golan Heights for the first time in half a century. The Israeli prime minister said that the 50-year old agreement that kept the peace on the mountainous border...

Bob Newmark, Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and Michael Staenberg.

Michael Staenberg challenges St. Louis Jewish community to amplify giving

,Published December 8, 2024

As the Jewish Federation of St. Louis races to meet its $9.3 million annual campaign goal, a new challenge has emerged to inspire the community: philanthropist Michael Staenberg has pledged a matching gift of up to $180,000 for all new or increased contributions...

Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullabaloo 14

Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullabaloo 14

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished December 8, 2024

The 14th annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo drew a full house at The Grandel Theatre on Dec. 7. The Brothers Lazaroff hosted the concert and celebration of the Festival of Lights. They were accompanied by the regular members of the Eight Nights Orchestra,...

	This image, which was originally posted to Flickr, was uploaded to Commons using Flickr upload bot on 24 April 2014, 09:34 by Tata lv. On that date, it was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the license indicated.

Notes From a Jewish Mother: Hollywood’s ‘Pretty Woman’ knows: Mahjong is life

Published December 5, 2024

Mahjong, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Most recently, I felt cooler than cool when I found out movie star Julia Roberts’ favorite hobby is playing mahj!  Several of you have sent me a 2018 video clip that’s resurfacing of the Oscar-winning...

Temple Emanuel hosts interfaith Hanukkah event to promote unity and understanding

Temple Emanuel hosts interfaith Hanukkah event to promote unity and understanding

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 5, 2024

As the holiday season unfolds, Temple Emanuel and the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis are joining forces to host an event dedicated to fostering understanding of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Scheduled for Dec. 17 from 7 to 8:30...

Ken Weintraub

Ken Weintraub: Ex-social worker is dedicated to improving lives of veterans

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 5, 2024

Ken Weintraub is a familiar name within St. Louis’ Jewish community, having spent decades in leadership roles at the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of St. Louis. But he said his most meaningful work has come in the past nine years as...

Israel’s military admits helmets and body armor may be unsafe

Israel’s military admits helmets and body armor may be unsafe

Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTAPublished December 5, 2024

A new website launched by the Israeli military lets soldiers anonymously check if their safety equipment meets official standards, spotlighting IDF gear safety and addressing outdated equipment risks that could endanger soldiers' lives. IDF Gear Safety...

Sharon Weissman

Sharon Weissman helps people taking life’s final walk

By Kathleen Lees, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 4, 2024

Sharon Weissman still carries the poignant memory of helping a woman pass away a decade later.  She recalls it vividly. The woman’s daughters were by their mother’s bedside, continuously fluffing her pillow and trying to make her comfortable.  Everyone...

Drs. Joan and Sherman Silber

Trailblazers honored: Drs. Joan and Sherman Silber receive AJC Netzach Award

Published December 4, 2024

On Nov. 21, Drs. Joan and Sherman Silber received the 2024 AJC Netzach Award. Given by AJC St. Louis (American Jewish Committee), the Netzach Award honors Jewish families whose philanthropy has positively changed the lives of the people in our region. Sherman...

Traci Goldstein-Holdener and Richard Senturia

Goldstein-Holdner, Senturia honored for working to strengthen our community

Published December 4, 2024

On Dec. 8, Traci Goldstein-Holdener and Richard Senturia will be honored by the Jewish Student Union of St. Louis at its 22nd annual gala, titled “1 Year Later,” held at The Factory in Chesterfield. JSU is paying tribute to Goldstein-Holdener (with...

This handout photo provided by SpaceX and Polaris on Sept. 15, 2024, shows Jared Isaacman, mission commander, stepping out of the manned Polaris Dawn mission's "Dragon" capsule after it splashed down off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, after completing the first human spaceflight mission by non-government astronauts of the Polaris Program. (Polaris Program/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump picks Jewish space adventurer to head NASA

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished December 4, 2024

To advance his efforts to return Americans to the moon, President-elect Donald Trump is tapping a Jewish entrepreneur who has traveled privately to space himself. Jared Isaacman, 41, is the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company. He...

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff reached a sponsorship deal with Jewish food brand Manischewitz. (Courtesy of Manischewitz)

Jewish quarterback at Mormon University lands Manischewitz deal and makes history in college football

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished December 4, 2024

After a historic football season at BYU, Jake Retzlaff received his latest honor, placing him in the company of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali: having his face grace an iconic box of food. Retzlaff, the star quarterback at Brigham Young University,...

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