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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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Barak Hermann, the incoming president and CEO of the JCCs of North America, on a treadmill at a JCC in Baltimore. Photo by Benyamin Cohen

He built a bar at his JCC. Here’s what he’s planning for the other JCCs in North America

By Benyamin Cohen, The ForwardPublished January 29, 2025

BALTIMORE — Barak Hermann does not sit still. By the time I arrived at the JCC in Baltimore, Hermann was already on the move, steering the ship until he starts his new job as CEO and President of the JCC Association of North America this summer. As...

The Jewish community's focus shifted from mourning and shock, to advocating for the hostages. Some rallies demanded action from the international community with protests at the United Nations, Oct. 24, 2023. (Luke Tress)

Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and Gadi Moses reportedly among 8 hostages to be released tomorrow

Published January 29, 2025

Hamas has reportedly informed Israel that it will free eight hostages tomorrow, including two Israeli women and an elderly Israeli man. The Israeli hostages reportedly to be released are civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, as well as soldier...

White House freezes $50m for ‘condoms in Gaza’

White House freezes $50m for ‘condoms in Gaza’

Andrew Bernard, JNSPublished January 28, 2025

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration froze a $50 million federal disbursement for “condoms in Gaza.” The Office of Management and Budget and the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency...

nearly 30 representatives from 15 Jewish organizations and synagogues across St. Louis gathered at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City for Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day

Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day unites community for security funding and awareness

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 28, 2025

On Jan. 22, nearly 30 representatives from 15 Jewish organizations and synagogues across St. Louis gathered at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City for Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day. Their mission was clear: to ensure Jewish voices were heard,...

Steve Witkoff, businessman and developer, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum.

Witkoff meets with Abbas adviser in Riyadh

JNSPublished January 28, 2025

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, met with Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, on Tuesday in Riyadh, according to sources familiar with the matter, Axios reported. This...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and President Donald Trump participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Benjamin Netanyahu says he will meet Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 4

Ben Sales, JTAPublished January 28, 2025

Benjamin Netanyahu says he will meet President Donald Trump at the White House next week, a date that would make the Israeli prime minister the first foreign leader to be invited to Trump’s residence since he retook office. Netanyahu’s office announced...

Chart-topping podcast creators return to St. Louis for an exclusive event at STL Stylehouse

Chart-topping podcast creators return to St. Louis for an exclusive event at STL Stylehouse

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished January 28, 2025

The podcast "How to Destroy Everything" is coming home to St. Louis for a one-night event. Jewish St. Louisans Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky, who created the podcast, will be featured in a live show at STL Stylehouse at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13....

Steve Witkoff, businessman and developer, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum.

Trump’s Mideast envoy meeting with MBS in Saudi Arabia

JNSPublished January 28, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Witkoff will reportedly discuss advancing an agreement to normalize relations between Israel...

Katz's Deli in New York

The ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Super Bowl spot should leave the mayo ‘way on the side’

By PJ Grisar, The ForwardPublished January 27, 2025

In a move everyone saw coming, the Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan-teased When Harry Met Sally reunion is not a sequel but a Super Bowl spot. But just in case you thought the mature versions of the two lovebirds were pitching something like a new karaoke machine...

Steve Witkoff, businessman and developer, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum.

Witkoff: Israel-Hamas hostage deal ‘most worthy thing I could ever do’

Akiva Van Koningsveld, JNSPublished January 27, 2025

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy, on Sunday described the ceasefire deal he helped broker between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization as “the most worthy thing I could ever do in my life.” Speaking alongside Israeli...

Greg Yawitz, David Yawitz, Debbie Rahn (Olde Towne Fenton DAR) and Cyndy Woller (Olde Towne Fenton DAR)

Family of WWII pilot receives Purple Heart Patriot honor from DAR

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished January 27, 2025

“I will cherish this deeply.” Those were the words of David Yawitz on Sunday, Jan. 26, after he was presented with a proclamation honoring another Yawitz—First Lieutenant Frank Yawitz, who died in combat during World War II. David Yawitz, 85,...

Ari Richter depicts his visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in his graphic memoir "Never Again Will I Visit Auschwitz." (Fantagraphics Books, Inc.)

A gift shop at Auschwitz? New films and a graphic memoir explore the contradictions of ‘dark tourism’

Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTAPublished January 26, 2025

In a fraught moment in the film “A Real Pain,” Kieran Culkin, playing the more volatile of a pair of Jewish cousins who go on a roots tour of Poland, berates his fellow travellers for riding in a first-class train car in a country where so many Jews...

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