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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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The first image released from Gaza of Edan Alexander, who was released from Hamas captivity on May 12, 2025. (Screenshot)

Hamas releases Edan Alexander, last living American hostage, to Israel

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, back to Israel under a deal reached with the United States. The release, conducted Monday evening in Gaza, may inaugurate a new phase in the hostage crisis that has consumed...

A crowd stands vigil awaiting the release of Edan Alexander, a local son and Hamas captive, in Tenafly, New Jersey, May 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Elkins)

In Tenafly, NJ, a crowd awaits the release of local son Edan Alexander from Hamas captivity

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — The call went out over email, text and WhatsApp on Sunday night: Come to Huyler Park in downtown Tenafly at 5 a.m. to celebrate — Edan Alexander was coming home. Born and raised by Israeli parents in Tenafly, Alexander, 21, joined the Israel...

Dr. Kurt H. Debus

Why did it take NASA so long to stop honoring a Nazi scientist?

Lev Golinkin, The ForwardPublished May 11, 2025

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward's free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. For years, NASA pumped out materials celebrating Kurt H. Debus, the Kennedy Space Center’s first director. Only one...

:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informs the Feldman family in Tel Aviv of the return of Sgt. First Class Tzvika Feldman’s remains, 43 years after he went missing in the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO.

Body of soldier missing since 1982, recovered

JNS StaffPublished May 11, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday morning that the remains of Staff Sgt. Tzvi Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub during the First Lebanon War, have been returned to Israel in a joint operation conducted by...

Joel Goldberg and Barbi Lander Sapot

Meet the Jewish mixed doubles team that just served up gold

Photos and story by Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished May 11, 2025

A Jewish mixed doubles team took the gold medal in pickleball during the 2025 St. Louis Senior Olympics. Joel Goldberg and his sister-in-law Barbi Lander Sapot won the round-robin tournament at Padel+Pickel in Olivette on Sat., May 10. The duo, who are...

A Voice Returns Home: Wally Rosen’s WWII record reunited with family after 82 years

A Voice Returns Home: Wally Rosen’s WWII record reunited with family after 82 years

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 11, 2025

When Meredith Chancellor first heard her father’s voice crackle through a forgotten World War II phonograph recording, she felt the full weight of a connection she never knew was lost. It was a voice she knew well – the same comforting voice that...

Betty Friedan, Leonard Bernstein, Norman Mailer and Mel Brooks are the the subjects of the group biography, "Eminent Jews." (Images via Wikipedia)

The 20th century was very good for these Jewish icons. Is the Golden Age really over?

Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTAPublished May 11, 2025

Has David Denby written about an American Jewish golden age precisely at the moment it is ending? In his new book “Eminent Jews,” Denby celebrates four leading Jewish cultural figures who emerged in the middle of the 20th century: Mel Brooks, Betty...

Pope Leo XIV addresses the world following his election. (Getty Images)

Leo XIV, first American pope, studied under a leader in Jewish-Catholic relations

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 8, 2025

(JTA) — Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was just elected as Pope Leo XIV, studied under a pioneer in Jewish-Catholic relations when he attended seminary in Chicago. The Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, who taught for nearly half a century at the Catholic Theological...

Ed Martin.

Trump pulls nomination of St. Louisan Ed Martin, the DC prosecutor under fire for ties to Nazi sympathizer

By Jacob Kornbluh, The ForwardPublished May 8, 2025

President Donald Trump has pulled the nomination of a key ally whose  Senate confirmation was in peril. Ed Martin, currently serving as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., and Trump’s nominee for the permanent role, came under intense scrutiny for his...

(L) Judy and Bryan Babitz. (Left Top) Ed Becker. (Left Bottom) Marlene Pitler. Lauren Lourie, Lindsay Melnick.

2025 Chai Society honors six leaders making a difference

Published May 8, 2025

United Hebrew Congregation 2025 Chai Society honored Judy and Bryan Babitz, Ed Becker, Lauren Lourie, Lindsay Melnick and Marilen Pitler at its recent A Night to Remember: A Prom through the Decades celebration.  They were recognized for their contributions...

Mark Lavie.

“It’s a solid F+” — reporter slams media for failing Israel, ahead of St. Louis visit

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished May 8, 2025

A veteran journalist who covered the Middle East for the Associated Press for years now claims AP and other news outlets engage in ongoing media bias against Israel. Mark Lavie, who also worked for NPR, NBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, will...

Kanye West seen in Los Angeles, May 13, 2023.

Kanye West drops music video titled ‘Heil Hitler’

JTA StaffPublished May 8, 2025

Kanye West, the American rapper also known as "Ye," has released a music video called "Heil Hitler," adding to his record of antisemitic behavior. The video, titled "HEIL HITLER (HOOLIGAN VERSION)," was published on West's X account and has already...

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