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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

Top Story

John Pertzborn with the USO record featuring Wally Rosen.

His voice reached St. Louis in 1943 on a record. Now, thanks to John Pertzborn, it’s being heard again.

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 18, 2025

John Pertzborn is no stranger to good stories. The legendary St. Louis broadcaster—best known for his long-running "Pertzborn’s People" segment on KSDK-TV in the 1980s and '90s and as co-anchor of Fox 2’s morning news since 1998—has spent decades...

DePaul University in Chicago (Kmf164/Wikimedia Commons)

Chicago man charged with hate crime for attack of two Jewish students

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished April 17, 2025

(JTA) — One of the men who allegedly beat two Jewish DePaul University students after one showed support for Israel last November has been charged with a hate crime. Adam Erkan, 20, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and hate...

Gracie May

Local pageant winner champions Holocaust education and awareness

Published April 17, 2025

Gracie May recently won Miss Heartland Princess of America (ages 19-24) and is headed to nationals in July. The areas of competition were an interview, personal introduction, formal wear and an on-stage question. May’s platform is the need for Holocaust...

Rabbi Rose heading north to Winnipeg

Rabbi Rose heading north to Winnipeg

Published April 17, 2025

Beginning July 1, Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose will be the new senior rabbi at Shaarey Zedek Congregation in Winnipeg, Canada. He is the former rabbi of Congregation B’nai Amoona in St. Louis and most recently served as president and CEO of the Mandel...

Amy Kuo Hammerman and Robert Snidman.

Two new faces join Ladue Board of Education

Published April 17, 2025

Amy Kuo Hammerman and Robert Snidman were sworn in as Ladue Schools Board of Education board members. A retired attorney, Hammerman currently serves as the NCJWSTL’s state policy advocate for Missouri and sits on the local board of the organization....

Jennifer Stempel

St. Louis author’s Jewish-Cuban children’s book set for release

Published April 17, 2025

Jennifer Stempel’s first children’s picture book, “With a Needle and Thread: A Jewish Folktale from Cuba,” will debut in October. The book is available for pre-order from major retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.). It tells the story...

One mystery donor. Hundreds of voices. A legacy saved.

One mystery donor. Hundreds of voices. A legacy saved.

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 16, 2025

The St. Louis Jewish community didn’t waste any time. Just three days after launching an emergency fundraising campaign to protect its digital archive of Holocaust survivor stories, the museum reached its $130,000 goal—and then surpassed it—thanks...

Alice Ludmer

Unsung Hero Alice Ludmer among the 2025 Women of Achievement

Published April 16, 2025

Alice Ludmer is among 10 local leaders to be honored as the 2025 Women of Achievement (Volunteer Leadership) at the 70th Anniversary Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton on May 13. A biography on the Women of Achievement website noted that over the past...

New leadership, fresh energy: JFS board welcomes new power players

New leadership, fresh energy: JFS board welcomes new power players

Published April 16, 2025

With 10+ years of service, Megan T. Wilson is the new president of the JFS (Jewish Family Services) board of directors for the 2025-2027 term. She is a senior compliance counsel at Edward Jones. Lauren Appelbaum and Rabbi Dale Schreiber have joined...

Top row, from left: Dana Sandweiss, Lisa Gubernik, Amy Fenster Brown and Nicole Gorovsky

SECOND ROW:  Emilie Schaffer, Julia Frank Hundman, Charles Eisenkramer.

These 7 stepped up—and St. Louis took notice

Published April 16, 2025

Dana Sandweiss is the recipient of the 2025 Hannah G. Solomon Founder’s Award, given by NCJWSTL (National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis). This is the highest honor awarded by NCJWSTL and is presented to an individual who has changed the lives...

Test tubes for a blood test, illustrative. Photo by Kobi Gideon/Flash90.

Israeli scientists develop test for early detection of Parkinson’s

JNS StaffPublished April 16, 2025

Israeli researchers have developed a blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease even before symptoms emerge, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Tuesday. The simple test, which focuses on RNA fragments in the blood (tRFs), offers...

A Passover songbook burned during an attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's official residence on April 13, 2025. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Alleged Josh Shapiro arsonist believed he was fighting for Palestinians, police say

Andrew Lapin, JTAPublished April 16, 2025

The man suspected of setting fire to the home of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor, Josh Shapiro, said he targeted Shapiro because of “what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” according to a search warrant signed by state police and quoted by...

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