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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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NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk brews up nostalgia for Frank & Helen's, Tony's and Imo's

NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk brews up nostalgia for Frank & Helen’s, Tony’s and Imo’s

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 20, 2025

NCJWSTL’s next Coffee Talk is serving a slice of St. Louis restaurant history—topped with broasted chicken, dough balls and a side of pizza pride. The guest this time is Dr. Harley Hammerman, whose "Lost Tables" podcast and website have become a...

A Torah is held up overlooking alongside the shoreline of a lake in Colorado where a bar mitzvah is about to begin.

This former St. Louis rabbi leads bar mitzvahs in hiking boots—and it’s transforming Jewish tradition

By JIM WINNERMAN, Special to the Jewish LightPublished April 1, 2025

When Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein was a first-year student at Washington University in 1984, he never expected he would be a rabbi conducting bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies for a congregation of 340 families with no building, and which only practices Judaism...

Children and their teachers and parents dressed up for Purim, some as Batman in honor of the slain Bibas brothers, at the Gabrieli Carmel School in Tel Aviv, March 13, 2025.(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor the slain Bibas brothers

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 13, 2025

For over a year, an image of the Bibas family in Batman pajamas symbolized the global call for their return from captivity in Gaza. This Purim, children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor Ariel Bibas, the 4-year-old who was...

WashU maintains strong rating in ADL’s antisemitism report card while some schools are failing Jewish students

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished March 3, 2025

Washington University (WashU) has once again received a B grade in the latest Campus Antisemitism Report Card, an annual assessment by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that tracks antisemitism on U.S. college campuses. The ADL report evaluates colleges...

Cupid vs. Yenta: A Battle of the Matchmakers

Cupid vs. Yenta: A Battle of the Matchmakers

Jordan Palmer and ChatGPT, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 13, 2025

Unless you’ve been in hibernation—or off tending your flock on a remote mountainside—you’ve probably noticed that Artificial Intelligence, or AI as the kids call it, has been dominating the headlines. Everywhere you turn, the world is grappling...

Aliza Gettenberg, a third-year dental student at Touro University, knew she wanted to become a dentist after someone’s description of the occupation as the “perfect combination of doctor, engineer and artist” struck a chord with her. (Dmitriy Kalinin)

With cutting-edge digital tools and a new research clinic, leading Jewish dental school doubles in size

Eric Berger, JTAPublished February 9, 2025

(JTA) — Aliza Gettenberg of Lawrence, New York, knew she wanted to become a dentist after someone’s description of the occupation as the “perfect combination of doctor, engineer and artist” struck a chord with her. But first she had to find...

IDF field observers Karina Ariev (top left), Daniella Gilboa (top right), Naama Levy (bottom left) and Liri Albag (bottom right) were redeemed from Hamas captivity in Gaza, Jan. 25, 2024. Credit: Courtesy

Israel redeems four female IDF soldiers from Hamas captivity in Gaza

JNS STAFFPublished January 25, 2025

Israelis on Saturday rejoiced at the return of four female IDF soldiers—Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19—who were abducted from the Nahal Oz base during the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct....

Vicki Singer

St. Louis philanthropist Vicki Singer honored with national award

Published January 14, 2025

Since 2004, the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award has honored extraordinary women who have set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism. This week, Vicki Singer of St. Louis joined their ranks as she was recognized at the International Lion of Judah...

Bonnie Mann.

Bonnie Mann’s coffee journey is brewing a perfect cup of community

Jordan Palmer, Special To The Jewish LightPublished January 8, 2025

When I heard that Bonnie Mann was launching a coffee festival in St. Louis, it felt like a celebration that was long overdue. After all, we have wine festivals, beer festivals and even gooey butter cake festivals—but somehow coffee, the drink that fuels...

Skip the Takeout! Dorothy Firestone's family’s Lo Mein hack is pure gold

Skip the Takeout! Dorothy Firestone’s family’s Lo Mein hack is pure gold

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 23, 2024

Yesterday, we shared a list of St. Louis Chinese restaurants open on Hanukkah and Christmas Day—or rather Hanukristmas. Dining out at a Chinese restaurant is a beloved tradition for many Jewish St. Louisans. But maybe this year, you want to bring the...

Elon Gold's podcast ‘Stars of David’ brings laughter and Jewish life to the forefront

Elon Gold’s podcast ‘Stars of David’ brings laughter and Jewish life to the forefront

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished December 23, 2024

In a city like St. Louis, where cultural and religious heritage is deeply woven into our collective identity, a fresh, comedic take on Jewish life is a welcome addition. Enter Stars of David with Elon Gold, a brand-new podcast launched by UNPACKED, a...

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Ethan Slater attends as Universal Pictures presents special New York City WICKED Screening at Metrograph on December 03, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)

Is ‘Wicked’ star Ethan Slater Jewish?

By Elizabeth Karpen, In partnership with UnpackedPublished December 23, 2024

This story was originally published on JewishUnpacked.com. The “Wicked” press tour continues to make headlines. From “holding space” for “Defying Gravity,” the way co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have been teased about crying...

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