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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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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

How Volodymyr Zelensky went from actor to defiant wartime leader

Robert Zaretsky, The ForwardPublished February 28, 2022

This story was originally published on Feb. 28 by the Forward. Sign up here to get the latest stories from the Forward delivered to you each morning. One of Karl Marx’s best-known lines appears in “The Eighteenth Brumaire,” his merciless vivisection...

Opinionated or judgmental? It's a fine line and sometimes a slippery slope

Opinionated or judgmental? It’s a fine line and sometimes a slippery slope

BY BARBARA BALLINGER AND MARGARET CRANEPublished February 22, 2022

"Do you think she has a thyroid problem?" Two women looking at a photo of an overweight relative. "Have you talked to your doctor about portion control?" A mother says to her daughter as she eyes her figure. "How can you not go to the wedding? You’re...

Michigan congregants appeal to Supreme Court over protests at  synagogue

Michigan congregants appeal to Supreme Court over protests at synagogue

Faygie Holt, JNSPublished February 17, 2022

(JNS) A Jewish man from Ann Arbor, Mich., is hoping that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether anti-Jewish protesters outside a local synagogue on Shabbat morning violate his right to freely practice religion. “I think Jews have to stand up...

‘Oops. I’m sorry.’ But are you always really sorry?

‘Oops. I’m sorry.’ But are you always really sorry?

BY BARBARA BALLINGER AND MARGARET CRANE, Special For The Jewish LightPublished February 15, 2022

We all make mistakes. At our advanced ages, we—and most others—could stretch our “sorry” for “oops, I didn’t mean that” clear across the country and back, maybe several times. However, we’re not talking only about the many ways we use...

On the far right, there are no contradictions, only virulent antisemitism — a front-row view of Charlottesville

Aviya Kushner, The ForwardPublished January 18, 2022

This story was originally published on January 18th by the Forward. Sign up here to get the latest stories from the Forward delivered to you each morning. The dramatic 16-day courtroom trial, which ended with a whopping $26 million in damages...

Life lessons at 50 plus: What’s in a name?

Life lessons at 50 plus: What’s in a name?

BARBARA BALLINGER AND MARGARET CRANE, Special For The Jewish LightPublished January 18, 2022

We’ve faced a dilemma that challenges many other women and men of our vintage. How do we refer to the men we date when we’re out in public and want to introduce them? Same challenge arises whether you’re a woman dating another woman or a man dating...

Life lessons at 50 plus: What is your legacy?

Life lessons at 50 plus: What is your legacy?

By Barbara Ballinger and Margaret Crane, LIFELESSONSAT50PLUS.COMPublished January 11, 2022
The Time is Now. Look in Your Rear-View Mirror & Help Change the World 
The Lighter Side with violinist and CRC member Hava Polinsky

The Lighter Side with violinist and CRC member Hava Polinsky

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished January 10, 2022

After you finish Juilliard with your master’s in 2023, what is your next goal? In the near future, I will start taking orchestra auditions wherever there are seats that are open. If it’s the St. Louis Symphony, that’s my dream to start there.   You...

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Bernstein's hearing aid?

Jewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Bernstein’s hearing aid?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 5, 2022

"Throughout the centuries Jews have used humor to cope with their history of trauma and stress. In fact, they have been sharpening their wits for over two thousand years and have always used jokes and humorous characterizations as teaching aids and as...

Remembering one "The Loop's" best: "Riddles Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar"

Remembering one “The Loop’s” best: “Riddles Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar”

Harley Hammerman, Special For the St. Louis Jewish LightPublished January 2, 2022

There is an amazing website called Lost Tables, dedicated to celebrating the restaurants of our past. We are partnering with the site’s creator Harley Hammerman and celebrating these wonderful stories. Hammerman and his wife Marlene are members of Shaare...

Our 10 most popular stories of 2021

Our 10 most popular stories of 2021

Ellen Futterman and Jordan Palmer, St. Louis Jewish LightPublished January 2, 2022

Heading into 2021, many of us felt certain that it would be an easier year than the one we were leaving behind – the one that introduced us to the coronavirus and its various variant cousins. But here it is, another new year, and COVID, unfortunately,...

D’var Torah: I Give You My Soul

Rabbi James Stone Goodman, Central Reform CongregationPublished December 21, 2021

Before Exodus 2:24-25 (G-d heard their cry. . .and G-d saw"), there is little mention of G-d in the first few chapters of the Book of Exodus. G-d was not personally involved (hashgacha pratit in Hebrew) with Israel, as it were, but allowed events to...

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