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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

War In Israel

Jewish American popstar drops Oct. 7 tribute video

Jewish American popstar drops Oct. 7 tribute video

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished October 5, 2025

Not every pop star releases a song tied to a date of national grief, but James Maslow isn’t most pop stars. The singer and actor — yes, the same James Maslow from Nickelodeon’s "Big Time Rush," has released "On My Mind," a single and video filmed...

Candle. Credit: Pixabay.

Oct. 7 photo memorial wall available for download

JNS StaffPublished October 5, 2025

A few weeks after the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem placed on its gates the “Wall of Remembrance for the Murdered and the Fallen,” a commemorative display with the photos and names...

A woman holds a placard that reads: "Hamas, sign the peace agreement!" while holding photographs of German citizens who are among the hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza during a demonstration outside the Foreign Ministry on Oct. 2, 2025, in Berlin. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Hamas says it’s ready to release all Israeli hostages but does not offer clear ‘yes’ to Trump’s plan

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished October 3, 2025

(JTA) — Hamas says it is prepared to release all Israeli hostages to bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The group made the offer in its response to a proposal made on Monday by President Donald Trump and agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister...

Eli Sharabi. Courtesy of Blake Ezra Photography

He survived Hamas captivity. Now Eli Sharabi speaks in St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished October 1, 2025

Eli Sharabi spent 491 days in Hamas captivity, surviving the tunnels of Gaza only to return home to devastating news: his wife and daughters had been murdered on Oct. 7. His story of survival, grief and faith has already broken publishing records in...

A billboard showing an image of US President Donald Trump (L) embracing US prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was hit by a single bullet while addressing a large crowd at Utah Valley University in the town of Orem on September 10, hangs on the side of a building in Tel Aviv, on September 13, 2025. Trump on September 12, announced that the suspect had been taken into custody over the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk after a massive manhunt. (Jack Guez / AFP)

Before his death, Charlie Kirk told Netanyahu that Israel faced a ‘5-alarm fire’ over PR strategy

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished September 30, 2025

(JTA) — Prior to his death, slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning the leader that Israel was losing support within the “conservative MAGA community” and exhorting him to do...

St. Louis comes together to remember Oct. 7 and stand for resilience

St. Louis comes together to remember Oct. 7 and stand for resilience

Published September 28, 2025

Nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, the St. Louis Jewish community will gather for an Oct. 7 commemoration to honor the victims, survivors and families whose lives were forever changed. On Sunday, Oct. 5, the Jewish Federation...

Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at the Bojangles Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 12, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

What Kamala Harris says about Israel, Gaza and Palestinians in her new book

By Jacob KornbluhPublished September 22, 2025

Kamala Harris says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu undermined President Joe Biden during the war in Gaza in the hope that Donald Trump would return to the White House and ensure his political survival. In 107 Days, the former vice president’s...

The U.S. Capitol on July 16, 2025. Credit: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90.

GOP leaders, Jewish orgs decry UK, Canada and Australia for recognizing ‘Palestine’

JNS StaffPublished September 21, 2025

Republican leaders in Congress and Jewish groups denounced Australia's, Canada's and the United Kingdom's decision to recognize an independent state of "Palestine" and said that the decision rewards Hamas for terror attacks, including on Oct. 7. Rep....

Smoke rises as the 15-story Mushtaha Tower collapses after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

St. Louis rabbis struggle with how to address Israel-Hamas war as High Holidays approach

By Avi Holzman & Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished September 21, 2025

Nearly two years after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Oct. 7 commemoration St. Louis will echo in High Holy Day pulpits. Local rabbis are preparing sermons that grapple with its aftermath — some speaking directly about Israel and antisemitism,...

How two WashU students turned Oct. 7 grief into a party of remembrance

How two WashU students turned Oct. 7 grief into a party of remembrance

BY AVI HOLZMAN, STAFF INTERNPublished September 17, 2025

Most events honoring those killed and taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, carry a somber tone. But a new WashU students Oct. 7 remembrance looks very different. Current senior Jack Resin and 2025 alum Zev Kupferman set out to reclaim Israeli, Zionist and...

Uri Keidar, executive director of Israel Hofsheet,

This Israeli veteran explains to St. Louis Jews, why he’s pushing back, back home

BY AVI HOLZMAN, STAFF INTERNPublished September 17, 2025

Uri Keidar, executive director of Israel Hofsheet, is no stranger to conflict — both military and political. He has served for more than 300 days in reserve since Oct. 7, 2023, and leads Israel Hofsheet, an advocacy organization whose name translates...

Jewish students form radical new front against Zionism on campus

Jewish students form radical new front against Zionism on campus

Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTAPublished September 14, 2025

(JTA) — An anonymous group of Jewish student activists has broken away from Jewish Voice for Peace to form a new national organization, the Anti-Zionist Jewish Student Front, that pledges to escalate campaigns against Zionism on college campuses. In...

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