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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

Deborah Ben-Aderet and Arielle Turover Cohen.

From terror to healing: survivor of Oct. 7 attack shares her story in St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished April 7, 2025

A powerful night of resilience, reflection, and healing is coming to St. Louis. On April 28, just two days before Israel’s official day of remembrance, the local community will hear directly from Deborah Ben-Aderet, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks....

U.S. politician Bernie Sanders at the launch of his book "It's Okay to Be Angry at Capitalism" at the House of World Cultures in Berlin, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Senate rejects Bernie Sanders’ proposal to block some weapons sales to Israel

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished April 3, 2025

A joint resolution proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders to block the sale of bombs and other weapons to Israel was voted down in the Senate on Thursday. The resolution was rejected by a tally of 82-15, with Democrats compromising all of the “yes” votes....

Palestinians take part in an anti-Hamas protest, calling to end the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, March 26, 2025. Credit: Flash90. | Flash90

Two-state solution talk ‘not getting anywhere,’ says Gazan protesting Hamas

JNS StaffPublished March 27, 2025

Thousands of anti-Hamas protesters in Gaza, who have made international headlines, aim to convey that the terror organization must “get out of the picture” and have no role in the Strip, a 25-year-old law student at Islamic University of Gaza who...

Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot pose at the D23 Expo in 2022. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Disney reportedly hired extra security for Gal Gadot after Rachel Zegler’s ‘Free Palestine’ tweet

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished March 26, 2025

(JTA) — When Rachel Zegler tweeted “free palestine” last year after sharing the trailer for her latest movie, the live-action “Snow White,” millions of people saw it — more than 9 million, as of this week. But until Tuesday, few knew the...

A child carries a sign reading in Arabic: "The children of Palestine: We want to live", during a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on March 25, 2025. Hundreds of Palestinians chanted anti-Hamas slogans at a protest in northern Gaza on March 25, calling for an end to the war with Israel, witnesses said. (AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinian anti-Hamas protesters march in Gaza in a rare and risky show of dissent

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 26, 2025

(JTA) — Hundreds of men shouting criticism of Hamas marched in Gaza on Tuesday,  according to footage shared from the territory the terror group has long governed. Protests took place Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the enclave, including in Khan...

Becca Near, serves as the Central States Regional Development Director for United Hatzalah of Israel

What I witnessed in Israel changed me forever: The hidden heroes of United Hatzalah

Becca Near, Special To The Jewish LightPublished March 24, 2025

Last month, I had the immense honor of visiting Israel and spending time with our United Hatzalah volunteers on the ground. United Hatzalah is an Israeli volunteer-based emergency medical services organization, which provides free service throughout Israel. It...

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 25, 2024. Credit: Courtesy of Sen. Rubio's Office.

Netanyahu, Rubio discuss Gaza war, ‘unwavering’ US support for Israel

JNS StaffPublished March 23, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Sunday. The call was focused on “regional developments, including releasing the hostages and the resumption of fighting...

Freed Israeli hostages Aviva Siegel, Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, Yair Horn, Yocheved Lifshitz and Sasha Trufanov hold a protest calling for the end of the war and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, March 18, 2025.

Former hostages decry return to war as Netanyahu says further talks will happen only ‘under fire’

By Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 19, 2025

Former Israeli hostages are speaking out against Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, warning that continued fighting puts those still in captivity at risk. At a protest in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, freed hostage Yarden Bibas condemned the...

A Palestinian walks past graffiti and the rubble of buildings, ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

Israeli strike kills Islamic Jihad spokesman

JNS StaffPublished March 18, 2025

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Iranian terror subsidiary in the Gaza Strip, confirmed on Tuesday evening “with great pride and honor” that its spokesman Naji Abu Saif, known as “Abu Hamza,” was killed in Israeli strike that day. The terror group...

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip March 18, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Israel vows to escalate strikes if Hamas refuses to release hostages

JNS StaffPublished March 18, 2025

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Tuesday that Hamas will face intensified military action unless it releases all remaining hostages. “The murderous Hamas needs to understand: If they do not release all our hostages, our blows will...

Smoke rises during Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on October 31, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Ceasefire ends as Israeli bombs strike Gaza

Ben Sales, JTAPublished March 17, 2025

(JTA) — Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza overnight, bringing an end to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire after two months. Israeli leaders announced that they ordered the strikes after Hamas would not agree to frameworks for a hostage deal proposed by Israeli...

US President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi arrive to speak at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

US Justice Dept. launches ‘JTF 10-7’ to prosecute Oct. 7 terrorists

By Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished March 17, 2025

A U.S. Justice Department task force will seek redress for victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in the latest Trump administration move aimed at demonstrating support for Jews and Israelis. The task force, announced Monday by Attorney...

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