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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

Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta and founder of LeanIn.org, interviews multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts, and survivors of the Hamas massacres.

Shocking doc ‘Screams Before Silence’ coming to St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished September 9, 2024

The evidence of Hamas using sexual violence as a weapon on Oct. 7 is both overwhelming and undeniable. While reading reports of these atrocities is distressing, hearing survivors and witnesses recount...

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza City on April 13, 2022. Photo by Attia Muhammed/Flash90.

Revealed: Hamas’s secret instructions to exploit hostages, manipulate public opinion

Miri Weissman, (Israel Hayom via JNS)Published September 8, 2024

Confidential documents obtained from the computer of a senior Hamas leader have unveiled the terror group’s calculated strategy to exploit hostages, manipulate public opinion and rebuild its military capabilities under the guise of ceasefire negotiations....

St. Louisans invited to join 'National Vigil for Hostages' online tonight

St. Louisans invited to join ‘National Vigil for Hostages’ online tonight

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished September 3, 2024

The St. Louis Jewish community is still reeling from the heartbreaking news of six innocent hostages being brutally murdered in Gaza—a tragedy deeply felt during a solemn vigil held last night at United Hebrew Congregation. Nearly 200 mourners gathered,...

An undated photo of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. (Jon Polin)

Family of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, confirms his death in Gaza

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished September 1, 2024

The family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the 23-year-old American-Israeli who was taken hostage from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, has announced his death. Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s Death Confirmed After 331 Days as a Hostage “With broken hearts, the...

Qaid Farhan Al-Qadi was rescued from Gaza by Israeli troops on Aug. 27, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

Hostage rescued from tunnel in Gaza; Bedouin father of 11 was a security guard on Oct. 7

Ben Sales, JTAPublished August 27, 2024

Israeli troops have rescued an Israeli hostage from southern Gaza, the military announced Tuesday. The eighth captive held by Hamas to be brought back alive by Israeli forces since Oct. 7. Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, 52, a Bedouin Israeli and father of 11...

This photo taken from a position in northern Israel shows a Hezbollah UAV intercepted by Israeli air forces over northern Israel, Aug. 25, 2024. (Jalaa Marey / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel thwarts ‘imminent attack’ on civilians with pre-eptive strike on Hezbollah

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished August 25, 2024

Israel bombed hundreds of sites inside Lebanon and Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets into Israel early Sunday in a sharp flare of hostilities at Israel’s northern border. Hezbollah has said for weeks that it is planning a significant attack within...

Is a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict inevitable?

Is a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict inevitable?

Marty RochesterPublished August 21, 2024

When thinking of the possibility of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, something that invites skepticism among many Jews and others, I am reminded of an old saying: “On the eve of most revolutions, they are thought to be unimaginable; on the morning...

People protest for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza, outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv. Oct. 15, 2023.

Oct. 7 changed the world in ways we never saw coming

By Stacey NewmanPublished August 21, 2024

The office has been cleaned out, campaign photos and signs stripped from the walls, and goodbye hugs given to college interns and staff. Just a few weeks ago, St. Louis Democratic primary voters chose a new candidate, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley...

Shaquille O'Neal ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Nov. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Shaq recorded a video in Hebrew for Israeli kids whose relatives were killed or captured on Oct. 7

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished August 20, 2024

(JTA) — NBA great Shaquille O’Neal recorded a message for Israeli children whose relatives were killed or taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, telling them “I love you” and speaking in Hebrew. Shaq recorded the video for children at Camp...

Unexpected wisdom: A St. Louis TSA agent’s words echo a timeless Jewish lesson

Unexpected wisdom: A St. Louis TSA agent’s words echo a timeless Jewish lesson

By Rabbi Mike RovinskyPublished August 13, 2024

A fundamental concept in Judaism states that God is always sending us messages. However, it’s up to us to adjust our dials (think old school transistor radios) to hone in on the frequency to be able to hear those messages. Recently, I received a...

An Israeli child holding the Giborei Israel toy soldiers. Photo courtesy of Giborei Israel

Israeli company debuts IDF action figures for kids

By Yulia Karra, Israel21cPublished August 6, 2024

Two years ago, Marvel Studios announced it will bring its 1980s comic book character “Sabra,” a former spy for Israel’s Mossad agency, to the big screen in its upcoming Captain America: Brave New World film. Popular Israeli actress Shira...

Eylon Levy in Toronto. Credit: Courtesy.

Words as Weapons: How one man is giving us the words we need to defend Jews and Israel

Dave Gordon (JNS)Published August 5, 2024

Eylon Levy became an Internet meme after the Sky News presenter Kay Burley asked him on Nov. 23 if the Jewish state values Palestinians less than Israelis since it is willing to engage in lopsided prisoner swaps, with each Israeli exchanged for many more...

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