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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

Doug Cifu (left) and Dale Tallon pictured on January 2, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. (Jeff Sanzare/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jewish NHL owner suspended after social media spat with fan he called an ‘anti-semite loser’

Jacob Gurvis, JTAPublished May 14, 2025

(JTA) — Jewish Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL after a social media spat with a fan that included discussion of the Israel-Hamas war and accusations of antisemitism. Cifu, a vice chairman and part-owner...

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in this handout released on May 14, 2025. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS

Trump pushes Syria to establish ties with Israel

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 14, 2025

(JTA) — In a meeting with Syria’s new leader, President Donald Trump praised him and urged him to establish ties with Israel. Trump, who is visiting the Middle East this week, also castigated Gaza’s leaders. The enclave was governed by Hamas...

Maggie Gyllenhaal and daughter Ramona Sarsgaard on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France. (Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

Maggie Gyllenhaal daughter arrested at Columbia

Grace Gilson, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — Ramona Sarsgaard, daughter of Jewish actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, was reportedly one of the more than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Columbia University last week. During the protest on May 7, demonstrators occupied...

The first image released from Gaza of Edan Alexander, who was released from Hamas captivity on May 12, 2025. (Screenshot)

Hamas releases Edan Alexander, last living American hostage, to Israel

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, back to Israel under a deal reached with the United States. The release, conducted Monday evening in Gaza, may inaugurate a new phase in the hostage crisis that has consumed...

A crowd stands vigil awaiting the release of Edan Alexander, a local son and Hamas captive, in Tenafly, New Jersey, May 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Elkins)

In Tenafly, NJ, a crowd awaits the release of local son Edan Alexander from Hamas captivity

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished May 12, 2025

(JTA) — The call went out over email, text and WhatsApp on Sunday night: Come to Huyler Park in downtown Tenafly at 5 a.m. to celebrate — Edan Alexander was coming home. Born and raised by Israeli parents in Tenafly, Alexander, 21, joined the Israel...

Mark Lavie.

“It’s a solid F+” — reporter slams media for failing Israel, ahead of St. Louis visit

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished May 8, 2025

A veteran journalist who covered the Middle East for the Associated Press for years now claims AP and other news outlets engage in ongoing media bias against Israel. Mark Lavie, who also worked for NPR, NBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, will...

NEW YORK, US - MAY 7: New York City police arrested dozens of Pro-Palestinian protesters on Columbia University on Wednesday evening after they took over part of a central library in New York, USA on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)

NYPD arrests more than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia library

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 8, 2025

(JTA) — Police arrested more than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters who crowded and occupied the main library of Columbia University, thrusting the New York City campus back into the center of campus tensions over Gaza. Two Columbia public safety...

A military helicopter flying above the Gaza Strip, as it seen from the Israeli side of the border, on Jan. 8, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Israel adopts plan to conquer and occupy Gaza

Ben Sales, JTAPublished May 5, 2025

(JTA) — Israel’s government approved a plan on Sunday to conquer and occupy the Gaza Strip, a major expansion of its military campaign there and a sign that the war is far from ending. The plan passed unanimously in Israel’s cabinet despite warnings...

Myles Rosenblum.

After two years in Israel’s paratroopers, Myles Rosenblum comes home with a story to tell

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished May 4, 2025

Myles Rosenblum, a 23-year-old IDF lone soldier from St. Louis, is returning home after two transformative years in the Israel Defense Forces. Serving in Israel’s elite Paratroopers Unit 101, Rosenblum’s journey—from intense combat training to frontline...

Iron dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen over the Hula Valley, April 12, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Trump’s 2026 budget request includes plans for an Israeli-inspired ‘Golden Dome for America’

Andrew Lapin, JTAPublished May 2, 2025

President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2026 asks for a litany of cuts — from reductions in basic government functions to the elimination of what he calls “woke programs.” But there’s at least one area where Trump wants...

St. Louis community gathers to honor Israel’s fallen

St. Louis community gathers to honor Israel’s fallen

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish LightPublished April 30, 2025

A solemn gathering of 300 community members commemorated Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) at the JCC on Tuesday evening, April 29. The ceremony consisted of readings and poems in Hebrew and English, a torch lighting, and a one-minute siren....

Rallies and social posts are great, but here’s how you can really stand with Israel right now

Rallies and social posts are great, but here’s how you can really stand with Israel right now

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished April 28, 2025

When the St. Louis Jewish community gathers to show support for Israel and call for the release of hostages, those events do more than create a bond among those who attend. They are also noticed—and appreciated—in Israel. That was one of the revelations...

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