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

Community Calendar


Editor’s note: All Mirowitz Center events are free unless otherwise noted. To register for a Mirowitz Center event, visit http://bit.ly/Mirowitz-registration, call 314-733-9813 or email [email protected].


Friday | Feb. 9

Potluck Shabbat for 20-, 30- and 40-somethings 

The young adult chapter of Sparks Match! is hosting another potluck Shabbat dinner at 6 p.m. Bring something vegetarian to share and celebrate Shabbat together and meet new people. RSVP to Daphne at [email protected].

On the Record with Bob Cohn

Join Bob Cohn, editor-in-chief emeritus of the Jewish Light from 11 a.m. to noon for an online Mirowitz Center discussion about films, plays, articles and books on issues of concern in our community. This month’s topic is “Current Happenings: U.S. Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, Biden’s Pressure on Iran, and the Israel/Hamas War.”


Saturday | Feb. 10

Prayer Lab: Thanks and praise 

Join Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Lucy Greenbaum and the Prayer Lab musicians for the Jewish Mindfulness Center’s monthly non-traditional Shabbat service combining poetry, participatory music, interactive teachings and time set aside for meditation and personal reflection. The theme for this month’s Prayer Lab is Thanks and Praise. The community is welcome to participate online or in-person, at 10:45 a.m. in the Kehillah Center at Congregation Shaare Emeth (use the north entrance). For more information, contact Stacy Jespersen at [email protected] or 314-569-0010.


Sunday | Feb. 11

Yiddish Theatre-Chicago series

Speaker Ralph Graff will continue Kol Rinah’s Yiddish Theatre Chicago series from 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Free, but registration is requested by Feb. 9, at www.kolrinahstl.org/form/yiddishchicago. Sponsored by the Verein Group.

Series at TI continues on Jews with tattoos and other taboos 

Join the rabbis of Congregation Temple Israel for a two-part series looking at Jewish taboos. There are 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah, but not all Jewish taboos are based on Jewish law. This series will look at tattoos, cremation, interfaith marriage and substance abuse — exploring the roots and reasons behind many of the things that “Jews just don’t do” and find out just how taboo, or not, they really are. The classes are 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Temple Israel. RSVP is required at: www.ti-stl.org/AdultEducation.


Monday | Feb. 12

The Lost World of Jewish Life in Vienna and Prague

The St. Louis German Literary Society presents “The Lost World of Jewish Life in Vienna and Prague” by Matthew Grad of Young Israel, a continuation of a talk given in 2023.  The talk will focus on personal anecdotes of that lost world as lived and observed by Jewish literary and artistic figures.  The presentation will be held at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 6337 Clayton Road at 7 p.m.  The talk and Q&A will be in German.


Tuesday | Feb. 13 & 20 

Jewish Mindfulness Center explores ‘The Sabbath’

During this three-week course, starting at 10 a.m., we will read, discuss and reflect on Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s most widely read book. Together we will learn how Shabbat can enhance and deepen our connection to the sacred and how Heschel’s insights are relevant to our lives today. Having one’s own copy of “The Sabbath” is strongly encouraged. For more information, contact Stacy Jespersen at [email protected] or 314-569-0010.


Wednesday | Feb. 14

A love letter to Frank Sinatra

From 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center, musician Robert Denison will perform Frank Sinatra’s timeless songs and share stories about the singer who left a lasting legacy in the hearts of millions. Co-sponsored by St. Louis NORC.


Thursday | Feb. 15

St. Louis County Library Book Club: “Demon Copperhead”

From 10 to 11 a.m. at the Mirowitz Center (and online), discuss February’s book selection, “Demon Copperhead,” by Barbara Kingsolver, about a boy born to a drug-addicted single mother in a trailer home who must overcome poverty, violence and systemic failures in the American South. Reference Librarian Hillary Peppers facilitates an online book club every third Thursday of each month. There is no cost to attend, but RSVP is required. 


Sunday | Feb. 18

Jewish War Veterans meeting

Jewish War Veterans Post 644 will meet in the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum at 10 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month (unless otherwise indicated).  A Zoom option will be available for those not able to attend in person.  For more information and the Zoom link contact Post 644 Commander Ellis Frohman at 636-519-7512 (leave a message if no one answers).


Tuesday | Feb. 20

The soul, the body & the afterlife

From noon to 1 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center, Rabbi Ze’ev Smason will look at questions including: What is a “soul?” What happens after you die? Does Judaism believe in the afterlife? Join for this four-part series on topics you may not have studied in Sunday School. Attend one or all sessions – prior attendance not required. The series includes: 

• February 20: Body & Soul (part 1)

• March 19: The Afterlife (part 2)

• April 16: Reincarnation & Resurrection (part 3)

• May 21: Dreams – Messages from Afar? (part 4)

Current conditions in the economy & capital markets

From 10 to 11 a.m., Mike Ferman, a former partner at RubinBrown Advisors and the founder and managing director of its financial planning and investment advisory practice, will lead an online discussion about current conditions in the economy and capital markets, including the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street. This Mirowitz Center program is provided with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), the Mirowitz Center men’s organization.


Wednesday | Feb. 21

Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group

This monthly group provides support, connection and education to women in the community who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer and are anywhere along their treatment path – before, during, or post-treatment. Facilitated by Clinical Social Worker Kathy Bearman, this group meets from 5:15 – 6:45 on the third Wednesday at the J near Creve Coeur. Newcomers are always welcome along with female family and friends. Light kosher dinner will be served. The Hamsa Wellness Community is a program at the J and a community partner of the national, not for profit Sharsheret organization. This program is free but pre-registration is requested to Debbi Braunstein at 314-442-3266 or [email protected]. 

Mirowitz Center talk: ‘My Chart’

From 11 a.m. to noon at the Mirowitz Center, Larry Edison will discuss the electronic health-record portal, MyChart. A Mirowitz Center trainer, Edison will help you learn about the portal’s privacy and security features. You’ll also hear how to keep information all in one place, communicate with healthcare providers, and conduct a virtual visit. No cost to attend, but RSVP is required.


Thursday | Feb. 22

Fighting bigotry & hatred

From 2 to 3 p.m. join a Mirowitz Center online discussion about “You Need a Schoolhouse,” a book about a Jewish businessman who joined forces with a Black educator to create thousands of schools for African American children in the segregated South. In recognition of Black History Month, join us for a conversation with author Stephanie Deutsch about Julius Rosenwald (president of Sears, Roebuck & Co.) and Booker T. Washington (founder of Tuskegee Institute), and their work to use education as a tool for social change and empowerment. The talk is part of the “Fighting Bigotry & Hatred” series, and co-sponsored by ADL Heartland, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, and St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, and The Campaign to Create the Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park.


Wednesday | Feb. 28

‘Israel at War’ briefing 

At 7 p.m., Avi Melamed will discuss “Israel at War” at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex near Creve Coeur. Melamed is a former Israeli intelligence official and senior advisor on Arab affairs, as well as an analyst, author, educator and speaker. The current war between Israel and Hamas is a defining moment in the Middle East. We are all flooded with information. But do we really understand what this war is all about? How we got here? What does it all mean? Where are we going? This briefing, organized by the J and Jewish Federation, aims to help “make order” out of this overwhelming and complex moment. Register by visiting https://formstack.io/97670.


ONGOING

‘Sing for a Cease-fire’

Learn Jewish songs, teachings, prayers and melodies of peace, resistance and hope during “Sing for Cease-fire” on Zoom, presented by Hineni STL. Held every Thursday at 7 p.m. until there is a ceasefire. Visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8115063693.


Movies at the Mirowitz Center

On Fridays at 1 p.m., enjoy movies on the Mirowitz Center’s 14-foot screen. Call the Movies at Mirowitz Hotline (314-733-9812) for the film title and description each week. Free and open to the community. 


Mirowitz Center Community Singers 

Professional musician Robert Denison will lead Mirowitz Center Community Singers from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesdays.  No experience is necessary. Learn from CDs (no printed music). Performance opportunities will be offered. Free and open to the community; register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813. 


Get your game on at the Mirowitz Center 

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Mirowitz Center welcomes guests to play Mahjong, bridge, poker or Mexican Train dominoes – whatever games you like. The Mirowitz Center will provide complimentary coffee, tea and water (guests can bring their own snacks to enjoy and share). No RSVPs are necessary for these weekly games, held in the multipurpose room, but plan to coordinate your group’s schedule and any needed substitutions. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813, or email [email protected].


A cappella group STAAM performs at Traditional

Staam, WashU’s premier Jewish a cappella group, is performing at Traditional Congregation at 11 a.m.  Stamm’s repertoire includes liturgical music and songs in Hebrew, as well as English songs by Jewish artists such as Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink, Ben Platt and more. The performance will be preceded by brunch at 10 a.m.  There is no charge but Share the Fare donations are appreciated.  Registration is required via email to either: [email protected] or [email protected] and must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. Traditional Congregation is located at 12437 Ladue Road. For questions or more information, contact Marty at 636-628-5420 or Mindy at 314-640-0711.