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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

Local news

Drew Patchin

12-year-old cancer warrior Drew Patchin turns life’s hard lessons into children’s book

By Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished August 13, 2025

Already an honorary parade marshal, junior FBI agent and police officer, boy scout camp director, basketball official, Fox 2 morning host and five-time pediatric brain cancer warrior, 12-year-old Drew Patchin can now add “book author” to his list...

Missouri schools say ‘never again’ with new Holocaust lessons for all

Missouri schools say ‘never again’ with new Holocaust lessons for all

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished August 13, 2025

Thousands of students across Missouri will learn about the horrors of the Holocaust during the 2025-26 school year. The Holocaust education bill signed into law two years ago by former Governor Mike Parson now requires public schools to implement curriculum...

ADL grades states on fighting antisemitism — here’s how Missouri scored

ADL grades states on fighting antisemitism — here’s how Missouri scored

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished August 12, 2025

As local and federal authorities continue their investigation into the Aug. 5 antisemitic hate crime in Clayton, the Anti-Defamation League has released its first-of-its-kind interactive tool measuring how every state fights antisemitism. Called the Jewish...

From oceans to outer space, our trash is everywhere

From oceans to outer space, our trash is everywhere

BY NANCY KRANZBERGt, Special To The Jewish LightPublished August 12, 2025

Several years ago, I interviewed Andrew Newman, a member of the John Burroughs School faculty, about his work on what some call “Plastic Islands”—vast patches of ocean and river pollution composed mostly of floating debris. Newman is a professional...

Chat up a stranger, it’s a mitzvah  — but please wash your hands

Chat up a stranger, it’s a mitzvah — but please wash your hands

By Amy Fenster Brown, Special To The Jewish LightPublished August 12, 2025

True story. Recently I walked into a public restroom and saw a young mother with a little boy about 2 years old. He was rolling around on the ground — the bathroom floor! — looking under the occupied stall. I asked whether they were in line, and the...

Author of Rachel Gold mysteries takes  different path in ‘Gourmet Club’ novel

Author of Rachel Gold mysteries takes different path in ‘Gourmet Club’ novel

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished August 12, 2025

Those familiar with native St. Louisan Michael Kahn’s novels might be surprised to learn that his latest one, “The Gourmet Club,” does not include St. Louis lawyer and supersleuth Rachel Gold, save for a brief cameo. After all, 11 of the 14 books...

The Grapevine Tavern

A St. Louis bar. A Jewish family. A trail of secrets in the MLK murder files

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished August 12, 2025

When Nina Gilden Seavey was 12, growing up in University City, the Air Force building on Washington University’s campus burned to the ground. Her father, Louis Gilden, a Jewish civil rights attorney whose parents had fled pogroms in Ukraine before settling...

A hate crime just 350 yards from Kol Rinah, brings the community together

A hate crime just 350 yards from Kol Rinah, brings the community together

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished August 11, 2025

The distance between Kol Rinah and the site of the antisemitic hate crime in Clayton on Aug. 5 is a mere 350 yards. That proximity was on the mind of Rabbi Noah Arnow when he spoke to a group of 180 members of the community on Monday, Aug. 11, at...

The cattle car that is the "No Hate Now" exhibit.

Tickets on sale now for chilling Holocaust cattle car exhibit in St. Louis

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished August 11, 2025

Tickets are now on sale for the "Hate Ends Now" cattle car exhibit, coming to the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum Sept. 10–14, and organizers expect them to go quickly. Capacity is limited, and walk-up sales will not be available. Museum...

My first trip to Israel is finally happening. Here's what I'm hoping to find there.

My first trip to Israel is finally happening. Here’s what I’m hoping to find there.

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished August 11, 2025

In the weeks leading up to Oct. 15, 2023, I was preparing for something I’d waited a lifetime to experience: my first trip to Israel. Bags were packed, boarding passes downloaded, headspace somewhere between curiosity and excitement. But then the world...

Meredith Cherry

Meredith Cherry is making Disney dreams come true

Published August 11, 2025

Meredith Cherry recently became a certified travel agent with Smart Moms Travel LLC, specializing in Disney destinations. She offers custom itineraries for Disney and Universal vacations along with insider tips, dining reservations and park strategies....

From music to matzah balls: St. Charles Jewish Festival draws thousands

From music to matzah balls: St. Charles Jewish Festival draws thousands

BY BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished August 10, 2025

More than 4,000 people gathered on Sunday, Aug. 10, to enjoy a celebration of Jewish culture. The St. Charles Jewish Festival offered music, food and opportunities to learn about Judaism. The festival is now in its fifth year and grows in attendance....

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