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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

Transforming the J in Chesterfield: A community effort

Transforming the J in Chesterfield: A community effort

Published July 21, 2025

The St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J) is nearing completion of a major renovation of its Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield, part of the “Creating the J for Tomorrow” project. The effort, which wraps up in September, marks the end of...

Enemies. Friends. The last Jews in Kabul. Their story became a stage hit.

Enemies. Friends. The last Jews in Kabul. Their story became a stage hit.

By Judith Newmark, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 20, 2025

At a rehearsal about 20 years ago, Seth Rozin - director, playwright, artistic director of Philadelphia’s InterAct Theatre - was approached by one of the actors, a New York Times in his hand. “Look at this,” the actor said. He pointed to a story...

Four Women, One Torah—Now with four names

Four Women, One Torah—Now with four names

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 20, 2025

Last week, we turned to our readers with a mystery: a photo in the Jewish Light from the late 1970s or early 1980s at Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel (BSKI), showing four women and Rabbi Benson Skoff gathered around an open Torah scroll. We had zero names....

Rabbi Ze'ev Smason

Feeling burned out? This St. Louis rabbi wants to send you a spark

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 17, 2025

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason has a new weekly project, and it’s one he hopes will bring people just a little closer to themselves. With Spiritual Sparks, the longtime Olivette rabbi sends a spark of inspiration each week—short reflections meant to nourish...

800 Washington University students came together on Thursday, October 12th outside the Danforth University Center on campus for a gathering in support of Israel through song, prayer, and testimonials.

Why one Jewish teen chose WashU over Columbia

By Olivia GoldsmithPublished July 17, 2025

This article was produced as part of the New York Jewish Week’s Teen Journalism Fellowship, a program that works with Jewish teens around New York City to report on issues that affect their lives. Since she was little, Lindsay, who recently graduated...

Four women, one Torah, zero names: can you help us ID them?

Four women, one Torah, zero names: can you help us ID them?

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 16, 2025

Every so often, a photo from the Jewish Light archives reminds us why preserving local Jewish history matters. This one, taken at Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel (BSKI), shows a group gathered reverently around a Torah scroll. At the far left is Rabbi Benson...

St. Louis dressmaker’s legacy adds new thread to Holocaust story and exhibition

St. Louis dressmaker’s legacy adds new thread to Holocaust story and exhibition

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 16, 2025

When Arlen Chaleff got a call from the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, she didn’t hesitate. Within moments, she was digging through old file cabinets, pulling out patterns along with  naturalization papers and anything else she could...

St. Louis University’s Dr. George T. Grossberg

SLU’s Dr. George Grossberg featured in PBS Alzheimer’s docuseries

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 15, 2025

St. Louis University’s Dr. George T. Grossberg, a longtime leader in geriatric psychiatry and a recognized member of the St. Louis Jewish community, is featured in a new episode of Medical Stories, a health-focused docuseries now available to stream...

Down the Rabbit Hole: Red Hot Riplets, snap peas and a case of mistaken gefilte fish

Down the Rabbit Hole: Red Hot Riplets, snap peas and a case of mistaken gefilte fish

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 15, 2025

After casually mentioning Red Hot Riplets in yesterday’s Morning Light—while, tragically, snacking on snap peas—I got bunch of emails. Some were about snack deprivation, others about beloved junk food. A few said they’d heard Old Vienna—the...

Synagogue of Lengnau.

This Swiss synagogue holds a secret — and St. Louis might be part of it

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 15, 2025

A centuries-old Swiss village may be the missing chapter in your Jewish family story — and a European genealogy group is hoping someone in St. Louis can help close the book. The Swiss Society for Jewish Genealogy is searching for descendants...

Larry King.

Suspenders, Sinatra and St. Louis: Larry King lives on at auction

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished July 15, 2025

Long before Larry King’s suspenders hit the auction block, they turned heads in St. Louis. The Larry King Collection, set for auction by Julien’s on Aug. 12, features nearly 400 artifacts from the broadcaster’s six-decade career — including...

Fighting antisemitism starts at home, St. Louis leaders say

Fighting antisemitism starts at home, St. Louis leaders say

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 15, 2025

The Jewish community needs to step up and fight antisemitism. That was a key message at “Antisemitism in our Backyard,” a conversation with State Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis County, and Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew Congregation. Nearly...

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