As we turn the page on 2024, the St. Louis Jewish Light is looking back at the calendar year that was.
Here are the 10 local stories you read the most this year.
10. St. Louis white supremacist group tied to hate-fueled rally in Ohio
A hate-fueled demonstration in Columbus, Ohio, by the St. Louis-based white supremacist group known as the Hate Club drew condemnation from the White House, along with city, state, and Jewish community leaders. The group, carrying Nazi flags, marched through downtown Columbus on a Saturday, chanting racial slurs and white supremacist slogans. | Full Story
9. Yiddish things my bubbe said to me
After joining the Jewish Light, I reflected on my own Jewish experience growing up. Part of that was the Yiddish my grandparents used, particularly my maternal grandparents, whom I affectionately named Mama and Baba. Both occasionally spoke Yiddish. Not really knowing what they were saying, I laughed at how funny they sounded. But some of the words and phrases stuck in my head. With a bit of research, I figured out what they were saying.| Full Story
8. Bagels on The Hill? Yep, you read that correctly (7,020 reads)
The Hill, St. Louis’ iconic Italian neighborhood, was known for its classic Italian bakeries and family-owned delis—but not as a place you’d expect to find New York-style bagels. That changed in 2024. Since 1916, Amighetti’s had been a familiar name in St. Louis, known for its bread and sandwiches. In Feb. 2023, the deli returned to The Hill after a three-year hiatus. In 2024, it added to its legacy by venturing into the bagel business, offering a fresh twist on its rich history.| Full Story
7. Your guide to open Chinese restaurants in St. Louis for Hanukristmas 2024 (7,089 reads)
The last time Hanukkah and Christmas aligned was in 2005, and it won’t happen again until 2035. But one tradition that didn’t require a rare alignment? Enjoying Chinese food on Christmas—it stayed strong in 2024. | Full Story
6. Mandy Patinkin sings ‘Take me out to the Ballgame’ in Yiddish (7,224 reads)
March 28 was opening day across Major League Baseball. Although our St. Louis Cardinals started the 2024 season on the road in Los Angeles with zero Jewish players on the team, we celebrated them and their Jewish connections all season long. Yes, there were plenty of connections to talk about. | Full Story
5. Kohn’s Kosher and Meat Deli sued for $150,000 by Chicago supplier (7,639 reads)
Mid Town Distribution, a major kosher supplier headquartered in Chicago, sued Kohn’s Kosher and Meat Deli — the only free-standing, full-service kosher grocery in St. Louis — for nearly $150,000 in unpaid bills.| Full Story
4.Masked men wave Nazi flags over Town and Country overpass (8,668 reads)
On Oct. 5, a group of about a dozen masked men gathered on an overpass in Town and Country, displaying Nazi symbols. Dressed in black and carrying flags emblazoned with swastikas and other white supremacist imagery, they held banners over Highway 40, sending a disturbing message of hate to passing drivers. | Full Story
3. Breaking News: New kosher deli set to open in St. Louis after Kohn’s closure (9,991 reads)
St. Louis prepared to welcome a new kosher deli just 17 days after its last deli, Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli, closed its doors after more than 60 years in business. In a statement released Thursday evening, the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis announced the upcoming soft launch of a new business, Nate’s Kosher Deli, which would initially operate from the Kohn’s facility pending the finalization of a permanent venue. | Full Story
2. Controversy erupts over Palestinian flag in Kirkwood classroom: parents raise concern (16,432 reads)
An incident at Nipher Middle School in Kirkwood ignited a community debate over the presence of a Palestinian flag in an eighth-grade social studies classroom. Concerns were initially raised during the school’s curriculum night on Aug. 14, when parents saw the flag during a presentation by social studies teacher Jason Kipp.| Full Story
1. St. Louis’ only Kosher deli closes: Kohn’s shutters after 60 years (16,542 reads)
Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli, the only free-standing, full-service kosher grocery in St. Louis, closed its doors in July. A note released on July 9 by the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis, which provides kosher certification, confirmed the closure of the deli, restaurant, and grocery on Old Olive Street Road. | Full Story
