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

Bill Motchan, writer/photographer

Bill worked in corporate communications for AT&T for 28 years. He is a former columnist for St. Louis Magazine. Bill has been a contributing writer for the Jewish Light since 2015 and is a three-time winner of the Rockower Award for excellence in Jewish Journalism. He also is a staff writer for the travel magazine Show-Me Missouri.

Bill grew up in University City. He now lives in Olivette with his wife and cat, Hobbes. He is an avid golfer and a fan of live music. He has attended the New Orleans Jazzfest 10 times and he has seen Jimmy Buffett in concert more t han 30 times between 1985 and 2023.

All content by Bill Motchan
Passover Project

[Photo] PHOTOS: ‘The Passover Project’ is the musical seder sensation of the future

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer
Published April 19, 2024
Peter Martin.

[Photo] 7,000 jazz musicians can’t be wrong. How St. Louis’ Peter Martin is transforming music education

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 12, 2024
Owlivia.

Baby Owlivia has flown the coop

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 12, 2024
Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan, Mirjam Heutink and Naomi Petel Adle.

Survivors of Hamas attack visit St. Louis, sharing painful memories and grateful testimony

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 5, 2024
Madam Owlberta Wobblewings and her mama owl

Madam Owlberta Wobblewings now has a Jewish home for her baby

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 4, 2024
Remembering Esther Schimmel, the hot dog queen of Cardinals baseball

Remembering Esther Schimmel, the hot dog queen of Cardinals baseball

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published April 3, 2024
500 attend UCity Purim Parade filled with pizzaz and surprising twists

500 attend UCity Purim Parade filled with pizzaz and surprising twists

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 24, 2024
Lance Levine is the fourth-generation owner of Levine Hats.

Levine Hat Co. still going strong after 120 years of style, service and stories

Bill Motchan, Special to the jewish Light
Published March 21, 2024
Brothers Lazaroff and a host of musicians will perform at “The Passover Project: A Musical Seder,” at City Winery on Thursday, April 18.

[Photo] Musical ‘Passover Project’ at City Winery will benefit Jewish Light

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Published March 21, 2024
JCC - Fox Building

[Photo] The J announces $13M renovation of Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published March 17, 2024
Becky Gerson

Meet birth coach and doula Becky Gerson

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 13, 2024

Everything you need to know about the University City Purim Parade ’24

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 12, 2024
Michael Staenberg, recipient of special recognition honors

Staenberg, Pereles, 10 St. Louis community leaders, honored by JPro

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 7, 2024
Main Headquarters staff of 21st General Hospital - April 1945

Retired radiologist Harry Agress Jr. returns home to honor legacy of Base Hospital 21

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 7, 2024
Abbie Strauss

[Photo] Former St. Louis cantor hits all the notes singing national anthem at Cardinals game

By Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 6, 2024
‘Ribbon of Hope’ to stand tall in St. Louis until hostages released

‘Ribbon of Hope’ to stand tall in St. Louis until hostages released

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 4, 2024
Torah Prep students golf course lemonade stand is a swinging success

Torah Prep student’s golf course lemonade stand is a “swinging success”

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 3, 2024
Former IDF intelligence official visits St. Louis

Former IDF intelligence official visits St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 29, 2024
Rohn Harir

He lost 18 friends and his right arm in Hamas war, now Rohn Harir is coming to St. Louis to tell his story

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 22, 2024
Capturing the beat: Exclusive pics from the 2024 Songleader Boot Camp in St. Louis!

Capturing the beat: Exclusive pics from the 2024 ‘Songleader Boot Camp’ in St. Louis!”

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 19, 2024
Author, who masterfully tackles Holocaust topic in childrens book, coming to St. Louis

Author, who masterfully tackles Holocaust topic in children’s book, coming to St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 13, 2024
Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Consul General of Israel

Why the Consul General of Israel says St. Louisans should ‘come now’ to Israel

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 7, 2024
Mark Wilf and Gov. Mike Parson.

[Photo] Gov. Parson, Jewish NFL owner discuss survival of Israel in St. Louis

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 7, 2024
Jewish day school students from St. Louis traveled to Jefferson City to show their support during a hearing for a pro-Israel resolution.

[Photo] Pro-Israel resolution’s hearing at Missouri Capitol draws strong turnout from Jewish students 

Story and photos By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 6, 2024
License to Kvetch: 93-year-olds Infiniti spreads our kind of Yiddish humor!

License to Kvetch: 93-year-old’s Infiniti spreads our kind of Yiddish humor!

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 5, 2024
The Aryeh Emblem

Two local Cub Scouts earn coveted Aryeh Emblem

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 31, 2024
Earl Kessler and Al Siwak, the cofounders of Pallet Partners, are shown at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry.

Earl and Al’s big idea is still helping the Jewish Food Pantry after 25 years

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 29, 2024
Missouri schools transform Holocaust education with innovative pilot program

Missouri schools transform Holocaust education with innovative pilot program

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 25, 2024
Lee Wielansky and Nick Dunlap.

Lee Wielansky hit ’em straight to become Pro-Am Winner at American Express Tournament!

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 24, 2024
A junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, Nelson Vickar is a top goalie prospect and last year was named one of Jewish Telegraph Agency’s 36 Jewish student athletes to watch for the 2023-2024 school year.

Ladue junior slides up ranks of elite amateur hockey players

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 23, 2024
Brothers Lazaroff

Brothers Lazaroff concert series moves to new venue

BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Published January 22, 2024
Amy Kweskin, WashU CFO.

Photos: Unlocking the secrets of university management with WashU CFO Amy Kweskin

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 18, 2024
Alon Ben-Gurion.

Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of Israel’s first PM, to speak in St. Louis on Unity Night

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 16, 2024
Rabbi Brad Horwitz addresses nearly 200 people Sunday evening, January 14 at the JCC’s Staenberg Family Complex for a ceremony to mark 100 days since the October 7 Hamas attack.

St. Louis Jewish community gathers in grief marking 100 days since Hamas attack

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 15, 2024
Mountain bikers brave freezing temps to mark 100 days since Hamas attack

Mountain bikers brave freezing temps to mark 100 days since Hamas attack

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 15, 2024
Photo courtesy of IDF Women on Facebook.

St. Louis event will spotlight ‘Women Defending Israel’

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 10, 2024
David and Jeff Lazaroff.

Brothers Lazaroff announce new 4-week residency during January

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 3, 2024
St. Louis trio Geezer House welcome 2024, Tel Aviv style

St. Louis trio “Geezer House” welcome 2024, Tel Aviv style

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 1, 2024
Inspired by grandfathers tales, Yiddish heritage local author releases new book

Inspired by grandfather’s tales, Yiddish heritage local author releases new book

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 1, 2024
Will Soll.

[Photo] Will Soll’s ‘New Year’s Eve in Tel Aviv’ is back after two year hiatus

Bill Motchan, Chief Digital Content Officer
Published December 21, 2023
Marvin Rosengargen

From the field to fundraising: Meet Coach Marvin Rosengarten, the man behind SEMO’s athletic legacy

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published December 11, 2023
Hundreds march in UCity in support of hostages, against antisemitism

Hundreds march in UCity in support of hostages, against antisemitism

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published December 10, 2023
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