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
Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullaballo 13

Photos: Brothers Lazaroff rock out at Hanukkah Hullaballo 13

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published December 3, 2023
Photos: Olivette Turkey Trot

Photos: Olivette Turkey Trot

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 26, 2023
500 Strong: St. Charles community unites for Israel

500 Strong: St. Charles community unites for Israel

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 19, 2023
Epstein Hebrew Academy students, staff and family members held Blue And White Spirit Day on Sunday, Nov. 12

Photos: Epstein Hebrew Academy celebrates Israel with fun and games

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 12, 2023
A group from Explore St. Louis visits the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum’s Impact Lab in late October.

St. Louis Holocaust Museum celebrates one year anniversary

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 8, 2023
Photos: Clayton rally for Israel, peace and release of hostages

Photos: Clayton rally for Israel, peace and release of hostages

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 5, 2023
Photos: The Empty Shabbat Table at Shaw Park

Photos: The Empty Shabbat Table at Shaw Park

Bill Motchan , Special To The Jewish Light
Published November 5, 2023
Photos: Jews and Christians standing in solidarity for Israel

Photos: Jews and Christians standing in solidarity for Israel

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 22, 2023
Tickets for Brothers Lazaroffs Hanukkah Hullabaloo go on sale Friday

Tickets for Brothers Lazaroff’s Hanukkah Hullabaloo go on sale Friday

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 19, 2023
Rally In Support of Israel. October 15, 2023

Photos: St. Louis unites Sunday with resounding support of Israel

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 15, 2023
Musical solidarity event in support of Israel planned for tonight

Musical solidarity event in support of Israel planned for tonight

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 9, 2023
Kol Rinah participated in a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 5.

Kol Rinah breaks ground for new early childhood center

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 6, 2023
Hot dogs, Hall of Famers and memories of Sportsman’s Park

Hot dogs, Hall of Famers and memories of Sportsman’s Park

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 5, 2023
Doug and Caryn Rudman.

Doug and Caryn Rudman carry on 29-year Sukkah tradition

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published October 2, 2023
Anne Samuels

Anne Samuels and the Gateway Harmonica Club are making music and memories

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published September 28, 2023
Watch: Shaare Emeths Tashlich service by the water

Watch: Shaare Emeth’s Tashlich service by the water

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published September 18, 2023
Photo of author (R) at Wrigley Field a few years ago with Detroit friend Steve Ross. (L)

Jimmy Buffett sometimes used religion in his lyrics, including Judaism

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published September 5, 2023
Jewish culture will be on display around St. Louis

Jewish culture will be on display around St. Louis

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published August 11, 2023
Legendary Jewish sports writer Joe Posnanski coming to St. Louis

Legendary Jewish sports writer Joe Posnanski coming to St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published August 1, 2023
Joe Litvag, founder of the Just Listen Company

Five questions for Evolution Festival impresario Joe Litvag

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published July 28, 2023
Ellen Alper

Five questions For Ellen Alper NCJW St. Louis executive director

BILL MOTCHAN , SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Published July 24, 2023
Where to find some cool jazz on a hot weekend

Where to find some cool jazz on a hot weekend

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published July 12, 2023

St. Louis Jewish Light wins four awards for Jewish journalism

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published July 12, 2023
Ethan Leinwand performing at the Scott Joplin House

How this Jewish pianist is keeping St. Louis ‘a piano town’

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published July 11, 2023
Photos: Jewish community represents at 2023 Grand Pride Parade

Photos: Jewish community represents at 2023 Grand Pride Parade

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published June 25, 2023
The band was led by Will Soll, with Andy Curry on bass, Gabe Segal on clarinet, Alyssa Avery on fiddle, and Shlomo Ovadya on percussion

Photos & Video: U City Klezmer Experience plays to sold out crowd

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published June 11, 2023
Will Soll

Local klezmer ensemble debuts in June

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 31, 2023
Main Headquarters staff of 21st General Hospital - April 1945

A Memorial Day salute to the WWII service of Jewish St. Louisans

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 24, 2023
Inbar Bloch

Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Inbar Bloch

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published April 28, 2023
Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Inbar Bachar

Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Inbar Bachar

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published April 28, 2023
Helping older adults avoid scams and stay safe

Helping older adults avoid scams and stay safe

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 20, 2023
Lindy Drew is the cofounder of Humans of St. Louis, a nonprofit group that shares photos and stories of people and places through its website, social media, and, as of December, a book. The book quickly sold out, but a reprinting is planned for this spring, with preorders available. 
Photos: humansofstl.org

Humans of St. Louis turns a page

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published April 3, 2023
Orly David Peters. Photo By Bill Motchan.

Expat bringing Israeli food to St. Louis

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 30, 2023
St. Louis circus director pens chapter in Jewish big top history

St. Louis circus director pens chapter in Jewish big top history

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published March 30, 2023
Photo by Bill Motchan

After 28 years St. Louis is still the capital of chametz

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published March 29, 2023
The Wise-Shuchart family’s Passover seders have included non-Jewish guests for three decades. 
Photo courtesy of Andy Wise

It’s best to prep non-Jewish seder guests, rabbis say

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 23, 2023
Story behind the name – Irv Zeid Park

Story behind the name – Irv Zeid Park

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published March 20, 2023
More of your memories from Camp White Cloud

More of your memories from Camp White Cloud

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 15, 2023
Memories of Camp White Cloud

Memories of Camp White Cloud

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published March 13, 2023

Video and photos of 2023 University City Purim Parade

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 7, 2023
Image courtesy of Bill Motchan.

PHOTOS: Purim Palooza at B’nai Amoona

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published March 7, 2023
Docent Vera Emmons leads Ladue Middle School students on a tour of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum earlier this month. 
Photo: Bill Motchan

Visiting the Holocaust Museum from a student’s perspective

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 23, 2023
Neil Davis leading a discussion at the Mirowitz Center. Image by Bill Motchan

Talking Beatles at the Mirowitz Center

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 10, 2023
Rick Recht, Executive Director of 
Judaism Alive.  Photo: Bill Motchan

Music seen as key to attracting young people to Jewish clergy

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 7, 2023
Participants in the 2019 Songleader Bootcamp join together in song during a session at the Jewish Community Center. File photo: Bill Motchan

Jewish leaders converge for upcoming ‘bootcamp’ at the J

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published February 7, 2023
5 questions with retirement center director Max Oppenheimer

5 questions with retirement center director Max Oppenheimer

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published February 1, 2023
Rabbi Mike Rovinsky

Axe throwing with a mohel

BILL MOTCHAN , SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Published January 27, 2023
Photo Courtesy of the Creve Coeur Police Department.

Graffiti removed from Temple Israel monument sign

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published January 25, 2023
Make your own NY style bagels at home. Photos by Bill Motchan

How to make New York style bagels in your St. Louis kitchen

Bill Motchan , Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 18, 2023
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