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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

Inside the railcar: New Holocaust Museum exhibit shows what words can’t

Inside the railcar: New Holocaust Museum exhibit shows what words can’t

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished September 9, 2025

A powerful visual and physical display begins a four-day residency on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Museum cattle car exhibit, “Hate Ends Now,” shares the stories of two survivors, Nate Leipeige...

JCC Fox Building renovation brings new life to Chesterfield

JCC Fox Building renovation brings new life to Chesterfield

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished September 5, 2025

A first-time visitor to the Jewish Community Center’s Marilyn Fox Building might not guess the facility is 28 years old. Inside and out, it looks brand new, following a comprehensive 15-month renovation. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the center took the...

Michael Staenberg speaks in May 2009 at the grand opening of the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex. Photo: Dennis Caldwell

Staenberg Foundation turns 20 with $54M in community impact

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished September 2, 2025

  If an organization supporting the St. Louis Jewish community has a financial need, there’s a good chance it has received funding from the Staenberg Family Foundation. This year, the foundation celebrates a significant milestone....

Rabbi Aron Rubin

Laid-back Midwest attracts NHBZ’s ‘chill’ new rabbi

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished August 20, 2025

Rabbi Aron Rubin is equally adept at teaching Judaism and leading a congregation. Rubin, 38, who assumed the position of rabbi at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion on Aug. 15, is well-versed in the Torah. He also makes a mean dessert. Rubin was drawn to the...

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...

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...

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....

Rabbi Dov Fink

Young Israel of St. Louis welcomes new rabbi

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished August 7, 2025

Young Israel recently welcomed Rabbi Dov Fink as senior rabbi, replacing Rabbi Moshe Shulman, who led the congregation for 18 years. Fink, a New Jersey native, officially assumed his duties on Friday, Aug. 1.  He studied at the Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh...

Brian Thomas has been named interim head of school at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School

New Mirowitz leader brings heart, history — and a baseball glove

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 23, 2025

Veteran educator Brian Thomas has been named interim head of school at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. The appointment of Thomas was announced on Wednesday, July 23, by Scott Levine, president of the school’s board of trustees. Levine’s introductory...

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...

Stones are laid at the monument for Walter and Else Berger.

Two generations later, Holocaust survivor’s gravestone is made right

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 9, 2025

A St. Louis Holocaust survivor was honored with a special memorial service late last month — 60 years after his death.  Walter Berger’s family members gathered June 30 to unveil a new monument at his grave in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton,...

'Wandering Twos' roll into St. Louis for Holocaust victim's mission

‘Wandering Twos’ roll into St. Louis for Holocaust victim’s mission

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 9, 2025

Members of the Jewish Motorcycle Alliance’s local chapter—the “Wandering Twos”—arrived at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum on Wednesday morning, July 9, in their quest to raise awareness and support for Holocaust museums in the...

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