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

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief of the St. Louis Jewish Light

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

A native of Westbury, New York, Ellen Futterman broke into the world of big city journalism as a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner in the latter part of the 20th century. Deciding that Tinsel Town was not exciting enough for her, she moved on to that hub of glamour and sophistication, Belleville, Ill., where she became a feature writer, columnist and food editor for the Belleville News-Democrat.

A year later the St. Louis Post-Dispatch scooped her up, neither guessing at the full range of her talents, nor the extent of her shoe collection. She went on to work at the Post-Dispatch for 25 years, during which time she covered hard news, education, features, investigative projects, profiles, sports, entertainment, fashion, interiors, business, travel and movies. She won numerous major local and national awards for her reporting on "Women Who Kill" and on a four-part series about teen-age pregnancy, 'Children Having Children.'"

Among her many jobs at the newspaper, Ellen was a columnist for three years, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Critic-at-large and Daily Features (Everyday) Editor. She invented two sections from scratch, one of which recently morphed from Get Out, begun in 1995, to GO.

In January of 2009, Ellen joined the St. Louis Jewish Light as its editor, where she is responsible for overseeing editorial operations, including managing both staff members and freelancers. Under her tutelage, the Light has won 16 Rockower Awards — considered the Jewish Pulitzer’s — including two personally for Excellence in Commentary for her weekly News & Schmooze column. She also is the communications content editor for the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis.

Ellen and her husband, Jeff Burkett, a middle school principal, live in Olivette and have three children. Ellen can be reached at 314-743-3669 or at [email protected].

All content by Ellen Futterman
Yakir Hexter (on right) walks with his best friend, Dovid Schwartz, to a wedding. Both men, who were 26, died together Jan. 8 in a grenade attack during intense fighting in southern Gaza.

Best friends, IDF buddies leave honorable legacy

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published February 6, 2024
The Sklar Brothers get bobbleheaded on their birthday

The Sklar Brothers get bobbleheaded on their birthday

Ellen Futterman, Chief Digital Content Officer
Published January 11, 2024
11 honored as Jewish Light Unsung Heroes

11 honored as Jewish Light Unsung Heroes

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published November 28, 2023
From a 4-month courtship to a 73-year marriage

From a 4-month courtship to a 73-year marriage

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published November 21, 2023
Introducing the 2023 Unsung Heroes

Introducing the 2023 Unsung Heroes

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published August 31, 2023
Scott Biondo speaks with a reporter in 2018.

What people say about Scott Biondo

Ellen Futterman, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Published July 13, 2023
Jewish 3rd graders March for Change

Jewish 3rd graders “March for Change”

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Published May 25, 2023
Wanted: Carole King doppelganger 

Wanted: Carole King doppelganger 

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-Chief
Published May 10, 2023
Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Alma Cohen

Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Alma Cohen

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published April 28, 2023
Guy Dobrin

Meet the St. Louis Shinshinim: Guy Dobrin

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published April 28, 2023
Photo by Ellen Futterman

First look: Ben Poremba’s new Jewish deli

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published April 18, 2023
Remembering the memorable Vivian Zwick

Remembering the memorable Vivian Zwick

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Published April 11, 2023
Three events on our must-see/do list

Three events on our must-see/do list

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published March 23, 2023
Raise a glass to the opening of City Winery STL

Raise a glass to the opening of City Winery STL

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published March 21, 2023
Bais Yaakov hosts three-day Shabbaton event

Bais Yaakov hosts three-day Shabbaton event

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published March 7, 2023

Israel summer trips 2022: Gracie May

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-Chief
Published November 10, 2022

Israel summer trips 2022: Celia Weingart

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-Chief
Published October 7, 2022
What you need to know about Sababa 2022

What you need to know about Sababa 2022

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published September 13, 2022

Israel Summer Trips 2022: Zoe Klevens

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-Chief
Published August 31, 2022
Students prepare for Shabbat at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community school with Rabbi Scott Slarskey  Pictured with Slarskey are (from left)
Isaac Besmer  Karinne Haimann  Isaac Picker  Avi Terkel (in the back)  Ami Shafrin and Penelope Gill Gray  PHOTO: PATTY BLOOM MIROWITZ

Local Jewish day schools share what’s new this year

Bill Motchan, Special For The Jewish Light and Ellen Futterman
Published August 24, 2022
Yael Shaw

Yael Shaw’s journey to Israel

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published August 10, 2022
Busy bees fundraising for ‘Big Bee’ mural

Busy bees fundraising for ‘Big Bee’ mural

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
Published April 29, 2022
A recent catchball practice at Chesterfield Athletic Club. Photo: Bill Motchan

Israeli sport catches on in St. Louis

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-Chief
Published March 13, 2022
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