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
All content by Naama Barak
Photo: Sharon Mccutcheon, Pexels

10 books to read before you visit Israel

Naama Barak, Israel21c.org
Published March 27, 2024
Dairy all round. An Israeli family celebrate the holiday of Shavuot in Tzur Hadassah. Photo by Nati Shohat/flash 90.

8 fun facts about Shavuot in Israel

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published June 2, 2022

10 ways to travel Israel on a budget

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published May 19, 2022
8 fun and fascinating facts surrounding Israel’s founding

8 fun and fascinating facts surrounding Israel’s founding

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published May 3, 2022
10 things you didn’t know about ‘Fauda’ but really should

10 things you didn’t know about ‘Fauda’ but really should

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published April 14, 2022
Why handmade Israeli guitars are conquering the music world?

Why handmade Israeli guitars are conquering the music world?

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published April 6, 2022
10 amazing Jewish archeological finds, discovered by accident

10 amazing Jewish archeological finds, discovered by accident

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published March 31, 2022
A 12-year-old girl is treated at the Shining Star State of Israel field hospital. The girl fled with her mother, a nurse by profession, from the war torn Donetsk region. Photo by Naama Frank Azriel of Sheba Hospital.

Israel opens humanitarian field hospital in war-torn Ukraine

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published March 24, 2022
Women working at the stone quarry of Kibbutz Ein Harod in 1941. Photo by Kluger Zoltan/Government Press Office

The women who built Israel with hands and hearts

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published March 10, 2022

10 reasons we love Friday in Israel

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published February 24, 2022

9 Israeli technologies to help the world’s trees

NAAMA BARAK, Israel21c.org
Published January 14, 2022
Israeli film on WWII Nazis hidden in US is Oscar contender

Israeli film on WWII Nazis hidden in US is Oscar contender

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published December 23, 2021
Yemoja’s new microalgae will make veggie burgers look red and juicy. Photo courtesy of Yemoja

These Israelis are putting the “burger” back in “veggie burger”

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published December 8, 2021
The astronauts walk past their intended habitat. Photo by Florian Voggeneder/OeWF

Astronauts carry out space mission in Israeli desert

Naama Barak
Published October 14, 2021
A photo from Spencer Tunick’s 2011 installation of the Dead Sea. Photo courtesy of Spencer Tunick.

Nude photo shoot to bring attention to a dying Dead Sea

Naama Barak
Published October 13, 2021
Worldwide 30% of trees are in danger of extinction. Not in Israel…

Worldwide 30% of trees are in danger of extinction. Not in Israel…

Naama Barak
Published September 29, 2021
View of the famous “mushroom” geological form in Timna. Photo by Sergei25, Shutterstock

10 reasons the Negev is the next place to visit in Israel

Naama Barak
Published September 27, 2021
Children aren’t taught to protect themselves against cyberattacks, despite the growing threat. Photo by Taylor Wilcox on Unsplash

The lesson kids won’t learn in school this year, but should

Naama Barak
Published September 21, 2021
9 ways to celebrate an eco-friendly Sukkot

9 ways to celebrate an eco-friendly Sukkot

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published September 18, 2021
Covid leaves millions worldwide with smell impairments months after contracting the disease. Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash

Covid leaves millions with impaired sense of smell

Naama Barak
Published September 14, 2021
A first-of-its-kind study investigates how a second lockdown affects the trajectory of anxiety and adjustment disorder. Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Study shows mental-health cost of repeated Covid lockdown

Naama Barak
Published September 13, 2021
The world’s bee population is dying out due to a lethal combination of modern demand and natural stresses. Photo by Jenna Lee on Unsplash

8 ways the Start-Up Nation is trying to save the bees

Naama Barak, ISRAEL21c
Published August 30, 2021
The discovery of the deep-sea hotspot could shed light on the sustainability of marine ecosystems. Photo courtesy of University of Haifa, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat joint project.

Huge deep-sea shark hotspot found off coast of Tel Aviv

Naama Barak, Israel21c
Published August 15, 2021
Pixellot’s smart unmanned device follows and films a game for it to be broadcast and analyzed. Photo by Shai Pardo

Thanks to this Israeli startup, you can now watch almost any sports match in the world

Naama Barak
Published August 4, 2021
In first, Israel and UAE exchange organ transplants

In first, Israel and UAE exchange organ transplants

Naama Barak, israel21c
Published August 2, 2021
The international Miss Universe beauty pageant will celebrate its 70th anniversary in the Israeli city of Eilat.

Miss Universe pageant to be held in Israel for first time

Naama Barak
Published July 28, 2021
Israeli teen acrobatic gymnastics team takes gold in Switzerland. Photo by Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Israeli teen acrobatic gymnastics team takes world gold

Naama Barak
Published June 28, 2021
#EarlyDetection Toilet health monitor coming to a loo near you OutSense’s US pilot to run in conjunction with a healthcare enterprise with almost 100 facilities. By Naama Barak JUNE 14, 2021, 11:50 AM Photo by Danilo Alvesd on Unsplash

Toilet health monitor coming to a loo near you, thanks to Israeli tech

Naama Barak, THE FORWARD
Published June 15, 2021
Young people on their way to work in the fields in pre-state Israel, 1939. Photo by Kluger Zoltan/GPO

12 books to help you understand Israel’s history

NAAMA BARAK, ISRAEL21C
Published June 8, 2021
10 things to expect when visiting post-COVID Israel

10 things to expect when visiting post-COVID Israel

NAAMA BARAK, ISRAEL21C
Published June 3, 2021
The reverse side of an ancient bronze amulet found near the ruins of the Arbel synagogue in northern Israel depicts protection against the evil eye. Photo by Dafna Gazit/Israel Antiquities Authority

The story behind this ancient amulet to ward off demons

NAAMA BARAK, ISRAEL21c
Published May 30, 2021
Everything you need to know about the Iron Dome

Everything you need to know about the Iron Dome

NAAMA BARAK, ISRAE21C
Published May 19, 2021
Israeli high-tech cocoa spread with 50% less sugar hits US shelves

Israeli high-tech cocoa spread with 50% less sugar hits US shelves

NAAMA BARAK, ISRAEL21C
Published May 7, 2021
Your Sunday morning cup of coffee is about to transform. Here's why.

Your Sunday morning cup of coffee is about to transform. Here’s why.

Naama Barak, Israel21c.org
Published April 16, 2021
This Independence Day, we look forward to leaving Covid-19 behind. (MBLifestyle via Shutterstock.com)

11 things we want to declare independence from this year

Naama Barak
Published April 8, 2021
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