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 William Motchan
Marc Hochberg will perform with Klezundheit! a klezmer big band in St. Louis, at the Sababa Jewish Arts and Culture Festival on Sept. 18. File photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Missouri’s only klezmer big band will play ‘happy music’ at Sababa

BILL MOTCHAN, Special to the Jewish Light
Published September 15, 2022
Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] St. Louis Synagogues

Published February 26, 2023
Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Feb. 5: A tree of life Tu B’Shevat seder

Published January 25, 2023
Photo: Bill Motchan

The annual U.City Purim Reenactment Parade took place on March 17. Photos: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Photo gallery: U. City Purim Parade

Published March 18, 2022
Purim celebration at Congregation Shaare Emeth on Sunday, March 13. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Photos: Purim at Temple Israel, B’nai Amoona and Shaare Emeth

Published March 17, 2022
A 2017 file photo of Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Upcoming events for Jewish families in St. Louis

Published July 20, 2022
central-reform-congregation-8_50867272741_o

[Photo] STL Jewish and interfaith communities express support after synagogue threat

ELLEN FUTTERMAN and JORDAN PALMER
Published November 11, 2021
Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] St. Louis synagogues have embraced the outdoors during pandemic

BILL MOTCHAN, Special to the Jewish Light
Published August 4, 2021
A view of ‘Martin’s Marina’ — the pool and patio of Hiram and Cheryl Martin.

[Photo] St. Louisans transform their yards into amazing landscapes, outdoor living areas

Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published August 1, 2021
Nusach Hari Bnai Zion

[Photo] Upcoming family events in the St. Louis Jewish community

Published May 25, 2021
Central Reform Congregation

[Photo] CRC’s ‘Shabbat Kulanu’ offers chance for community to eat, mingle (virtually) and learn

Published February 15, 2021
Congregation Shaare Emeth

[Photo] Lifting our children, as on wings of eagles

BY RABBI LORI LEVINE
Published February 4, 2021
Rabbi James Bennett of Congregation Shaare Emeth gets ready for Shabbat services that would be live-streamed to congregants on Jan. 8.

[Photo] Lessons learned: How adapting to the pandemic will enhance Jewish community services

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published January 14, 2021
Edan Shoghi holds a black king, his favorite chess piece. He said he considers the king the most valuable attacking piece on the chess board. Photo: Bill Motchan 

[Photo] Young Jewish chess players develop matchless life skills

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published December 31, 2020
Back to School Store

Back to School Store

William Motchan
Published June 4, 2020
St. Louisan and acclaimed Jewish rock musician Rick Recht is executive director of Jewish Rock Radio.

[Photo] Jewish Rock Radio plays on

by Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 7, 2020
Randi Mozenter

Randi Mozenter

William Motchan
Published April 19, 2020
Jewish Federation of St. Louis Chief Operating Officer Don Hannon speaks with reporters. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] St. Louis Holocaust Museum plans major expansion

By Ellen Futterman, Editor
Published January 27, 2020
Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service

Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service

William Motchan
Published January 2, 2020
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

Schnucks Ladue Crossing Hanukkah celebration

William Motchan
Published December 23, 2019
The Brothers Lazaroff performing at "Why Be Jewish?"

The Brothers Lazaroff performing at “Why Be Jewish?”

William Motchan
Published October 3, 2019
Ellie Balk with the mural she created at the Chroma Apartments complex in the Grove. Photo:Bill Motchan

[Photo] Mural artists’ big pictures are all about the tiny details

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published August 1, 2019
Karen Flotte at Central Reform Congregation’s mitzvah garden. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Karen Flotte: Urban farmer ‘digs deep’ to nourish body and soul

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 30, 2019
Students at Monroe Elementary School in St. Louis city help Dr. Terry Weiss unload his weekly delivery of food from Operation Food Search. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Dr. Terry Weiss: Devoting retirement to helping those who need it

BY ERIC BERGER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Published May 30, 2019
Volunteer Alice Ludmer dances with participants at the J’s Adult Day Center during a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Alice Ludmer: Longtime volunteer is go-to asset at J’s Adult Day Center

By Ellen Futterman, Editor
Published May 30, 2019
Jennifer Rothman Mancuso holds a photograph of her son, Vincent Joseph “VJ” Mancuso, who passed away in 2010 shortly before his fourth birthday. Mancuso started a foundation in VJ’s memory, which supports four local nonprofit organizations. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Jennifer Rothman Mancuso: Mom’s grief drives work to help others’ children

By Ellen Futterman, Editor
Published May 30, 2019
Sheila Shucart, Brayden Miederhoff, Heather Miederhoff, Bonnie Rosen and Madison Miederhoff recite the blessing after lighting Shabbat candles during a service at Delmar Gardens West in April. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Volunteers bring ‘mitzvah’ of Shabbat to nursing home

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 30, 2019
Barbara Finch with one of the gun locks her organization hands out at as part of the “Lock it for Love” campaign. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Barbara Finch: Passion for social justice issues drives co-founder of ‘Women’s Voices’ group

By Margaret Gillerman, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 29, 2019
2019 Unsung Hero Reva Davis. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Reva Davis: Fun, caring and unstoppable, former teacher drives on

By Ellie S. Grossman, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 29, 2019
David and Jeff Lazaroff in their studio. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Brothers Lazaroff use music to help heal the world

Story & Photos by Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light
Published May 29, 2019
The Shabbat Volunteer Team. PHOTO: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Meet five of the Light’s 2019 Unsung Heroes

Published May 9, 2019
Above, Rabbi Howard Kaplansky helps lead the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Freedom Seder on April 9. Photo: Bill Motchan

[Photo] Social-action Freedom Seder brings faiths together

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light
Published April 18, 2019
An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

William Motchan
Published March 7, 2019
An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

William Motchan
Published March 7, 2019
An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

William Motchan
Published March 7, 2019
An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

William Motchan
Published March 7, 2019
An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

An Evening With Andrew Rehfeld

William Motchan
Published March 7, 2019
Load More Stories