By Rabbi Scott Slarskey
• Published February 13, 2020
D’VAR TORAH — Parashat YitroAs a Jewish educator, it is not uncommon to think about or to discuss with colleagues what it is specifically that make Jewish education Jewish. Is it the “chosen” content or the identity/ideology of the teacher? Are...
An article in the Jewish Light on Feb. 5 by Associate Editor Eric Berger entitled “St. Louis Jews doubt Trump peace plan will succeed” misled readers regarding the elements of President Donald Trump’s “peace plan” by mentioning only a few of...
Epidemiologist who studies community violence offers adviceSome commentators have used the word “epidemic” to describe the recent spikes in anti-Semitism. They may not realize how correct they are.Twenty years ago, upon my return to the United States...
The astronomical number of people harmed by guns last year — children, domestic violence and suicide victims — had me expecting that someone in charge might want to “do something” about it.
In a six month span last year, more than nine...
TEL AVIV — President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan will probably not achieve its stated goal of bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but it might just bring about peace between Israel and more of its Arab neighbors. Here’s...
By Rabbi-Cantor Ronald D. Eichaker
• Published February 6, 2020
D’VAR TORAH — BeshalachThe Book of Exodus 13:17 begins with two words: “Vay’hi b’shalach” – “And it came to be with the letting go…” (of the People [Israelites] by Pharaoh). Of all the words found in Parashat B’shalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16)...
KFAR TAPUACH, West Bank — Put simply, President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” is bad news for Israel.In a historic event last week, Trump revealed his vision for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he says has been one of the...
BY JONATHAN S. TOBIN, JNS
• Published February 6, 2020
Contrary to the bad advice they’re getting from the Democrats and J Street,Palestinians need to accept that the U.S. plan is their best chance for statehood.As far as Americans who despise President Donald Trump go, as well as for many Jews and Israelis...
On March 18, 1934, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a short announcement entitled, “Chancellor of Swiss Consulate to Wed.” The chancellor, Carl Lutz, was engaged to another Swiss immigrant, Gertrude “Trudi” Fankhauser, and the two returned to Switzerland...
By Rabbi Levi Shemtov
• Published January 30, 2020
WASHINGTON — Early Friday afternoon, I received a call inviting me to the White House to participate in a same-day signing ceremony for legislation authorizing $375 million in Homeland Security grants to help protect synagogues, churches, mosques and...
By SHOSHANNA KEATS JASKOLL
• Published January 16, 2020
JERUSALEM — What does one wear to the world’s first women’s Siyum HaShas?The question I posed on social media was a joke, a play on the idea of worrying about surface appearances at any event celebrating women’s achievements. But it also wasn’t...
MONSEY, N.Y. — As Jewish people around the globe were lighting candles in celebration of the 7th night of Hanukkah, the joyous family gatherings in our town were disrupted by the breaking news of a tragedy close to home: At approximately 10 p.m. on...
