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

Unsung Heroes Cover

Nominate an Unsung Hero in the community

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished December 13, 2017

This week, the Jewish Light begins to once again accept nominations for its ninth annual Unsung Heroes Awards. Roughly 10 honorees will be honored in the Light’s OY! Unsung Heroes magazine and at a special reception the evening of Monday, May 21...

Steven Puro is president of Midwest Jewish Congress and a professor emeritus of political science at St. Louis University.

Police-community dialogue a crucial starting point for change

BY STEVEN PUROPublished October 11, 2017

Can we grow as a St. Louis area community? What new elements can be introduced to allow people of different views to listen to outcry on both sides?The acquittal of former St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley, who had been charged with first-degree...

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT:  Debra K. Schuster, Richard Yawitz, Andy Schwebel, Michael Samis and Alex Dubinsky. SECOND ROW: Alexandra Cohen, Zach Poscover, Meghan Platke, Josh Thomeczek and Rina Gersten.THIRD ROW, FROM LEFT:  Pardes Lyons-Warren, Sophie Baron,  Andrew Mannis, Daniel Pomerantz and Julian Albright. FOURTH ROW: Megan Rubenstein, Bonnie Solomon, Nancy Goodman, Judy Schwartz Jaffe and Stefanie Levenson.BOTTOM ROW:  Lev Guter and Dr. Jay Pepose.

Jews in the News: July 5, 2017

Published July 6, 2017

Debra K. Schuster has joined the law firm of Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal. Her practice focuses on elder and disability law, a new area for the firm. Schuster previously owned Debra K. Schuster & Associates from 2003-2017. Richard Yawitz has...

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Cary J. Mogerman, Joseph J. Kodner, Melanie Paticoff Grossman, Mark Gershenson, Marci Mayer Eisen and Sam Opinsky. SECOND ROW: Jackie Heymann, Laurie Chod, Aaron Wahl, Jan Nykin, Paul Kravitz and Alice Handelman. THIRD ROW: Leeore Levinstein, Adam Schenberg and Josiah Simmons, Harlan Levin, Richie Levin and Blair Levin.

Jews in the News: June 7, 2017

Published June 8, 2017

Cary J. Mogerman and Joseph J. Kodner, partners at Zerman Mogerman LLC, co-authored the recently published book, “A Guide to Divorce in Missouri: Simple Answers to Complex Questions,”available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. It provides information...

Clockwise from top left: Stan Shanker, Jerri Livingston, Cindy Wallach and Lois and Dave Zuckerman

Meet five of this year’s Unsung Heroes

Published May 11, 2017

After Stan Shanker, 72, heard Rabbi James Bennett deliver a sermon about the plight of Syrian refugees, the Shaare Emeth congregant knew he wanted to get involved in helping them. He eventually contacted the International Institute of St. Louis, where...

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT:  Bob Kaiser, Gail Appleson, Gary Sarachan, Charles Weiss, Dr. Gary A. Ratkin and Dr. Paul S. Simons.SECOND ROW, From Left: Barry Greenberg, Robert Litz, Lynnsie Balk Kantor, Yvette Drury Dubinsky, Marlita Weiss and Maxine Clark.THIRD ROW, From Left: Sara Brodsky,  Jack J. Schramm and Teddy Vincent.

Jews in the News: May 3, 2017

Published May 4, 2017

Rabbi Howard and Susan Kaplansky will receive the American Jewish Committee’s Netzach Award on May 25. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 999 N. Second St., in downtown St. Louis. AJC St. Louis is honoring the Kaplanskys for their exemplary commitment to Jewish...

Sheri “Tina Turner” Sherman (left) with the ‘Ikettes’: Faith Berger, Janie Roodman Weiss and Galia Movitz at 2016 Lip Sync Live. Photo: Ben Tishler

J Associates presents ‘Lip Sync Live’

Published April 13, 2017

Start spreading the news…as the curtains open for J Associates’ second annual Lip Sync Live at The Pageant in the Delmar Loop on Saturday, April 22. Like the popular TV show, “Lip Sync Battle,” the event will feature popular music interpreted...

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Harvey Citerman, Marlene Hammerman, Susie Berg, Suzy Bloch, Sam Broh, Toby Chod, Darryl Cohen, Ken Cohen, Renee Sigel-Hearst, Rachel Katzman and Mike Lefton.SECOND ROW, FROM LEFT: Scott Mannis, Lynne Palan, David Pereles, Joe Pereles, Andy Sandler, Monte Sandler, Judi Scissors, Danny Soshnik, Jennifer Soshnik, Julie B. Stern and Ricki Tischler.THIRD ROW, From Left:  Steve Tucker, Greg Yawitz, Michael Mandel, Brian Isele , Susie Gitt, Rabbi Josef Davidson, Jessie Goldberg, Donald Pearline, Pardes Lyons-Warren, Sophie Bernstein and Ariana Tobin.

Jews in the News: April 5, 2017

Published April 6, 2017

Harvey Citerman has joined Gatewood-Spalding Wealth Management as director of business development to assist with business development and consulting on complex business succession and estate planning for the firm’s client families. Citerman also spearheads...

Women’s Philanthropy plans volunteer events in March

Published March 15, 2017

Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation of St. Louis is hosting a special volunteer opportunity to enhance the holidays for individuals who feel isolated from the Jewish community. They will be making care packages to give to community members living...

Letters to the Editor: March 15, 2017

Published March 15, 2017

Statement from cemetery directors We, the directors of the Jewish cemeteries of St. Louis, jointly condemn the recent acts of vandalism at cemeteries here in St. Louis and throughout the United States. We hope the perpetrators are found and brought to...

Members of Ashreinu, an egalitarian spiritual community that has been meeting for more than a year,  sing nigunim (wordless melodies) at the Jewish Mystic Jam in January at the Jewish Community Center in Creve Coeur. Photo: Eric Berger

Young Jews bring davening, song wherever they go

By Margaret Gillerman, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 15, 2017

“Happy are we! How goodly is our portion, and how pleasant is our lot, and how beautiful our heritage!” — Translation of the Shabbat Ashrei song As the dusk settles into darkness and the temperature drops on a recent winter night, about 25 people...

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT:  Sally Levy, Adam Ariel, Alex Ozar, Amanda Packman and Jill Schupp.SECOND ROW, From Left: Jeff Vines, Randy Vines, Will Kodner, Tali Katz, and Dr. Mauricio Lisker-Melman.THIRD ROW, From Left:Bob Kaiser, Eva Amelia Goodman, Gavriel Weiner, Lynne Prywitch and Debbie Manber Kupfer.

Jews in the News: March 1, 2017

Published March 1, 2017

Sally Levy will be honored as a Major Contributor to the Arts at the St. Louis Visionary Awards on April 24. Levy and her late husband, John D. Levy, have been major supporters of Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) for more than 40 years. She is the namesake...

Load More Stories