We must have become numb to gun violence. Hardly a day goes by without another mass shooting in a school, shopping center, place of worship or public square. We don’t even know what qualifies as a mass shooting these days. Deaths attributable...

This week’s Torah Portion, Chayei Sarah, introduces us to Isaac and Rebecca’s love story. I have always been interested in Isaac and Rebecca’s relationship, and a few years ago, I used the medium of midrash to dive more deeply into their story....

Attention youngsters who enjoy singing. Shir Emeth Youth Choir, which is open to all 3rd-7th graders in the St. Louis Jewish community, will officially get underway next month. Although it will be based at Congregation Shaare Emeth, any child from any...

It's cliche to say that most kids growing up dream of becoming professional athletes, but few who aren't born with the natural gifts, stick with their dreams long enough to realize them. That is not the case for Jake Speller. Speller, 23, grew up in...

The custom of a second bar mitzvah, which has become more and more popular in recent years among men, is based on the reading of Psalm 90:10, which says that 70 years is the expected lifespan of most humans. Reaching age 70, then, can be considered a...

Temple Emanuel is hosting an introduction to Judaism course from Oct. 5 to Jan. 25.  Classes will be taught virtually on Zoom. There is no tuition fee for the course.   Students are asked to purchase the book, “Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity:...

Q&A with Beth Kodner, director of Camp Emeth at Congregation Shaare Emeth How long have you worked in the Jewish community?   I was a camp counselor at Shaare Emeth when I was in high school and college and then returned in 2009...

A new mass COVID-19 vaccination site is gearing up to open April 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a Reform temple in Creve Coeur. Today, Congregation Shaare Emeth announced it was teaming up the St. Louis County Health Department, and the Creve Coeur fire...

Spring is here and summer is fast approaching; with that, a longing and readiness to return to some degree of “regular” life. For many parents, that means making plans for summer camp and fortunately, St. Louis offers a multitude of options for...

In this week’s Torah portion, Yitro, we encounter one of the most epic moments in the Torah.At the foot of Mount Sinai, accompanied by thunder and lightning, the newly freed Israelites enter into a new covenant with their Redeemer. They hear the Ten...

After I graduated from college, I spent a year working for Facing History and Ourselves, an international organization whose mission is to use lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate.One of Facing History’s...