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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

Rabbi James Bennett is one of the hosts of Torah Tuesday, a series of Torah teachings that will be available on Congregation Shaare Emeth’s Facebook page and in its e-newsletter. FACEBOOK VIDEO SCREENSHOT

Shaare Emeth starts video parsha in Torah Tuesday series

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished November 1, 2019

Congregation Shaare Emeth has begun Torah Tuesday, in which members of its clergy produce 2 to 3 minutes of Torah teaching based on the week’s parsha.“We wanted to do something on a regular basis that wasn’t promoting events or fundraising,” explained...

So Is Life features Josh Nelson, Ellen Dreskin, Rosalie Will and Dan Nichols. The group will perform a Selichot concert at Shaare Emeth on Sept. 21. Photo: So Is Life website, www.bdnandn.com/

Shaare Emeth hosts Selichot with top-notch musicians

BY ERIC BERGER, ASSOCIATE EDITORPublished September 13, 2019

It might be easier to ask for forgiveness and head into the Jewish new year after you have heard a group of talented musicians on Sept. 21 at Congregation Shaare Emeth.The Reform synagogue is hosting a Selichot (prayers of repentance) service with the...

Lucy Greenbaum is music and youth engagement coordinator at Congregation Shaare Emeth. Photo by Zach Dalin

Rising Jewish singer-songwriter takes baton at Shaare Emeth

By Kayla Steinberg, Staff WriterPublished July 11, 2019

Lucy Greenbaum was always told she should become a cantor.  Before high school, music was just her side gig. She sang at open mics and coffeehouses, never taking her performances too seriously. But Greenbaum’s cantor urged her to participate in the...

Letters to the editor

Jewish leaders speak out against abortion law

Published June 20, 2019

We, the undersigned Jewish community leaders, take a public stand against the abortion ban (HB126) which Missouri Governor Mike Parson recently signed into law. The ban threatens the lives of women, their families, Missouri’s economy and our future. We...

Congregation B'nai El

Unwise Vote Derails Good B’nai El Deal

Jewish Light EditorialPublished June 13, 2019

It is highly regrettable that an apparently good deal for the future of the former B’nai El synagogue property and its interested potential buyer, the well-regarded Miriam School, has been derailed by a 3-2 vote of board members in the tiny village...

B'nai El building in 2019

Westwood rejects B’nai El-Miriam Academy deal

BY ERIC BERGER, ASSOCIATE EDITORPublished June 11, 2019

The Village of Westwood trustees voted June 4 to reject an application to rezone the former B’nai El property for use by the Miriam Academy, a private high school for students with learning disabilities.  The decision stalls and could kill property...

Rabbi James Bennett

A respectful reply to rabbi’s commentary on abortion

By Rabbi James Bennett & Rabbi Andrea GoldsteinPublished June 6, 2019

We are grateful to our colleague Rabbi Seth Gordon for his articulate and thoughtful op-ed in the St. Louis Jewish Light on May 23 (“Jewish law, abortion and born v. unborn life”) laying out an argument that provides food for thought based on his...

Rabbi Jonah Zinn of Congregation Shaare Emeth. Photo: Joel Marion Photography

Sunshine State beckons for two local 30-something rabbis

By Eric Berger, Associate EditorPublished May 30, 2019

When you hear about St. Louis Jews heading to Florida, it’s usually around December to flee the cold weather or for the Cardinals spring training or around age 65, when they retire.Rabbis Jonah Zinn and Orrin Krublit are heading to the Sunshine State...

From left, St. Louis veteran Helyn Kevrick, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight flight leaders Keath Hausher and Megan O’Brien, and Kevrick’s daughter, Rebel Vaenberg, visit the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va.

Pioneering female Marine veteran takes Honor Flight

By Eric Berger, Associate EditorPublished May 23, 2019

On April 20, Helyn Kevrick, a Marine veteran, traveled from St. Louis to Washington, D.C., in a familiar setting: She was the only woman among 22 veterans.When she joined the Marines in 1953, she and another enlistee were the first two women to go through...

Shawn Rimerman shows off a plate of Ken’s French Toast at the Kibitz Café Oct. 7. The monthly event is held by Men of Shaare Emeth (MOSHE). 

Kibitz Café offers schmooze, schmears and lots more

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished October 25, 2018

Acoustic guitar music fills the auditorium at Congregation Shaare Emeth, where ambient blue light helps set a festive mood. A gaggle of guys wearing bright yellow T-shirts, bedecked with the words “Cook,” “Eat,” “Kibitz,” and “Repeat”...

Cort VanOstran, the Democratic candidate for Missouri's second congressional district, is participating in a candidate forum at Congregation Shaare Emeth on Oct. 15. Photo: Facebook

Candidate forum planned at Shaare Emeth Oct. 15

Published October 11, 2018

Congregation Shaare Emeth will host a forum for candidates in Missouri’s second congressional district from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15.Democrat Cort VanOstran and Libertarian Larry Kirk have confirmed they will participate. Shaare Emeth reports...

Unity walk, Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration planned for April 22

BY ERIC BERGER, STAFF WRITERPublished April 11, 2018

Linda Spitzer Gavatin’s motivation for helping organize a celebration marking the 70-year anniversary of Israel’s founding comes from her love for the Jewish State.And that love comes in part from something that occurred 50 years ago this summer.That’s...

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