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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

Bret Rich. Grand Canyon back in 2016.

Bret Rich to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to honor his grandmother, all cancer survivors

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished August 3, 2022

For Bret Rich, 58, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has been on his mind for decades. “I had read the ‘Snows of Kilimanjaro’ in high school and the thought of going there was always in my head ever since. I had a friend that made the climb a few years ago....

 Central Reform Congregation 

CRC readies nurturing child care Nest for littlest kids

BY SAM MOSHER, STAFF WRITERPublished June 28, 2018

Before Susan Talve became the first rabbi of Central Reform Congregation, she helped start Ohio’s first licensed infant child care program in the workplace. During Talve’s graduate years at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, a classmate who was...

Protesters find safety at Central Reform Congregation

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished September 20, 2017

When Central Reform Congregation posted a letter on Facebook Friday announcing that it would act as a “safe space” for people protesting the not-guilty verdict in the Jason Stockley case, leaders of the synagogue thought that most of the protest would...

Rabbi Randy Fleisher speaks at a press conference at Central Reform Congregation on Feb. 1 in reaction to the Supreme Court nomination of Neil Gorsuch. View video from the press conference online at stljewishlight.com/multimedia. Photo: Eric Berger. 

At CRC, groups share concerns over Supreme Court nominee

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished February 8, 2017

Rabbi Randy Fleisher and some local nonprofit leaders did not have much faith that President Donald Trump would nominate someone who they could support to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.In fact, before Trump’s announcement, the leaders had already...

Jean Cavender

JProStl to install Cavender as new president at May event

Published May 2, 2012

Jean Cavender, Director of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, will be installed as President of JProStl at the annual JProStl “end of year” event on May 22.  The program, Let the Good Times Roll, is designed to promote networking between professionals...

The St. Louis Hillel building as it looks today; an addition to
the left of the building, which housed an auditorium, lobby,
kitchen and offices, was torn down last year.

A changed landscape, approach for St. Louis Hillel

Repps Hudson, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 1, 2012

Jacqueline Ulin Levey believes college organizations such as Hillel have to be proactive when it comes to reaching out and engaging students. That's why the Jewish organization is now meeting students at places on campus where they hang out, including...

'The Artist' claimed 10 Oscar nominations, including ones for
Best Picture and Best Director Michel Hazanavicius, a French
Jew.

Oscar is a Jewish name

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished January 25, 2012

B'nai mitzvah mitzvah When Central Reform Congregation members Michael Getty and Brian Vetruba decided to become b'nai mitzvah together, the couple wanted a mitzvah project that was not only meaningful to them but also beneficial to the entire St. Louis...

Congregation Temple Israel

Temple Israel to mark 125th anniversary

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished January 4, 2012

Rabbi Amy Feder likes to laud Temple Israel's ability to retain members - often over generations. "Even though we are a congregation growing in terms of young families, which is very exciting, it's pretty incredible that even those young families often...

Leonard Rifkin received a loan from the Jewish Federation's
Lifeline Fund to help pay bills while he searches for a new job.
Photo: Kristi Foster

Economic fallout still taking a toll

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 28, 2011

Not long ago Melvin Zuhler seemed to have it all -- his family, his health, a successful business and a bank account totaling near six figures. Yet as 2011 draws to a close, Zuhler is looking for only one thing -- help. "I want a second chance," said...

Central Reform artists, artisans showcased at ‘Art Shuk’

Published December 7, 2011

Twenty nine members of Central Reform Congregation (CRC) will be selling their artwork at the congregation's first "Art Shuk: A Marketplace for Artisans." The event will run from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 and noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at CRC, 5020...

Phyllis Markus, Chair of JCRC’s Bohm Social Justice Initiative brings donations collected at Shaare Emeth to Central Reform Congregation, where they were sorted and sent to Joplin, Mo. Photo: Lisa Mandel

Joplin relief — ways to help

Published June 8, 2011

According to the Jewish Community Relations Council, during the weeks of May 23 and May 30, members of the St. Louis Jewish community collected and sorted clothing, personal care products, baby supplies and other items and drove a total of 14 large vehicles...

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