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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 Roxanne Shapiro

Inspired to feel God’s presence in mikdashim — sanctuaries

BY RABBI ROXANNE J.S. SHAPIROPublished February 23, 2011

In this week's Torah portion Vayakhel, we read Moses' account of all of the things that God has commanded concerning the building of the Mishkan (sanctuary), the donations that followed, and about the actual work of construction. Inspired by God's statement...

Parashat Tetzaveh: Our Teacher

By Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished February 9, 2011

You asked me why Moses our teacherwas not present in the story this week. He is present, I said, but hidden -or quiet, I said,he is the you in the first line [Ex.27:20]Now you shall command the children of Israelthen he recedes to where he lives- the...

O holy Shabbes — Inspiration Yitro

By Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished January 19, 2011

How we received Yitro is an us-and-them problemhe gave us something additionalthis priest of Midiansomething unexpectedhis name was Yeter [Hebrew for additional]he brought additional wisdomsomething from the outside. Once we integrated his wisdomhe became...

Rabbi Josef A. Davidson serves Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Va’era: Innocent bystanders — or passive supporters of wrongdoing?

BY RABBI JOSEF A. DAVIDSONPublished December 29, 2010

Moses has been disappointed by the reception he has received at the hands of both the Pharaoh and the Israelites. The Pharaoh's response to God's demand to "let My people go" was to place an even heavier burden upon the Israelites. As a result, the Israelites...

Rabbi Dale Schreiber

Shemot: Memory as consciousness

BY RABBI DALE SCHREIBERPublished December 22, 2010

This week we begin the Book of Exodus. It has other names as well. In Hebrew it is referred to as the Book of Names (Shemot). During the ninth century, it was called the Second Book as commentators saw it as an extension of the Book of Genesis. In the...

Transcending mere existence

BY RABBI SEVERINE HAZIZA-SOKOLPublished December 15, 2010

In Va-y'chi we witness the only deathbed scene in the entire Torah. Our patriarch Jacob prepares for his departure from this world. And yet the parasha is not deliberately morbid, confining and drained of vitality. The first words we read place emphasis...

Letting go of hurt, hold on to family

BY RABBI ARI HENDINPublished December 8, 2010

Anyone hurt by a close family member will relate to Joseph in this week's Torah portion, Vayigash. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph manages to become the second-in-command viceroy to Egypt's Pharaoh. Unrecognized by his brothers, who...

Rabbi Seth D Gordon serves Traditional Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.

A million dollars is not enough

By Rabbi Seth D GordonPublished November 24, 2010

Even a casual read of this week's parashah reveals that the narrative shifts from Ya'akov to his children; Yoseph assumes the lead role, and Yehudah, Re'uven and his other brothers are his supporting cast. But Ya'akov remains the subject of the opening...

Rabbi Amy Feder

Torah gives clues on handling Thanksgiving Reunions

By Rabbi Amy FederPublished November 17, 2010

As the holiday season approaches, I find myself thinking about what an overwhelming and emotional time of year this is for many people. Some of us love the holidays - the smells of turkeys roasting and latkes frying, extended celebrations with family...

Rabbi Josef A. Davidson serves Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Jacob’s story speaks to our own paths to belief

By Rabbi Josef A. DavidsonPublished November 10, 2010

Jacob brought his brother's anger upon himself in last week's Torah portion, Toldot, when he tricked the blind Isaac into giving him Esau's blessing.  Esau vowed to kill his fraternal twin brother following his father's death. Rebecca, ever the director...

Parashat Toldot: Survival story is continuing saga

By Rabbi Lane SteingerPublished November 4, 2010

Picture the aged Patriarch, confined to his bed, eyes too dim to see. He summons his oldest child, his first born and favorite son. Isaac says to Esau, the hirsute outdoorsman, the manly hunter, "Make for me tasty dishes such as I love and bring them...

Parashat Lech Lecha: Going forward — not alone but together

By Rabbi Brigitte RosenbergPublished October 13, 2010

How does a journey begin?  It begins with a moment - it could be a thought, a realization, an "aha" a phone call.  And the journey that lies ahead, whether good or bad, often leaves us with a certain amount of fear as we face the unknown. In this week's...

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