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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

Samantha Renzulli was among the Jewish students who brought flowers, signs and good cheer to staff appreciation day at Jewish Senior Services, a long-term care facility in Bridgeport, Conn. 

Amid pandemic, these young Jews and their elderly friends are finding new ways to connect

By Renee Ghert-Zand, JTAPublished June 18, 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, 15-year-old Samantha Renzulli immediately thought about how it would affect her elderly friends at Jewish Senior Services, a long-term care facility in Bridgeport, Conn.Renzulli had met some of the residents through Better...

Jonathan Gordon, at left,  and Jonty Felsher, founded RPI Therapy Services. Photo: Bill Motchan 

Originally from South Africa, physical therapists built company after meeting in St. Louis

BY BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished January 19, 2020

A few months ago, Michelle Goldstein and her husband were preparing for a trip to Portugal. They planned a lot of walking, knowing they’d encounter countless stairs. There was just one problem: Michelle’s knee began hurting weeks before the trip.“I...

The Marcus Foundation has awarded a $3.2 million grant to Foundation for Jewish Camp for supporting mental health across the spectrum of Jewish camps in North America.  

Grant to address mental health at Jewish summer camp

JNS ReportPublished October 17, 2019

The Marcus Foundation has awarded a $3.2 million grant to Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) for supporting mental health across the spectrum of Jewish camps in North America. Funding will be awarded to approximately 60 camps over four years in an effort...

Dr. Stanley Misler, a retired nephrologist, has become a volunteer educator of a variety of subjects at Metro Academic & Classical High School.

Retired physician expands horizons to music, teaching

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished October 17, 2019

As a well-respected physician, innovative medical school professor and award-winning researcher in the mechanisms of insulin secretion, Stanley Misler has had quite a career in the sciences. But since a 2015 retirement from his work as a nephrologist...

St. Louisan Beth Koritz is author of “Resilience Road: Exploring your Authentic Life Path.” 

Life coach helps people find their ‘authentic life path’

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 25, 2019

For Beth Koritz, it came on very suddenly. “I went from being fine to being lifted out of the car by a security guard at the hospital within 48 hours. That was my wake up call,” said the native St. Louisan, now 56. “The first words out of my mouth...

Vicki Atlas Israel

Reducing stress is within our power, author says

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished April 25, 2019

Vicki Atlas Israel wants parents and children to know they have the power to stress less. “I call it your inner power, your superpower,” the Congregation Shaare Emeth congregant said. “That can help us with making decisions. That can help us just...

Rabbi Jessica Shafrin

Starting conversations about the last thing we want to talk about

BY DAVID LAUGHER, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished March 21, 2019

Rabbi Jessica Shafrin would like to start a conversation even if she knows that the topic of death isn’t one people are always eager to broach. “People don’t like to think about their life ending,” said Shafrin, 33. “Maybe they don’t want...

Rabbi James Stone Goodman

Rabbi helps others help themselves

BY DAVID BAUGHER, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished October 19, 2018

Rabbi James Stone Goodman came to town soon after graduation from Hebrew Union College. “I was ordained in 1981,” said Goodman, 69, a Detroit native. “This was my first stop.”It has been a long one. Beginning at Congregation Shaare Emeth and...

Ken Schwartz (left) and his son, Micah, are shown with grandparents Dorothy and Mel Schwartz in 2015 at the time of Micah’s bar mitzvah. Mel passed away in May 2016. With weekly visits, Micah has maintained his special connection with his grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s.

Event to explore Jewish perspective on Alzheimer’s

BY DAVID BAUGHER, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished May 17, 2018

When 15-year-old Micah Schwartz plays board games with his grandmother Dorothy, he doesn’t mind if they have to adapt the rules a bit. The important thing is that they are getting to spend time together.“I always felt a real connection with her because...

Ashley Stockman

She’s leading a life of service to the elderly at the J

By Patricia Corrigan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 22, 2017

Growing up in Jefferson City, Ashley Stockman remembers serving as a support person for her grandmother, who had multiple sclerosis. “I walked to her house every day after school, and I spent summers with her,” Stockman said. “Jerry” Branson Baker...

Dr. Jonas Cooper

He’s an ‘electrician’ in the field of cardiology

By Patricia Corrigan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished May 18, 2017

If you missed the local TV interview Dr. Jonas Cooper did in February, you missed learning about his complex medical specialty, you missed seeing him explain the anatomy of a heart using a plastic model and you missed watching him solve a Rubik’s Cube...

Cheryl Kinney

Program targets families of Alzheimer’s patients

BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished February 15, 2017

More than 5.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number may nearly triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.  Alzheimer’s is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and about one in three...

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