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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

Israeli soldier from the Paratroopers Brigade, some of them ultra orthodox Jewish man during a swearing-in ceremony for the Paratroopers Brigade, at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem on November 11, 2021. Photo by Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90

Why do Jews have such a love affair with the IDF?

Tabby Refael, JNSPublished December 12, 2021

(Jewish Journal via JNS) I was 16 when I first visited Israel with my mother. She spent most of the trip coming between me and aggressive young Israeli men who thought it was cute when I said, “Shalom, korim li Tabby” (“Hi, I’m Tabby”) with...

Israeli security forces seen at entrence to the Al-Jalama checkpoint near the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. Israeli forces raid on the West Bank city of Jenin overnight following the drive-by shooting terror attack earlier this month. Photo by Basel Awidat/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ???
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Four terrorists killed, two IDF soldiers wounded in clashes during pursuit of Hamas operatives

LILACH SHOVAL , SHAHAR KLAIMAN, ARIEL KAHANA AND JNS STAFF, JNSPublished September 26, 2021

(September 26, 2021 / Israel Hayom) Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israel Defense Forces troops conducting a counterterrorism operation in the Jenin and Ramallah areas in the early hours of Sunday morning, the IDF said in a statement. At...

Israeli soldiers stand near artillery units deployed near the Lebanese border outside the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona, northern Israel, on September 1, 2019. Photo by Basel Awidat/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ???
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IDF shells targets in Lebanon following rocket fire on Israel’s north

Published August 4, 2021
Two of the projectiles landed in Israel, while a third came down in Lebanese territory, according to the Israeli military.
Israel Defense Forces Sgt. Talia Wolkowitz and Hunter, the Belgian shepherd she worked with during her IDF service.

Five questions for former IDF Sgt. Talia Wolkowitz

BY SAM MOSHER, STAFF WRITERPublished July 19, 2018

Talia Wolkowitz is a native St. Louisan who served in the Israel Defense Forces for two years. After joining in December 2015, she rose to the rank of sergeant, working as an operational track and attack canine handler. In this position, she was paired...

Israelis Ido (left) and Eden shared stories about their army service and life afterwards with a largely Christian audience in Ellisville. Photo: Eric Berger

St. Louis evangelical Christians stand with Israel, too

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished February 15, 2017

It wasn’t the sort of question you typically hear at an Israel advocacy event in the United States. But many of the more than 130 Christians gathered Sunday in Ellisville applauded when an audience member asked two Israeli speakers: Do the “Jewish...

Noah Oberlander poses with his sister Naomi. Photo courtesy of Naomi Oberlander.

IDF soldiers discuss their commitment to defend the Jewish State

BY ADAM RUSH, SOPHOMORE, LADUE high schoolPublished February 8, 2017

While some teens want to defend America, others want to defend Israel. Some Jewish Americans feel the need to join the Israel Defense Forces to help protect those living in the Jewish State. Most of these individuals are teenagers because the oldest one...

Dan Gordon will discuss his more than 40 years with the IDF, as well as his Hollywood screenwriting career at an Oct. 9 event.

IDF veteran, Hollywood screenwriter to speak at B’nai B’rith St. Louis event

BY ROBERT A. COHN , Editor-in-Chief EmeritusPublished September 28, 2016

Dan Gordon, an Israel Defense Forces veteran of several wars, a Mideast peace negotiator and the author of 15 Hollywood films, will be the featured speaker for a B’nai B’rith St. Louis program Sunday, Oct. 9. Among Gordon’s writing credits are...

Israeli troops kill infiltrator from Egypt

JTAPublished February 28, 2012

JERUSALEM -- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a man attempting to infiltrate into Israel from Egypt. The soldiers early Tuesday morning saw a group of about 15 infiltrators into Israel, who failed to stop when asked to by the Israeli troops. The infiltrators...

Israel strikes Gaza sites after weekend of rockets

JTAPublished February 19, 2012

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Air Force struck two sites in the Gaza Strip after a weekend of rocket attacks on southern Israel. Israeli aircraft late Saturday night struck a weapons manufacturing site in northern Gaza, and a home in Gaza City which a statement...

Israel strikes Gaza targets

JTAPublished February 16, 2012

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Air Force struck what the military called two "terror activity sites" in the Gaza Strip. The attacks early Thursday morning were in response to four rockets fired on southern Israel Wednesday night, according to a statement from...

Bibi tables talk on extending law delaying military service

JTAPublished January 18, 2012

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed discussion of extending a law for five more years that allows yeshiva students to delay their military service. Netanyahu said in a statement issued from his office Wednesday that he...

Columnist Lois Caplan

IDF musical ensemble to perform at B’nai Amoona

Lois CaplanPublished October 6, 2010

CONGREGATION B'NAI AMOONA has waited three long years to present the spectacular Israel Defense Forces (IDF) musical ensemble at the congregation's Magical Musical Moments, now in its fourth very successful year.  "At the suggestion of our rabbi, Carnie...

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