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

The Jewish Community Relations Council on June 1 gathered elected officials and interfaith leaders to speak out against anti-Semitism. Pictured here is Episcopal Bishop Deon Johnson. The press conference was held at Congregation B’nai Amoona. Photos by Bill Motchan

Local leaders speak out about anti-Semitism

Published June 2, 2021

The Jewish Community Relations Council on June 1 gathered elected officials and interfaith leaders to speak out against anti-Semitism. The press conference was held at Congregation B’nai Amoona. Each speaker explained in his/her own words why...

Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity plans virtual conference

Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity plans virtual conference

Published October 13, 2020

The St. Louis Jewish community is coming together for facilitated conversations on race, racism and bias. The goal is to listen, learn and take steps towards refuah (healing). Rabbis from across the region will be joined by nationally recognized speakers...

From left, Susan Block, Ellen Alper of NCJW and Alyssa Banford of JCRC take part in the Heartland for Human Justice Coalition protest at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.

St. Louis activists protest migrant detentions

By Kayla Steinberg, Staff WriterPublished August 8, 2019

“My name is Jaakelin Caal Maquin. At the age of 7, I died on Dec. 8, 2018, after being detained by the El Paso border patrol.”LAWTON, Okla. — The 100-degree southwestern Oklahoma heat beat down on Heartland for Human Justice trip participants as,...

A 2016 file photo shows members of the Jewish Fund for Human Needs committee with Vince Estrada of the Maplewood- Richmond Heights School District in front of Joe’s Place, one of the agencies awarded a JFHN grant that year. 

Jewish Fund For Human Needs awards grants to 6 local nonprofits

Published July 28, 2019

Six small local nonprofit organizations just received a grant from the Rabbi Robert P. Jacobs Jewish Fund for Human Needs (JFHN). A total of $18,000 was awarded.  JFHN awarded an emergency grant of $500 to EnergyCare in response to the prolonged heat...

Maharat Rori Picker Neiss met up with some rabbis from St. Louis, who are also studying at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem this summer, as well as former Jewish Federation of St. Louis president and CEO, Andrew Rehfeld, who was speaking at the institute. From left to right: Rehfeld, Picker Neiss, Rabbis Karen and Daniel Bogard from Central Reform Congregation, Rabbi Michael Alper from Congregation Temple Israel and Rabbi Mark Fasman, formerly of Kol Rinah.  

JCRC leader studying in Israel, NCJW trip, musicpalooza

By Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished July 18, 2019

Summer learning (for rabbis)It’s always fun to see old friends, especially when you’re thousands of miles away from home. That’s the situation that Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, found herself...

Rabbi Yosef Landa, director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, speaks at a community gathering on Sunday organized by Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council after the shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in California.  Photo: Eric Berger 

Faith leaders urge redoubling of fight against anti-Semitism, bigotry

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished May 1, 2019

The St. Louis Jewish community is mourning with others across the country in the wake of a fatal shooting Saturday during worship at a Southern California synagogue.“We cannot offer a deeper meaning. We are not even sure we know how to offer consolation,”...

Volunteer Belle Gage, 14, of Central Reform Congregation, helps a camper take photos in the rabbit pen. Photo: Mike Sherwin

Meet our summer intern; camp volunteers needed; food allergy breakthrough

Published May 30, 2018

Welcome Jewish Light summer internYou may have noticed a new byline on Page One. Sam Mosher is currently serving as the Jewish Light’s 2018 Joseph J. Edlin Memorial Journalism Intern this summer.The Edlin internship was founded in memory of attorney...

Rigo, an 18 year old from Mexico, spoke during a press conference Monday, Feb. 27 at Central Reform Congregation to advocate for Dreamers, the name often used to described undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children.  Photo: Eric Berger

Clergy urge action on ‘Dreamers’

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished February 28, 2018

Rigo is an 18 year old from Mexico who entered the country illegally with his mother as a small child. Shortly before an event Monday at Central Reform Congregation, he received a letter informing him that he could renew his application for Deferred Action...

Learning to converse about Israel, civilly

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished November 8, 2017

The Jewish Community Relations Council and Anti-Defamation League local chapters are collaborating on a program designed to empower people who usually avoid discussions about Israel.The Jewish nonprofits are targeting people who have never attended an...

Maharat Rori Picker Neiss

Jewish Community Relations Council

Published October 3, 2017

Address: 12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63146 | Phone:  314-442-3871 | fax: 314-989-1361 | email: [email protected] | website: www.jcrcstl.org | Social media: Twitter @JCRCStL, Facebook: JCRCStLouis Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, Executive...

Jewish Federation President and CEO Andrew Rehfeld (right) shares a laugh with Ghazala Hayat,  former chairwoman of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, during an Iftar dinner hosted by the Jewish community at the J.  At left is Rick Abrams.

Jewish community welcomes Muslims for Iftar meal breaking Ramadan fast

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 22, 2017

Finding commonalities and appreciating differences were the guiding themes for the Jewish community’s interfaith Iftar event last week (June 14) at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex.“As a sign of our friendship and strengthening...

John Kalishman succeeds Robert Millstone as JCRC board chair.

John Kalishman elected board chair of JCRC of St. Louis

Published June 1, 2017

The Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) has elected John Kalishman as its new Board Chair, succeeding Robert Millstone whose term recently ended. Kalishman will be inducted during the JCRC’s Annual Meeting on Monday, June 12 at Webster...

Load More Stories