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
Event co-chair Julie Williams speaks to participants at the opening breakfast of last year’s Jewish-Muslim Day of Community Service  at Daar-ul-Islam mosque in West County. 

Jewish-Muslim Day of Community Service aims to create connections between faiths

Published December 12, 2019

Nine years after a small group of Jews and Muslims first gathered on Christmas Day to work side-by-side in community service, the annual interfaith effort returns in 2019 with a renewed focus on the popular program’s core mission: building strong community.The...

Julie Williams leads students on a tour of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center of St. Louis earlier this month. Photo: BILL MOTCHAN

Julie Williams: Holocaust museum docent wants to be agent of change against discrimination

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light • Published May 30, 2019

As Julie Williams speaks about her volunteer work, the message emblazoned on the wall behind her at the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center says as much as she can about why she does what she does. “Change begins with me,” it reads. “This is...

Service projects are underway at United Hebrew Congregation during the sixth annual Jewish-Muslim Day of Service on Dec. 25. United Hebrew was one of 25 volunteer service sites. Photo courtesy UH

Building bridges, showing unity

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light • Published December 28, 2016

A very foggy Christmas Day didn’t deter participants in the annual Jewish-Muslim Day of Community Service as both communities marked the sixth year of the event.“I think people really feel a need in these challenging times to show support from the...

Rayyan Hyder (right) delivers a blanket to Lilly Scharff  during the Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service in 2015. This year, volunteers will fan out to 25 sites for service projects. Photo:  Eric Berger

Sixth annual Jewish-Muslim Christmas Day of Service planned

Published December 8, 2016

On Christmas Day, the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) through its Milford and Lee Bohm Social Justice Center will host the sixth annual St. Louis area-wide “Jewish and Muslim Day...

Letters to the Editor: Week of Jan. 1, 2012

Published January 4, 2012

Rabbinical Council statement on Beit Shemesh We, the undersigned pulpit Rabbis of the Rabbinical Council of St. Louis, strongly and unambiguously condemn the recent violence and intimidation committed by a group of misguided individuals in the Jewish...

Top local stories of 2011 reflect changes in Jewish community

BY ROBERT A. COHN, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus • Published January 4, 2012

St. Louis had a year of ups and downs in 2011, saying farewell to some beloved communal leaders, one local congregation and two longtime kosher mainstays. The community pulled together in response to the tragic devastation of the tornado that struck Joplin....

Aaron Whittington and Ken Cohen volunteer at Temple Emanuel during the Jewish-Muslim Day of Service on Dec. 25. The inaugural event, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council, the National Council of Jewish Women and the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, drew close to 400 people. For a gallery of more than 30 images from the event, visit www.stljewishlight.com/multimedia. Photo: Yana Hotter

Interfaith service event draws 400

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light • Published December 28, 2011

Looking out over a sea of people in garb ranging from hijabs to yarmulkes to baseball caps, enjoying laughter and conversation with one another over bagels and coffee on a holiday few in the room even celebrate, Batya Abramson-Goldstein couldn't help...

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