By David Saperstein and William Daroff, JTA
• Published February 13, 2012
WASHINGTON—During February, Jewish communities across North America observe Jewish Disability Awareness Month. It is an opportunity for us to raise awareness of the needs, strengths, opportunities and challenges of individuals with disabilities in our...
A Maryland high school that came under fire for asking a student to prove he wore a head covering for religious reasons has changed its policy. Northwood High School in Silver Spring sent a letter home to parents late last week saying that a parent's...
By Jason Miller, JTA
• Published February 10, 2012
WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. -- More than 65 years ago Kurt Kaufmann was liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp. This weekend his U.S.-born grandson, Evan Kaufmann, is taking the ice for the German national hockey team. After finishing a successful...
TORONTO -- Rabbi Gunther Plaut, a major figure in Reform Judaism, died in Toronto. Plaut, a former president of the Canadian Jewish Congress who wrote widely on human rights, died Wednesday at the age of 99. He often was quoted by media around the world...
Members of the Minnesota Rabbinical Association have signed a statement opposing a state ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriages. The group represents rabbis from 15 congregations in the state from the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist...
By Lisa Alcalay Klug, JTA
• Published February 8, 2012
LOS ANGELES -- With his yarmulke, ritual fringes and lyrics occasionally borrowed from ancient texts, Grammy-nominated reggae star Matisyahu may be the most publicly Jewish performer in the mainstream music scene. But he's not the only one. Growing ranks...
By Abigail Miller, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• Published February 8, 2012
At 16, when teens can finally go get their driver's license, they're asked multiple questions: height, eye color, weight, and also if they want to donate their body or organs to those who need it if they die. Donating organs is an emotional decision...
By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish Light
• Published February 8, 2012
It didn't take long for Marni Deutsch to become a believer. When she heard from a relative about a program that would bring Jewish education right to the doorstep of her Clayton home, she knew she wanted to enroll her four-year-old daughter Ella. "It...
By Repps Hudson, Special to the Jewish Light
• Published February 8, 2012
Yonatan "Johnny" Ariel, the executive director of Makom, the Israeli Engagement Network, spent a couple of days last week speaking with members of United Hebrew, Temple Israel, Shaare Emeth and B'nai Amoona. He came under the auspices of Focus Israel,...
They say the third time is a charm. I'm not sure about that, but I do know that the 3rd Annual Jewish Light Cook-off Contest is the most ambitious one to date. This year, in time for Passover, we are asking St. Louis area chefs to send us their prize-winning...
A growing movement in the Jewish community nationwide is focused on "food justice"-the right of communities everywhere to access to healthy, fresh food. On Sunday, Feb. 12, Chicago architect and urban farmer Robert Nevel will speak in St. Louis about...
Registration opens Wednesday, Feb. 15, for St. Louis Hillel at Washington University's summer 2012 Taglit-Birthright Israel: Israel Outdoors trip.At 9 a.m. (CST) registration opens for the trip, and organizers note that spots fill quickly. The trip is...
