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

From left to right is Ivana Todorova, Risa Fingerman, Josh Devine and Reis Lourie. Josh and Reis are doing mitzvah projects to benefit the Bennett Project; Josh’s bar mitzvah at Temple Israel and Reis’ at United Hebrew Congregation are a week apart in May.

One good mitzvah continues to help make a difference

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPublished April 13, 2021

To better tell this story, let’s rewind to December. That’s when we introduced you to Drew Patchin, a second-grader, cancer survivor and member of Temple Israel, who was fundraising for a charity outside a Walgreens in Creve Coeur when his jar full...

Henry Rosenblum is flanked by his grandfather, Doron Berger (left), and his father, Steven Rosenblum at the Garden Shul Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa.  

Mitzvot from the Heart: Henry Rosenblum

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Elise KrugPublished July 31, 2020

Henry Rosenblum followed what is now a family tradition: a bar mitzvah abroad. Henry’s eldest brother, Myles, became a bar mitzvah in Jerusalem, joined by extended family on both sides. Then Spencer, the middle son, traveled with his family to Budapest,...

Alan Schaffer measuring the garden expansion.

This week’s Spotlight photos

Published June 4, 2020

With guidance from Gateway Greening of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization that aids over 200 community gardens, Congregation Shaare Emeth has planted and harvested eight raised beds in its Mitzvah Garden. Families have volunteered to water the garden...

As part of his mitzvah project, Sam Deutsch raised money for Camp Sabra. Sam also volunteered with the organization I-Skate. 

Mitzvot from the Heart: Sam Deutsch

By Elise Krug and Joel GreblerPublished July 19, 2019

Sam Deutsch, Congregation B’nai AmoonaSam Deutch’s interests in ice skating and helping others came together to create a meaningful mitzvah project. A junior varsity ice hockey player at Ladue Middle School and a team member of the St. Louis Rockets...

Kate Barbarash

Mitzvot from the Heart: Kate Barbarash

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Elise Krug, Editorial and Development AssociatePublished November 9, 2018

Kate Barbarash | United Hebrew CongregationAs hard as it was studying Hebrew for her bat mitzvah and as nerve racking as it was standing on the bimah in front of more than 100 people, Kate said it was all worth it. That’s because it brought her to the...

Jacob Schneiderman

Mitzvot from the Heart: Jacob Schneiderman

Published April 26, 2018

Jacob Schneiderman | United Hebrew CongregationJake, son of Jodi and Jeff Schneiderman of Chesterfield, liked the idea of kids helping kids. So when he was deciding what to do for his mitzvah project, Jake thought he would support Angels’ Arms, an organization...

Jessica Sachs

Mitzvot from the Heart: Jessica Sachs

Published April 26, 2018

Jessica Sachs | Congregation Shaare EmethWhat started as a Mommy and Me ballet class at age 2 turned into a passion for Jessica, daughter of Susie and Jonathan Sachs of Ladue. Dance means the world to Jessica: She spends six to seven days a week in dance...

Madison Marks held a clothing drive and styling event for her mitzvah project. 

Mitzvot from the Heart: Madison Marks

Published April 19, 2018

Madison Marks | United Hebrew CongregationMadison’s love for fashion started early in life. When she was just 9 years old, she purchased her first sewing machine and learned to sew. From there she began creating her own fashions and started Clutches...

All participants  in the soccer tournament.

Mitzvot from the Heart: Eli Tennenbaum, Jonah Samson, Joseph Lourie

Published March 28, 2018

Ladue Middle School friends Eli, Jonah and Joseph chose to support St. Louis Children’s Hospital with an indoor parent-child soccer tournament at Vetta Sports in Manchester. They called it Kicks for Kids. The boys were inspired by the work the hospital...

Brett Bierman

Mitzvot from the heart: Brett Bierman

Published March 28, 2018

Brett Bierman | United Hebrew CongregationBrett, the son of Cheryl and the late Larry Bierman of Chesterfield, supported Stray Rescue of St. Louis for his mitzvah project. “Stray Rescue does great things for our community,” Brett wrote in a description...

For their mitzvah projects, Tyler Lang (left) and Cooper Walkoff (right), who have been longtime friends, hosted a dodge ball tournament to benefit a child with a rare congenital heart defect.

Mitzvot from the heart: Cooper Walkoff and Tyler Lang

Published February 28, 2018

Cooper Walkoff | United Hebrew Congregationand Tyler Lang | Central Reform CongregationCooper, son of Julie and Neil Walkoff of Town and Country and Tyler, son of Marni and Tony Lang of Chesterfield, met when they were 8-years-old on the baseball field...

Theodore Elfenbein

Mitzvot from the heart: Theodore Elfenbein

Published February 28, 2018

Theodore Elfenbein | Central Reform CongregationHillary and Dan Elfenbein, of Clayton, are grateful to KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) for allowing their 13-year-old son, Theodore, to participate in their volunteer program. KEEN’s mission is to empower...

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