For teens all around the world, friendships can be defined by the relative proximity to each other, similar interests and other social aspects. In short, friends become friends for a reason. And while not as commonly recognized, religious identity is...

Jewish youth groups are important to many Jewish teens across St. Louis. Youth groups can encourage teens to get more involved in Jewish activities. There are four youth groups across the St. Louis area: NCSY, NFTY, USY and BBYO. Sarah Kline, a junior...

 If you spot Jill Goldwasser in a noisy restaurant, you may see her quiet a group of friends, open her iPhone’s camera application, hit record, greet hundreds of followers with a calm yet enthusiastic “Hi everyone!” and then review the French fries...

Jewish summer sleep-away camp is meaningful in many ways to Jewish teens. It’s a place for them to get away from the stresses of home and school, meet new friends and serve as a holy place to connect with God. Notably, since prayer at camp greatly differs...

With midterm elections approaching soon, political-talk is ubiquitous, and for a small number of teens, politics play an important role in their lives. Ranging from campaign-work to advocacy, from staff positions to volunteering, no matter their age or...

Ladue high graduate Abby Abrams, 25, now lives in New York where she works for Time magazine as a reporter and fact-checker. It’s a job she covets and feels lucky to have, and she credits her time during high school on Ohr Chadash with helping her to...

For Tali Gorodetsky, a junior at Marquette High School and a member of the Chabad congregation, service is one of life’s hallmarks. She spends weekends coordinating community service opportunities, working on retreats, and helping to clean up her community....

Studying for a bar or bat mitzvah can be one of the most nerve-racking experiences in a young teenager’s life. There are months upon months of studying, which often place teens in high-stress situations. Often times students carry enormous anxiety with...

Jewish ‘Superstar’ directorIt begs the question: What’s a nice Jewish boy doing directing “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which opens The Muny’s 99th season June 12?If you happen to be Gordon Greenberg, who in fact will be directing The Muny opener,...

When Jonathan Eizenberg is out in his backyard, playing with his young, curly-haired kids or his small, cute puppy, he doesn’t quite look like the man who has served 16 years in the Air Force, is the executive assistant to a four-star general who reports...

Serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Ohr Chadash this year and as a staff writer for the three years prior has been an honor and a privilege. My experiences writing stories about the exceptional teenagers in our Jewish community who are effectuating positive...

Randy and Jason Sklar were born and raised in St. Louis; each celebrated his bar mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Amoona. Now, the twin comedy duo live in Los Angeles, years and miles away from where and when they first started performing. “The first...