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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

Rob Aronson

St. Louis financial planner works to ‘Change the World’ with Jewish music

BY BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished March 18, 2021

Music is an integral part of Judaism and dates back to the first temple in Jerusalem, when Levites sang and played the harp, lyre and shofar during religious services. Centuries later, communal singing remains a constant in Jewish worship and celebrations,...

Participants in the 2019 Songleader Boot Camp gather in a circle in the Beit Midrash of the Jewish Community Center’s Arts & Education Buiding. This year’s SLBC takes place Feb. 16 to18.File photo: Bill Motchan 

Inclusion will take center stage at 2020 Songleader Boot Camp

By Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 7, 2020

Fred Rogers wasn’t Jewish, but his philosophy of respect for others comes right out of the Torah. Mr. Rogers’ mantra — “Won’t you be my neighbor” — will also be on full display at the 2020 Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC) Feb. 16 to 18, presented...

The Jewish Community Center welcomed Jewish leaders from across the country for the annual Songleader Boot Camp, held Feb. 17-19. SLBC was founded in 2009 by Jewish rock musician and educator Rick Recht and Rabbi Brad Horwitz, director of Jewish engagement and adult programs at the J’s Ruth & Harold Sher Center of Jewish Life. This year, SLBC also featured a new Teen Chavurah program, supported by the Staenberg Family Foundation, and winners of Jewish Rock Radio’s Jewish Star Talent Search. All photos by Bill Motchan

Photo gallery: 2019 Songleader Bootcamp at the J

Published February 21, 2019

The Jewish Community Center welcomed Jewish leaders from across the country for the annual Songleader Boot Camp, held Feb. 17-19. SLBC was founded in 2009 by Jewish rock musician and educator Rick Recht and Rabbi Brad Horwitz, director of Jewish engagement...

Letters to the Editor: March 8, 2017

Published March 8, 2017

Takeaways from cemetery incicentThe Jewish Light’s coverage of the recent events at Chesed Shel Emeth and the Jewish Community Center has been excellent and measured. While I can understand how some may fear this is the work of people who don’t like...

Shira Kline leads a session Monday during Songleader Boot Camp at the Jewish Community Center. The event draws hundreds of Jewish community leaders to St. Louis each year.

A tuneup for Jewish leaders at ‘Boot Camp’

By Eric Berger, Staff writerPublished February 22, 2017

Rabbis David Ingber and Sharon Brous have some key things in common. Not only did a founder of the Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC) label them as “rock stars,” but they also each formed their own congregations. Ingber started Romemu, a New York group...

Rabbi  Sharon Brous

Speaker series welcomes Rabbi Sharon Brous and Rabbi David Ingber

Published February 15, 2017

The Songleader Boot Camp and the Center for Jewish Learning will hold a panel discussion with Rabbi Sharon Brous and Rabbi David Ingber on “Why Be Jewish? Praying with Our Hearts/ Praying with Our Feet” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20 at the Jewish Community...

A scene from a past 2014 JCC Songleader Boot Camp.  File photo: Yana Hotter

Time to nominate your Unsung Hero!

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished February 1, 2017

Time to nominate your Unsung Hero!This week, the Jewish Light begins to once again accept nominations for our Unsung Heroes, who will be honored in our OY! Magazine and at a special reception the evening of Monday, May 22 at the Jewish Community Center’s...

Hazzan Joanna Dulkin takes part in a morning prayer service at the Songleader Boot Camp conference on Monday morning at the Jewish Community Center. Photo: Andrew Kerman

‘Boot Camp’ harmoniously melds Jewish leadership, music

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 17, 2016

When it comes to expressing the reason Jewish music in St. Louis is so special, Joanna Dulkin doesn’t hesitate. Standing in a hallway at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex, the former cantor of Shaare Zedek gestures at the man...

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