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

Abby Prywitch

Parkway Central teen’s persistence leads to top journalism award

By Eric Berger, Associate EditorPublished April 1, 2021

After the Washington Nationals won the World Series in 2019, Abby Prywitch and her fellow student journalists at Parkway Central High School brainstormed an idea about an alum they would like to interview: Max Scherzer, a star pitcher on the Nationals.“Right...

When school shootings hit home, pain runs deep

BY RABBI SETH D. GORDONPublished February 21, 2018

Like you, I learned about the school shooting in Florida from the news. But unlike you, I heard the news from Israel, where I am studying. And probably unlike you, I had a very personal connection: My nephew Zachary and my niece Zoe were in that school.I...

ABOVE: David Feit Mann, a sophomore at Yeshiva Kadmiah High School, closed a presentation for students in an AP English class at Affton High School by explaining how a ram’s horn is used in Judaism.Photo: Eric Berger

JCRC’s Student to Student program to expand to other cities

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished October 4, 2017

The Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis plans to expand its Student to Student program to other cities after receiving a $15,000 grant.JCRC, which started the program in 1992, sends Jewish high school students in the St. Louis area to schools...

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waves to the audience at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., on Sept. 21.  Sanders laid out his vision for foreign policy during his speech.  Photo courtesy Westminster College

In Fulton speech, Sanders urges foreign-policy engagement

BY DAVID BAUGHER, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished September 27, 2017

FULTON, Mo. – During a talk last week at the lecture series made famous by Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders stressed multilateralism, diplomacy and themes of social justice as he laid out his vision of American...

Next year, Jessica Goldberg plans to attend Vanderbilt University.Photo by Barbi Macon.

Ohr Chadash Editor-in-Chief heads off to college

BY JESSICA GOLDBERG, SENIOR, JOHN BURROUGHS High SCHOOLPublished May 11, 2017

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...

Sue Fischlowitz is a former chair of the board of St. Louis Hillel at Washington University and of Hillel at Brandeis University, and previously served as interim executive director at St. Louis Hillel. She is a former Jewish communal professional and lives in Clayton.

Campus discourse: Lack of progress is disturbing

By Sue FischlowitzPublished May 11, 2017

Regarding the Point/Counterpoint columns in the St. Louis Jewish Light of May 3 (“WashU Hillel explains decision on Breaking the Silence exhibit” and “Voices of dissent should be welcome in ‘big tent’):Once again, Jewish life on campuses in...

Arab and Jewish students at a Hand in Hand school in Israel. Photo: YouTube screenshot

Israeli schools build bridges between Jews and Arabs

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished February 15, 2017

Rebecca Bardach and her husband, Eliot Goldstein, grew up on opposite coasts — she in Berkeley, Calif.; he in Silver Springs, Md. — attending a combination of Jewish day and public schools. After each made aliyah in the late 1990s and married, they...

Rabbis and other leaders in the Jewish community encourage students to take a gap year in Israel. They believe that waiting one year in between high school and college will allow for growth.  Photo courtesy of Avi Rubin.

Seniors prepare for gap year in Israel

By Harrison Friedman, Senior, Fasman Yeshiva High SchoolPublished January 11, 2017

The idea of taking a gap year between high school and college has long been common in places such as Europe, but it has not been very popular in America until recently. Religious gap year programs, however, have been around for many years, and Jewish...

Ben Schenberg performs at Rock, Chalk, Shabbat at University of Kansas. Photo courtesy of Ben Schenberg.

Jewish life influences students’ college decisions

By Greg svirnovskiy, Junior, Marquette High SchoolPublished January 11, 2017

For high schoolers all over the country, senior year has become synonymous with one thing: the college selection process.  This month, thousands of seniors will learn the results of their early decisions and early action applications just as millions...

Center for Jewish Learning planning new Melton School Scholars Courses

Published January 4, 2017

The Center for Jewish Learning will offer a new Melton School Scholars Courses on “Shiv’im Panim:  70 Faces of Wisdom,” starting Thursday, Jan. 19.The Melton course is designed to engage students through the study of 70 different Torah passages,...

Torah Prep School of St. Louis recently reopened its girls’ division building on Olive Boulevard following a $2.5 million renovation. Photos: Eric Berger

Torah Prep completes $2.5 million renovation

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished December 28, 2016

Torah Prep School of St. Louis recently underwent a $2.5 million renovation of its girls division school in University City. The Orthodox school, which instructs students from preschool through eighth grade, now features a new roof, as well as new heating...

Mimi Edlin and  her family established scholarships at the Jewish Light and the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish News in Florida to honor her late husband, Joseph J. Edlin. Joseph Edlin was a longtime Trustee and Past President of the Light. 

Jewish Light seeks applications for summer journalism internship

Published December 21, 2016

The St. Louis Jewish Light is accepting applications for its Joseph J. Edlin Memorial Summer Journalism Internship. Mimi Edlin and her family established the scholarship to honor her late husband, Joseph J. Edlin. Joseph Edlin was a longtime Trustee and...

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