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

Rabbi James Stone Goodman

On suicide and other difficult subjects

By Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished January 24, 2020

In the groups that I lead for Shalvah on Addiction and No Shande on mental health and mental illness, we are familiar with the subject of suicide. Whenever it comes up it tends to take over the meeting. The meeting is basically a teaching and a sharing,...

A 2011 photo shows the Dietl family on Kevin Dietl’s first day at A.T. Still University Osteopathic Medical School in Kirksville. From left are Diana, Kevin, Michele and John Dietl. Kevin Dietl took his own life on April 23, 2015, a few weeks before his medical school graduation. The Dietl’s story is included in a documentary, ‘Do No Harm,’ which will screen in St. Louis Oct. 15 and 16. 

Med student’s suicide shines light on epidemic among health practitioners

By Ellie Grossman-Cohen, Special to the Jewish LightPublished October 10, 2019

With warm brown eyes and a playful sense of humor, Kevin Dietl was a caring and compassionate person who preferred to greet people with a bear hug over a handshake. As a promising medical student at A.T. Still University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine...

Samantha Crall

A bird in the garage

By Nathan CrallPublished October 13, 2016

Editor’s note: The following is an edited excerpt of a eulogy Nathan Crall delivered at the memorial service for his cousin Samantha Crall, who committed suicide in September. For the full version of Nathan’s eulogy, please visit stljewishlight.com/crallOn...

J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is author of 10 books on international and American politics, including the recently published  “New Warfare:  Rethinking Rules for An Unruly World.”  In addition to teaching courses in international politics, international organization and law, and U.S. foreign policy, he has served as chair of the Political Science Dept. at UM-St. Louis.

No easy answers in fight against student depression, suicide

By Marty RochesterPublished July 20, 2016

On most measures, the vast majority of Americans have seen their lives improve over the years. For example, in 1940, only about 40 percent of homes had central heating, 60 percent had flush indoor toilets, and 70 percent had running water, not to mention...

Dr. Norman Spack

Boston doctor finds treating transgender youth a transforming experience

By Penny Schwartz, JTAPublished January 19, 2012

BOSTON—In a family of prominent Jewish educators, Norman Spack could be called the rebel. He became a doctor. "I'm the only one who didn't go into Jewish education," quips Spack, a senior associate in the endocrine division at Boston's Children's Hospital,...

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