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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

D'var Torah: Maybe the Tower of Babel wasn’t so bad

D’var Torah: Maybe the Tower of Babel wasn’t so bad

RABBI DAVID A. REINHARTPublished October 27, 2022

This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Noach, tells the story of the eponymous Noah. Over six chapters (Genesis 6:9-11:32) and 153 verses, we read of Noah, the flood, the dove and olive branch, God’s promise to never again destroy the world and,...

Photo info: From left to right are Karen Yoffie, Carol Berkin, Reva Davis, Candy Zemon. Elaine Spielberg and Sharon Schneider. Not pictured: Shirley Gorman and Lynda Kress. Photo credit: Art Zemon

The healing power of ‘Stitch and a Prayer’ blankets is helping many

BY MEGAN RUBENSTEIN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished August 4, 2022

One stitch at a time, a group of United Hebrew Congregation members is working to lift the spirits of fellow congregants. “A Stitch and a Prayer” consists of about 15 women who come together to knit and crochet lap blankets every Tuesday afternoon...

Cantor Ronald Eichaker, Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg and Alden Solovy at United Hebrew Congregation. Solovy will once again serve as liturgist-in-residence at UH.

What is a liturgist-in-residence? Alden Solovy sheds light before UH visit

BILL MOTCHAN, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 11, 2022

Alden Solovy is an author, poet and liturgist. Beginning Feb. 18, he will join United Hebrew Congregation for a six-week stint as liturgist-in-residence. The Light caught up with Solovy in advance of his visit to St. Louis. See below for more information...

Beekeeper Lonnie Grosman. Photo: Bill Motchan 

Buzz-worthy project at United Hebrew brings sweet rewards

ELLEN FUTTERMAN, Editor-in-ChiefPublished August 26, 2021
Earlier this summer, Lonnie Grosman constructed the UH beehive boxes out of pine wood and purchased a bee package of sorts for the largest of the three hives. The package came in a screened cage with three pounds of bees, including a queen (she is the egg layer – without her, no more bees), which he put it in the back seat of his car and drove to the synagogue.
United Hebrew Congregation. Photo: Bill Motchan

Torah’s framework for constructive debate could help heal deeply divided society

CANTOR-RABBI RON EICHAKERPublished June 9, 2021

Not much is more disconcerting than members of one’s tribe engaging in passionately bitter and contentious arguments about leadership and hierarchy. “Who says you are the voice of this family? You don’t speak for me!” “Just because you had some...

Cantor-Rabbi Ronald D. Eichaker serves United Hebrew Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the weekly d’var Torah for the Light.

Passover, the pandemic and a chance to delve deeper into our Jewish history, identity

By Cantor-Rabbi Ronald D. EichakerPublished April 2, 2021

This particular Passover observance, while it may be dominated by the external expressions inspired by time-bound practices, has presented us with an opportunity to recalculate our future by recalibrating our reason for being.Most of us, myself included,...

St. Louis synagogues providing live streaming

St. Louis synagogues providing live streaming

Published March 25, 2020

Listing below provided by the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, with additional information from congregations directly• Bais Abraham (Orthodox): Daily Tehillim, Halakha and Mishnah Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. Online at https://zoom.us/j/297962649...

Billy Jonas will serve as artist-in-residence at United Hebrew Congregation Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 23. 

United Hebrew welcomes Mikey Pauker and Billy Jonas for artists-in-residence weekend

Published February 13, 2020

United Hebrew Congregation will welcome musicians Mikey Pauker and Billy Jonas as artists-in-residence from Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 23. Pauker and Jonas will take part in a Friday night Shabbat service, lead a Q&A Lunch ‘N’ Learn...

The Heartland for Human Justice coalition sings, chants and waves signs at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. 

Report: Army monitored interfaith St. Louis coalition that organized protest trip to Fort Sill

By Eric Berger, Associate EditorPublished November 14, 2019

The U.S. Army was monitoring a largely Jewish group of protesters who traveled in August from St. Louis to Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla., to protest the planned detention of migrant children at the facility, according to a report in The Intercept.The digital...

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew Congregation

Channel rebellion into positive ends

By Rabbi Brigitte RosenbergPublished July 5, 2019

In this week’s parashah, we meet Korach, for whom this parashah is named. He is Moses’ and Aaron’s first cousin and is known as a rebel, as he amassed 250 Israelites to join him in challenging the authority of Moses and Aaron.  Korach says to Moses...

Daryl Rothman

New United Hebrew exec has previous connection to synagogue

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished June 27, 2019

United Hebrew Congregation has hired a new executive director who has long ties to the Reform synagogue. Daryl Rothman and his wife, Linda, married married in 1995 with UH Rabbi Howard G. Kaplansky officiating. “We had been talking to various rabbis...

Rabbi Adam Bellows

Pull back from extremes and embrace the golden mean

By Rabbi Adam BellowsPublished June 20, 2019

Once upon a time, there was a young boy who was always looking forward to what was next. If he was home, he wished he was at school the next day. If he was at school, he wished he was  at home already. If he was eating dinner, he wished he was done....

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