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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

President Barack Obama addresses the URJ Biennial. Photo: Philip
Deitch

St. Louisans active at the URJ Biennial

By David Baugher, Special to the Jewish LightPublished December 21, 2011

It may have been 800 miles away but between making presentations, providing entertainment and meeting a sitting president of the United States, St. Louisans and the Gateway City played a big role in last week's Union of Reform Judaism Biennial in Washington...

UH hosts Torah Yoga class

Published December 21, 2011

United Hebrew Congregation will hold an eight-week Torah Yoga course from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 12 in the Spielberg chapel. Maxine Mirowitz, RYT (Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher) makes classes accessible to both beginners...

Rabbi Roxanne Shapiro

In Joseph’s colorful tunic, lessons about gift giving and receiving

By Rabbi Roxanne J.S. ShapiroPublished December 14, 2011

A "ketonet passim" (ornamented tunic/striped tunic/robe of many colors) caused all this mess? Joseph was hated for this?It was not the tunic itself...but rather what it represented. Why should Joseph be blamed? He could not help that his father loved...

Through HMLC visit, police officers broaden cultural understanding

By Jennifer Rubin, Sophomore, Parkway CentralPublished December 14, 2011

One of the hardest, but most important parts of being a police officer is the training. Officers learn and participate in activities that include physical training, continuing education, driving tests, role-play and target practice. To become an officer,...

Spreads featuring the St. Louis Jewish community in ‘A Timeless People.’

St. Louis among communities featured in new book on American Jewish life

By Robert A. Cohn, Editor-in-Chief EmeritusPublished June 22, 2011

Saul H. Landa of East Brunswick, N. J., is a Jewish mother’s dream: he is both a rabbi and a dentist! He has also been a superb photographer of Jewish subjects for over 35 years, and he bring those talents to the fore in his just-published, handsome...

Rabbi Emeritus Howard Kaplansky

Changes afoot at United Hebrew as senior rabbi prepares to retire

BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished June 8, 2011

To everything there is a season, says Rabbi Howard G. Kaplansky, and now the time has come for him to make the transition to rabbi emeritus at United Hebrew Congregation.  "My favorite book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes," says Kaplansky, 68, "and the...

Volunteers work at Central Reform Congregation on Tuesday afternoon to sort items donated to send to Joplin, Mo. Photo: Kristi Foster

St. Louis mobilizes Joplin relief

By Victoria Siegel, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 1, 2011

It took just a little over 48 hours for the staff and a few members of United Hebrew Congregation in Creve Coeur to respond to an urgent request from the sole synagogue in tornado-ravaged Joplin. Through the generosity of St. Louisans and the speed and...

Jewish voices from Joplin

By Victoria Siegel, Special to the Jewish LightPublished June 1, 2011

A week after visiting Joplin to aid with recovery and rescue efforts following the tornado, Rabbi Yehuda Weg, of Chabad of Tulsa, still can't wrap his head around the devastation of the tornado that took at least 139 lives. "I've lived here for 24 years...

JFed collecting donations for Joplin tornado relief

Published May 25, 2011

As rescue workers continue to search for survivors, Jewish Federation has opened a mailbox to provide emergency assistance to victims of the Joplin, Mo. tornado. Joplin has a small Jewish community of approximately 50 individuals. Its only synagogue,...

Cantor Ron Eichaker of United Hebrew and UH employee Octavio Vargas help load collected items into a commercial van the congregation rented to drive to Joplin. May 26, 2011.

Ways to help Joplin

Published May 25, 2011

In a letter to the community, Jewish Federation of St. Louis Executive Vice President offered a summary of ways St. Louisans can help those affected by the devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo. The text of the letter follows:  From: Barry Rosenberg Re:...

Rabbi Howard Kaplansky serves United Hebrew Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.

Parashat Kedoshim: Being Holy

BY RABBI HOWARD KAPLANSKYPublished April 27, 2011

We are told "Kedoshim tihyuh," "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." One rabbinic source stated that the words "you shall be holy" are an admonition "to strive for absolute human perfection." Respectfully, I offer a different perspective.Holy,...

Third Annual Shabbat St. Louis service planned; service aims to unite Reform community

Published April 6, 2011

There will be several new additions to this year's 3rd Annual Shabbat St. Louis community-wide worship service, set to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road in Chesterfield. Worshippers can arrive early...

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