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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

She missed graduation to get married. 50-years later Gail Lang walks with Wash U '72

She missed graduation to get married. 50-years later Gail Lang walks with Wash U ’72

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished May 25, 2022

On Friday, May 20, Gail Lang did something she had waited to do for 50 years — walk at her college graduation ceremony. There she was, replete in cap and gown, at the age of 71, walking with roughly 50 members of Washington University’s Class of...

Washington University professor Henry Schvey is the author of “Blue Song: St. Louis in the Life and Work of Tennessee Williams.”

Wash U professor’s new book looks at St. Louis’ impact on Tennessee Williams

JUDITH NEWMARK, Special to the Jewish LIghtPublished July 1, 2021

Seventeen years ago, browsing in a New Orleans bookstore, Henry I. Schvey made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery: An unpublished, entirely unknown poem by Tennessee Williams. Today, the title of that poem is the title of Schvey’s new book, “Blue Song:...

WashU Hillel to offer Passover meal options for students and community

WashU Hillel to offer Passover meal options for students and community

Published March 11, 2021

Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU Hillel) is once again hosting Kosher for Passover lunches and dinners throughout the holiday.  For St. Louis-area students, Hillel will offer free dine-in and to-go individually-packed meals daily from...

The 2020 honorees include (all are WashU 2020 graduates except as noted): Micah Goldson, Fred J. Rosenbaum Award for Excellence; Maddie Lapp, Fontbonne 2020 graduate, Nachshon Award; Miles Johnson, Nachshon Award; Geordan Neinstein, Ahavat Tzion (Love of Israel) Award; Benjamin Ushman, Ahavat Tzion (Love of Israel) Award; Coby Drexler, Commitment to Jewish Life Award; Kayla Steinberg, Commitment to Jewish Life Award; Jamie Hendler, Tzedek Award; Jacob Gross, Creating a Jewish Legacy Award; Max Helfand, Gesher Award; Bryan Wilensky, Gesher Award; Preston Tasoff, Ner Tamid Award; Daniella Roth, Ner Tamid Award; and Ethan Weiner, Kesher Award.

This week’s Spotlight Photos

Published June 18, 2020

WashU Hillel honored 14 graduating student leaders at its 2020 Senior Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, May 31 via Zoom.  Over 100 family members and guests from around the country tuned in to hear congratulatory remarks from Washington University Chancellor...

Rachel Miller at home, in front of paintings of three of her family members lost during the Holocaust— her mother, father and sister. A German prisoner of war created the portraits, working from photographs of the family. Photos: Lisa Mandel

Holocaust survivor Rachel Miller to speak at Wash U Hillel Kristallnacht commemoration

Published November 7, 2019

St. Louis resident Rachel Miller, who survived the Holocaust as a hidden child, will share her story of courage and resilience at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Miller’s...

For more of Nancy Kranzberg’s commentary, listen to KWMU (90.7) St. Louis on the Air the first Friday of each month at approximately 12:50 p.m. She also hosts a weekly Arts Interview podcast for KDHX (88.1), available at artsinterview.kdhxtra.org. 

Discovering, defining the graphic arts

By Nancy Kranzberg, Special to the Jewish LightPublished October 4, 2018

I was talking to a recent college graduate and asked what she had majored in. When she said her degree was in graphic arts, I wasn’t really certain what the term meant or what she was going to do with such a degree.I contacted Douglas Dowd at Washington...

Executive board members of Washington University Israel Public Affairs Committee (WIPAC) pose with their awards after their chapter received the AIPAC 2018 “Campus Activist of the Year” Award. From left are WashU Hillel Assistant Director and WIPAC Advisor Miriam Ross-Hirsch, Geordan Neinstein, Micah Goldson, President Nate Turk, Jacob Scheinman, Kayla Steinberg, Immediate Past President Hannah Sinrich, former President and current AIPAC staffer Daniel Grey and WashU Hillel CEO, Jackie Levey.

At AIPAC, UH rabbi remembered for friendship with Truman; WashU group honored

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished March 7, 2018

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg sat on a bus in Israel during a July trip sponsored by an Israel advocacy organization when someone started discussing former President Harry Truman’s friendship with Eddie Jacobson, a Jewish businessman from Kansas City. Rosenberg,...

Hillel program to address intimate partner violence in the Jewish community

Published October 11, 2017

Editor's note: The location for this event has been changed since this article was originally published. The event will be held in Hillman Hall, Room 70.  Parking is available at WashU Hillel.As part of national Domestic Violence Awareness month, expert...

John Kaneklides, Robert McNichols, Jason Mallory, Joel Rogier and Zachary Devin rehearse for the world premier of Borgia Infami.Photo: Bill Motchan

W.U. composer’s ‘Borgia Infami’ will debut on campus

BY BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTPublished September 20, 2017

Among opera fans, a world premiere is special. Excitement is in the air as a previously unheard work is performed. The audience will hear something new. It also means extra prep work for performers, musicians and stagehands.On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, St....

While prepping for a charity ride, bicyclist Rick Rovak (left) suffered serious injuries after an accident on Clayton Road, including (right) a deep laceration above his right eye, broken hips and a broken tailbone. Photo at left:  Scott Rovak

Wounded bicyclists, WashU honors, eclipse events

Ellen Futterman, EditorPublished August 9, 2017

A (cautionary) tale of three Ricks and their bicyclesWhat are the chances that three local guys, each named Rick, would be in serious bicycle accidents this summer? In truth, one wasn’t so much a bicycle accident as a post-bicycle accident, but it happened...

Wash U. Hillel adds two staffers

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished June 28, 2017

Hillel at Washington University has hired two staff members who will participate in national fellowship programs through Hillel International.The local Hillel chapter was selected as one of 25 chapters to participate in the Springboard Fellowship program,...

Washington University Hillel to host gun violence panel

Published November 24, 2016

Washington University’s Hillel Leadership Council student organization, in partnership with WashU Hillel, will convene a panel to discuss gun violence and gun control in the United States and St. Louis at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28 at the WashU Hillel building,...

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