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

Make Yom Kippur national holiday, French presidential candidate says

JTA, PARIS • Published January 12, 2012

The Green Party candidate for the French presidency has called for national holidays on Yom Kippur and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Green Party leader Eva Joly said in a speech Wednesday that she wanted, "Jews and Muslims to be able to celebrate...

Kayla Kahn in the Negev

Finding enduring connections to Judaism during holidays in Israel

By Kayla Kahn • Published November 9, 2011

I was sitting with my parents this summer at a nice restaurant in St. Louis - "nice" meaning we had all traded our jeans and flip-flops for more formal attire and were enjoying a bottle of wine that had been ordered from a separate wine menu.  As our...

Taking seven steps to acheive ‘Sukkot happiness’

By Dasee Berkowitz, NEW YORK • Published October 12, 2011

But are you happy?  No, this isn't your mother wanting another update on your life. It's not Dr. Phil's provocative question through your TV/computer screen as you sit (safely) on your couch. And it isn't someone reading you the Declaration of Independence...

Rabbi Josef A. Davidson serves Congregation B’nai Amoona.

It’s a mitzvah to rejoice during Sukkot

BY RABBI JOSEF DAVIDSON • Published October 12, 2011

Five days after Yom Kippur the joyous festival of Sukkot begins.  It is the one holy day period on which Jews are actually commanded to rejoice.  The other major festivals (Pesach and Shavuot) are also joyous and celebrate important events in...

Karen Kalish

Time to ‘fess up’ when we ‘mess up’

By Karen Kalish • Published October 5, 2011

I love Yom Kippur. And I hate Yom Kippur.Let me explain.For those who know me, you know I have a strong personality. I'm demanding, sometimes brash, impatient, and strong.I'm also loving, caring, passionate, and committed. It's the first adjectives that...

Rabbi Alan M. Klein

D’var Torah: Pondering the traditional reading

BY RABBI ALAN KLEIN • Published October 5, 2011

First, a clarification: I'm writing about the traditional reading of the Yom Kippur Torah portion. For reasons I thoroughly understand your congregation may substitute a more "relevant" reading, however, I do feel the traditional reading has much to teach...

Rabbi Brad Horwitz

D’var Torah: Complete repentance

By Rabbi Brad Horwitz • Published September 28, 2011

During this season of the Jewish High Holidays, it is our responsibility to do tshuvah (repentance). Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur there are ten days called Aseret Yemei Tshuvah or the Ten Days of Repentance. It is this time when we focus on our...

Would Youkilis play on Yom Kippur?

By Jon Marks Jewish Exponent • Published July 27, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Youkilis says he truly doesn’t know what he would do if faced with the same dilemma as Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax and Shawn Green. What if the Boston Red Sox are scheduled for a post-season game on Yom Kippur, which begins on...

Rabbi Josef A. Davidson serves Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Removing the leaven from our homes and hearts

Rabbi Josef A. Davidson • Published April 21, 2011

It is not often that the festival of Pesach (Passover) coincides with the Torah portion, Aharei Mot (After the death [of two of the sons of Aaron]).  It is interesting when they do as the first third of this week's Torah portion is also read on Yom Kippur...

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