When Jewish Light published a short blurb last week about David Halpern’s new Monday morning bingo at the American Legion Post 397, it seemed like a simple community event—a bit of fun, some friendly competition and a way to raise money for a good cause.

But for those who remember the early 1980s, the mention of bingo in a Jewish setting stirred up a much larger story—one that played out in these very pages more than 40 years ago.

Back in 1982, Light editor Bob Cohn broke the story of a growing controversy: Was it appropriate for synagogues to host bingo as a fundraiser? To some, it was a practical way to support congregational life. To others, it was a dangerous moral compromise.

Few people had a front-row seat to the debate quite like Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman of Congregation Shaare Emeth, whose congregants found itself at the center of the issue.

A legal loophole opens the door

At the time, gambling in Missouri was strictly illegal—there were no casinos, no racetracks and no riverboat gambling. But bingo was granted a carveout, provided it was run by non-profits and operated exclusively by volunteers. The state’s strict regulations aimed to keep organized crime out of the equation.

At Shaare Emeth, one of the congregation’s dedicated volunteers, Gloria Hirsch, suggested bingo as a way to raise funds. The board approved it, and before long, the synagogue was hosting weekly bingo nights.

For Stiffman, it became a unique experience.

“We had bingo every Wednesday night for a couple of years. The workers became like a chavurah, a wonderful group,” said Stiffman. “Kitchen volunteers prepared food for the players and they ended up making more money for the congregation than we ever expected. The volunteers even met as a social group outside of bingo—it became its own little community within our synagogue.”

But not everyone was on board.

Cohn captures a rabbinic battle

As bingo spread in St. Louis synagogues, opposition grew. In his March 10, 1982, report, editor Cohn detailed the concerns raised by local Jewish leaders. Orthodox and some Conservative rabbis objected on religious grounds, citing halachic prohibitions against gambling.

One of the most vocal critics was Rabbi Bernard Lipnick of Congregation B’nai Amoona, who argued that bingo had no place in a synagogue.

“There are many times in the Halacha that gambling is mentioned as a sin and prohibited,” Stiffman recalled. “Yet there are also stories of great rabbis who gambled. Bernie was furious, called me up and reamed me out for allowing this in a synagogue. He even wrote a piece for his bulletin explaining why there would never be gambling at B’nai Amoona.”

Lipnick and Stiffman engaged in public and private debates over the issue.

“I kept reminding him that his advice helped me choose Shaare Emeth,” Stiffman joked.

The real reason bingo ended

Despite the debates, Shaare Emeth’s bingo nights were a success—financially, at least. Over two years, the synagogue raised more than $50,000. But a different controversy ultimately shut the program down.

Bingo players, it turned out, were heavy smokers. And in the early ’80s, smoking indoors was still commonplace.

“The congregation spent money installing some mechanical devices in our HVAC system called ‘smoke eaters.’ They really didn’t clear the air well,” Stiffman recalled. “The anti-smoking issue became a big one in our community.”

A survey conducted one Wednesday night showed the dilemma in stark terms: If the congregation banned smoking, a large portion of their bingo players would leave.

A group of members, led by Elsie Shemin Roth, urged the board to end smoking inside the building completely. When the board agreed, bingo was finished.

After it ended, some members felt it had been the right call.

“A number of members came to me and said that they had felt it was beneath the dignity of such a large congregation to have such an activity,” Stiffman admitted.

The final irony: a Las Vegas night

If bingo had no place in a synagogue, surely other forms of gambling wouldn’t either—right?

Not long after Shaare Emeth’s bingo program ended, B’nai Amoona’s Brotherhood hosted a Las Vegas night, complete with games of chance.

“Needless to say, I needled Rabbi Lipnick about it,” Stiffman laughed. “His answer was that it was a one-time event and that real money did not change hands. I reminded him of the Halacha. His laugh was wonderful.”

Bingo today: a different kind of game

Bingo in St. Louis’ Jewish community may be a thing of the past, but the game itself never disappeared. It simply moved to places like the American Legion Post 397 in Creve Coeur, where Halpern recently launched his Monday morning bingo games.

Unlike the heated debates of the 1980s, Halpern’s bingo nights aren’t raising theological concerns or dividing the community. They’re about social connection, fun and supporting military causes.

Proceeds help fund the American Legion’s work, which supports veterans and military causes.

Weekly Bingo at the American Legion

Who: Open to the public—individuals and groups welcome!
What: Weekly Monday bingo featuring 10 games, prizes, sweets, coffee, money-saving coupons, and a 50-50 raffle.
When: Every Monday at 9:30 a.m.
Where: American Legion Post 397, 934 E Rue De La Banque
Cost: $4 per session (includes two bingo cards)
For more information or to register: Email [email protected] or call 314-583-6392.