After 15 years of leadership, Joan Denison is stepping down — here’s what she built - St. Louis Jewish Light Joan Denison, president and chief executive officer of Covenant Place, plans to retire in May, the organization announced this week.

During her tenure, she guided a major redevelopment effort to replace the original Covenant Place buildings, launching a capital campaign in 2013 that drew significant donor support and broad community collaboration.

Rabbi Mark Shook honored for five decades of service to police and community - St. Louis Jewish Light The St. Louis County, Missouri Police Department presented Rabbi Mark Shook with their Community Service Award. He was honored for his work with the Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital and for ser...

✨📿 MAZEL OF THE DAY 📿✨

#MazelOfTheDay #STLJewish #RabbiGoals stljewishlight.org/newsmakers/r...

12-year-old cancer warrior Drew Patchin turns life’s hard lessons into children’s book - St. Louis Jewish Light 12-year-old Drew Patchin can now add “book author” to his list of remarkable milestones. He just released his debut children’s book.

Drew Patchin has faced brain cancer five times — and now he’s written a children’s book to help others face life’s challenges.
📖 Proceeds benefit The Bennett Project.

Read more: stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo...

#CancerWarrior #DoHardThings #JewishCommunity #StLouis

The photo in the jewelry box: What I didn’t know about Mom and Dad - St. Louis Jewish Light I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents lately. Maybe it’s because this year marks milestone anniversaries of their deaths.

The photo in the jewelry box: What I didn’t know about Mom and Dad

How a 131-year-old shul is reinventing itself—again - St. Louis Jewish Light What does it take for a synagogue to last 131 years—and still feel like a place people want to walk into?

Bais Abraham, a 131-year-old shul in STL, is once again evolving—with Rabbi Eliezer Finkelstein stepping in as spiritual leader.

A new chapter kicks off June 17, blending Modern Orthodox tradition with radical warmth. RSVP now: baisabe.com/2025springintoaction

Big news out of STL: Patty Bloom just joined the National Women’s Philanthropy Board of Jewish Federations of North America! From local changemaker to national leader—mazal tov, Patty!

Full story stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo... #WomenWhoLead #TikkunOlam #PattyBloom #STL

They built a museum so we wouldn’t forget—now it’s our turn to remember - St. Louis Jewish Light St. Louis Holocaust Committee and a Holocaust survivor, of the opening of the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center.

On this date in 1995, the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, the precursor to the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, opened. These three St. Louisans played major roles in making that happen.
stljewishlight.org/top-story/th...

His voice reached St. Louis in 1943 on a record. Now, thanks to John Pertzborn, it’s being heard again. - St. Louis Jewish Light John Pertzborn is no stranger to good stories. The legendary St. Louis broadcaster—best known for his long-running "Pertzborn’s People."

History just spun back into our lives 🎶
A 1943 phonograph record—WWII Jewish marine Wally Rosen's voice—was discovered in Dogtown by John Pertzborn. It's emotional, real, and timeless.
Can you help find Wally's family?

#StLouis #WWIIHistory #VoiceLetter #JewishHeritage

‘Mom, dad was murdered’: Kibbutz mother fights to heal after Oct. 7 attacks tore her family apart - St. Louis Jewish Light On the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, Reut Karp was staying with a friend outside Tel Aviv about two hours from home at Kibbutz Re’im.

After Oct. 7, Reut Karp received a text no mother should see: “Mom, dad was murdered.” From the ashes of Kibbutz Re’im, she created a healing space—a café honoring love, chocolate, and survival.
🔗 Full story: stljewishlight.org/war-in-israe...

Gerstein legacy lives on: Covenant Place celebrates milestone and dedicates social hall - St. Louis Jewish Light Covenant Place, which had a multi-purpose celebration on Wednesday April 2. More than 150 volunteers.

A legacy of service continues! Covenant Place celebrates 50 years of providing dignified, affordable senior housing & opens the Gerstein Social Hall. 🏡❤️ Honoring the power of community & compassion.

#StLouis #AffordableHousing #CommunityLove

She’s taking Mizzou students to Israel—here’s why it matters - St. Louis Jewish Light Mizzou Hillel’s Sarah Kitchner joins Birthright Israel Fellows to lead students on transformative trips to Israel.

✈️🇮🇱 When identity meets leadership — Meet Sarah Kitchner, the inspiring Mizzou educator preparing students for a life-changing trip to Israel. In a time of uncertainty, she’s helping young Jewish adults navigate belonging, connection & truth.

stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo...

'Jews in the Lou': Real conversations over pastrami, pickles and Jewish identity - St. Louis Jewish Light Some of the best conversations happen over a good meal, and for Alex Rich and Ben Poremba, that’s exactly the idea behind "Jews in the Lou."

🥪✨ Real talk happens over pastrami & pickles. That’s the magic of #JewsInTheLou — raw, unfiltered convos about Jewish life, food & identity in St. Louis 🎙️❤️

Next episode: Michael Staenberg spills stories at Deli Divine! 🔥

Full story & episodes 👉 Link 👇

#JewishCommunity #StLouis

Mazel of the Day! ✨

Mazel Tov to Karen Sher on her promotion to Chief Impact Officer at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis! 🎉👏 Her leadership strengthens community ties & global impact! 🌍💙

#MazelOfTheDay #MazelTov #JewishFederation #CommunityImpact #Leadership 🎊

Missouri Army National Guard promotes Rachael Stark - St. Louis Jewish Light Rachael Stark, a medical logistics officer, was promoted to the rank of captain in the Missouri Army National Guard. She is currently serving in the 229th multifunctional medical battalion in Fulton, ...

🎉✨ Mazel of the Day! ✨🎉

Join us in celebrating Captain Rachael Stark for her incredible achievements! 🎖👏

stljewishlight.org/newsmakers/m...

#MazelOfTheDay #MazelTov #JewishPride #WomenInUniform #ArmyStrong #JewishCommunity #Leadership #MissouriNationalGuard #StLouisProud #WomenInService

18-year-old arrested in connection with racist graffiti at Affton schools - St. Louis Jewish Light A suspect has been arrested in connection with the racist vandalism incidents at two Affton School District schools

Investigators identified Sloan through surveillance footage and multiple witnesses, including a family member, confirmed his identity.

War weary kids find summer sanctuary near St. Louis, but will they get to return? - St. Louis Jewish Light Camp Ben Frankel Once again, Camp Ben Frankel is asking the St. Louis Jewish community for its help.

🏕️ Camp Ben Frankel gave 18 displaced Israeli kids a summer of healing & hope.
💙 Now, they’re eager to return—along with their siblings—but they need our help!

📢 Our goal: Raise $100K to give 24 children a life-changing summer at camp.

stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo...

Bagels and Bliss brings fresh kosher bagels to St. Louis - St. Louis Jewish Light St. Louis’ newest bagel shop is now open. Bagels and Bliss at 8151 Delmar Blvd. in University City, is now selling kosher bagels.

Bagel lovers, rejoice! 🎉 St. Louis’ newest bagel shop, Bagels and Bliss, is serving up authentic, chewy, golden-brown bagels in University City. NY-style and 100% kosher-certified!
stljewishlight.org/bagels/bagel...

Affton High School vandalized with hate symbols, but its response was ‘by the book’ - St. Louis Jewish Light Early Friday morning, Affton High School staff arrived to find swastikas and racist graffiti, including the phrase “wite [sic] power."

It was the kind of message no school community wants to wake up to. Early Friday morning, Affton High School staff arrived to find swastikas and racist graffiti, including the phrase “wite [sic] power,” spray-painted on the front of the school.

"Have fun storming the castle!" is just one of the best lines from the 1987 film, "The Princess Bride." It has an amazing, behind-the-scenes Jewish story to tell. stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo...

When women with "chutzpah" came to St. Louis - St. Louis Jewish Light Five bold Jewish women from Chutzpah Girls shaped history and left their mark on St. Louis. Their legacies live on.

Fearless. Bold. Unstoppable. Jewish women have been shaping history for generations. Meet the Chutzpah Girls who changed St. Louis—and the world. 💥 Read their stories here:

stljewishlight.org/news/news-lo...

#ChutzpahGirls #JewishWomen #InspiringLeaders

Michelle Trachtenberg, Jewish ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ star, dies at 39 - St. Louis Jewish Light Michelle Trachtenberg, who starred in films and TV shows ranging from “Harriet the Spy” to “Gossip Girl,” has died at 39.

🕯️ Baruch Dayan HaEmet 🕯️

May her memory be a blessing. 💙

stljewishlight.org/top-story/mi...

#MichelleTrachtenberg #BDHE #BuffyTheVampireSlayer #JewishActress #HarrietTheSpy #GossipGirl #MayHerMemoryBeABlessing #AmYisraelChai

Hamas delivered an unidentified body instead of Shiri Bibas in Thursday’s prisoner exchange, the IDF said, dealing a new wave of horror to a nation still grieving the deaths of her children. Full story: stljewishlight.org/war-in-israe...

Ken Rosenthal, founder of St. Louis Bread Co., leaves behind a lasting legacy In the Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1988, edition of the St. Louis Jewish Light, on page 12, in the “In Business” section, the eighth blurb of nine read: Who knew what was to come? Kenneth “Ken” Rosenthal On Fe...

Ken Rosenthal, founder of St. Louis Bread Co. (now Panera Bread), leaves behind a legacy of entrepreneurship and generosity. His vision transformed casual dining and touched countless lives. Rest in peace, Ken. 🕊️ 🥖 #KenRosenthal #Panera #Entrepreneurship #GivingBack

In AI video, Jewish celebrities from Scarlett Johansson to Adam Sandler give Kanye the middle finger A video released on social media on Tuesday shows a wide array of Jewish celebrities, including Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, wearing a T-shirt with a raised middle finger and the word “Kanye” — a...

🚨 A viral deepfake video shows Jewish celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Adam Sandler flipping off Kanye West in protest of his antisemitic remarks. The kicker? None of them actually took part in it! 😱

Let’s talk. ⬇️

#AI #Deepfake #KanyeWest #Antisemitism #JewishCelebrities #TechEthics

You can call him Rabbi Josh Sharf now Native St. Louisan Rabbi Josh Scharff recently received his rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion at the Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem. He is currently th...

✨ Big congratulations to Rabbi Josh Sharf! 🎉

Wishing him success as he continues to inspire and lead! 🙌

#RabbinicalJourney #JewishCommunity #TribecaLife #StLouisRoots #FaithAndLeadership #NewBeginnings #JerusalemToNYC #MazelTov

Bonnie Mann’s coffee journey is brewing a perfect cup of community When I heard that Bonnie Mann was launching a coffee festival in St. Louis, it felt like a celebration that was long overdue. After all, we have wine festivals, beer festivals and even gooey butter ca...

☕ Big news for St. Louis coffee lovers! STL CoffeeFest is brewing up a celebration on Feb. 22 at City Foundry. Featuring 20+ local roasters, coffee-themed treats, and workshops, it’s the event you’ve been waiting for!

Rabbi-led photo ID project helps fix Missouri’s broken system In one of the rooms where real change happens, four large desks stand ready for action. At each desk, a volunteer sits across from a guest, assisting them in obtaining a Missouri non-driver photo ID. ...

“You can’t get anything without a photo ID, not even a bus pass,” said Sara Ruiz, executive director of Ashrei Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2021 by Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation.

Knitting for Camelot: Meet the St. Louis woman who touched Jackie Kennedy’s heart! As the country reflects on the transition of power with Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, I found myself looking back into the Jewish Light archives. There, I came across a ...

🌟 In 1962, Dora Offchinicoff from St. Louis knitted a stole for Jackie Kennedy, Her story didn’t end there—after JFK’s tragic passing, she sent dolls to comfort his children.
stljewishlight.org/the-newmark-...
#KnittingForCamelot #ActsOfKindness #JackieKennedy #CommunityStories

Hamas agrees to hostage deal, US official says Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal, a senior U.S. official told local media on Wednesday evening. This is a developing story. We will update when new information becomes a...

This is a developing story. We will update this link as new information becomes available.

Bliss! Kosher bagel shop rising on Delmar St. Louis will soon get a new kosher certified bagel shop. Bagels and Bliss is taking over space that previously housed Edible Arrangements at 8141 Delmar Blvd. An opening is planned for late December...

St. Louis will soon get a new kosher certified bagel shop.