ChaiLights

YOUR CALENDAR OF ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

JAN

Local Jewish organizations and congregations can submit calendar items to news@ stljewishlight.org. All items received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the publication date will be considered for that edition.

SUNDAY | JAN. 15

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra & Kol Rinah celebrate MLK Day

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Kol Rinah will hold a special SLSO & KoREH program in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision that “We are Better Together!” Arrive early as the event begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. For more information, email karen@kolrinahstl.org. Visit https://bit.ly/KR-SLSO for more information.

Kol Rinah’s ‘Jews in Science’ Session 21

From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Kol Rinah Verein Group’s “Jews in Science” series continues with a Zoom discussion of “Jewish Penicillin” by Mark Silvermintz and Ralph Graff. The program is in three parts: 1) about the BSKI Edith Mazur library; 2) Recollections by the library’s founder’s grandson; and 3) the Jewish connection to penicillin. For more information Contact Richard Gavatin: richardjrgavatin@gmail.com. Registration on the Kol Rinah website is required by Friday Jan. 13: visit www.kolrinahstl.org/form/ jewishpenicillin.html.

Jewish War Veterans Meeting

Jewish War Veterans Post 644 will meet in the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum meeting room at 10 a.m. on the third Sunday each month (please ask for directions at the desk). A Zoom option will be available for those who are unable to be at the meeting. For more information and the Zoom link contact Post 644 Commander Ellis Frohman at 636-519-7512 (leave a message if no one answers).

THURSDAY | JAN. 19

NCJW Lunch & Learn: Shopping Ethically with David Cook

At noon, David Cook, President of UFCW Local 655, will discuss ethical shopping and how to “vote with your dollars.” He will look at why making ethical purchases is well worth the benefits it can bring to one’s local community and the world at large. Visit https:// bit.ly/Jan23LnL to register for the January Lunch and Learn. Questions? Email Jen Bernstein at jbernstein@ncjwstl.org or call 314993-5181.

STARTING | JAN. 19

New Jewish Theatre presents ‘Broadway Bound’

See Winter/Spring Arts Guide, pages 11-16.

TUESDAY | JAN. 24

Discussion on The Beatles’ album ‘Rubber Soul’

University instructor Neil Davis will lead a free, in-person Mirowitz Center discussion from 2 to 3 p.m. on The Beatles’ 1965 album “Rubber Soul,” which many consider to be one of the bands’ best. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@ mirowitzcenter.org.

NCJW Coffee Talk with Lefty’s Bagels

There’s a buzz going around St. Louis about delicious bagels and a new bakery/café opening in the next few months. Join NCJW for a fun and informative discussion at 8:30 a.m. with Doug Goldenberg and Scott Lefton, founders and owners of Lefty’s Bagels. Visit https://bit.ly/Jan23CT to register. Questions? Email Chrissy Bellizzi at CBellizzi@ncjwstl.org or call 314-993-5181.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY EVENTS

Mirowitz and PJ Library partner for ‘Small Hands... Big Difference’ event

Families with pre-school aged children are invited to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at an event filled with meaning, music, stories and some messy hands-on fun. Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16 at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, 348 South Mason Road in Creve Coeur. The event is presented by Mirowitz and PJ Library.

The event, now in its 15th year, will be inside and in person this year after two years as a drive-through event.

In addition to singing relevant “freedom” songs with Rabbis Scott Slarskey, Daniel Bogard and Andrew Terkel, children will assemble packages for unhoused persons, treats for the Humane Society and school supplies for the National Council of Jewish Women Back to

Children enjoy a previous ‘Small Hands...Big Difference’ event at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School.

School! Store. They also will have an opportunity to create relevant artwork, learn Hebrew words for justice and peace, enjoy a healthy snack and have a chance to get their hands messy in gooey fun. The program is free, and the first 75 families to RSVP will receive a free book from PJ Library. The event is also supported by The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, NCJW and Israeli Scouts. For more information or to RSVP, visit mirowitz.org/admissions/mlk-small-handsbig-difference/, or contact Patty Bloom at 314-576-6177 or pbloom@mirowitz.org.

Jewish Book Festival author event looks at ‘The End of Bias’

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival will welcome author Jessica Nordell for a special Martin Luther King Jr. event discussing her book, “The End of Bias: A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias.”

Nordell digs deep into the cognitive science, social psychology and developmental research that underpin current efforts to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination. She examines diversity training, deployed across the land as a corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of people in disease prevention; a preschool in Sweden where teachers found ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping; a police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialized training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex. The event is free, but registration is required; visit stljewishbookfestival.org.

WEDNESDAY | JAN. 25

Discussion on self-care strategies

Jessie Brown, director of programs at NAMI St. Louis, will discuss “Unwind My Mind: Self-Care Strategies” from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center. Brown will look at facts and statistics about anxiety and stress, how to address stress, and self-care activities like meditation, breathing exercises, and creating a self-care plan. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@ mirowitzcenter.org.

SUNDAY | JAN. 29

A Jewish Case for vegetarianism

Does the Torah talk about vegetarianism? What do Talmudic and modern-day Jewish scholars have to say? Knowing that processing animals for food causes human and animal suffering and contributes to climate change, is there a Jewish case for vegetarianism? Join Temple Israel’s Rabbis Amy Feder and Michael Alper to dig in. Their talk is from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. at Temple Israel. Visit www.ti-stl.org/ AdultEducation for more information.

SUNDAY | FEB. 19

A Taste of Soup! at Traditional Congregation

After a three-year hiatus, A Taste of Soup is back! Meat & Vegetarian soup buffet, bread for dunking and sweet treats. The cost is $14/ person in advance ($16 walk-ins); no charge for kids under 5. Register by Feb. 8 at: https://wix.123formbuilder.com/form6332873/a-taste-of-soup-2023, or mail payment with names to Traditional Congregation, 12437 Ladue Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63141 or call 314-576-5230.

ONGOING

Get your game on at the Mirowitz Center

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Mirowitz Center welcomes guests to play Mahjong, bridge, poker or Mexican Train dominoes – whatever games you like. The Mirowitz Center will provide complimentary coffee, tea and water (guests can bring their own snacks to enjoy and share). No reservations are necessary for these weekly games, held in the multipurpose room, but plan to coordinate your group’s schedule and any needed substitutions. (If you want game instruction or already know how to play but are looking for other players, drop in during game days to see what groups are available for instruction and/or need participants.) Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.

Tech Tutor at Mirowitz Center

For those looking for one-on-one assistance with their technology devices and those who are wanting to acquire new skills, free, in-person 30-minute appointments are available at the Mirowitz Center. Tech Tutor’s in-person classes will be led by an extraordinarily qualified instructor, Larry Edison. Tech Tutor is supported through a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813 or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.

Saturday Morning Bible Study at Congregation Temple Israel

Beginning this fall, Rabbi Emeritus Mark L. Shook continues his Saturday Morning Bible Study Class on the topic of “A Jewish Understanding of the New Testament.” The class will commence with an in-depth study of the Gospel According to Mark. Classes are Saturdays, Oct. 1 to April 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in person at Temple Israel and on Zoom. Registration is required at: www.ti-stl.org/BibleStudy

Rabbi leads weekly meditation

Join Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and 5 p.m. on Thursdays for mindfulness meditation sits. It incorporates lessons from the weekly Torah portion, as well as stories, rituals and symbols of the season. No meditation experience necessary. Questions? Contact Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org.