Jewish Light E-Edition: March 20, 2024

A NONPROFIT, INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE TO INFORM, INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND CONNECT THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY.

The J to begin $13 million Fox Building renovation

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

A $13 million renovation of the Jewish Community Center’s Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield will begin in early April and touch all areas of the facility. The project will be funded through a cap-

ital campaign, supplemented by a $2 million infusion from the state of Missouri.

J leaders said the project is consistent with the organization’s focus on serving greater community needs and delivering more impact.

The 26-year-old, 65,000-square-foot building houses a fitness center, indoor

and outdoor pools, basketball and volleyball courts and an early childhood center. Those facilities will be updated during the renovation, with an estimated completion date of September 2025. One of the most significant elements of the 18-month

Musical ‘Passover Project’ at City Winery will benefit Jewish Light

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

About a year ago, on March 16 to be exact, Michael Dorf opened City Winery St. Louis, an entertainment venue, restaurant, winery and event space at the City Foundry in Midtown. When I interviewed him at the time of the opening, our conversation ended with me asking Dorf, who is Jewish and a Washington University graduate, about the annual Downtown Seder for Passover he has championed in New York City since 1991.

The last line in my story, with regard to a possible seder at the new City Winery here, ended with the line: “Maybe next year in St. Louis.”

Well, guess what? It’s happening St. Louis, no maybes about it. Tickets are on sale for “The Passover Project: A Musical Seder,” at City Winery on Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6). More about the particulars of the event in a

Brothers Lazaroff and a host of musicians will perform at “The Passover

Project: A Musical Seder,” at City Winery on Thursday, April 18.

FILE PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

Federation leader

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN & JORDAN PALMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

After more than 4½ years, Brian Herstig, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis, will resign his position at the end of June to move closer to his family in Minnesota.

Herstig, who joined Federation in early 2020, said he was proud of what he has been able to accomplish at Federation, including managing the organization and community through the COVID pandemic; building a strong management and leadership team; and mobilizing fundraising support in response to global threats against Jewish people in Ukraine and Israel.

“Honestly, the biggest thing that stands out to me was completing the fundraising for and launching and then spinning off the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum as an independent organization,” he said. “That’s something that doesn’t happen often.”

Federation board Chairman Bob Newmark commended Herstig, saying, “Brian has provided tremendous leadership, guiding this vital organization through tumultuous times, and we are grateful for his contributions to Federation and the local

minute; first, a little background. The Downtown Seder began at the legendary Knitting Factory, an avant-garde nightspot in N.Y.’s East Village that Dorf owned before opening the first City

Winery, in New York City, in 2008. The seder typically takes place a week or so before Passover. As Dorf once explained

plans to step down at end of June

Brian Herstig has served as president and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis since January 2020.

New rabbi with familiar name coming to St. Louis

JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

Congregation B’nai Amoona is set to welcome a new assistant rabbi. Rabbi Jared Skoff will join the congregation this summer along with his wife Karen and daughter Ana. He is the grandson of Rabbi Benson Skoff (z”l), rabbi emeritus of Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel (BSKI) congregation and Kol Rinah, who served BSKI for more than 30 years as spiritual leader.

Rabbi Jared Skoff will join Senior Rabbi Jeffery Abraham and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in leading the congregation.

“A visit by Rabbi Skoff created tremendous positive feedback,” said B’nai Amoona Personnel Chair Jeff Singer. “His ‘menschiness,’ teaching, interaction with all ages, sense of humor and use of the Yiddish language made a lasting impres-

sion and left us yearning for more.”

Skoff is coming to St. Louis after serving as a rabbinic intern at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, Calif. He will be ordained this spring 2024 by the Ziegler School, where he studies as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. He spent the past decade working for Camp Ramah in California where he served as National Program Director, and led Ramah Wisconsin’s Tikvah program, supporting neurodiverse campers and young adults.

“We know Rabbi Skoff will chart his own path at BA while drawing upon the rich legacy of rabbis who preceded him,” said Singer. “The Jewish community is delighted to welcome a rabbi named Skoff back into our midst, and we consider ourselves fortunate that it is within the walls of BA.”

Final details of the Skoffs’ arrival this summer will be made available in the coming months.

The Newspaper of the Jewish Community of Greater St. Louis — Founded 1963

CONTACT US

PHONE 314-743-3600

EMAIL news@stljewishlight.org

MAILING ADDRESS

For payments PO Box 32127 St. Louis, MO 63132-2127

For general correspondence please email news@stljewishlight.org

2024 PUBLICATION DATES

The Jewish Light will publish print editions twice a month in 2024, on the following dates:

• April 3

• April 17

• May 1

• May 22

• June 5

• June 19

• July 10

• July 24

• Aug. 7

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

• Aug. 21

• Sept. 11

• Sept. 25

• Oct. 9

• Oct. 23

• Nov. 6

• Nov. 20

• Dec. 4

• Dec. 18

Shabbat begins

Friday, March 22: 6:58 p.m.

Shabbat ends

Saturday, March 23: 7:56 p.m.

Torah reading: Vayikra

Shabbat begins

Friday, March 29: 7:04 p.m.

Shabbat ends

Saturday, March 30: 8:03 p.m.

Torah reading: Tzav

OUR BOARD AND STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

Michael Staenberg, President

Bethe Growe, Immediate Past President

Kara Newmark, Vice President

Ryan Rich, Vice President

Justin Krachmalnick, Treasurer Todd Taylor, Secretary

DIRECTORS

Caroline Goldenberg, Mia Kweskin, Debbie Lefton, Steve Rosenzweig and Adam Schneider

JEWISH LIGHT PAST PRESIDENTS

Bernard Fischlowitz*, Milton I. Goldstein*, Morris Pearlmutter* (founder), Morris Moscowitz*, Melvin Newmark*, Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin*, Vivian Zwick*, Joseph Edlin*, Michael Newmark, Richard Stein, Yusef Hakimian*, Sanford Weiss*, Philip Isserman*, Linda Kraus, Richard Flom, Marvin Schneider, Barbara Langsam Shuman, Terry Bloomberg, John Greenberg, David Grebler*, Milton Movitz*, Gianna Jacobson, Jenny Wolkowitz, Gary Kodner, Jane Tzinberg Rubin, Steve Gallant, Laura K. Silver, Bethe Growe

* Of Blessed Memory

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

STAFF

EXECUTIVE

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

Stacy Wolff Smart, Chief of Revenue Growth and Community Engagement

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer

EDITORIAL

Robert A. Cohn, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Mike Sherwin, Managing Editor SALES

Angie Rosenberg, Senior Account Executive

Kelly Morris, Account Executive

Elaine Wernick, Account Executive

BUSINESS & ENGAGEMENT

Terri Green, Administrative Assistant

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bill Motchan, Amy Fenster Brown, Patricia Corrigan, Barry Gilbert, Margi Lenga Kahn, Nancy Kranzberg, Elise Krug, Cate Marquis, Eric Mink, Shula Neuman, Judith Newmark, Martin Rochester, Megan Rubenstein

PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT

The Jewish Light is a community partner of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. The

Rabbi Jared Skoff will join Congregation B’nai Amoona this summer, along with his wife, Karen, and daughter, Ana.

Creating ‘Real Change’

Josh Shulman, his brother Greg, and childhood buddy Bill Evans were growing frustrated. After years of talking about the high cost of living, inflation and other financial hardships, they decided it was time to take action to make a real change.

“We all know good people with good jobs who are still in a position where they don’t know if they can afford this month’s rent. These are hardworking people struggling to make ends meet,” said Josh, 35, office manager at an optometry business and a member of Congregation United Hebrew. “I can’t fix the economy or the real estate market but what I do know is the difference between having a couple of hundred dollars in the bank and a couple of thousand, and that difference is big.”

So, the three friends thought, why not make a big difference, or at least a measurable one? Their plan: to surprise hard-working St. Louisans — folks who are employed but are barely eking by — with $2,000 in cash to help make their life easier. As Shulman points out, “Nearly 60% of Americans are unable to cover a $1,000 emergency expense, with upwards of twothirds living paycheck to paycheck.”

Last summer, the trio contacted a lawyer and filed the necessary paperwork to start their own tax-exempt nonprofit to “put cash donations into working people’s hands.” They got IRS approval in November and launched the Real Change Project soon after at real changeproject.com.

“One of the stipulations of our nonprofit is that donations go to people who are currently employed,” said Josh, adding that the public can donate through

their website. “Our goal now is to become a monetized social media platform. We have a YouTube channel, and we want to get a ton of followers. We want to get big enough on YouTube to attract advertisers, so we won’t need to ask for donations.”

Since December, the friends have surprised a half dozen people at their jobs with $2,000 in cash, including Robin Pentecost, who works in the bakery department at Schnucks in St. Peters.

“I was overwhelmed to say the very least. It was a total surprise,” said Pentecost, 57, and the mother of three. “At first, they said they were interviewing me about the best doughnut or something and I kind of believed them. Then they said they wanted to give me something, but we’re not supposed to take anything

News and Schmooze is a column by Jewish Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman. Email Ellen at: efutterman@stljewishlight.org.

from customers.”

When she looked into the envelope Greg Shulman handed her, she was left speechless. There it was — a wad of bills totaling $2,000. She says she still has trouble finding the right words to express her gratitude.

“It came at the perfect time and really helped a lot,” she said. “I needed my car worked on. I was able to catch up on my bills. I’m not getting anything back on my taxes, so the money is especially helpful.”

Josh said they found Robin, and the other workers they’ve rewarded, through word of mouth. They hope to add a feature to their website whereby the public can nominate worthy recipients.

In the meantime, he asks that people subscribe to their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@RealChangeProject so they can build a digital video audience to attract advertisers to support the project.

“I truly love what we’re doing,” said Josh. “I don’t know if there’s anything better than elevating an individual and knowing that you’re helping them. The videos

are short, heartwarming and completely transparent. We are showing you where the money is going.”

What’s new with Ben Poremba? Quite a lot.

On Thursday, March 21, restauranteur Ben Poremba and his Bengelina Hospitality Group will open their latest eatery, Esca, in the Delmar Maker District at 5095 Delmar Blvd. In mid-to-late April, Poremba expects to open another new restaurant, Florentin, across the street, at 5090 Delmar Blvd.

Poremba, an Israeli native, describes the cuisine at Esca as “coastal Mediterranean, inspired by the French and Italian Rivieras, and the coast of Sicily. It’s more western Mediterranean, less Greek, more French and Italian.”

The emphasis is on charcoal cooking. “There is no traditional gas stove anywhere in the building, everything gets cooked on a charcoal grill,” said Poremba.

From left, Bill Evans, Josh Shulman and Greg Shulman created the Real Change Project, giving out surprise gifts of $2,000. In the screenshot at right from a Real Change Project video, Greg Shulman surprises Schnucks baker Robin Pentecost with the cash gift.

21st annual UCity Purim parade steps off March 24

BY BILL MOTCHAN

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

Soulard Mardi Gras, now the second-largest carnival celebration in the United States, began in 1980 when five friends threw a house party. The University City Purim Reenactment Parade shares several similarities.

Participants dress up in costumes, and the highlight of the event is a parade. And the Purim gathering was dreamed up by a few friends.

“Phyllis Shapiro and I were talking one day, and we came up with the idea and planned it together,” said Rose Ann Ariel, who still plans the reenactment 21 years later. “My husband, Mickey, was Haman, and Phyllis Shapiro’s husband, Jack, was Mordechai. We had to convince our husbands to play the parts. They were good sports and agreed.”

The Purim tradition began in 2003 and has been going strong ever since with the exception of COVID-affected 2021. The 2024 reenactment steps off from Gay and Cornell Avenues at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. Security will be provided, and costumes are encouraged.

“We had no idea that the reenactment would become a St Louis Purim tradition,” Ariel said. “Also, we never announce who is playing Haman and Mordecai beforehand. It adds to the fun for people to try and guess when they have on makeup and costumes.”

Whoever is assigned to portray Mordechai should be prepared to mount a

horse. That assignment fell to Jeff Kanefield in 2023. He had previously never ridden on a horse in royal attire.

“However, I am extremely comfortable

on a horse having been around horses as a child at summer camps as well at our family farm,” Kanefield said. “My advice for anyone who is fortunate to ride the streets

of University City on a horse would be to embrace the moment. Try and engage with the kids and neighbors. It’s a joyous occasion so have fun.”

Cardinals Reminiscence League offers therapeutic baseball experience for dementia patients, families

JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

According to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the first baseball reminiscence program in the US was the Cardinals Reminiscence League (CRL). Begun in 2011, [CRL] was a joint effort by the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Louis University, the Veteran’s Administration, and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum.”

The program was designed to offer a unique form of “sports reminiscence therapy,” welcoming all Cardinals enthusiasts eager to share their baseball memories and explore the rich history of their beloved hometown team.

By 2015, the Jewish Community Center of St. Louis was among nearly a dozen such sites to host the CRL. Now, in 2024, the J is the only one still offering the program.

The Cardinals Reminiscence League is back

As anticipation builds for the return of the St. Louis Cardinals to the field in just two weeks, The CLR is gearing up for its own Opening Day, aimed at bringing joy and connection to baseball fans living with dementia. Through engaging activities and heartfelt discussions, the program uses baseball to stimulate cognition and foster a sense of belonging among its participants.

“Each session, from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to playing Baseball Lingo, is

carefully designed to evoke cherished memories and spark lively conversations about America’s favorite pastime,” shared Alan Spector, discussion group leader of CRL and author of “Baseball: Never Too Old to Play the Game.”

Reminiscence therapy has consistently been shown to make a positive difference in participants’ quality of life, including among those living with mild to moderate dementia.

“Everything we do is intended to stimulate cognition among our participants. One way we do this is to strive to engage each of the five senses throughout each session,” said Spector.

Using PowerPoint slides and videos, the

sessions are filled with images from the game. Local memorabilia collector, Howard Bly, also brings items from his vast collection for participants to see.

During each session, participants sing the National Anthem and Take Me Out to the Ball Game, each accompanied by its music. Each session concludes with the music from the Budweiser Clydesdale theme.

Demonstrations are planned utilizing all aspects of baseball equipment so that participants can relive the feeling of baseballs, gloves, bats, and catcher’s equipment, in their hands. They emphasize the scents of the game with that same baseball equipment.

Before the last session of the season, the

J arranges for a baseball luncheon featuring ballpark food for all participants before we begin talking baseball.

“We prompt discussion by reviewing baseball history and Cardinals history specifically. When we do, we sometimes discuss what else was going on in the world at the time—both in other sports and in the news,” said Spector.

“Nicknames are always a hit. Ducky, Dizzy, Daffy, Dazzy, and Ozzie. The great, most well-known Cardinals players always resonate. Mention Stan “The Man” Musial, and everyone lights up.”

While history is big part of the program, keeping participants engaged in the current team is also part of the plan.

“We discuss how the Cardinals are doing this season. Seemingly everyone knows at least a little about this. We then vote thumbs up or down on how the Redbirds will do the rest of the season. Invariably, everyone votes,” said Spector.

What you need to know

There are two 90-minute sessions a month throughout the baseball season. The first session for the 2024 season will be on Monday, April 1 at 1:00 at Adult Day at the J. Free and family members are welcome. RSVP is required. RSVP to Karen Stephenson, or by calling 314-442-3248

In-person participants include Adult Day at the J members and visitors from the broader community. Recently, the program has also been joined in person by participants from Dolan Memory Care Homes.

A scene from the 2023 U.City Purim Reenactment Parade. This year’s parade takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

Alan Spector (right) leads a session of the Cardinals Reminiscence League at the Adult Day Center at the J.

Holocaust Museum creates Speakers Bureau

The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum recently announced the creation of the Museum’s Speakers Bureau – a brand new initiative designed to increase the reach of the Museum’s educational material beyond its walls and make learning about the history and lessons of the Holocaust more accessible to organizations in St. Louis and the surrounding region.

“We are proud to introduce the Museum’s Speakers Bureau, an initiative aimed at extending the profound educational experience offered within our walls to organizations throughout our community and beyond,” said Myron Freedman, the Museum’s executive director. “Through our diverse range of presentations, we strive to foster understanding, combat misinformation, and inspire meaningful change. By inviting our speakers into your spaces, you’re not only gaining insights into pivotal historical events but also actively participating in the crucial mission of rejecting hatred and promoting empathy. We look forward to partnering with businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of all kinds to spread awareness and uphold the enduring lessons of the Holocaust.”

The presentations currently available for booking include:

• The Holocaust in the Heartland (Speaker: Helen Turner, Director of Education)

• Contextualizing and Confronting Current Antisemitism (Speaker: Helen Turner, Director of Education)

• Carl Lutz: The Forgotten Holocaust Rescuer (Speaker: Amy Lutz, Director of Marketing & Communications)

• Taming the Digital Wildfire: Media Literacy & Misinformation in the Internet Age (Speaker: Amy Lutz, Director of Marketing & Communications)

Custom presentations may be requested for an additional fee.

This Speakers Bureau is a supplement to the Museum’s survivor and descendant speaker program. The Museum frequently schedules survivor and descendant speakers free of charge for school groups — both in the classroom and on-site at the Museum.

Organizations looking to book a Museum speaker may visit: stlholocaustmuseum.org/museum-speakers-bureau/

Schools wanting to book a class trip or survivor/descendant speaker may visit: stlholocaustmuseum.org/school-groups/

Hamsa Wellness Community event will

look at genetics and hereditary cancer

April 4 event speakers include a genetic counselor and a gynecologic oncologist

The Hamsa Wellness Community, in partnership with the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis and St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness, are hosting an event in the hopes of positively influencing the health of our community now and for future generations.

“Genetics and Hereditary Cancer: Let’s Learn Together,” will take place on April 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from a genetic counselor and oncologist about hereditary cancers, genetic counseling, and how this impacts risk and treatment decisions, as well as medical management. Doors open at 5:30 for light refreshments and will conclude with a Q&A.

The event features Susan Jones, a genetic counselor who specializes in cancer genetics. Jones, who has worked in pediatrics and prenatal genetics, has delved into cancer genetics due to its actionability. She says, “We can do so much to prevent cancer or prevent it being detected late.”

The second presenter is Dr. Shannon Grabosch, a gynecologic oncologist at SLUCare who is committed to educating the community about the availability of genetic testing.

“The Hamsa Wellness Community is here to help educate individuals on the increased genetic rvisks facing our community and the importance of knowing one’s family history,” says Hamsa Wellness Community Director Debbi Braunstein. “We provide support to those with an increased cancer risk as well as those going through a cancer journey. It has been said many times that the non-medical support received can make for a more positive medical outcome. Nobody should go through this alone.”

For more information on the Hamsa Wellness Community, visit jccstl.com/ hamsa-wellness or contact Braunstein at 314-442-3266 or hamsawellness@ jccstl.org.

This event is free and open to all men and women. Register online at jccstl. com/hamsa-wellness.

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Helen Turner (left) and Amy Lutz

WE WERE WE WERE

Michael Staenberg Board President

Thank you,

Please help us continue to shine a light on the St. Louis Jewish community and continue to be an essential resource for generations to come.

continued contribution to our community requires your financial support.

Light faces fiscal challenges. Ensuring its continuity and

However, like many community-focused initiatives, the

community robust and vibrant. The Light is a pillar that unites us, and provides a voice to our community’s values, concerns and achievements.

places and things that make the St. Louis Jewish

celebrate our Jewish heritage and spotlight the people,

The Light plays a vital role in keeping our community informed, educated, engaged and connected. Its print and digital platforms share important news and events,

I am asking for your support.

As president of the board of the St. Louis Jewish Light,

THE J

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

makeover will be the addition of an adult day center, with capacity for 36 participants

Adult day centers provide a much-needed service for users and their caregivers. They give older adults an opportunity to socialize with their peers and reduce isolation and loneliness. A 2021 study published by Johns Hopkins University Press reported that a critical need exists for resources to address a growing demand for community based services and help older adults avoid higher levels of care.

Within five miles of the Fox Building, there are 22,000 residents aged 65+, and 4,000 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Only one licensed adult day program in Chesterfield, a skilled nursing facility with a capacity of 25, serves that population.

The Fox Building adult day center has a March 2025 planned opening, which will be welcome news for individuals who would benefit from the services and their caregivers, said Nicole Hawkins, project leader and chief operating officer.

“Right now, we have a wait list of 60 people at the Staenberg Family Complex,” Hawkins said. “We think that this will be a really good way to move some of our folks who are now commuting from the Chesterfield area over to the Fox Building and open up our wait list here as well. About 30% of active participants typically travel 30 to 45 minutes one way to attend the adult day center at the Staenberg location.”

The new adult day center will have two components like the center in the Staenberg Family Complex at the J near Creve Couer. The Connections Program will provide a variety of activities and intergenerational events for adults who require assistance during the day. It is designed for adults with cognitive loss and physical disability.

The other component is called the In Program, which was created in 2016 to support young adults with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and other physical and developmental disabilities.

“That program has really taken off,” Hawkins said. “And there are very few available resources for people in the west St. Louis County area.”

The $2 million from Missouri is part of a broader effort for which the Legislature appropriated one-time funds. The funding is intended to provide infrastructure support to key nonprofit organizations that provide critical health and human services to vulnerable populations. The J is a primary provider for adult day services to both older adults and individuals with developmental disabilities.

In addition to the adult day center, other components of the Fox Building renovation will include:

• Updates to the early childhood center and community meeting spaces

• Expanded kitchen facilities

• Renovated and expanded locker rooms and Kid Zone

• New gymnasium floor

• Dedicated pickleball courts

• Infrastructure improvements, including security and communications

• Upgraded exterior, entry and lobby areas

The building and facilities will be available to members throughout the renovation process. The upgrades will progress in phases to minimize disruption to users. For example, construction in the gym won’t begin until after the camp season. The locker room component will begin after the outdoor pool season. All plans

intentionally take timing and the seasons into consideration.

Hawkins said another important aspect of the project is looking at best practices from other Jewish community centers. Michael Staenberg, the Fox Building renovation lay leader, had previously worked on similar projects.

“Having Debbie Stamer (O’Toole Design Associates) and Steve Mueller (HDA Architects) work on it, they’ve done other projects for me in Omaha and Kansas City, so that was important,” Staenberg said. “We understand the nuances, like walkability. This is a renovation, and the Kansas City and Omaha projects are renovations. That was very helpful. A good example is the locker rooms. We renovated both of the locker rooms in Omaha and Kansas. That’s what I brought to the project, and also the discipline to make it economically feasible.”

Hawkins said the modifications to locker rooms will be a significant improvement and take advantage of recent technological innovations.

“The expansion that we’ll be doing with the family/community locker rooms will be a really huge draw for families,” Hawkins said. “They will be like separate family changing rooms.

One of my favorite things that we’re going to have is new infrared saunas in both of the men’s and women’s locker rooms. We’re also going to be building in a wellness space with more ability to do stretching and use compression boots.”

In addition to features and design, J leaders considered how to most effectively position service areas. The adult day center and early childhood center will be adjacent to one another to provide more intergenerational programs.

Staenberg said that when J members enter the building, they’ll experience the upgrades, which he called “a

game-changer.”

While the physical changes will improve the member experience, the overall goal is to invest in the future, said Debbie Lefton, J board member.

“Just as previous generations have worked to create the Jewish community we enjoy today, it’s important that we expand our services and our programming and have a place for the community to come together,” Lefton said.

“It’s a perfect time for this project. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that we invest in the J to ensure a Jewish space that supports our entire community, creating a J for tomorrow. It strengthens our ability to fulfill our mission of the J for future generations and ensures that we deliver even greater impact for our children and our grandchildren.”

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF

Mammography

Van will visit both locations of The J

The Missouri Baptist Mobile Mammography Van will be at the J (Chesterfield) on April 9 and the J (Creve Coeur) on April 10. This service provides 3D screening mammograms for women 40 years of age and older. The fee for the screening will be billed to you or your insurance. Missouri Baptist will submit claims for you to participating insurance companies and Medicare. Women who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for free mammograms. No physician order is required. Schedule an appointment by calling 314-996-5170. For more information, contact Debbi Braunstein, Director, the Hamsa Wellness Community at 314-4423266.

CONTACT THE EDITORS

Have a story idea or Jewish community news to report?

Contact the Jewish Light’s editors by emailing news@stljewishlight.org or calling 314-743-3669.

To truly lead the way in memory care, It takes a village.

A village of expert memory care clinicians. A village of highly-skilled nurses and staff for every stage of dementia—from assisted-living to skilled-nursing care. What’s more, we’ve designed Parc Provence to function as a village—with five levels of care provided in a household setting. Plus a greenhouse, ice cream parlor, library, art gallery, chapel and more, all nestled amongst private pathways and gardens exclusively for residents and their visitors. Putourvillagetoworkforyourfamily.

Leading the Way in Memory Care

At left, Marilyn Fox, the namesake of the J’s location in Chesterfield, passed away on Feb. 18.

Left: Associate Medical Director Dr. Lenise Cummings-Vaughn, Administrator Kathy Kelley, and Medical Director Dr. David Carr meet with a resident.

Manischewitz Cake Mixes 9–15 oz. pkg. Select varieties.

NEWSMAKERS

Newsmakers is a compilation of the Jewish community’s newsworthy professional and academic accomplishments. Submit your news to news@stljewishlight.org. Call 314-743-3669 for more information. Newsmakers is compiled by Elise Krug.

Esther Miller Bais Yaakov (EMBY) honored Rabbi Ze’ev and Chani Smason and Zahava List at their 28th Anniversary Dinner on March 10. Rabbi Smason served EMBY as its first history teacher and later became the rabbi at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion. He is currently their rabbi emeritus and is regional vice president for the Coalition for Jewish Values. Chani Smason, EMBY’s first English teacher, continues to teach English, infusing her students with a love of literature and helping them to develop the all-important skills of effective writing and presentation. List was honored with the Rabbi Gershon Zefren (z”l) Alumni Leadership Award Alumni Leadership Award. She was a student in one of the earliest classes of EMBY and went on to found Chazkeinu, an organization designed to support women who are challenged with mental illness.

Mike Lefton is the new board chair of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis. He will lead Variety in its 90th year of empowering local kids and teens with disabilities. A member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, Lefton is the executive chairman at Metal Exchange Corporation and serves as the board president of AJC St. Louis.

Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project welcomes Rabbi Jessica Shafrin as its new clergy advisor. In this role she will lead services during the Sept. 20-22

Nishmah retreat as well as a few sessions in grief and caregiving. Shafrin, a member of Kol Rinah, currently serves as the manager of Pastoral and Spiritual Care for SSM St. Joseph Hospitals in St Charles, Lake St. Louis and Wentzville.

As the new YPD development officer, Alec Rothman will be working with young adults in the St. Louis community, engaging them in the Jewish Federation of St. Louis with events, programs and development efforts. She recently spent a year as the membership and special events coordinator at NCJWSTL. Lisa Hirshberg is the Jewish Federation’s new development officer. A member of Congregation Temple Israel, she will be working with the Professional Society and corporate sponsorship.

BROUGHT TO YOU THIS MONTH BY:

Gordon received the 2024 Mechthild

in Medical Science from Northwestern He was selected for transforming the understanding of human health and how it is shaped by the gut microbiome. Given every two years, prize recognizes physician-scientists whose body of research represents outstanding achievements in biomedical science and has shown lasting significance. As part of the will deliver a lecture on Sept. 30 at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill. Gordon leads the Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology at Washington University School of Medicine.

in Cincinnati. She will be working on the external hardware for multiple GE engines that include the engine for the F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.

Joanne Garfinkel Iskiwitch has received the 2023 Coldwell Banker President’s Elite Award, given to top Coldwell Banker Realty-Gundaker agents locally. She also ranked as the No. 4 individual agent out of a total of 1325+ agents companywide in 2023. Iskiwitch was awarded membership in the Coldwell

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Esser Nemmers Prize

Recent University of Missouri graduate Madeline Hartranft began her career as a mechanical design engineer for GE Aerospace

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Zahava List Mike Lefton and Rabbi Jessica Shafrin

SECOND ROW: Alec Rothman, Lisa Hirshberg and Dr. Jeffrey Gordon

THIRD ROW: Madeline Hartranft and Joanne Garfinkel Iskiwitch

Rabbi Ze’ev and Chani Smason

Banker International President’s Circle for top agents worldwide. She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CHLMS) and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES).

Ed Musen was recently named president of the board of directors for ShowStoppers, a non-profit organization that presents an annual Broadway Musical Revue. This year there will be four performances featuring Broadway musicals from Burt Bacharach, Stephen Sondheim, Roger Miller, Cole Porter, Meredith Wilson and more. They will be held at Clayton High School on Aug. 24 and 25 and Sept. 7 and 8. All net proceeds from these performances are donated to Barnes-Jewish Federation for Siteman Cancer Center. Last year, ShowStoppers donated $4,000 to Siteman. Musen attends Congregation Shaare Emeth.

SCHMOOZE

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Whole grilled fish will be featured daily while other char-grilled entrees include sturgeon and Amish chicken. The menu also boasts a variety of “snacks,” appetizers and salads and a “really significant cocktail program” and wine list put together by Luciano Racca, wine and service director for Bengelina.

Esca’s interior is reminiscent of an upscale but welcoming urban brasserie, with warm color tones, wood and brick details and romantic overhead lighting. The space accommodates 50 diners inside and 35 to 40 on the patio.

The name of the restaurant, ‘Esca,” means different things in different languages, but Poremba says he named it for escalivada, a Catalan dish of fire-roasted

Benjamin Philip’s short story, “The Empty Throne,” was published in the Sunday Morning Transport, an online website that delivers science fiction or fantasy short stories each Sunday. Under the pen name Benjamin C. Kinney, his story is about Jewish mythology and philosophy. Read his work at benjaminckinney.com. Philip is a Central Reform Congregation member.

Siblings Marti Ferdman, Alan Spector and Carol Strelic wrote and published their family history book entitled “The Spector-Friedman Family; Deep Roots Strong Branches.” In addition to telling stories from the family’s history, the book aims to serve as a guide on how others can capture family history for future generations. Ferdman and Spector live in the St. Louis area and Strelic lives in New Jersey.

vegetables, which will be one of the restaurant’s signature items, with a rotating selection of seasonal vegetables.

“This is the region I hope to retire in whether it is in the Costa Brava or the French or Italian Riviera or Sicily,” said Poremba. “This is a restaurant that basically I opened selfishly. Everything here is

stuff I want to eat and drink. It’s the kind of vibe that I want to be in.”

Dinner at Esca will be served Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. For more information and reservations, go to bengelina.com.

(Look for more on Florentin and an update on Poremba’s other restaurants moving to Delmar Maker District in the coming weeks.)

TOP ROW: Ed Musen, Benjamin Philip and Marti Ferdman.

SECOND ROW: Alan Spector and Carol Strelic.

At left, restaurateur Ben Poremba, a native Israeli, winds down with a cocktail.

The interior of Esca, the latest restaurant venture from Ben Poremba and his Bengelina Hospitality Group, scheduled to open March 21 in the Delmar Maker District.

OPINIONS

D’VAR TORAH: VAYIKRA

Embrace surprise events as opportunity on road to our Promised Land

BY CANTOR AND RABBI RON EICHAKER UNITED HEBREW CONGREEGATION

At times, our purpose or direction in life may be less clear than others. There can be many influences that can cast a pall over our existence, taking us to murky places we may not choose to go.

When clouds of uncertainty cause us to remain stationary, especially at a time when we sense a calling to break out from the stale, opaqueness of indecision, we may be able to rely only on seemingly random opportunities to help lift the veil of almost vituperative stagnation and open our senses to hear the calling that helps to define our purpose and set us on a path to feed an urge to identify with that purpose and open that urge to its floral equivalent we call “passion.”

How many of you are living passionately? How many of you have experienced a period or moment of deep passion? Has there been something in your life, not necessarily of your choosing, that has altered the trajectory of your life’s path?

Last week, Parashat Pekudei (to attend, muster, number, account for) concluded with the “cloud” that contained the spirit of the Almighty appearing in the midst of the now completed Tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting while that cloud was present. When the cloud dissipated, the Israelites were allowed to pack up and continue their travels. So ends the Book of Exodus.

This week, the 24th weekly section of

“ABOUT THE OPINIONS SECTION

Viewpoints

Cantor and Rabbi Ron Eichaker serves United Hebrew Congregation and is a police chaplain. He is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.

When I read, see or hear the seemingly unending “truths” that our information platforms force on us by the hour, I can relate to what our Israelite ancestors might have been experiencing when uncertainty and danger was forced on

Take a look around. There are so many people who have experienced life-altering events not of their choosing but chose to identify them as opportunities to ignite a passion toward a new path.”

our cycle of the Torah reading begins the Book of Leviticus. Vayikra (to call, call out, cry out) provides us with such an elegant connection between the cloud of mystery and the certain inner voice that connects us to our purpose.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Submit letters to news@stljewishlight.org

A message from Shaving Israel’s president

Oct. 7 changed everything for everyone in Israel and of course for Shaving Israel.

Shaving Israel is very proud to support members of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) in a very meaningful, personal, hands-on fashion. We identify soldiers in need and strive — with your help — to fill those needs. After Oct. 7, supply shortages and problems with distribution mean that more IDF personnel need help. For more information about the aftermath of Oct. 7, please join us at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion on Sunday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. to hear from Chris Hexter, grandfather of Yakir Hexter, z’’l, a lone soldier who was killed in Gaza.

One of my duties as president of Shaving Israel is to pay bills to our vendors in Israel. Two of these calls to Israeli stores left me speechless. First, I called Ronit. I have gotten to know her a bit over the years. I called to pay our bill, but she told me that she could not accept my credit card number and asked if I could call the next day. I said, of course.

When I reached her later, she told me that her son had been deployed to Gaza

and was wounded there. The first time that I called, her son was having surgery. Thankfully, he is expected to recover.

The second call was to Ezer, one of our newer vendors. He asked me how I was, since he had heard that antisemitism is terrible in the United States, and he was worried about us. Israel is at war, and they worry about American Jews! Meanwhile, we worry about them. What we say to each other is “b’yachad n’natzeach.” Together, we will win.

Laura Goldmeier President, Shaving Israel

Contact your legislators

During President Biden’s recent State of the Union speech, he called out Hamas by saying, “Israel has a right to go after Hamas.” He went on to say Hamas could end the conflict “by releasing the hostages, laying down arms and surrendering those responsible for Oct. 7.” This is something we never hear our progressive friends say, which is that Hamas has it in their power to do the thing everyone wants, end this horrific war. President Biden also said, “To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a sec-

them with every step they took, every word that was spoken or every “natural” event that they faced.

We all have various tolerance levels for what we term TMI (too much information). TMI can come at us like a firehose,

ondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.”

As American Jews, we can ask our representatives to demand that Hamas let our people go and surrender the murderers among them. At the same time, we must, and I repeat we must, ask our elected officials in Washington, D.C. to pressure the Israeli government to end aerial bombing and use of large-scale weaponry in Gaza while encouraging the flow of food and medicine into Gaza. The Jewish Light has been silent on the suffering of Palestinian people during this conflict and our elected officials need to know how we feel about the conduct of this ghastly war.

Roger Lewis Clayton

What’s in a name?

Sen. Chuck Schumer falsely claims his name is derived from the Hebrew word “shomer” meaning “watch over.” Very few if any European Jewish names derive from Hebrew. Most come from some German language derivation.

More likely, “Schumer” derived from middle German meaning “hobo or vagabond.” Swiss German would make the derivation from a word meaning “cow milker.” None would suit this senator’s self-hubris.

No one should be ashamed of their name. But the senator invents an etymolo-

or like a mist that wraps us in shroud or cloud of confusion. When our senses become overwhelmed, it may become necessary to shut down and reboot.

Instead of ceding to vulnerability, in that time when your mind has been clouded, embrace the solitude. Hold your space as a sacred radius where you can gain calm and introspection. Listen to yourself, your breath, your heartbeat. Get in touch with and ahold of yourself.

That ringing in your ears might be your brain reacting more to the lack of noise than the deafening silence of fear, mistrust or anxiety. Try to relate with it, embrace it and maybe you can redirect your brain to be more in tune with who you are rather than what others try to tell you who you should be.

Take a look around. There are so many people who have experienced life-altering events not of their choosing but chose to identify them as opportunities to ignite a passion toward a new path.

The cloud in the Tabernacle was necessary to allow the Presence of the Almighty to influence Moses intrinsically. Once Moses adapted to that reality, he was commanded to “call out” to the people, opening their ears and eyes to a new pathway, a pathway to clarify their fledgling religion, moving them closer to that Promised Land of Peoplehood.

Shabbat Shalom.

gy that makes him appear as a “guardian of the Jewish people.” Observant Jews understand this is a false etymology to serve Schumer’s political purposes, and in reality derives from our Hebrew liturgy and applies only to the “Holy One” Blessed be He.

Stephen S. Lefrak, MD

Emeritus Professor of Medicine

Washington University School of Medicine

Response to recent d’var Torah

Rabbi Jim Bennett’s March 6 commentary (“Don’t let our reflection blind us to the needs of others”) starts off seemingly supportive of Israel in the current conflict against Hamas’ savage brutality, before concluding with thinly veiled, morally equivalent both-sides-ism regarding Israelis and the unnamed “others” whose pain and grief allegedly equal ours, but to which we are blind.

I think I can provide an answer to Rabbi Bennett when he asks Hillel’s well-known question “If I am not for myself, who will be…?” Rabbi, don’t worry. If you cannot be for Israel, the IDF is. And so is Hashem. Am Yisrael Chai.

Matthew Grad St. Louis

How do we celebrate Purim in a time of mourning? We’re not the first Jews to face that question.

BY DAVID I. BERNSTEIN JTA

JERUSALEM — A colleague on the faculty of Pardes, the learning community based in Jerusalem, described to me how in her community, the annual Purim parade is quite joyous. Yet in that small town, five families have lost sons in the war that began on Oct. 7.

How can we possibly be joyous on Purim this year? How to celebrate amidst such mourning? Should the parade be canceled? Or must it go on?

There is so much to mourn: the terrible events of Oct. 7, the incomprehensible suffering of the hostages being held by Hamas, the ongoing war and the daily toll it is taking. I have not even mentioned the resurgence of antisemitism in the United States or the many other tragic events taking place around the world.

David I. Bernstein is dean emeritus of Pardes. He previously directed Midreshet Lindenbaum for 12 years and was a Jerusalem Fellow at the Mandel School for Jewish Education. He leads immersive Jewish heritage trips to Poland, Germany, Prague, Vienna and Budapest.

And yet, we are told to “increase our joy” in this month of Adar (this year it’s two months, due to the leap year) in anticipation of Purim, the holiday that begins this year on the evening of March 23.

A few lessons in love and philanthropy

BY NINA NEEDLEMAN

Love is one of the greatest motivators a person can have in life. Experiencing love – having it or not having it – is how many people define happiness. Money is also a great motivator. It’s a basic need — to provide food, shelter and survival necessities. And it, too, is a quality of life and happiness measure.

Money issues can be a stressor on relationships and marriages. There are plenty of articles and books by psychologists and financial planners on how to have conversations about finances as well as transparency on individual and joint money habits and behaviors, so your relationship can be “financial forever more.”

For a long-term relationship, you should jointly plan a financial roadmap. Think of the plan like a driving vacation — you have a handful of major stops for key sights or places, and lots of minor exits. This particular trip, however, will last your whole life. The major stops are big financial decisions like uprooting and moving to another city, changing careers or jobs and having children while the more minor ones could be about buying or leasing a car, continuing to rent an apartment or purchasing a home or taking out a home equity loan.

Traditionally, philanthropy planning has been something people lump together with end of life and death planning. I propose instead that philanthropy is something that should be part of your budget and financial planning at all stages of life. Early in your financial life, your gifting will be likely be small — perhaps your synagogue dues plus modest tzedakah elsewhere. As your finances improve, your giving will naturally scale up, too.

Nina Needleman is a retired financial planner. She spent the first three-decades of her career in the financial services industry. Now she uses her business skills to help nonprofit organizations with capacity building and more importantly-- as an educator, teaching people about personal finance and philanthropy.

Philanthropy planning can be a way to show love also. A few examples: one partner gives a gift to the other’s beloved alma mater, one partner gives to an after-school program the other’s friend founded or both give to an agency that fights the horrible disease that took your favorite uncle.

How philanthropy planning looks specifically for your household is something to discuss and plan with your partner in detail. This isn’t a one-anddone discussion, but something you talk about regularly.

This is also a topic to cover regularly with the financial professionals you rely on. Good financial planners and estate attorneys will build this into your annual planning review. Another timing consideration relates to taxes and your third quarter annual discussion with your accountant. That’s when you might review the need for more deductions or a gifting to loved ones plan for the year or which assets to use for charitable gifts.

In summary, having open money discussions to make sure spending and philanthropy interests are aligned is a great way to deepen and enrich your relationships.

Is anyone in the mood?

It is difficult — but I think Jewish tradition and Jewish history offer us some models.

Jewish tradition recognizes that there is no “full cup” of joy, nor one of unmitigated sadness. At a wedding, an occasion full of joy and hope, the groom ceremoniously breaks a glass to remind us that all is not well. Even at this moment of pure happiness, we are instructed to remember the destroyed Temple, and more generally, that we still live in a broken world.

In a similar vein, there are limitations on mourning. When the period of shiva is over, the custom is that the mourner is accompanied outside and walks around the block, signifying the need to return to the world. The laws of mourning are then eased as one moves to the 30-day period, shloshim.

This is what life is: a mixture of joy and sadness, of things we are grateful for and things we dread. Life is not black or white; rather we alternate from one to the other and back again, sometimes feeling them both at once.

In Krakow stands the oldest surviving synagogue in Poland: the Alta Shul, built in the 1400s, probably before the European discovery of America. A few centuries ago, on a different tragic Simchat Torah, a group of Jesuit students interrupted the celebrations and took away the Torah scrolls from the Jews.

How could the community ever celebrate that holiday again? They did. But they instituted a way to remember that tragedy: for one of the hakafot — the normally joyous “parade” of the Torah scrolls — they would not sing and dance

Let’s look at the intersection of Women’s History Month and Purim

BY CATHLEEN KRONEMER

Women’s History Month and the holiday of Purim both occur in March this year. Coincidence? Or perhaps a rich opportunity to reflect upon the bravery and determination of the heroine in the story of Purim, Queen Esther?

Esther, chosen from a beauty pageant to reign as the bride of King Ahasuerus, hides her Jewish identity at first. Only upon discovering Haman’s evil plot to destroy her entire community does she bravely step forward, knowing only she can stop this from happening. Esther’s action exemplifies one woman’s courage in the face of potential death, standing up for what she believes; and in the process, saving other Jews.

Perhaps we can consider Esther, so many centuries ago, as the very first civil rights feminist, bravely challenging Haman in a clearly male-dominated village. Therein lies the very heart of Women’s History Month.

In 1898, ahead of the Second Zionist Congress, prominent leader Theodor Herzl declared that women should have a right to vote in institutions created by the Zionist society in the Land of Israel. Years later, 25 women served on the Yishuv’s first Constituent Assembly in 1925.

In 1951, three years after establishing the state of Israel, the First Knesset passed the Women’s Equal Rights Law. Eleven women participated in the First Knesset, a mere but significant 9% when we consider that the very same year in

Cathleen Kronemer, NSCA-CPT, Certified Health Coach, is a longtime fitness instructor at the Jewish Community Center. She is also a member of the St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and wrote a longtime fitness blog for the Jewish Light.

the United States, only 10 women served in both houses of Congress. We have come so far, but a long road still lies ahead.

When we think of other integral Jewish women woven within the tapestry of our history, certain names tend to spring forth: Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Sarah, Rachel and, of course, Golda Meir. Yet many lesser-known courageous Jewish women also contributed, such as Lady Judith Montefiore. In the 1700s, she and her husband traveled long and often arduous distances to alleviate the suffering of Jews around the world.

Perhaps you know of strong Jewish women who have served as role models within your own families. If so, take a moment this month to thank them for their strength, their devoted work, and maybe even for changing the course of history.

OBITUARIES

OBITUARY NOTICES UPDATED DAILY AT

On Monday, March 4, 2024, LOUIS F. GLASER, loving husband, father and grandfather peacefully passed away at the age of 91.

Lou is the beloved husband of the late Lee Glaser; adored father of Amy Weinstein (Andrew) and Robin Glaser Roy (Kelly); loving Paw Paw to Hadley, Jack and Goldie; dear brother of the late Patricia Silversmith (Ralph) and the late JoAnn Steinbaum (Harlan); special uncle of Liz Weinstein (David), the late Michael Steinbaum (Deb Dubin), Richard Steinbaum (Lecie), Lynn Klein (Jim), Gary Silversmith (Perri), Don Silversmith (Debbie), Fred Hughes III (Noel) and Mark Hughes (Courtney); cherished son of the late Morris and Edith Glaser; and loving son-inlaw of the late Marshall and Helen Hughes.

Born and raised in Clayton Missouri, Lou became an Eagle Scout and a celebrated left half back of the Clayton High School football team. There, he made lifelong friends and was also known for his playful antics and mischief. Lou went on to Rollins College where he joined the rowing team and Sigma Nu fraternity. He graduated from Washington University and then valiantly served in the U.S. Marine Corps, (Corporal). During his service in Laguna, CA, Lou was among a chosen few to witness the early testing of the Hydrogen bomb. It was during his military service that Lou discovered his lifelong love of painting. After his discharge from the military, Lou worked in the mailroom at MGM studios in California, but eventually returned to St. Louis to work in his family’s business. There, he and his two

brothers-in-law grew Medicare Glaser Drugstores and Pharmacies into a successful chain, with stores spanning from the mid-west to the east coast.

Lou’s passion for travel and skiing led him to Aspen, Colorado where he met the love of his life, his “California girl” Lee. They married in the summer of 1967 in St. Louis where they raised their two daughters, while enjoying the magic of summers in Colorado.

Lou was active in and served on many philanthropic endeavors, including the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, City of Hope, St. Louis Benefit Polo, St. Louis Zoo, Therapeutic Horsemanship, The Veiled Prophet Organization, and Children’s Hospital.

A late bloomer to the Equine community, Lou began his love of riding and Polo in his 50’s. Santana, Riley, Cletus, and Pogo, were his faithful ponies. In addition to riding, Lou kept up his beloved platform tennis games with his buddies, Friday night tennis and dinner at the club with Lee and their group, and loyally followed Cardinal baseball. He loved the simple pleasures of making a fire, enjoying cocktail hour with Lee and his dog, Cook, and watching the deer in his backyard while holding Lee’s hand. He was most proud of his daughters, and was always in the front row to cheer them on. Lou was especially enamored with his three grandchildren, who each gave him such delight. He was the best Paw Paw.

Lou will be forever remembered for his generous nature and never-ending compassion for family and friends, love of nature and animals, precise hilarious observations, and the sparkle in his eyes as he gave a heartfelt, (and very long) toast in front of a roaring fire holding a scotch and soda.

The family would like to express great thanks

Families may submit an obituary for a loved one through the funeral home they work with or by using a form on the Jewish Light’s website: stljewishlight.org/submit-obituary

to Tye Johnson, Lou’s loving caregiver and friend for the last year. Words cannot express what a blessing Tye has been to our family.

A funeral service celebrating and honoring Lou’s wonderful life was held on Sunday, March 10 at Berger Memorial Chapel, followed by interment at United Hebrew Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome to CHAMP Assistance Dogs. Please visit CHAMPDOGS.ORG. Please specify donations are in memory of Louis F. Glaser.

Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

SHELLEY LEE KOSLOW, September 6, 1949March 15, 2024, was preceded in death by her parents Tillie and Ruby (Buck) Koslow, her sister Ann Lynne Birmingham, her aunts Rose Pearl Waldman and Bernice Hillman. She was an amazing cousin to Joanne (Michael) Waldman and Mahesh Subrahmanyam.

American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.

OBITUARIES INDEX

Glaser, Louis F.

Koslow, Shelley Lee

Marion, Dr. Jay Weiss, Shirley

DR. JAY MICHAEL MARION, November 9, 1950 – March 13, 2024

She was a dedicated friend to Hank Winter, Ronnie Brockman, Ellen Cohen, Loretta Dobkin, Tom Thompson, and many others. She was a great friend and support to others. She loved to laugh and loved her pet cats and guinea pigs, Lucy, Sammy, and Rebecca. She worked for the government for years and made many friends there as well. She never complained although she had several health conditions. She loved her short time at Brookdale. Shelley had an extensive collection of angel statues and now is an angel herself.

Special thanks to Jim and Mickey Birmingham for the great care and concern that they showed to Shelley.

Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Missouri.

If you would like to pay your respects in person, her family will be sitting Shiva on Sunday, March 24th, from 1 pm- 7 pm, at 217 Stablestone Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

Jay Michael Marion, M.D., loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and doctor of medical oncology and hematology passed away peacefully at home in Overland Park, KS on March 13, 2024. He was 73 years old.

Jay was raised in St. Louis, attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School, University of Missouri – Columbia, then Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. After an internship and residency there, a fellowship at Barnes Hospital with Washington University, he was on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine, serving as the Medical Director of the Barnard Cancer Center and Director of the Missouri Baptist Cancer Center.

While there, he met Carol, fell in love and married in 1997. They moved to Shreveport, LA to teach at the LSU School of Medicine. He was Professor Emeritus of Medicine; the Nancy Jane Sentell Seale endowed professorship of Cancer Palliative Care; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Alpha Omega Alpha counselor; Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award recipient; Allen Copping Excellence in Teaching Award

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recipient. Upon retirement, they moved to Overland Park.

Jay was passionate about music, teaching his grandchildren about the Beatles and Star Wars. He enjoyed playing and discussing the right song for the moment. He was also passionate about astronomy, his cats, and cherished long conversations with friends around the world.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Marion (nee Timmermann); step-daughters Melissa (Benjamin) Caldwell and Amanda (James) Elliott of Overland Park; step-son Timothy (Amy) Timmermann of Trenton, IL; daughters Amy (Aviram) Gaon, Gayle (Aaron) Teper, and Dana Marion; grandchildren Raylynn and Joanna Timmermann, Greyson and Kira Caldwell, Brayden and Ryan Elliott; brother Joel (Carol) Marion and sister Marsha Weinberg of St. Louis; brothers and sisters-in-law Sharon (Joseph) Varel, Alan (Karen) Timmermann, Janet (Richard “Hoss”) Seitz, Lisa (Eric) Sheldon, Laure (Jon) Werner; mother-in-law Ruth Timmermann of Breese, IL. He is preceded by his parents, Harry Marion and Lorayne (nee Darrish) Marion; father-in-law Richard Timmermann; and brother-in-law Arthur Weinberg.

A funeral service was held on Monday, March 18 at Berger Memorial Chapel, followed by interment at Beth Shalom Cemetery in Chesterfield, MO.

OBITUARIES

Memorial contributions preferred to LSU Health Sciences Foundation Marion Endowment for Compassionate Care, 318-861-0855.

Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information and to watch the livestream of the service. Berger Memorial Service

In Loving Memory of SHIRLEY WEISS

Shirley, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who touched the lives of all who knew her, passed away on March 5th. She departed this world surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and warmth.

Shirley was the beloved wife of the late Malcolm Weiss, the dear mother of Judy Naclerio (Pete) and Shelley Weiss (Alan Schoen), the adoring “Grammie” to Michael (Alex Abend) and Emily Naclerio and Hannah, Jonathan, and Jeremy Schoen, the loving great Grammie to Sophie and the late James Naclerio; dedicated daughter and daughter-in-law of the late Henrietta and Jack Birenbaum and late Fannie and Maury Weiss, cherished companion of the late Allyn Aach, and treasured

friend to many, many more.

Shirley was born in St. Louis, but she spent her early years in Moberly, Missouri, before moving back to St. Louis. She attended Clayton High School and went on to Washington University where (as she jokingly said) she received her “Mrs. Degree” when she married Malcolm.  At the age of 80, Shirley departed her beloved St. Louis for Chicago to be closer to family.

Shirley’s life was full of passions. She loved to travel with both her family and friends. She visited over 20 countries on five continents, and she was just as comfortable haggling in a market as she was at a Broadway show.  In her later years, she loved quick day trips with her girlfriends to New York to eat, shop and catch a musical, and she sailed on more than 50 cruises. Shirley parlayed her love of travel into a career, purchasing Bon Voyage Travel and turning it into a successful travel agency.  After selling Bon Voyage, Shirley remained a tour guide extraordinaire, organizing and chaperoning large groups of friends on adventures both near

and far, and she continued to follow her entrepreneurial spirit by opening Memories Unlimited, a scrapbook store.

In her free time, Shirley was also an avid card player, theater goer, and restaurant enthusiast who was up for any adventure.

Moreover, Shirley was a warm and invaluable friend. She opened her home to everyone and always insisted on setting up additional seats at any holiday she hosted, and she was quick to be with her friends and family for occasions both happy and sad.   You could always count on Shirley to be there for family milestones, both big and small, from school plays, dance recitals and sporting events, to her grandchildren’s graduations.

Most of all, Shirley was a kind, loving, and generous wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who will be missed by all who knew her.

The Funeral Service for Shirley took place Monday March 11 at Berger Memorial Chapel, followed by interment at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave. 63130.   Memorial contributions preferred to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry or a charity of your choice.

For more information and to watch the livestream of the service, visit www. bergermemorialchapel.com.

Berger Memorial Service

Commentary: How do we celebrate Purim in a time of mourning? We’re not the first Jews to face that question.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

but would sit on the ground in mourning as if it were Tisha B’Av, the fast day. With the next hakafah, the singing and dancing would resume.

Fast forward to the 1970s and 1980s, as Jews all over the world struggled to help the brave Soviet Jewish activists who were trying to emigrate to Israel. My synagogue in Manhattan observed a “silent hakafah,” without song and dance, to remember “The Jews of Silence” (the title of Elie Wiesel’s important book about Soviet Jews trapped behind the Iron Curtain). After the silent hakafah, the celebrations resumed.

We Jews have a very strong sense of memory. Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, the late Columbia University historian, wrote that “remember” is written 169 times in the Hebrew Bible. We remember our slavery in Egypt, we remember the many tragedies that have befallen our people. But we do not get stuck in the past — we move on, and we celebrate life, not death.

We see this after a terrorist attack in Israel. There is a remarkable sense of solidarity, there is great sadness. Yet very quickly the blood is washed away and life at that very spot resumes.

Perhaps the best model for us is those who survived the Holocaust. The survivors of the Shoah managed to celebrate Purim in the immediate aftermath of the war, even in the Displaced Persons camps. In 1946 in Landsberg, we have photos of them in costumes; one of them even dressed up as Hitler (!), and they “hanged” him as part of their celebrations. They did not despair or wallow in self-pity. Instead, they built a future: They married, they

had children, and they agitated, advocated, and fought for a Jewish State.

So we certainly don’t have the right not to move on in our lives; we need to celebrate what deserves celebration.

I suggested to my Pardes colleague that the parade should happen, but they should stop at each of the five homes of the fallen for a few minutes of prayer, appropriate song, and as she suggested, reciting Psalms.

In the Scroll of Esther, read on Purim, we are told “ v’nahafoch hu,” that “everything flips”: the impending tragedy is averted, the persecutor is brought to justice, and sadness becomes joy.

Our Torah teaches us, “Choose life!” We must choose life to its fullest, even as we remember and mark the tragedies around us. And this year we need “v’nahafoch hu” more than ever.

FEDERATION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Jewish community, as well as the guidance he will provide over the next few months as we develop a transition plan with him.”

Herstig, who has two daughters, ages 2 and 6, with his wife, Barb, explained that her parents and extended family live in Minnesota, where Herstig lived for 17 years just prior to moving to St. Louis. He also has two adult sons, 23 and 26, from a previous marriage who call Minneapolis “home base.”

Herstig emphasized that his decision to leave was not about the job at Federation but entirely for personal reasons, “to have a support system” nearby. He said he feels as if he is leaving Federation in a good position.

“This is a great community,” he said. “This is not about the job, and I actually think this will be a relatively easy role to fill because this is a really good Federation. There is outstanding leadership both on the volunteer and staff

The oldest Jewish Funeral Home west of the Mississippi

side. It’s willing to take a look at itself and ask what kinds of changes need to happen. This was a decision about family and what was best for my family and me.”

Federation will assemble an interim management team over the next few months, in collaboration with Herstig before his departure June 30. Newmark said the organization will form a search committee led by Craig Rosenthal and Abby Goldstein and launch a nationwide search for a new leader in the coming weeks.

Newmark said the organization is championing several important initiatives that will define its work for the next decade or more, including a St. Louis Jewish community study, an organizational strategic plan and a major security fundraising campaign.

“In our role as convener, provider and protector, we have new initiatives underway and are committed to ensuring the successful accomplishment of those initiatives, while continuing to deliver essential services to the many individuals and families that rely on Federation for support,” he said.

PASSOVER PROJECT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to Tablet Magazine, “This (isn’t) really a substitute for someone’s home seder, but rather a supplement.”

Over the years, the N.Y. seder has featured musicians, actors, comedians and politicians, including Lou Reed, Dr. Ruth, Al Franken, Alex Edelman, Israeli musician David Broza, Modi, Judy Gold and New York Mayor Eric Adams, among others.

After all, there is more than one way to tell the age-old Passover story of Exodus — hundreds of versions of the Haggadah are out there — so why not reimagine the biblical narrative through the arts, Dorf reasoned.

Why not, indeed.

That got me thinking: Why not borrow the idea and create a lively, fun, alternative Passover seder that brings the community together and highlights some of St. Louis’ abundant musical and theatrical talent. And why not have some of the proceeds go the benefit the Jewish Light

Once I got the OK and a firm date from Dorf and City Winery to host the event, I enlisted David and Jeff Lazaroff — frontmen of the band Brothers Lazaroff — and Rabbi James Stone Goodman to help produce this music-filled, interactive, alternative seder.

“Rabbi Goodman had discussed the idea of a musical Passover event in the past, but not until Ellen Futterman approached us did we have the motivation to see what we could put together,” David Lazaroff said, adding that he and his brother wanted it to be very different from their annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo, which they have spearheaded for 13 years and counting.

“When Ellen approached us with this idea, we thought it would be a great chance to support the Jewish Light and help create a collaborative event for and with the community.”

Attendees of what will be called the Passover Project can expect a family friendly but decidedly grown-up seder

with music, readings, poetry, song, grooves, audience interaction and some Passover teachings connected throughout. St. Louis-based artists joining Brothers Lazaroff and Rabbi Goodman will include:

• Peter Martin, a Grammy-award winning jazz pianist, educator and founder of Open Studio, an online jazz education platform that was featured in the New York Times. Martin has performed and recorded on six continents with Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Betty Carter, Christian McBride and Joshua Redman, as well as with his own ensembles. He co-hosts the acclaimed music podcast “You’ll Hear It” with Adam Maness.

• Rob Koritz , drummer for the acclaimed band Dark Star Orchestra, which has been helping to keep the music and live concert experience of the Grateful Dead alive for the past 25 years.

• Songstress Anita Jackson, who has recorded as a background vocalist for Bette Midler, Patti Austin, Mariah Carey

and many more and has been a featured player with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre. Later this year, she will release her first solo album, “Life is Beautiful.”

• Guitarist and singer-songwriter Joey Ferber, whose current tenure with the future funk/avant garde ensemble Blvck Spvde and the Cosmos, came to a point of fruition with their debut single release “DOOM,” which coincided with a set at St. Louis’ premier festival, Music at the Intersection.

• Mandolin player extraordinare David Goldenberg, one of the first mandolin graduates of the Berklee College of Music and winner of a variety of contests including the National Mandolin Contest, Telluride Bluegrass Band Contest and Rockygrass Mandolin Contest.

• Michael Tzinberg, who plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. He is one half of the Old Time/Science Fiction band Wild Mountain Thyme Machine.

• Rebekah Scallet, artistic director of

the New Jewish Theatre, who is in the process of recruiting other NJT actors to join her and lead some Passover readings.

Reserved tickets range from $36 to $72 with proceeds going to benefit the Jewish Light. Some non-kosher seder dishes fashioned by City Winery’s culinary team will be featured for purchase (in addition to the venue’s regular menu), as well as the traditional four glasses of wine curated as a special flight (single glasses can also be purchased separately). In addition, guests can nibble on complimentary matzah and macaroons, which will be on each table gratis, along with a seder plate.

All of the talent involved is generously donating their time to help the Jewish Light with this “Friend Raiser” and shine a light on the importance of Jewish journalism and its future.

For tickets and more information online, visit bit.ly/Passover-Project or scan the QR code above.

The Passover Project will feature Brothers Lazaroff and many of their regular collaborators from their annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo celebrations, including Rabbi James Stone Goodman and Anita Jackson (both pictured on stage with Brothers Lazaroff at the 2022 Hullabaloo). Other musicians at the Passover Project will include Peter Martin (top right) and Rob Koritz (right). For more information or to purchase tickets, scan the QR code at left, or visit bit.ly/Passover-Project.

PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

FEATURES

ARTS AND CULTURE FOOD HOLIDAYS LIFESTYLES

Jewish Film Fest’s opening night will spotlight Israeli film students, solidarity with Israel

BY CATE MARQUIS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival returns, April 7-18, with a wide-ranging program of international films with Jewish themes. There are several things new about this year’s festival, including a new venue and the return of handy, printed programs.

The film festival kicks off with a special Opening Night program featuring five short Israeli films by graduate students in Israel’s premier film program at Sapir College on April 7 at 4 p.m. at the B&B Theater in Creve Coeur.

The Opening Night program aims to both show solidarity with Israel and highlight the filmmakers coming out of this premier Israel film program. When Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Sapir College in Sderot, Israel was forced to close and evacuated. When the college shutdown, the students in its top-notch film program were in the last weeks of

completing their final film projects, which were supposed to be shown at the annual Cinema South Festival. It was canceled because of the war.

John Wilson, director of cultural arts at the Jewish Community Center, heard about the Sapir film students when the father of one student filmmaker contacted him.

turned upside down by the events of October 7th, and the subsequent war.

‘St. Louis Jewish Film Festival’

WHEN: April 7 - 18

WHERE: B&B Theater, 12657 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur

OPENING EVENT: 4 to 5:30

“The producer of the film ‘Elinor’ is Yasmin Hoffman. Her father, Stan Hoffman, lives here in St. Louis,” Wilson explained. “Stan originally reached out to me to inquire if we would be interested in making any of the Sapir College films a part of our St. Louis Jewish Film Festival as a way to honor these Israeli student filmmakers who had just had their lives, and their craft

p.m. April 7 at the B&B Theater. Tickets for the opening night program are $20. For more information, visit stljewishfilmfestival.org. Due to theater capacity and current ticket sales for Opening Day, festival organizers strongly encourage purchasing tickets as early as possible.

“I immediately thought it was a fantastic idea, and it soon became the vehicle for Opening Day, and kicking off our 29th annual Jewish Film Festival.”

Rotem Murat, head of distribution at the School of Audio & Visual Arts at Sapir College, expressed gratitude for “... the exciting opportunity to collaborate with St. Louis Jewish Film Festival.”

“It means a lot to us when colleagues around the world express their willingness to share our films and stories in these hard times,” Murat said.

“At first, we didn’t know how many student films we would show, but after watching about a dozen, and choosing five, I

realized that dedicating one of our festival days to only the Sapir films would make a very special event,” Wilson said.

“Once that was in place, it was a natural progression to give these films the honor of opening the festival. Also, every day we were reading or watching more news out of Israel, and the war was always in the back of our minds. It felt like giving the Sapir films such a prominent place in our festival was a significant way we could support these filmmakers, but in a larger sense, support Israel,” he said.

The five films chosen are “Unwell Mind,” “Pepchook,” “Elinor,” “Shelters” and “People Asleep and the Water as Well.” Hoffman, producer of “Elinor,” will be in attendance. Each of the five short films is a little gem, as polished as any professional production. Unfortunately, some of the people in the films, or their locations, were directly impacted by the Oct. 7 attacks.

‘People Asleep and the Water as Well’

‘Unwell Mind’

‘Shelters’ ‘Elinor’

Remember my ‘sweet guy’ dad with a big dose of his humor

BY AMY FENSTER BROWN

My family and I just experienced a bummer of a milestone: my dad’s 10-year yahrzeit. Ugh.

After a stroke and some cardiac issues, my dad, Ron Fenster, lived a handicapped life for many years but managed to keep his sense of humor. Frankly, I never knew he had one until I was an adult because my teenage years didn’t produce a lot of laughs from the guy. You can’t be funny when you’re telling your kid she’s grounded.

He did, however, think it was hilarious when my own kids would act up and I’d put them in time out. Some people say grandkids are God’s reward for not killing your kids. My dad said, “Grandkids who misbehave are God’s revenge for their parents who misbehaved worse.”

Sweet guy.

He was the social work director at a local hospital, or as he called himself, “The director of thankless tasks.” When people asked what that job entailed, he would say, “I throw old ladies into nursing homes.”

Sweet guy.

Columnist Amy Fenster

Brown is married to Jeff and has two teenage sons, Davis and Leo. She volunteers for several Jewish not-for-profit groups. Fenster Brown is an Emmy Award-winning TV news writer and counts time with family and friends, talking and eating peanut butter among her hobbies.

JEWISH CELEBRITIES

My dad had some pretty clever ideas. He thought nursing homes could improve their customer service to residents by adding special touches, like having a wine steward serve the daily prune juice. He used to doodle and draw as a hobby and would create single cell comics, like a little frame drawing with a caption. He created a series called “Great Ideas That Never Quite Made It” featuring things like a drive-thru restaurant that served only liver and onions.

He loved avoiding chaos and conflict and preferred a quiet lifestyle. He would say, “Boredom is the only thing that excites me.”

My dad always thought I was funny and loved when I made fun of him. On his 75th birthday, I said, “Wow! You look great for 85!” He said, “Well I’m only 75.” I replied “Oh, well then you look like s**t.”

Sweet kid.

Even as a hospice patient, my dad would make jokes. We all know we’re going to die one day, but when you are a hospice patient you are acutely aware that the end is imminent. In a bold move, my father asked me to do stand-up comedy at his funeral, focusing specifically on the funniest things he ever said.

Of course, I would do anything he asked, but telling jokes at a funeral? The guy wanted me to put the “fun” in funeral. As a tribute to my father, here are some highlights that I’ve thought about a lot over the past decade.

Ron Fenster would make a terrible political adviser. During the Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky scandal, he thought it would have been smart if, when asked, “Did you sleep with that woman, Monica Lewinsky,” Clinton answered, “No, not

one wink.”

Every year on Yom Kippur, we remember his famous words: “Since I’m diabetic, I can’t fast, so I atone by only eating foods I hate.”

“Today started off terrible. I only remembered to put in half my dentures, so I could eat only half my breakfast.”

One time when he was in the hospital, the nurse was doing the intake forms and asked whether he’d had a vasectomy. When he said yes, I was shocked because I never knew that. He said, “Oh don’t worry, it was years before you were born.” He also said he had really bad health insurance, so the doctor just had him jump over a barbed wire fence while naked.

“I’m so slow it takes me an hour and a half to watch ‘60 Minutes.’ ”

He had a habit of leaving clutter around. Once, my mom said to him, “Ron, move your crap off the table.” He replied, “Don’t call my s**t crap!”

I gave my dad the chance to approve all the jokes before the actual funeral. He loved them. He considered leaving people with a laugh to be a lovely parting gift he could give to his family and friends.

Sweet guy.

Weeks after he died, my mom found one of his single-cell doodles (at right), dated 1996 in the corner. That’s 18 years before he died. Chai. Coincidence?

AT RIGHT: One of Ron Fenster’s doodles from 1996 found after he passed away.

Two Jews on ‘Roots,’ two new flicks, and one comedian

MICHAEL DOUGLAS and LENA DUNHAM will be the guests on the “Finding Your Roots” on Tuesday, April 2 (PBS). Their pairing isn’t an accident: “Roots” episodes often pair celebs with similar backgrounds (Jewish, AfricanAmerican, etc.).

Like his father, the late KIRK DOUGLAS, Michael, 79, is a star actor and producer. His mother wasn’t Jewish and for a longtime, Michael was secular. However, about 10 years ago, he embraced Reform Judaism. This “embrace” was influenced by his son, DYLAN. When he was 11 years old, Dylan told his father that he wanted to study Judaism and have a bar mitzvah ceremony. Dylan, now 21, had his bar mitzvah (2015) in Jerusalem and, in 2015, Michael Douglas received the Genesis Prize for “Jewish achievement.”

Here’s a heads-up: Michael Douglas will play Benjamin Franklin in an eight-part PBS series entitled “Franklin” (begins April 8). It focuses on Franklin’s role in getting French aid during the Revolution. Dunham, 37, is best known as the creator, writer and star of the hit HBO series “Girls” (2012-2017). She grew-up in New York City. Her father isn’t Jewish, but her mother is. Dunham has long identified as Jewish, but I didn’t know much more until

she was profiled and interviewed in February by El Pais, an online magazine.

Dunham co-stars in “Treasure,” a film that recently was shown at a Berlin film festival and will open in theaters this June. She plays the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Sadly, festival-showing reviews were bad. But “Treasure” did prompt the El Pais piece.

Dunham told El Pais: “[When my grandmother] died in 2016, I started studying with a rabbi, reading religious texts, and authors like YEHUDA AMICHAI. What I like about being Jewish is that it’s not mandatory to have a relationship with God, but rather, with the community around you. For me, being Jewish is about being someone you can trust, being a source of support, being able to recommend a good doctor…or being the person who shows up with bagels in an emergency situation.”

The El Pais piece also covers the rough time Dunham has had since “Girls” ended (serious, “real” health issues which lead to the overuse of anxiety drugs and a couple of films that didn’t get good reviews).

However, things may turn around soon (even if “Treasure” flops). Filming right now is “Too Much,” a Netflix rom-com series that Dunham co-created and wrote

with her husband, LUIS FELBER, 37 (his father is Jewish). It’s set in Europe. The Jewish cast members include RHEA PERLMAN, MICHAEL ZEGEN (“Mrs Maisel”) and EMILY RATAJKOWSKI (her mother is Jewish).

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will open in theaters on March 22. It is the fifth film in the “Ghostbusters” franchise. The fourth film, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) got mixed reviews but it made a lot of money and that paved the way for “Frozen.”

“Afterlife” was co-written by, and directed by JASON REITMAN, 46 (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”). Reitman’s co-writer was GIL KENAN, 47 (“Poltergeist”). They switched roles for “Frozen.” Kenan directed, and he co-wrote “Frozen” with Reitman.

PAUL RUDD, 54, starred in “Afterlife” and he has a lead role in “Frozen.” The new Ghostbuster cast that made its debut in “Afterlife” returns for “Frozen,” as does the original Ghostbusters, who also appeared in “Afterlife” (Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and others).

vvv

On March 21, Amazon Prime will premiere “Road House,” a re-make of hit 1989 film of the same name. JAKE GYLLENHAAL, 43, plays Dalton, a former pro mixed martial arts fighter who is hired to bring order to a rowdy Florida bar. He also has to battle an evil, rich businessman who wants to put the bar out-of-business.

Gyllenhaal, as usual, is very fit and often reveals his impressive array of chest and stomach muscles.

The film’s director, DOUG LIMAN, 58, has helmed many hits, including “The Bourne Identity.” Advance reviews say Gyllenhaal is quite good, but the script is kind-of-disjointed and there’s too much obvious CGI use in the fight sequences.

vvv

Comedian DAVE ATTELL, 59, has a solo Netflix stand-up special on March 26. Entitled “Hot Cross Buns,” the official description says: “Attell unloads in this blistering stand-up special on hard seltzers, strip clubs, unsatisfying snacks, and his wild trip to a petting zoo.”

Attell has been a comedy stalwart since the mid-’90s, with many comedy specials and appearances on Letterman, HBO and Comedy Central.

TOP PHOTO: Amy Fenster Brown with her father, Ron Fenster.

CHAI LIGHTS

YOUR CALENDAR OF ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

Editor’s note: All Mirowitz Center events are free unless otherwise noted. To register for a Mirowitz Center event, visit http://bit.ly/ Mirowitz-registration, call 314-733-9813 or email info@mirowitzcenter.org.

STARTING | MARCH 21

‘All My Sons’ at NJT

From March 21 to April 7, New Jewish Theatre kicks off its 2024 season with Arthur Miller’s searing classic, one of the most iconic dramas of the 20th century. Miller won the very first Tony Award ever given for Best Author (now known as Best Play) for the premiere in 1947. For more information, visit newjewishtheatre.org.

FRIDAY | MARCH 22

Family Purim celebration with storyteller Betsy Mehlman

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Mirowitz Center welcomes the community for a free, in-person (and intergenerational) Purim celebration. Betsy Mehlman’s lively tales make this holiday meaningful for all ages. Co-sponsored by The J and PJ Library.

SATURDAY | MARCH 23

Purim Megillah reading at NHBZ

Bring your noisemakers and your entire family to hear the whole Megillah at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion at 8:45 p.m. All are invited, and costumes, merry-making and fun are highly encouraged! NHBZ membership is not required to attend. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.

Purim carnival for ages 21+ at Shaare Emeth

Shaare Emeth welcomes the community to “Shushan After Dark,” a 21+ carnival and improv Purimspiel. The event includes a 7 p.m. Shushan social hour with carnival games, cocktails, mocktails and hamantaschen. Will you brave the bounce house? Or cast your line into the fishing pond and see what bites? At 8 p.m., enjoy Cousin Mordy’s Improv Purimspiel with ComedySportz St. Louis, featuring classic Jewish humor with ComedySportz’ improv games, a Megillah reading and audience participation. Free. Costumes appreciated but not required. RSVP online at https://sestl.co/3wPdqI9.

SUNDAY | MARCH 24

Family Purim celebration at Shaare Emeth

Families are invited to Shaare Emeth’s “A Very Wonka Candy-Coated Purim,” including a family oriented Purimspiel, carnival and lunch. The Purimspiel (intended for families with children ages 0-12) is at 10:30 a.m. in the Stiffman Sanctuary. With candy-coated Wonka charm, Shaare Emeth’s clergy and staff will re-tell the story of Purim with costumes, music and singing, and lots of silly jokes. Everyone is invited and costumes are encouraged. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. enjoy Shaare Emeth’s Purim carnival, with the congregation transformed into a chocolate factory with fun and food for all ages. The event will a trackless train, carnival games, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, snacks and prizes. The Purim Committee will be serving lunch for purchase. Carnival wristbands are required for children ages 3–4th grade. Wristbands allow unlimited game

play and each child receives a large and small prize. $15 for Shaare Emeth members. $20 for non-members. Advance purchase recommended: https://sestl.co/3TiWJN2.

Aish family Purim celebration

From 10 a.m. to noon, Aish will offer a family Purim celebration. Kids can enjoy a magic show while the adults hear the Megillah. Then everyone meets for a delicious Purim seudah (brunch) with hamantashen of course. Cost is $8 per adult, $5 for kids (512), kids under 5 are free, $25 limit per family. No charge for Hebrew School students. Location: Epstein Hebrew Academy, 8645 Old Bonhomme Rd in Olivette. For more information or to rsvp, please call 314-8622474 or email cgoldstein@aishstl.com

NHBZ seudah and Purim party

Purim continues at NHBZ with the second reading of the Megillah at 8:30 a.m. Then later that afternoon, put on your best Purim costume and enjoy a festive meal as the fun continues at 4:15 p.m. Audiences of all ages will be dazzled by a family-friendly magic show. Back by popular demand: Jackie’s Famous Whiskey Slush (for adults only). Live musical entertainment. This event is free and NHBZ membership is not required to attend. RSVPs are required by calling 314991-2100 or email to office@NHBZ.org

TUESDAY | MARCH 26

Preventing Social Security fraud

Join David Seymour, senior public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center for an informative online presentation that provides valuable resources and explains how to stay vigilant.

Mind Matters at Mirowitz Center

Mind Matters meet monthly, every fourth Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Mirowitz Center. This group, led by Rachel Elmore and Sharon Elliott, trained facilitators with Provident Behavioral Health, provides a safe, welcoming space to share experiences, feelings and thoughts with other adults experiencing the challenges of aging.

WED. | MARCH 27

Using fact-checking sites

Join the Mirowitz Center for an interactive workshop from noon to 1 p.m. featuring trainer Daniel Landsbaum, who will teach how to review, identify and evaluate misinformation online. With support from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish

Local Jewish organizations and congregations can submit calendar items to news@ stljewishlight.org. All items received by 5 p.m. Friday will be considered for the following week’s edition.

Drive. Free for TI members; $18 non-members. RSVP required by March 27 at: www. ti-stl.org/AdultEducation.

FRIDAY | MARCH 29

Spring Prayer Lab Services

PHOTO: ETHAN AYLESWORTH

Aged, the Mirowitz Center will provide a Chromebook computer for your use during the program. Limited to only 10 participants.

The rabbi is in!

From 3 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month, join Rabbi Neal Rose, chaplain for Jewish Family Services (JFS), for a monthly discussion with a Jewish theme. Co-sponsored by JFS of St. Louis.

STARTING | MARCH 27

‘Let it Ripple: A Spring Tikkun Middot Series’

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein and Eve Dyson will lead the Jewish Mindfulness Center’s “Let It Ripple: A Spring Tikkun Middot Series” on Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., March 27, April 3 and 10. Tikkun Middot combines musar (ethical) study with mindfulness practices to bring deeper meaning to our daily lives and expand our understanding of what it means to be human. Free, but RSVPs are required. Participants must be able to attend all sessions. For more information or to register, call 314-569-0010or email Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org

THURSDAY | MARCH 28

Presidential Legacies: Gerald and Betty Ford

From 11 a.m. to noon, learn more about President Gerald Ford from Richard Weld, education specialist at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Part of the Mirowitz Center’s continuing “Presidential Legacies” series.

Floral arrangement class

From 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center, enjoy a fun flower-arranging class with Schnucks Senior Floral Director Michael Schrader, an award-winning floral designer with more than 30 years of industry experience! By the end of the class, you will have a gorgeous arrangement to take home and enjoy. RSVP required – $15 for a vase and floral supplies.

Reclaiming Zionism class at TI

The word “Zionism” has been misunderstood and misused for decades, and this year more than ever. Rabbi Michael Alper will lead a class on what Zionism really means from the lens of different Zionist thinkers and artists, and why it’s so important today to reclaim the word for ourselves. The class takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin

At 6 p.m. join the Jewish Mindfulness Center at Shaare Emeth for “Love Is All Around,” a Prayer Lab Service led by Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Lucy Greenbaum and the Prayer Lab musicians. This monthly non-traditional Shabbat service combines poetry, participatory music, interactive teachings and time set aside for meditation and personal reflection. All are welcome. For more information or to register, call 314-5690010or email Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org

Mindful Movement Sessions

At 10 a.m. join the Jewish Mindfulness Center for Mindful Movement Holiday Sessions, led by certified yoga instructor Dani Glassman. This session is “Embodied Joy – A Post Purim Mindful Movement Class.” Discover delight in stretching and strengthening one’s body. This class will combine playful curiosity with mindful poses, encouraging participants to embrace their joy. For more information or to register, call 314569-0010or email Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org

SUNDAY | MARCH 31

NHBZ Pizza Night

Spring to NHBZ’s Pizza Night for a delicious dinner and a wonderful night out with your family! Join from 5 to 7 p.m. for an allyou-can-eat yummy buffet of kosher pizza, pasta, salad and french fries plus a dessert and beverage. All food is under the supervision of Rabbi Chaim Bogolpulsky. Prices are: $15 for adults; $8 kids ages 3-12; free for kids ages 3 and under. Credit cards are accepted. For more information, call 314991-2100, ext. 2.

The aftermath of Oct. 7

Shaving Israel presents a program at 3:30 p.m. at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, 650 N Price Road in Olivette. The program consists of an eyewitness account of the current situation in Israel and our featured speaker will be Chris Hexter, whose grandson lost his life in the ongoing conflict. Due to security concerns, registration is required. Go to https:// shavingisrael.org/registration331.html for registration. At 5 p.m. NHBZ offers all you can eat pizza, pasta and salad (see calendar item above) available for purchase. For more information, visit shavingisrael.org/

THURSDAY | APRIL 4

Event will look at genetics and hereditary cancer

See related news brief on page 5.

STARTING | APRIL 7

St. Louis Jewish Film Festival

See related story on page 17.

Biblical Criticism Series Begins Kol Rinah’s Verein group will present the first of its Biblical Criticism Program Series at 4 p.m. online via Zoom. For more information, email ralphjgraff@gmail.com.

Greg Johnston (left) and Shane Rose in New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘All My Sons.’

Below:

At

Meet Lil’ Yiddy, the eighth-grader inspired to rap about Jewish life

BY BELLA SOYFER JUNIOR, LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL

Electricity fills Epstein Hebrew Academy’s cafeteria as 8th-grade student Sam Shanker takes the stage, illuminated in purple. Friends, classmates and neighbors crowd in front of the stage, raising their phone flashlights in support of Shanker’s performance Feb. 3 to raise money for the Epstein Hebrew Academy 8th-grade class trip.

“We have always wanted to do a Lil’ Yiddy concert and we thought of the idea of having it at school as an 8th-grade trip fundraiser,” Shanker said.

Shanker, stage name “Lil’ Yiddy,” performed original rap songs with lyrics related to Jewish practices such as keeping kosher and Shabbat.

“I started to do school projects as rap songs with my friends at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. That’s where my first songs like ‘Da Hallel’ were written,” Shanker said.

Shanker was inspired to start listening to and creating his own Jewish rap songs during car rides with his father, where he

was introduced to artists such as L’Chaim OG and Nissim Black. He later began to listen to clean secular rappers as well, but Jewish artists remain his biggest influences. The first song Shanker ever wrote was “Da Hallel,” inspired by the prayer, Hallel, recited at some Jewish holidays.

“At the time I made the song as a joke, but that was when I realized I should start making more songs,” Shanker said. Shanker’s songs can now be found on all the major music platforms, including Soundcloud and Spotify. A new Lil’ Yiddy album is currently in the works, so another concert may be on the horizon.

“We are considering having our next concert being a fundraiser to give money to organizations in Israel,” Shanker said. Rabbi Shmuel Miller, head of school at Epstein Hebrew Academy, supported Shanker by helping plan the event, as the school aims to celebrate the talent of its students.

“Once I listened more carefully to his meaningful lyrics on Jewish themes, I suggested the idea of a concert, and let them run with it,” Miller said.

Overall, the concert was a great success in raising funds for the 8th grade trip. The concert relied on the Epstein and local Jewish community to come together to bolster the students.

“This was an outstanding fundraiser and opportunity to bring Jewish teens together in a very unique way,” Miller said.

Teen works to raise awareness of Pray Safe Act

BY NATHAN ARST SENIOR, PARKWAY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

In the fall, I participated in a fellowship with the Religious Action Center (RAC), whereby Jewish teenagers from around the country collaborated on social justice issues. In the fellowship, we each chose a project to help the community: I’ve been spreading awareness about the Pray Safe Act.

Nathan Arst

The Pray Safe Act is a piece of legislation designed to provide resources for all houses of worship that want more security measures. This is important because it allows all religious communities to access federal grant programs to provide enhanced safety. These newer, stronger resources are a tremendous boost to security at synagogues, mosques, churches and many more religious institutions. The more people who support this bill and flood politicians’ emails, the sooner it will be passed.

To support the Pray Safe Act, you can visit www.votervoice.net/URJ/campaigns/97977/respond. It’s extremely quick to fill out. Each person just needs to scroll to the bottom, where there is more detailed information and an area to fill out a message. For ease, there’s an automatic message that can be used or altered based on personal preference. The automatic message uses the words “Reform Jew,” but they can be changed to fit the sender’s religious background. In other words, you do not have to be from the Reform branch of Judaism or Jewish at all in order to send a message in support of this bill.

I am incredibly fortunate to belong to Temple Israel, which among its other attributes, puts congregants at ease due to a robust security presence. Beyond the physical assistance security officers contribute, they bring a mental reassurance for attendees.

The benefits of security are significant, but unfortunately not guaranteed, as not all places of worship in the United States have effective security protocols. This bill is crucial, so any support shown is powerful and appreciated.

At left, Lil’ Yiddy (aka Sam Shanker), an eighthgrade student at Epstein Hebrew Academy, raps during a concert to benefit the school’s eighthgrade class trip. At right, is Sam’s ‘hype man’ Shai Fendelman.

Concertgoers gather for a photo at Epstein.

bottom: Daniel Shanker and Shai Fendelman making havdalah before the show.

Can sports lead to peace?

BY RYAN SNYDER JUNIOR, LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL

Today, the Olympic Games are the premier global sports attraction with over 200 countries competing in them. However, their beginnings in Ancient Greece are drastically different from the Games we have today. Nearly 3,000 years ago, King Iphitos sought out peace for his empire that was in a constant state of war. Iphitos signed a treaty with two neighboring kings, decreeing that every four years conflict would come to a halt for the playing of the Games.

Just like in Ancient Greece, sports have been supremely successful in uniting American as well. Integration was a difficult task for the United States in the world of sports, with African American baseball legend Jackie Robinson being the most prominent example.

Robinson was faced with insurmountable challenges from people who didn’t want him to succeed. Yet he pushed through and paved the way for all races and cultures to participate in whatever sport they desired. While America is far from perfectly united today, sports have been the key to building cooperation and connectedness among people that would be unrecognized 100 years ago.

As we approach the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in late July, tensions between Israel and the rest of the world have been on the rise as a result of the Israel-Hamas war. Many Israeli athletes have expressed hesitancy to travel to the Paris Games, which is understandable. The Munich Games in 1972, in which 11 Israeli Olympic athletes were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist organization, exemplify how horrible situations can get when a country that isn’t supported by the entire world is put on a global stage.

However, while remaining aware of these prior events and potential negative outcomes, I believe it is important for athletes to attend and represent Israel in the Olympics. There is no better means of building respect between nations than friendly competition followed by a handshake as a sign of respect. Sports are a way to express patriotism for one’s country without violence.

The events of Oct. 7 and what followed have diminished the value of sports in uniting people. Among multiple other

occurrences around the world, Sagiv Jehezkel, an Israeli soccer player playing in Turkey, was detained by the government for revealing a Star of David beneath his uniform. Actions like these take away from sports being able to unite and instead serve as a means of dividing an already divided world.

On the flip side, when Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko was booed at the

World Swimming Championships in February during her silver medal podium ceremony, a Palestinian athlete named Yazan Al Bawwab came to her defense and was quoted saying, “when we compete, we are all the same.” The championships were held in Qatar and presented many logistical and security challenges for Gorbenko, but she still triumphed.

The Olympic games should exemplify

that ability to connect. Instead of focusing on our differences, we need to embrace the positives that come with sport and sportsmanship and continue to use them to try and bring peace. Continuing to compete in the games with pride and contin-

Ryan Snyder

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ABELES-NAGLE WEDDING

Joey Abeles and Maia Nagle were married February 24, 2024 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Joey is the son of Debbie and Jerry Abeles of Los Angeles. Maia is the daughter of Karen and Robert Nagle of Phoenix.

Rabbi Steve Silberman (Joey’s uncle) and Rabbi Adam Kilgfeld officiated.

The couple honeymooned in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Joey and Maia met through Camp Ramah in 2015 on a trip to Poland and Israel. They started dating as counselors the following year, dating long distance during high school (Maia in Phoenix and Joey in Los Angeles) and in college.

Maia attended Washington University in St. Louis for her undergraduate degree and for a Master’s of Social Work at the Brown School. Joey moved from UCLA to join her in summer 2020. They were engaged in the summer of 2022, in the company of family and friends.

Joey is the director of Hillel at Maryville University and Maia is a clinical social worker, practicing as a therapist at Inspire Change Counseling in Chesterfield.

HKF

Harvey Kornblum Foundation

Tori is the daughter of Keith and Judy Grosz of Chesterfield. She is the granddaughter of Shirlene and the late Irl Baris, and the late Leonard and June Grosz.

Jared is the son of Alan and Debbie Farber of Long Island, N.Y. He is the grandson of Bertha and the late Usher Farber, and the late Beverly and Fred Goldschmidt.

Ashley Szakaly and Heather Groswald, sisters of the bride, served as matrons of honor

The bridesmaids were Noy Benzimra, Abby Tauber, Jamie Grosz, Melissa Kahane, Kristen Boyher, Lauren Bank, Amy Edelman and Daisy Farber.

Derek Farber and Zach Farber, brothers of the groom, served as best men. The groomsmen were Jensen Szakaly, Max Groswald, Ryan Isaacs, Harrison Brenner, Mike Berkowitz and Adam Rosenthal.

The bride’s niece, Leni Szakaly, served as flower girl, and bridesmaids Abby Tauber and Noy Benzimra served as ring bearers.

Rabbi Howard Kaplansky of United Hebrew Congregation officiated.

Tori and Jared enjoyed a honeymoon in Thailand and the Maldives.

The couple, who met at a club in New York City in 2018, reside in St. Louis.

TRIBUTES

To make a tribute, visit stljewishlight.org/tribute

IN MEMORY OF

MARILYN FOX

Marilyn was one of a kind. I have so much respect and gratefulness for all she did.

— Gloria Cotlar

Adam Zoll and Thien Khuu were married Nov. 11, 2023 in Dallas.

Adam is the son of Ericka Zoll-Phelan and Jim Phelan of St. Louis; and Dan Zoll and Amy Weiss of San Francisco. He is the grandson of Barb and Mel Goldman of St. Louis.

Thien is the son of Tho Khuu and Thanh Nguyen of Dallas. He is the grandson of Mai Pham of Dallas.

Members of the wedding party included Aaron Zoll, Adam’s brother, as Best Man; Nhan Khuu, Thien’s brother, as Best Man; as well as Alexandra Bankston, Adam’s stepsister, and Hang Khuu, Thien’s sister. Milan Pham, Thien’s niece, served as flower girl, and Benjamin Pham, Thien’s nephew, served as ring bearer. Rabbi Randy Fleisher of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis officiated.

From day one, Adam and Thien found out they had chemistry together, in both senses of the word. Both chemistry majors in college, they coincidentally signed up for the same safety training session before starting to work in research labs. Little did they know, their first movie date would be “Orientation to Laboratory Safety,” a ’90s classic that just screams romance. Their bond has only grown stronger since then, and this story always gets a good reaction.

The story of their engagement

The question wasn’t “Will he propose?” but rather “When and how will we propose to each other?” February is Adam and Thien’s month of anniversaries, from their first date to their first Valentine’s. On Feb. 14, 2021, after cooking a special meal together all evening, Thien surprised Adam with roses, and Adam surprised Thien with a ring. A few months later, on July 10, while on a weekend trip to Woodstock, N.Y., they went for a walk along a bridge overlooking a scenic lake. As Adam finished laying out the spread for a picnic, he turned back to find Thien on one knee. Two years later, they got married.

The couple resides in Pasadena, Calif.

Tori Grosz and Jared Farber were married Aug. 26, 2023 at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis.

ZOLL- KHUU WEDDING

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANA GIBBONS PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA SHARAPOVA PHOTOGRAPHY GROSZ-FARBER WEDDING

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHADOW AND LIGHT

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GLOBAL

JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE JEWISH

By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

“Costume Crossovers” Difficulty: Medium | Puzzle answers online: bit.ly/0320-crossword

Across

1. “Seinfeld” restaurant owner from Pakistan

5. He shot Hamilton

9. Multi-daily tefilla (var.)

13. Former Mets general manager Minaya

14. Sister of (King) Charles

15. Color chart choices

16. Notable Gal Gadot role x notable Zoe Kravitz role?

19. Zest

20. Become wider, as pupils

21. A, in Avignon

23. Rat on

25. Sub’s navigational aid

26. Notable Tom Hardy role x notable

Billy Crystal role?

29. Mayim in Mexico

30. Her counterpart

31. Notable Andrew Garfield role x notable Paul Rudd role?

38. “I’ll take that as ___...”

39. “The Blind Side” footballer Michael

41. Notable Jennifer Aniston role x notable soul singer?

47. “Dewy” Israeli girl’s name

48. Cookie with a Thins variety

49. They can boost business

50. Ark wood

52. Gainesville footballer

54. Notable M*A*S*H role (Abbr.) x notable Daniel Radcliffe role?

58. “The Forgotten” novelist Wiesel

59. Hybrid equine

60. African country that doesn’t eat in the restaurant?

61. Acronym for Adobe, Dropbox, or Slack

62. Prophet

63. Notable Wizard

Down

1. Device for Esau

2. “I love,” in Spanish

3. More than dented

4. South Asian language spoken by 70 million

5. Cashless exchange

6. 7-Up’s nickname, with “the”

7. Messenger strands

8. AARP part: Abbr.

9. Writer Aleichem

10. Aetna alternative

11. Shochet’s cleaver

12. “Up” star Ed

17. Nickname for a notable Jewish Queen, perhaps

18. Most like Solomon

21. “The Avengers” co-star Thurman

22. Is a nudnik

24. Dodi preceder

27. Tai preceder

28. 2012 NBA breakout Jeremy

32. Flowery name in Hebrew, Arabic, or Spanish

33. Jerusalem to Jericho dir.

34. Bit of Hershey’s candy

35. African land that still has a couple thousand Jews: Abbr.

36. She has ___ gold (3 words)

37. Can’t do without 40. Cedars-Sinai pros

41. Cough drop brand

42. Awful biblical queen

43. Computer memories

44. Diamond design

45. Term for someone born on

ly fall in love. But their cultural differences cause a great strain when she travels from Israel to Samoa to visit him.

“ ‘Unwell Mind’ is just a beautiful story,” said Wilson. “It’s about Danna, a 28-year-old mentor for the intellectually disabled Yael (who is 36). Their common ground is the problems they have with their respective boyfriends, and how these women bond in their friendship as they learn more about one another.

“[Sadly], Sami Keidar, Yael’s father, was murdered in the Oct. 7 attack,” Wilson continued. “Ofra Keidar, Yael’s mother, was taken as a hostage to Gaza, later to be found dead under Hamas’ control. So tragic...”

“Pepchook,” Wilson said, is the festival’s only animated film. It’s about Leafa, who lives in Samoa, and Pepchook, an Israeli. They meet working on a cruise ship and immediate-

“It has a particular unexpected punch at the end that makes the film just as relevant as it is funny and cute,” Wilson added.

He described “Elinor” as a fun, modern comedy about a young woman who moves to a kibbutz alone to fulfill her dream of writing. But her time there just turns into a comedy of errors, and she learns that being alone is not so simple.

“This film is fast-paced and full of laughs,” Wilson said.

“And it was filmed on Kibbutz Nir Am, which came under attack on Oct. 7 and was masterfully defended by Inbal Rabin-Liberman, the 26-year-old female head of security who staved off the attacks with her company, killing several terrorists, and holding the rest out until the (Israel Defense Forces) arrived,” Wilson added.

February 29

46. Kind of guy you can count on

47. Shoe attachments

51. Octopus’ abundance

53. First name of Dr. Octopus

55. Wish you hadn’t

56. Self concern

57. Radio producer on “Frasier”

The documentary, “Shelters,” provides audiences with an inside look of the “normalcy” of living under constant threat while making your home in Israel, and how the tens of thousands of shelters all over the country provide a place in which to run when the sirens start to blare, Wilson said.

“One of the film’s protagonists, Haim Peri, a 79-yearold, confronted the terrorists who infiltrated his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz and saved the life of his wife. Unfortunately, he was abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists,” Wilson said.

“ ‘People Asleep and the Water as Well’ is a really wonderful story about a Muslim [guard and caretaker] in Marrakech, Morocco who tends the Jewish cemetery in the heart of the city,” Wilson said. “After everything happening in the world, this movie captures the equality and the camaraderie we all want to feel as human beings.”

SP TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to news@stljewishlight.org.

Twenty-nine teams competed for bragging rights, playing games such as “Around the World,” a puzzle game; “Finish the Lyrics” and the quintessential “Are You Smarter than a St. Louisan?”

The top two teams advancing to the final round of “Nacho Ordinary Sumo.”

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j associates

BATTLE OF THE STARS

J Associates, the women’s auxiliary of the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, held “Battle of the Stars” on Saturday, March 2 at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex, with more than 300 people in attendance. The event raised more than $238,000 to help support all the J’s programs, services and scholarships. The event was chaired by Jennifer Rosenthal and Shana Singer. ALL PHOTOS BY TIM PARKER

In the end, Team 29 (above), walked away as the first ever J Associates “Battle of The Stars” champions. Team 29 featured Dani Berg, Jason Berg, Bryan Berg, Abigail Berg, Matt Bukhshtaber, Anna Bukhshtaber, Samantha Katzman, Danny Katzman, Chad Klamen, Rachel Deutsch and Scott Yaffe.