Jewish Light Digital Edition: April 5, 2023

CELEBRATING PASSOVER

Several dozen people learned the art and science of matzo baking on March 27 during a Model Matzah Bakery experience at Chabad of Chesterfield. The 18 crucial minutes between the time flour and water are combined until baking commences ticked off quickly. Fortunately, this was only a pre-Pesach demonstration if the dough started to leaven, thus becoming chametz. Kids and adults got in the spirit, from grinding wheat to rolling matzah from dough balls, ready to put in the oven to bake. Photos: Bill Motchan

INSIDE CHAMETZ FOR SALE

How St. Louis became an important online hub for transferring ownership of leavened goods during Passover.

APPLE MATZAH KUGEL

Don’t miss this recipe for a delicious Passover treat.

‘THE CLAIMANT’

At top, Rabbi Avi Rubenfeld of Chabad of Chesterfield explains the matzah baking process. Above, Max Giesine shows off his matzah dough. At right, children grind wheat to start the matzah making process.

Creve Coeur mom opens up about her childhood sexual abuse in new book.

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Bethe Growe, President

Laura K. Silver, Immediate Past President

Laurie Chod, Vice President

Beth Manlin, Vice President

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Joan Silber

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Alvan D. Rubin*, Vivian Zwick, Joseph Edlin*,

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Hakimian*, Sanford Weiss*, Philip Isserman*,

Linda Kraus, Richard Flom, Marvin Schneider, Barbara Langsam Shuman, Terry Bloomberg, John Greenberg, David Grebler*, Milton Movitz*,

STAFF

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

SHABBAT/PASSOVER CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

Wednesday, April 5

Light Holiday Candles @ 7:11 p.m.

Thursday, April 6

Light Holiday Candles after 8:10 p.m. from pre-existing flame.

Shabbat/Intermediate Days of Passover

Friday, April 7

Light Shabbat Candles @ 7:13 p.m. from pre-existing flame

Saturday, April 8

Shabbat Ends @ 8:12 p.m.

#STLJEWISHLIGHT

Connect with us on all our social media using

PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT

Gianna Jacobson, Jenny Wolkowitz, Gary Kodner, Jane Tzinberg Rubin, Steve Gallant, Laura K. Silver

* Of Blessed Memory

The ST. LOUIS JEWISH LIGHT (ISSN 0036-2964) is published bimonthly by the St. Louis Jewish Light, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, 7201 Delmar Blvd. Suite 201, St. Louis, MO 63130. Periodical postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Copyright 2023. Postmaster: Send address changes to the St. Louis Jewish Light: 7201 Delmar Blvd. #201, St. Louis, MO 63130.

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

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

The Jewish Light is a member of the American Jewish Press Association

Bill Motchan, Amy Fenster Brown, Eric Berger, Patricia Corrigan, Barry Gilbert, Margi Lenga Kahn, Gerry Kowarsky, Nancy Kranzberg, Elise Krug, Cate Marquis, Eric Mink, Judith Newmark, Martin Rochester

PUBLICATION DATES FOR 2023

The Jewish Light will publish print editions twice a month in 2023, on the following upcoming dates:

• April 19

• May 10 and 24

• June 6 and 21

• July 12 and 26

• Aug. 9 and 23

• Sept. 6 and 20

• Oct. 4 and 18

• Nov. 8 and 22

• Dec. 6 and 20

Tuesday, April 11

Light Holiday Candles @ 7:16 p.m.

Wednesday, April 12

Light Holiday Candles after 8:16 p.m. from a pre-existing flame

Thursday, April 13

Passover Ends @ 8:17 p.m.

Shabbat begins

Friday, April 14 : 7:19 p.m.

Shabbat Ends

Saturday, April 15 : 8:19 p.m.

Torah reading: Shemini

Creve Coeur mom opens up about her childhood sexual abuse in new book

At 5 years old, Rachel Weinhaus was sexually assaulted by a teenage neighborhood boy in the woods near her Creve Coeur home. She told no one, not even her mother.

In 2019, Weinhaus learned she was part of a $215 million class-action settlement with the University of Southern California related to Dr. George Tyndall — a former gynecologist at USC who has faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct. Weinhaus, now 47, had been a patient of Tyndall’s when she was a graduate student at the university.

What that news stirred in her surprised no one more than herself. For decades, she had buried the memories of both her sexual assault in the woods and her sexual assault by Tyndall. Was now going to be the time where she would need to deal with those emotions?

USC offered Tyndall’s ex-patients “free” therapy. [USC agreed to pay out an additional $852 million to ex-patients of Tyndall’s in 2021, bringing the total to over $1.1 billion. He is currently on trial and has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.]

Eventually through therapy, Weinhaus was able to resolve her childhood and young adult trauma, and to start to see real change in her life. At her therapist’s suggestion, Weinhaus also began writing down what she had gone through, and ultimately that memoir became her new book, “The Claimant: A Memoir of an Historic Sexual Abuse Lawsuit and a Woman’s Life Made Whole.”

Recently the Light sat down with Weinhaus, who lives with her husband and two sons near Creve Coeur, to learn more about her story and “The Claimant.”

Why was it important to you to write “The Claimant”?

I hid the memory of what had happened to me as a little girl for so long, even from myself, that it was very important for me to give voice to my inner child and help heal that traumatic wound. I had also spent much of my life hiding the parts of myself that I was ashamed of, or afraid other people might reject, and so, sharing those memories and vulnerable aspects

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was a way to release my shame and reveal my authentic self. And I felt an urgent need to connect with other women, especially survivors. I knew I could help others heal by sharing my story. In that respect, it wasn’t a choice; it was a responsibility I felt compelled to fulfill.

How did writing the book help you work through the trauma associated with the sexual abuse?

Writing has always been my remedy. I first became a writer after my childhood assault. I’d spend hours playing make-believe to cope with the trauma. Escaping

into other worlds and characters was soothing and probably my most effective coping mechanism. It was a skill I developed to run away from my pain. Writing this memoir was a true blessing in my healing process. It gave me the comfort I craved, but it also forced me to use words on the page to bring my painful past front and center. Writing became not just an escape, but my way home.

See SCHMOOZE on page 9A

Rachel Weinhaus’ book is available for purchase online at www.rachelweinhaus.com.

‘Chametz’ for sale, easy terms and conditions

WHAT IS CHAMETZ?

Excerpted from the Chabad.org website

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

The traditional ridding one’s home of chametz before Passover can be done in a number of ways. It could be used up, given away or destroyed by fire, usually just before the chametz prohibition begins in the sixth hour of the day before Passover.

Jews around the world also can take advantage of one other, higher-tech option: temporarily selling ownership of the chametz to non-Jews via an online contract (find it online at https://bit.ly/selling-chametz). The nerve center of this worldwide operation is the Morris & Ann Lazaroff Chabad Center in University City.

For 300 years, millions of Jews worldwide have transferred ownership of chametz in their home by selling it to non-Jews. The chametz remains in the Jewish home but is untouched in a secure place. After the seventh and final day of Passover, the non-Jewish owner sells back the chametz to its original owner. Both sales are executed by signing a contract, a bill of sale.

In 1995, the sale of chametz was first offered online. It was overseen, as it is now, by Rabbi Yosef Landa, director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis. This year, on Wednesday, April 5, the online sale of chametz commenced. In 12 regions of the world, Chabad rabbis consolidate tens of thousands of online chametz sales in the areas they represent. As each time zone approaches the sixth hour before Passover, those sales are recorded in a single sales contract here in St. Louis.

For the past several years, the temporary owner of the chametz has been Scott Biondo, Jewish

Federation community security director. Biondo, who is not Jewish, agrees to the sale and temporarily owns the chametz in the homes and businesses of Jews from Tucumcari to Timbuktu.

The online sale is fast, efficient and practical. While it’s easy to discard a loaf of leavened bread, one might not want to part permanently with a bottle of expensive aged whiskey. This system allows the owner to keep it in the home but not use it during the seven days of Passover. It’s on the premises but no longer owned by the homeowner.

“I’m keeping this bottle of whiskey in my house, and the non-Jew is not actually taking it,” Landa said. “It’s sitting in the house as it did before, and we are effectuating the transfer of ownership. We want it to be not only legal by Missouri’s law, we want it to be legal in terms of Jewish law.”

Some people prefer an analog chametz sale, and Landa continues to offer that option, via a

paper document. Increasingly, the online sale has become a popular method, particularly for Jews who live in areas of the world without easy access to a rabbi to as a broker.

Technically speaking, the transfer of the chametz is not a loan or temporary ownership, Landa said.

“It’s a permanent sale,” he said. “(But) as soon as the holiday is over, Scott comes back and we make another sale. I say to him, ‘You know that chametz you own, let me buy it back.’ I give him a profit for his trouble.”

Landa suggests that the system has another unique benefit besides the efficiency of the online sale.

“A beautiful thing about it is that non-Jews who don’t share our obligation are eager to help the Jewish community observe and practice its faith,” he said. “I make that point to Scott or whoever the buyer is. It’s not your faith, but you realize that this is important to us and you’re willing to help us.”

WashU Hillel to host David Makovsky for lecture on current state of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Hillel at Washington University (WashU Hillel) will host policy expert David Makovsky for a lecture entitled, “Israel, Palestinians & the Arab World: What is Truly Attainable?” on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Brown School of Social Work’s Hillman Hall, Room 70, on the Washington University campus. A light reception will follow at WashU Hillel directly across the street (6300 Forsyth Blvd.). Parking available in Hillel’s rear lot or in the East End Garage adjacent to Hillman Hall.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience as a journalist, author, and analyst of Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the

U.S.-Israel relationship, the Washington Institute scholar and former member of the U.S. peace negotiation team, Makovsky will explore the current state of the conflict, analyze the discourse on it in Israel and the United States, and outline how policymakers approach the situation pragmatically. He will also touch on the ever-changing political landscape in Israel and recent events.

To register for the event, visit www.washuhillel. org/IsraelWeek.

This event is part of WashU Hillel’s weeklong series of activities celebrating Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Other activities will include an Aroma Café “pop-up” on campus, Israeli-

themed Shabbat dinner and IFest—Hillel’s annual Israel festival celebrating Israeli culture in the center of WashU Hillel’s residential community with close to 1,000 student participants anticipated this year.

The April 19th lecture is underwritten by Hillel International and WashU Hillel’s Harry and Mary Neuman Endowment Fund with support from St. Louis Friends of Israel.

For more information, contact Rabbi Jordan Gerson, WashU Hillel’s Silk Foundation Campus Rabbi and Chief Experience Officer, at rabbijordan@washuhillel.org.

The Very Short Answer: Chametz (also spelled “hametz” or “chometz”) is any food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats or spelt that has come into contact with water and been allowed to ferment and “rise.”

In practice, just about anything made from these grains—other than Passover matzah, which is carefully controlled to avoid leavening—is to be considered chametz. This includes flour (even before it is mixed with water), cake, cookies, pasta, breads, and items that have chametz as an ingredient, like malt.

St. Louis native David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations.

How St. Louis became an important online hub for transferring ownership of chametz

PHOTO: LLOYD WOLF

Rabbi Yosef Landa, director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, holds a copy of a contract for transferring ownership of chametz during Passover.

ADL report: Antisemitic incidents surged in 2022

BY JORDAN PALMER & ADL

Missouri experienced a record 30 antisemitic incidents in 2022 — a 100% increase compared to 2021. The number of antisemitic incidents recorded in 2022 exceeds the number of incidents over the previous three years combined, 2019-2021, according to new data from the Audit of Antisemitic Incidents released in March by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Missouri’s increase mirrors the growing trend of hate and vitriol directed at Jews nationwide. The ADL recorded 3,697 incidents of antisemitism nationwide — the highest number of antisemitic incidents since the ADL started keeping records in 1979. This is the third time in the past five years that the year-end total has been the highest number ever recorded.

“We are extremely concerned with the explosion of hate and antisemitism in our state,” said ADL Heartland Regional Director Jordan Kadosh. “We must work together as a community to address hate and bigotry in all forms, and we invite every Missourian to join us.”

The ADL suggests reaching out to your elected officials and ask them to support law enforcement by giving them the tools and bandwidth they need to prevent and respond to hate crimes.

“Encourage elected officials and civic leaders to use their platform to speak out against antisemitism and hate in all forms and fight for anti-bias and bullying prevention education, like our No Place for Hate Program, in our schools,” said Kadosh.

The ADL H.E.A.T. Map

ADL H.E.A.T. Map (www.adl.org/apps/ heatmap) is an interactive and customizable map detailing specific incidents of hate, extremism, antisemitism and terrorism by state and nationwide. This map lets

visitors read details on specific incidents, better understand tactics extremists use, compare activity by type or state and access and download raw data.

According to the ADL Center on Extremism, which compiles the annual Audit, incidents of harassment rose 109% and acts of vandalism grew by 75% in Missouri from 2021 to 2022.

According to the H.E.A.T. Map, nine of the 30 incidents in our area were efforts by white supremacists to distribute fliers and stickers containing antisemitic tropes and hate-filled rhetoric. If you ever run across such materials, you’re encouraged to contact law enforcement. You should also file an incident report on with the ADL. You can do so online. The ADL will then partner with the appropriate agency to bring the incident to resolution.

Recent incidents in St. Louis

There have been three major antisemitic

events in the St. Louis area that have made local and national news since 2021.

On November 5, 2021, a St. Louis man made three calls directly to the FBI stating his intentions to blow up Central Reform Congregation. Talking about Jews, the man identified as Cody Rush told the FBI “I hate them with rage.” Rush was arrested by St. Louis police and is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence.

On March 24, 2022, both the Philadelphia and St. Louis Jewish Community Centers received online bomb threats.

“At this time, the nature of the bomb threats are unknown and the relevant law enforcement entities have been notified of the threats, the ADL said in a statement. “The threats reported came through online contact forms. Both threats contain similar language, both starting with ‘Ill be there at 12 to bomb your facility you ukranian jew filth i got bombs there now {sic}.”

Other community organizations, including a hospital, also received threats,

according to a statement from the St. Louis J at the time of the incidents.

Law enforcement in both St. Louis and Philadelphia reacted quickly and both incidents were ruled to be hoaxes.

And two months ago, on January 25, 2023, Congregation Temple Israel was vandalized when someone scrawled graffiti on a monument at the entrance on Ladue Road. Creve Coeur Police are investigating the incident, which is being treated as a possible antisemitic hate crime.

National Incidents

Nationwide there were increases in each category: Incidents of harassment rose 29% compared to 2021; acts of vandalism surged 51%; and physical assaults jumped 26%. Significantly, the report found a doubling in activity by organized white supremacist groups, who were responsible for 852 antisemitic propaganda distribution incidents last year – an increase from the 422 propaganda incidents attributed to white supremacist groups in 2021.

“We’re deeply disturbed by this dramatic and completely unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents. While we can’t point to any single factor or ideology driving this increase, the surges in organized white supremacist propaganda activity, brazen attacks on Orthodox Jews, a rapid escalation of bomb threats toward Jewish institutions, and significant increases in incidents in schools and on college campuses all contributed to the unusually high number,” said ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt in a statement. “This data confirms what Jewish communities across the country have felt and seen firsthand – and corresponds with the rise in antisemitic attitudes. From white nationalists to religious fanatics to radical anti-Zionists, Jewish people see a range of very real threats. It’s time to stop the surge of hate once and for all.”

A screenshot of the Anti-Defamation League’s online H.E.A.T. Map (available at www.adl.org/ apps/heatmap) showing antisemitic incidents in 2022.

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

New Jewish Theatre performances are held at the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio. St. Louis University students who attend events at the Busch Student Center often use the Harlene and Marvin Wool Ballroom. The large brick building a block north on Grand Avenue that houses the SLU human resources department is the Wool Center.

The Harlene and Marvin Wool Endowed Professorship in Cardiology at St. Louis University was created in appreciation of the care Marvin was given by a SLU cardiologist. Heart patients at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield often go to the Marvin Wool Cardiac Rehabilitation Center.

The Wool name at these institutions honor the Jewish couple team who for many years were successful in business and committed to giving back to the St. Louis community. Now, their three children are continuing that legacy through their stewardship of the Wool Foundation.

In 2020 alone, the Wool Foundation provided grants to two dozen organizations, including the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Foster Care Coalition of Greater St. Louis, Friends of Kids With Cancer, the Miriam Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

Marvin Wool died in 2014; Harlene Wool passed away four years later. But their many contributions live on via the institutions that bear their names. The Wool Foundation continues to support health and human service organizations thanks to a healthy balance sheet with assets of more than $30 million and a dedicated team of trustees.

Marvin Wool was born in St. Louis in 1928. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and an MBA from St. Louis University.

“Marvin and Harlene Wool have made a lasting impact on St. Louis University through their generosity,” said Sheila Manion, vice president of development at SLU. “When families like the Wools support the university so generously, SLU is able to fulfill its mission to serve humanity through teaching, research and service to the community. Today, students, faculty and staff across the university benefit from their legacy of support.”

After his graduation from SLU in 1956, Marvin Wool worked for Dennis Chemical. He then founded M-R Plastics and Coatings. The company was so suc-

cessful, he sold it a few years later. He followed that with a startup called Dash Multi-Corp, which specialized in chemicals and rubber recycling.

Wool was chairman, president and CEO of Dash, which grew to 700 employees. While running that company, he helped build Allegiant Bank. He was chairman of the bank when it went public and grew to be the largest publicly held bank based in the St. Louis area. He served on a number of boards and supported Jewish causes and other community organizations. Wool was a past president of B’nai El Congregation.

Harlene Wool was also an active volunteer in the community, including at St. Luke’s Hospital and a school library.

The Wools were committed to philanthropy, as evidenced by their support of institutions as varied as the St. Andrew’s Charitable Foundation and the now-defunct St. Louis Chapter of the American Technion Society (the chapter is now served by the Chicago office). Even with business and volunteer responsibilities, Marvin and Harlene Wool always spent time with their family, said their daughter Deni Wool, 71.

“They supported us in all our sports and other events,” she said. “It could be a Girl Scouts event or a father-daughter banquet. He would always be there. Things that were important to us were important to them, too.”

A summer ritual was the Wool family road trip, said their son Sandy Wool, 69.

“The family vacation was something they believed in,” he said. “My dad worked a lot, but he was also a really high energy person and he spent a lot of time with the family.”

For relaxation, Marvin Wool enjoyed gardening. He was a good chess player, and he excelled at racquetball. He also played Indian Ball, a softball variant that originated in St. Louis in the late 1940s.

Helping others help themselves

The three adult Wool children — Sandy and Deni Wool, and Amye Wool Carrigan — often get together for family events. But they also regularly meet for business matters. All three are members of Temple Emmanuel and are the

HappyPassover

trusees of the Wool Foundation. As siblings, they have a chemistry that works well in that role.

“We just say that we get together to give away money,” Deni Wool said. “We get along, and we do really well. I know it has brought us a lot closer for a common purpose, and the purpose is to do good. To give away money to people who need it in the community. That’s a good thing.”

As trustees of the foundation, the Wools bear a responsibility to maintain a mission consistent with their parent’s philanthropic philosophy, said Carrigan, 66.

“Our mission statement refers to helping people to be able to help themselves,” she said. “We often give to medical organizations who care for children and help with their medical needs, or for people who are living in poverty. As trustees, we also vet the organizations and try to make conscientious decisions so that the organizations we’re distributing funds to are good fiduciary custodians.”

Sandy Wool said, “My father came up in a generation where if you wanted something, you had to get it yourself. He had a lot of compassion, but he definitely wanted to see people help themselves. And he wanted to give people a hand up if he could.”

The Wool siblings do their homework, too. They research potential organizations before meeting to decide which grantees make the best case for funding.

“We each bring ideas for different organizations that we know of personally

to the group,” Sandy Wool said. “In our discussion, one of us might say, ‘Here’s an organization that I think is worthy of our support.’ And we typically are unanimous in our decision to either give or not give. There are certain themes. I know a lot of our giving has centered around child-related causes. In fact, one-third of all of our giving goes to child-related charities. We gave funds to 50 charities in 2022, and a full third of them were child-related.”

Volunteering runs in the family

In addition to their foundation responsibilities, the Wool children followed in their parent’s footsteps as volunteers. Deni Wool volunteers for the Little Bit Foundation and the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Amye Wool Carrigan has served on the board of Jewish Family Services. Sandy Wool is a longtime board member and treasurer of Next Step.

The Wool siblings understand the value of giving back. They remember their parents fondly and, of course, they’ve become accustomed to seeing the Wool name at SLU or the other institutions where their parent’s legacy is prominently displayed.

“It’s a comfort to me to know that they’re still recognized by other people,” Carrigan said.

Deni Wool said: “It makes me feel very proud to see it. When I see his name anywhere, I think, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s my dad!’ He was very philanthropic, and he did a good thing with his financial success.”

A collage of photos provided by the Wool family. Center shows Harlene (L) and Marvin (R). Bottom right shows the Wool siblings.

May this season of renewal bring peace, comfort and healing to our community

HAPPY PASSOVER

May you be blessed with peace, prosperity, good health, and happiness.

Rabbi and Archbishop will speak at ‘Good Neighbors’ event

The entire community is invited to join us for a groundbreaking evening of dialogue and friendship as Congregation Shaare Emeth welcomes Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, the Archbishop of the Diocese of St. Louis, to join in public conversation with Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Stiffman on Sunday, April 30 at 7 p.m. at Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road. At their talk entitled “Good Neighbors: The Rabbi and the Archbishop in Dialogue and Friendship,” audience members can look forward to formally welcoming Archbishop Rozanski to Shaare Emeth to join in dialogue with the St. Louis Jewish community. The evening will conclude with a dessert reception.

For more information or to register to attend, please call 314-569-0010 or go to: sestl.co/neighbors. This class is part of the Schneider Interfaith Forum made possible through the generosity of Harvey and Leanne Schneider.

Jewish War Veterans seek applicants for two scholarships

The Jewish War Veterans of St. Louis, Post 644, is offering two $1,000 scholarships, The Ted and Rachael Pevnick Family Scholarship and the Chuck Sandroff Scholarship, for Jewish graduating high school seniors planning to attend a college or university program, or a vocational school program, or for Jewish students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational school program. The student applying should be related to a Jewish veteran of any branch of the military.

The Sandroff scholarship is given in memory of the group’s past commander, who passed away in 2017.

The Pevnick scholarship was created just this past January. Rachael Pevnick, who turned 90 on Jan. 22, decided to take the money her children offered to send her on a cruise with and instead honor the service of her late husband, Ted.

The deadline for applications is April 30. Interested students should go to www. jwvstl.org and look under “activities.” Contact Tom McHugh at tom66f@aol.com for more information.

Celebrate Israel’s independence and 75th anniversary at the J

The entire Jewish community is invited to celebrate Israel’s 75th Independence Day at the Jewish Community’s Center Staenberg Family Complex, north back parking lot, on Sunday, April 23 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Expect activities for all ages including inflatables for children, food for purchase, professionally led Israeli dancing, the opportunity to create a permanent community art installation on the J Campus, music from DJ Utopia, and much more. The evening will end with a fireworks’ display in recognition of Israel @ 75.

In addition, community members are being asked to submit photos from their Israel trips so that they can be projected at the event. Share a photo of you, the group you were with or a favorite place in Israel.

If you haven’t been to Israel yet, share a photo of you at a community event or make a sign recognizing Israel @ 75 and submit a picture of you with the sign.

Share your photos for display on the big screen by April 14. Visit https://bit. ly/Israel-photo-submissions to upload a

photograph.

This event, funded by The LubinGreen Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis,

is free and open to the public, no registration required. Please contact Snir Dagan at sdagan@jccstl.org or 314-4423137 with any questions.

Temple Israel plans Israeli Film Festival

On Sunday, April 30, the community is invited to Congregation Temple Israel’s 15th Annual Israeli Film Festival, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy two Israeli films and Israeli-style refreshments and a presentation all about modern life in Israel during intermission.

The film festival is open to the entire community. Guests are welcome to attend one or both films. Masking is optional. A $5 donation requested. RSVP required at www.ti-stl.org/Films or by phone at 314-432-8050.

The schedule of events is:

• 3:30 p.m.: Screening of the film “Abe.” With the help of a Brazilian chef, a 12-year-old boy who dreams of being a cook tries to find the ideal recipe to break down the cultural barriers that divide his half-Israeli and half-Palestinian family. The film is 85 minutes and is in English. It is suitable for kids in grade 4 and above.

• 5 p.m.: Intermission. Enjoy Israelistyle refreshments and a 5:45 p.m. presentation all about modern life in Israel by St. Louis’ Shinshinim (young adults who serve as international ambassadors prior to serving in the Israeli army).

• 6:15 pm: Screening of “Zaytoun.” In

Beirut, 1982, a young Palestinian refugee helps an Israeli fighter pilot escape from PLO captivity because he wants to visit his ancestral family home. En route through war-torn Lebanon their relationship develops into a close bond. The film is 110 minutes, in English, Arabic and

Hebrew, with English subtitles. The film is suitable for middle school and above. This program is co-sponsored by Temple Israel’s Israel Engagement Committee and the St. Louis Israeli community.

Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman (left) and Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski

From left, Abdallah El Akal and Stephen Dorff in the Israeli film ‘Zaytoun,’ which is part of Temple Israel’s 15th annual Israeli Film Festival.

PHOTO: EITAN RIKLIS/STRAND RELEASING

PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Cemetery launches ‘Remember Their Names’ project

United Hebrew Cemetery raising funds for initiative to provide gravestones for unmarked graves

United Hebrew Cemetery, at 7855 Canton Ave. in University City, has launched its “Remember Their Names” project, a community-wide mitzvah initiative to raise funds to ensure that all buried individuals in the cemetery are appropriately memorialized.

The project was conceived while updating the database of more than 7,000 buri-

als listed in the records of the 180+ year old cemetery.

Working specifically in the Memorial Garden section, members of the United Hebrew Congregation Cemetery Committee determined that several graves—dating back to 1964—were lacking an appropriate marker identifying the name of the deceased. Further research into cemetery and death records revealed that some of these individuals had died with no known descendants, some were listed as “charity” and others had resided at the former Missouri State Hospital on Arsenal Street.

Understanding that Jewish law requires

appropriate burial practices and markers for the deceased, these verses, sourced from the Jewish Virtual Library, particularly resonated with the committee, “Jewish law requires that a tombstone be prepared, so that the deceased will not be forgotten and the grave will not be desecrated … The idea underlying this custom is that the dead will not be forgotten when he is being mourned every day…”

Rosenbloom Monument Company was contacted to provide a cost estimate to design and furnish gravestones for the nearly 40 burials discovered in that section. Current plans are to have the granite markers installed by late spring/early summer

and to hold a group Monument Dedication Service, open to the entire community.

Following the initial phase of the project, the committee expects to expand to other areas of the cemetery, including those interred who had been relocated from the original burial grounds in the City of St. Louis in 1880. Updates to the project will be posted on the United Hebrew Congregation website.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible gift for the “Remember Their Names” project, visit the UH website at www.unitedhebrew.org or call during weekday business hours at 314469-0700.

Schmooze: St. Louis mom’s new book looks at her path to healing

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A

Did your Judaism and/or Jewish identity play any part in your book, or in your processing of what had happened to you?

I showed an early draft to Rabbi Andrea Goldstein from Congregation Shaare Emeth. I have been on a journey of recovery since the envelope from USC arrived in 2019. Honestly, I am still not sure about the role Judaism plays for me. I am grappling with the difference between religion and spirituality and don’t know that I have found the answers. But sharing my story with Rabbi Andrea and having her support meant the world to me. Her encouragement helped give me the courage to share it with others, too.

What do you hope others learn from your story?

The most important takeaway is that you truly matter, your memories matter, and you are worthy of love. I carried and nurtured shame all my life, and it is a lonely way to live. I thought the trauma I experienced as a child, and at the hands of George Tyndall, was no big deal and couldn’t have impacted me. But burying those memories affected how I felt about myself and skewed my view of the world. The disconnect caused me to keep those I loved most at bay. I want people to know that releasing yourself from shame and facing your past can help you move forward. And the most important thing you can do is practice self-love. Trauma happens to everyone—it’s the human experience, and no one gets out unscathed. But healing and love are part of the human experience, too.

What impact has your book had on your family and close friends?

I knew that I couldn’t publish this book without sharing it first with my mother, who has worked as a clinical social worker for more than four decades. I examined our complicated relationship in “The Claimant,” and I was nervous that I might hurt her with my honesty. But she was the first person who told me, without any hesitation, that I absolutely must publish it because it could help others. We have worked through the past together, and it has brought us closer. My husband and I also strengthened our relationship through the writing of this book. He has always been my biggest champion, but there were aspects of our relationship and past that we were both nervous about revealing. When I wrote my story, we needed to reexamine some painful moments, but we further healed, individually and as a couple. So many of my friends, friends I have had for years, have opened up to me about their hidden pasts. My vulnerabilities paved the way for more honest communication between us, and I could not be more grateful for the deepening connections.

Any advice, or thoughts, to women who have undergone a similar experience(s) but so far have chosen to stay quiet?

Be kind to yourself, and patient. This is not easy stuff, and there are no right or

wrong answers. Please know, no matter what, that you are not alone. You are loved and you are supported, and I hope you can find strength and solace, especially on the harder days, of which there are many. But there will be better days to come. I promise.

What is your day job and what are you working on now?

My day job is being a mom to my beautiful boys. I feel incredibly blessed. I also dedicate a few hours each day to my craft. There are few things I enjoy more than sit-

ting down with my computer next to the same spot of sunlight each day and composing. Whether it’s a new personal essay or (gulp) brainstorming a new novel idea, it is a true honor to be a writer and to make sense of this world, and our journeys, through the awesome power of words.

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.

Deborah Katon has opened the Neon Museum of St. Louis. It features contemporary sculpture alongside historical signage and vintage ads. The museum is located at 3537 Chouteau Ave. and is available to rent for special events. Tours are also available. Katon is a member of Central Reform Congregation.

Senior Enrichment Services and its sister company, Household Helpline, were started by Carrie Craven. Senior Enrichment Services creates individualized enrichment activities for people with dementia. Activities such as baking, exercise and gardening take place in their home and provide mental stimulation, a sense of purpose and a feeling of accomplishment. Household Helpline focuses on stress-free solutions for both your home and loved ones. Services include packing/unpacking, organizing, errands and pet sitting. Craven attends CRC.

DUB Financial received the Top Income Earner Award and the Centurion Award at the recent Appreciation Financial annual convention in Las Vegas. The independent agency specializes in Employee Retention Credits and is owned by Susan and Scott Holt

House of Blonsky is a new modern Jewish haberdashery and design studio producing the next generation of Jewish ritual objects, including tallitot and ketubot. Owner and designer Ben Kaplan plans to add other items in the future such as seder plates, Shabbat linens and mezuzot. He also designs a line of T-shirts called Son of Blonsky, which will be available this summer. Kaplan is a member of CRC.

Mariah Thomas is the new rabbinical assistant at Central Reform Congregation. She is responsible for the scheduling and daily activities of the congregation’s five rabbis. Thomas is a member of CRC.

Marquette High senior, Evan Canis, became a certified information privacy professional (CIPP). The CIPP/US certificate covers United States government privacy laws, regulations and policies that are specific to government practice and those that apply to public and private sectors. Having an interest in privacy for many years, Evan thought this certification will give him an edge no matter what career path he chooses. Son of Randy and Terri Canis, he plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. His family attends Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Sandy Kaplan was one of 10 women showing their artwork in an exhibit at the Gallery VICTOR in Chicago. The exhibit was in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Kaplan, a member of B’nai Amoona, makes sculptures, vessel forms and hand-built platters in terra cotta which she then paints in a range of colored glazes.

Stacy Abeles has started Abeles & Company, Event+Lifestyle Consulting. She offers her services to social, corporate and non profit clients. Services include event manage ment, strategic planning, communications, revenue development, personal styling and home organization as well as limited b’nai mitzvah planning. Abeles is a member of Kol Rinah.

Rory Bland and Sam Deutsch placed first in state in the DECA Sports and Entertainment Marketing category, competing against 35 other teams from various high schools throughout Missouri. Rory and Sam will join 24 others from Ladue Horton Watkins High School for the International DECA competition to be held in Orlando, Fla. in April. Rory is the son of Karen and Jeffrey Bland and attends Congregation Shaare Emeth. Sam is the son of Lisa and Jim Deutsch and attends B’nai Amoona. DECA is an associa tion offering a variety of competitive events that encourages the development of business and leadership skills.

Ben Sheinbein and his two co-counselors placed first in the 2023 McGee Civil Rights Moot Court Competition. This year’s fiction al case involved a Department of Human Services official performing a welfare check on a child. The parent wanted to livestream the visit and said an order barring her from doing so was a violation of her First Amendment rights. Sheinbein, a second-year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law, also took home the best oralist prize in preliminary round two.

Sabin Wealth Management Group was recognized as a 2023 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team. Based in Frontenac, Andrew, Bruce and Bradley Sabin specialize in multi-gen erational wealth plan ning for the years ahead. They are members of Kol Rinah and Congregation Temple Israel.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson will deliver Annual Staenberg Lecture on April 27

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson will headline the second Annual Staenberg Lecture, presented by Maryville University in partnership with the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, on Thursday, April 27, at The Factory in Chesterfield.

A former Chicago Bureau Chief for the New York Times, Wilkerson received the 2015 National Humanities Medal. Her most recent book, “Caste: The Origins of our Discontents,” explores America’s

deeply-rooted divisions and the parallels with historical hierarchies in both India and Nazi Germany. A No. 1 New York Times bestseller, “Caste” was also named No. 1 Nonfiction Book of the Year (2020) by Time magazine, and inspired an in-depth Oprah’s Book Club podcast series, produced by Apple Books. This will be the second in a series of lectures made possible through a generous commitment to Maryville University from philanthropist Michael Staenberg, and the

Staenberg Family Foundation. The five-year series focuses on contemporary social issues through the lens of the Holocaust, its lessons, and its historical significance.

“We are grateful to the Staenberg Family Foundation for providing this vital platform in our community,” said Maryville President Mark Lombardi. “By engaging directly with our neighbors and fellow citizens, we can heed history’s warnings and take action against systemic hate that threatens our society.”

Joan Lipkin, NJT’s Molly Burris win St. Louis Theater Circle Awards

Molly Burris received the 2023 St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role, for her work in the New Jewish Theatre’s production of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” last June.

The epistolary comedy details the World War II romance between a young Jewish actress from New York and a young Jewish doctor from Pennsylvania. Their fathers think they would make a fine couple. But because of the war, they are unable to meet in person for a long time; a correspondence that blossoms into love evolves by mail and the occasional phone call. Playwright Ken Ludwig based the play on his parents’ real-life courtship.

St. Louis playwright, director, producer and activist Joan Lipkin received a spe-

cial Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theater.

The St. Louis Theater Circle, an organization of writers who cover professional theater here, presented the awards on Monday, April 3, at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

The annual lecture incorporates educational opportunities for students from Maryville, as well as students from area high schools and youth organizations, who attend the event. Sponsorship opportunities at a variety of levels are available for organizations and individuals to help expand the Series’ reach and impact.

The lecture is open to the public. Tickets, at $12, are available through Ticketmaster.com.

AEPi hopes to break philanthropy record with upcoming Rock-a-Thon

Alpha Epsilon Pi begins preparation for the biennial fundraiser that has set and broken the record for a single fraternity or sorority philanthropy event time and again.

From April 20-22, Sam Shellist, a senior in the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at the University of Missouri, will sit down in a rocking chair for 63 hours in downtown Columbia with the goal of raising $200,000 for the American Cancer Society. That money will come in the form of donations from events, sponsorships and money collected through canning.

In 2021, the chapter raised over $180,000, beating the record previously set in 2017. This event also set the world

record for a single chapter fraternity or sorority philanthropy event. Since the event was first held in Columbia in 1969, the chapter has raised more than $1,200,000 for the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society.

Former AEPi president and Rock-aThon Co-Chair Josh Thorpe said a passionate brotherhood is vital to making the event possible.

“Sadly, every brother of AEPi has a connection to cancer. With over 100 members in our organization, we have the manpower and commitment to make this Rock-A-Thon a special one,” he said.

To donate to AEPi’s Rock-A-Thon fundraiser, visit mizzourockathon.com.

Molly Burris (left) and Joan Lipkin

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson will headline the second Annual Staenberg Lecture, on Thursday, April 27, at The Factory in Chesterfield.

OPINIONS

D’VAR TORAH

ABOUT THE OPINIONS SECTION

Viewpoints expressed in letters, commentaries, cartoons and other opinion pieces reflect those of the writer or artist, and not those of the Light. We welcome submissions of letters and commentaries to: news@stljewishlight.org

At Passover, we mark true freedom by asking questions

BY RABBI ELIZABETH HERSH

On Pesach we have four cups of wine, hear from four children, ask four questions and have four expressions of redemption.

Growing up, there were two additional questions. My mom of blessed memory asked, “Which is served first, the gefilte fish or the matzah ball soup?” And, so the brisket would be appropriately warm, “How much longer until the break when the meal is served?” These are only a few of the memories that warm my heart.

Jonathan Safron Foer wrote that Jews have six senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, hearing and memory. I would like to humbly add a seventh sense: questions.

The following story, reprinted in “The Family Participation Haggadah: A Different Night,” by Noam Zion and David Dishon, encapsulates this sentiment:

“Isidor I Rabi, the Nobel laureate in physics was once asked, ‘Why did you become a scientist, rather than a doctor or lawyer or businessman, like the other immigrant kids in your neighborhood?’

“ ‘My mother made me a scientist without

ever intending it. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: “Nu? Did you learn anything today?” But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. “Izzy,” she would say, “did you ask a good question today?” That difference — asking good questions — made me become a scientist.’ ”

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote: “Asking a question is itself a powerful expression of faith in the intelligibility of the universe and the meaningfulness of human life. To ask is to believe that somewhere there is an answer. … We ask not because we doubt, but because we believe.”

We are, after all, Yisrael, one who struggles with God. Questioning is an essential part of the struggles. Did not Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah and Job struggle with the Eternal One?

The Passover Seder is replete with questions. The entire evening is designed for children to question and for the adults to answer. This ritual is about freedom. Only those who are truly free can question. With liberation comes the responsibility to ask. Questioning awakens an intellectual

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Submit

Judaism and abortion

In “Lessons in Leadership,” the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, wrote: “The only societies without conflict are tyrannical or totalitarian, in which dissenting voices are suppressed - and Judaism is a standing protest against tyranny.” Those who seek to use religious faith and opinion to limit the right of individuals to make their own medical decisions such as abortion are bordering on just that.

In his recent commentary (March 8, “A Different Viewpoint on Abortion and Judaism”), Jordan Cherrick seeks to impose the tyranny of his personal understanding of traditional Jewish beliefs on all Jews in the state of Missouri. Using the words “selfish motivations” and “murder” to describe women, girls, birthing people and doctors who may make the personal and difficult decision to end a pregnancy, he seeks to impose his own values and laws on them even when they are simply exercising their own personal and religious freedom.

Mr. Cherrick is certainly entitled to his view of Judaism as “submission to God” but he does not have the right to impose this viewpoint on all Jews, much less on all people. Many Jews, like us, instead hold personal and communal Jewish theologies that invoke a loving and compassionate God with whom human beings are in partnership.

Furthermore, Mr. Cherrick is simply wrong about abortion in the Torah and Talmud, manipulating his own desire to find prohibition where there is none. Indeed, the Torah says nothing about abortion itself, and clearly defines the life of a fetus as qualitatively different than the life of a full human being. Later Jewish law, including that deriving from the

Mishnah, not only permits the abortion of a fetus that is threatening the life of its mother, but in fact mandates abortion when it is necessary to save the mother’s life. Later Jewish legal authorities, including some mainstream voices from the Orthodox community, extend this right to abortion not only to save the physical life of the mother but to protect her mental and psychological well-being. One can easily conclude that Judaism is, indeed, pro-choice, pro-freedom and pro-personal autonomy.

We do not seek to impose our religious values or beliefs on others, but we cannot remain silent when others seek to impose theirs on us. If it is true that “Judaism is a standing protest against tyranny,” then we stand in protest against those who seek to impose the tyranny of their religious viewpoint on abortion on others.

Access MO Clergy Advisory Board (https://accessmo.today/ ): Rabbis Rachel Bearman, Jim Bennett, Daniel Bogard, Karen Bogard, Amy Feder, Randy Fleisher, Andrea Goldstein, James Stone Goodman, Lori Levine, Janine Schloss, Scott Shafrin, Jeffrey Stiffman, Susan Talve and Cantor Seth Warner

Recent events in Israel deserve more coverage

We are writing to express concern regarding the current crisis in Israel and the lack of coverage on this issue in the Jewish Light. As members of the Jewish community in St. Louis, we believe it is crucial that we have an honest discussion about the situation in Israel and the potential impact it could have on our community.

First and foremost, we want to express our full support for Israel and for its right to

authority. One may question when one is not concerned with hunger. One who is preoccupied with procuring the basics of life and survival does not have the luxury to ask questions.

Even simple questions bring forth many answers. And not every question has an answer. Have you ever asked yourself whether you are asking the right questions? Questions allow us to know what is on someone’s mind. And one answer leads to even more questions. For the curious, it is a spiral of activity.

The Four Children are a continuation of this process. Their statements give us an opening for a dialogue. We learn to answer each to his or her ability and to be sensitive to removing the barriers of learning.

Did you know there was a fifth question? Early manuscripts of the Hagadah were found in the Cairo Geniza document collection: “On every other night we eat meat that is cooked, boiled or roasted, but this night, only roasted meat.”

This reflects the time when the Temple stood and the food eaten at the Seder was the Paschal offering, the ritual slaughter of a lamb. Since the destruction of the

Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh is senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.

Temple, we do not partake of such meat or ask the question.

Maimonides said there should be an optional fifth cup of wine. Some suggested we should drink a fifth, and others say it should be poured but not tasted. In the Talmud it reads, “Rabbi Tarfon says over the fifth cup we recite the great Hallel.” And the fifth child is the one missing from the table and sadly from our faith.

Rabbi Sacks wrote: “Pesach is where the past does not die but lives, in the chapter we write in our own lives and in the story we tell our children.”

What is your story, and with whom are you sharing? We are free souls carrying the hope for tomorrow. We live in an era in which many talk at us.

Stop. Ask and listen. True freedom is when we are blessed with peace. Be curious. Find a spark in each day within each soul and begin the questioning and conversation. Questioning brings us closer to one another.

A CARTOONIST’S POINT OF VIEW

defend itself against terrorism and aggression. However, we believe that the current crisis is the worst the country has faced in at least 50 years. We are deeply troubled by the attempts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exert undue influence over an independent judiciary. This power grab is a threat to the democratic values that Israel has always stood for and could have far-reaching consequences for the country and its relations with the rest of the world, particularly the United States.

What also concerns us is the lack of coverage on these issues in the Jewish Light As a community newspaper, the Jewish Light should provide its readers with an open and honest discussion of the issues. We need to be able to talk about these matters openly and encourage an honest debate.

The mark of a strong community is its ability to discuss things in the open and accept criticism where it is warranted. We

believe that the Jewish Light should be a leader in this regard and not absent from the debate. We need to have a frank discussion about the situation in Israel and what it means for our community, both locally and globally.

We urge the Jewish Light to provide its readers with more coverage on this issue and to facilitate a constructive dialogue among members of the community. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis. We believe that the Jewish Light has an important role to play in keeping us informed and engaged.

Bob Cropf and Gail Wechsler Ladue

Editor’s note: As a twice-monthly printed publication, the Jewish Light encourages readers to view the latest Israel news on our website, stljewishlight.org, as well as sign up for our Israel news email newsletter (stljewishlight.org/newsletters).

CARTOON: STEVE GREENBERG

Education and facts are our best tools to combat antisemitism

BY NANCY LISKER

A week ago, I received a text from a St. Louis friend that made my heart drop. It happened again. He sent me photos of antisemitic flyers left at doorsteps in the Brentwood area.

The group responsible: the Goyim Defense League. This was not the first time its hateful and threatening messages have affected our community. Similar leaflets were found in south St. Louis last year. Sadly, these instances are not isolated: Jews across America have experienced this antisemitic act with increasing regularity over the past few years. And it doesn’t stop with flyers. One person linked to the Goyim Defense League in California is in jail in connection with a series of shootings that reportedly targeted Jews.

The leaflets are ugly. They show some of the ways that antisemitism has shifted in recent years: the messages blame Jews for “every aspect of” conspiracies related to COVID, “Disney’s child grooming,” mass immigration, gun control, Communism and everything in between.

Conspiracy theories, scapegoating and stereotyping are some of the forms that

antisemitism takes. This is especially concerning due to the explosive growth of social media and the proliferation of antisemitism online, where anti–Jewish sentiment spreads like a toxic fungus. According to the State of Antisemitism in America (view it online at www.ajc.org/ AntisemitismReport2022) report from American Jewish Committee (AJC), over two thirds of American Jews (69%) experienced antisemitism online in the past 12 months.

Given this, it should come as no surprise that 41% of Jews said the status of Jews in the U.S. was less secure than a year ago. What’s more troubling is that this number was a 10–percentage point increase from 2021.

That insecurity has also led nearly four in 10 American Jews to change their behavior for fear of antisemitism in at least one of three ways: avoiding posting content online that could potentially identify them as Jews or reveal their stance on Jewish issues (27%), avoiding wearing publicly clothing, jewelry, or objects that could identify them as Jews (23%), and avoiding attending synagogue and certain events out of concern for their safety or

comfort as Jews (16%).

Notably, American Jews also changed their behavior at work. A third of respondents have experienced or avoided at least one of the following situations in the past year: expressing their Israel views at work (22%), wearing clothing, or displaying objects that would identify them as Jews (10%), having difficulty taking time off work during a Jewish holiday (10%), and/ or feeling unsafe in the workplace because of their Jewish identity (8%). So, what can American Jews — and all Americans — do with this information? How can we fight back against rising antisemitism and the feeling of uncertainty?

As Jews, we’ve learned more than once that antisemitism can come from many sources: on the same day a rabbi finds a Nazi swastika spray—painted on their synagogue, a Jewish teenager can be exposed to messages on social media about Jews controlling the banks, dominating Hollywood, and manipulating Congress, shared on social media accounts that have millions of followers.

Antisemitism is a symptom of deeper societal problems, hatred and racism. As it spreads, it risks becoming normalized. We

Coalition for Jewish Values aims to be a voice for tradition in Missouri

BY RABBI YONASON GOLDSON

When society lacks any common code of morals or ethics, values become a philosophical free-for-all. But in a culture built on the bedrock of core principles, a system of absolute values will naturally emerge.

The proliferation of ideas, philosophies and life-style choices that were marginal a few decades ago (and unimagined a few generations ago) is progress in the eyes of some, anathema in the eyes of others. If we are genuine in our desire to hold positions that are both rationally and ethically sound, intellectual integrity demands that we represent opposing viewpoints honestly and take great care not to misrepresent our own.

This is the backdrop behind the formation of the Coalition for Jewish Values, which has just opened its first state chapter here in St. Louis. Having been honored to serve as executive vice president of the CJV-MO, I would like to introduce our newly formed organization and outline our mission, goals and plans.

As new ideologies gain popularity, we increasingly witness claims that the ancient tenets of Judaism support modern movements and values. In truth, tradition teaches precisely the opposite. As the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.”

So, what are the facts? How are traditional Torah values relevant to the modern world? According to (the non-Jewish) historian Thomas Cahill:

“The Jews started it all—and by ‘it’ I mean so many of the things we care about, the underlying values that make all of us, Jew and gentile, believer and atheist, tick.”

In other words, from the ancient tradition of Torah law and ethics come the foundational tenets of both liberal and conservative philosophy. On the one hand those include caring, liberty and fairness, which manifest as acts of kindness, charity, personal freedom, empathy and the vision of a better world. On the other hand, we find loyalty, authority and sanctity, which manifest as personal responsibility, accountability, self-discipline and respect for the boundaries of tradition.

It’s a sign of how far we have descended into the morass of polarization that some see these ideals as incompatible with one another. A culture of acrimony arises when those who passionately argue from one side forget that the values of the other side are equally legitimate and flow forth from the same wellsprings of divine wisdom.

Indeed, Judaism’s classical moral tract, Ethics of Fathers, begins with this teaching: Moses received the Torah at Sinai, from which he transmitted it to Joshua, who transmitted it to the elders, and from them to the prophets, who transmitted it to the men of the Great

Assembly These were the codifiers of Jewish law and ethical principles, the critical links in the chain of transmission that connects us to our earliest identity as a people. They are also the custodians and disseminators of enduring wisdom that transcends the vagaries of time and ideology.

As part of the largest rabbinic public policy organization in America, the new Missouri chapter of CJV will serve as the voice of authentic Jewish values handed down from time immemorial. We are not a partisan action group, and we do not endorse political candidates. What we seek to do is bring the time-honored values of Jewish tradition back into the conversation by articulating how they are foundational to our cultural beliefs and how they serve our collective best interest.

I am delighted to take on my new role under the leadership of Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, with whom I have worked on many occasions over the last quarter century. During his long tenure as spiritual leader of the Nusach Hari B’nai Zion congregation, Rabbi Smason has frequently demonstrated his commitment to the St. Louis Jewish community, as an articulate voice of Torah values, and as a stalwart defender of authentic Torah ideals. His scholarship, insight and moral courage testify that, as chairman of CJV-MO, he will represent 3,300 years of consensus among established Torah authorities, and indeed the consensus of America’s rabbis, with integrity and discernment.

What are our most passionate issues? The protection of children, the sanctity of life and marriage, fundamental fairness in education and society at large, responding to the rise of anti-Semitism, and responsible policies toward the state of Israel. Although it’s easy to frame these outlooks as left vs. right, by remembering that all our core values emerge from the teachings of divine wisdom, we can pursue a respectful dialogue that will bring the Jewish community, together with the wider world, closer together instead of driving us further apart.

As our chapter matures, we look forward to publishing articles, op-eds and letters to the editor sharing our voice on relevant topics, as well as media interviews and communication with state and local lawmakers to ensure that the Torah perspective is well-represented and understood. We hope to promote deeper awareness and civil discourse, which are essential for a healthy and vibrant society.

cannot let that happen. Instead, we must work to ensure this warped rhetoric is kept on the fringes of society.

Antisemitism thrives amid ignorance. AJC’s survey shows that the more Americans know about Jews and the Holocaust, the more likely they are to recognize antisemitism and to view it as a problem in America today.

AJC St. Louis has undertaken a regional campaign to provide educational trainings, using AJC’s Call to Action (www.ajc. org/call—to—action), for corporations, law enforcement, municipal governments, schools and universities and nonprofits. The idea is to make sure our community’s leaders understand antisemitism, can respond to it appropriately, and – most importantly – play a part in prevention.

In the end, the best way to vanquish antisemitism is each one of us—armed with education, facts, and the knowledge that we are on the right side of history.

To learn more, visit www.ajc.org or contact Nancy Lisker directly at liskern@ajc. org

BY MARTY ROCHESTER

If you listened to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Feb. 7, you heard very little about foreign policy. Typically, State of the Union speeches devote far more time to domestic policy than foreign policy, consigning foreign policy to the end of the remarks. However, by historical standards, Biden’s speech was unusually short in terms of the amount of attention it gave to foreign policy.

The speech was 72 minutes long, and it wasn’t until more than an hour into the delivery that he mentioned the threat posed by China, barely alluding to a recent “balloon surveillance” incident that had received massive media coverage. He gave even less attention to Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the war in Ukraine, other than recognizing Ukraine’s ambassador seated in the balcony.

Indeed, much of the domestic policy discussion, relating to jobs and the economy, was devoted to mostly protectionist pronouncements that bordered on an isolationist posture.

Biden perhaps understood that foreign policy was not something much of the country was concerned about.

J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on international and American politics.

The most recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs “Survey of Public Opinion on U.S. Foreign Policy” (Oct. 20, 2022) stated that there is bipartisan agreement in the United States on supporting Ukraine and Taiwan against Russian and Chinese aggression. However, in terms of general foreign policy orientation, “Republican support for maintaining an active part in world affairs, at 55%, is now at the lowest in the history of the Chicago Council Survey.” Democratic support for an active U.S. role in foreign policy is higher at 68% but still relatively low.

“Overall support for an active U.S. role in world affairs has declined to 60% among all Americans – the lowest since 2014,” the survey says.

This indifference toward foreign policy may reflect

Nancy Lisker is Regional Director of American Jewish Committee (AJC) St. Louis.

Rabbi Yonason Goldson is executive vice president of the Missouri chapter of the Coalition for Jewish Values.

U.S. foreign policy: Lots of questions and few answers

How a once-cautious Netanyahu came to lead the most radical coalition in Israel’s history

BY OFER KENIG

Twenty-seven years have passed since Benjamin Netanyahu was first elected as Israel’s prime minister. Since 1996, he has headed six governments over a period of more than 15 years, more than any other prime minister. Unfortunately, his current coalition is one of the most radical-populist governments in Israel’s history. This government seeks to rapidly undermine Israel’s democracy by granting unlimited political power to the executive branch of government at the expense of the judiciary.

How can Netanyahu — a U.S.educated and respected world leader who was cautious in his approach to building previous coalitions, and was once respectful of Israeli democratic institutions — support such a dangerous plan? Was the “writing on the wall” earlier on in his lengthy tenure?

A glimpse into Netanyahu’s years in office reveals that, indeed, signs of his being a populist leader — specializing in attacks against the so-called elite — could be detected long ago. As Likud leader in 1993, Netanyahu was blamed for ignoring the incitement by extremists that preceded the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin (a charge he vociferously denies). As early as 1997, during his first term as prime minister, he said that “the left has forgotten what it means to be Jewish.” Two years later, during an election campaign, he mocked the “leftist” press by saying “they are scared” (by the possibility of a rightwing victory). On Election Day in 2015, he posted a video urging Likud supporters to go out and vote by warning, “the Arabs are heading in droves to the polls.” That message led to accusations that the candidate was using racial dog whistles to motivate his followers.

However, Netanyahu’s populist discourse and his natural divide-and-conquer leadership style were balanced out, at least until 2015, by several factors. First, Netanyahu always sought to include centrist and even left-of-center parties in his coalition governments. Even when he could build a “pure” right-

wing coalition (following the 2009 elections, for example), he preferred to invite partners from the opposing political side. His intention, he once said, was to provide a “wide and stable government that unites the people.”

Second, despite his hawkish image and his hardline discourse on security issues, Netanyahu was considered to be an

exceedingly cautious leader in that arena. Risk-averse, he tended to avoid involving Israel in major wars and was wary of acting in ways that would spark violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Third, over his many years in office, he had demonstrated respect for the rules of the game — and towards Israel’s Supreme Court. He even blocked earlier initiatives that sought to undermine the power of the judicial branch. “I believe that in a democracy, a strong and independent Court is what enables the existence of all other democratic institutions,” he said in 2012. “Every time a law comes across my desk that threatens to impair the independence of the courts, we will take it down.”

The 2015 elections should probably be regarded as the turning point, after which these balancing factors quickly

gave way to unabashed populism. The unexpected resounding victory in that year’s elections brought out the hubris in Netanyahu. He formed a right-wing coalition government (only slightly moderated by Moshe Kahlon’s centrist Kulanu party), personally held four ministerial positions in addition to the prime ministership, and gave his blessing to the hugely controversial NationState Bill. This legislation, which anchored in law Israel’s status as the “national home of the Jewish people,” strengthened the Jewish component of Israel’s dual “Jewish and democratic” identity without in turn strengthening its democratic component — explicitly and implicitly downgrading minority rights.

Furthermore, Netanyahu’s longtime obsession with controlling press coverage reached a new level. His insistence on personally heading the Ministry of Communications and his excessive involvement in media — for example, installing a close ally as director-general of the ministry, and targeting and strong-arming ostensibly “unfriendly” newspapers and broadcasters — served as the background for two of the three indictments for which he is currently on trial.

The investigations on corruption charges, and his subsequent trial, further pushed Netanyahu toward populist extremes. Following three rounds of elections between 2019 and 2020, which threw Israel into an unprecedented political crisis, Netanyahu was forced to form a unity government with former Gen. Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue & White party. Coincidentally, just a few hours after the government’s first meeting, Netanyahu’s trial began in the Jerusalem District Court. The prime minister arrived at the court on May 24, 2020, accompanied by several Likud Knesset members, and launched a fierce attack: What is on trial today is an effort to frustrate the will of the people — the attempt to bring down me and the rightwing camp. For more than a decade, the left has failed to do this at the ballot box. So over the last few years, they have dis-

Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu laughs during a June 1996 Likud party meeting in Jerusalem, to discuss the new coalition government.

PHOTO: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Continued on opposite page

Ofer Kenig is a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and an associate professor in the Ashkelon Academic College. The

by Certified Mohel Rabbi Michael Rovinsky

Rochester: U.S. foreign policy: Lots of questions, few answers

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13A

not only the fact that, notwithstanding some geopolitical concerns involving great-power competition, Americans live in a relatively sanguine international environment compared with, say, Cold War, 9/11 or earlier eras, but also that what issues exist defy clear foreign policy responses.

The editors of Foreign Affairs, in “The Backstory: Room for Debate” (Jan. 29), raise the following questions:

“Should the United States support Ukraine if it tries to retake Crimea from Russia? Is military confrontation with China inevitable? What economic model should replace globalization? Should U.S. troops still be deployed in Syria? These are some of the questions — large and small — with which U.S. policymakers have to wrestle today.”

I spent my life as a student of foreign policy and have written books on the subject. But I must confess I am very uncertain about what to do regarding the above issues and many others today. I suspect our foreign policy establishment likewise is struggling to develop sensible, coherent policies. Do you have a clear idea what we should be doing?

Continued from opposite page

covered a new method: some segments in the police and the prosecution have joined forces with the leftist media… to manufacture baseless and absurd charges against me.

These statements made it clear that Netanyahu had crossed the Rubicon, setting the tone for his behavior ever since. He dispensed with the partnership with Gantz, sacrificing Israel’s economic and political interests along with it. In the build-up to the next elections, he legitimized extremist, racist politicians such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are today members of his governing coalition. After failing to form a government in 2021 (having been ousted from power after more than 12 consecutive years), he violated fundamental parliamentary conventions and norms. For instance, he instructed his right-wing allies to boycott Knesset committees and refused to attend the customary “update meeting” the parliamentary opposition leader holds with the prime minister. His previous respect for the rules of the game and democratic institutions was a thing of the past.

In that sense, it is no wonder that the current government he has formed, following his victory in the 2022 elections, is relentlessly pushing the overhaul of the judicial system, with little regard to the dangers the legislation poses to Israel’s democracy. This is due to a combination of Netanyahu’s own self-interest regarding his trial and the interests and worldviews of his political partners — politicians who hold extreme views (Ben-Gvir, Smotrich) as well as those who have previous corruption charges hanging over their heads (Aryeh Deri, leader of the haredi Orthodox Shas party).

The “old Bibi” would have never coalesced with such radical forces and would have never so bluntly disregarded democratic norms. But hubris, an instinct for self-preservation and his high self-regard as the “indispensable man” of Israeli politics created a new Bibi – and a crisis unlike anything Israel has ever seen.

Ironically, Netanyahu finds himself in an unexpected position — as the moderating force in the most radical coalition in Israel’s history. He could tap the instincts that he once had and be the voice of reason, the one who plugs the dike with his finger. He has the chance to lead Israel to a major constitutional moment. Will he rise to this historical challenge?

Typical of the confusion surrounding contemporary U.S. foreign policy is an analysis presented by Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage in “Putin’s Last Stand: The Promise and Peril of Russian Defeat” (Foreign Affairs, January/February 2023). The authors write that as much as we should be rooting for a Russian defeat in Ukraine, at least one possible scenario associated with Putin’s downfall — a Russian civil war — could produce the worst kind of chaos and disorder in a nuclear-armed Russia and “leave a dangerous hole in the international system.”

Similar ambivalence about U.S. foreign policy can be seen in “The Taiwan Long Game: Why the Best Solution is No Solution,” in which Jude Blanchette and Ryan Hass write that “in October 2022, Mike Gilday, the head of the U.S. Navy, warned that China might be preparing to invade Taiwan before 2024” and that, although “there are sound rationales for the United States to focus on defending Taiwan,” “ultimately, however, Washington faces a strategic problem with a defense component, not a military problem with a military solution.”

Rather than offering a strategy, the authors urge that the U.S. should “kick the can down the road instead.”

In Latin America, we have no obvious solution to stemming the tide of immigrants that are swarming across our southern border, driven largely by corrupt governments and widespread poverty throughout the region. Similar migrations are occurring in Africa.

In the Middle East, the “two-state solution” between Israel and Palestine is no closer than it was a half-century ago, while internal and external conflicts in the region (within and among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen and other states) are allowed to fester. In Asia, there are no answers to North Korea’s continuing buildup of nuclear weapons.

And, more than ever, as Mark Twain put it, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.”

During the Cold War, at least when the two superpowers could agree on something, they were capable of moving the

world to achieve important “world order” accomplishments, such as the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. In the era of U.S. hegemony following the end of the Cold War, there was more progress toward a liberal world order, such as the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1995. Today, not only are these and other international regimes at risk of deteriorating, but few new ones of any consequence are being built.

The problems today are not necessarily

more complex than those in the past, even as answers remain elusive. What is missing is global leadership. The United States must bear some responsibility for this.

We need a grand strategy that threads the needle between a new isolationism and imperial overstretch (see Andrew Bacevich, “Why America Remains Trapped by False Dreams of Hegemony,” Foreign Affairs, March/April).

In the United States, disaster relief, ambulance, and blood services are handled by an array of organizations. In Israel, there’s one organization that does it all — Magen David Adom. As Passover approaches, whatever crises Israelis face — including terror or rocket attacks — MDA will be there to save lives.

Support Magen David Adom by donating today at afmda.org/give. Or for further information about giving opportunities, contact 847.509.9802 or midwest@afmda.org.

“The problems today are not necessarily more complex than those in the past, even as answers remain elusive. What is missing is global leadership. The United States must bear some responsibility for this.”

A look at contemporary social issues through the lens of the Holocaust, its lessons and its historical significance.

ANNUAL LECTURE

Thursday, April 27, 2023

6:30 P.M. The Factory

Chesterfield, Missouri

FEATURING

Isabel Wilkerson

Journalist and Author, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

Tickets available now at ticketmaster.com.

Presented by:

Hosted by:

In partnership with:

Additional Sponsors:

Sister Mary Byles Peace and Justice Endowed Fund

BJC Healthcare

SSM DePaul Health Center

FEATURES

Apple matzah kugel is a classic Ashkenazi Passover dish. Just like many noodle kugels, this is a sweet kugel that is meant to be served with the main course at the seder, but is a treat any time during Passover. For a modern twist and some textural contrast, a simple streusel topping is added to the kugel for a nutty, sweet, crunch on top of the soft apple filling. Warmed-up leftovers make a perfect breakfast, served with a little yogurt or a drizzle of cream on top. And we won’t tell if you top it with ice cream to turn this apple treat into a dessert. This kugel keeps for up to one week in the fridge, and can be reheated in the oven or microwave. This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

RECIPE: Apple Matzah Kugel

INGREDIENTS

For the kugel:

4 pieces of matzah

3 large apples (Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or any flavorful apple you prefer) juice of ½ a lemon

3 eggs

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp unsalted butter, vegan butter, or margarine

2 Tbsp maple syrup

1½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp ground ginger (optional)

¼ cup currants or raisins (optional)

For the streusel topping:

½ cup pecans, chopped fine

1/3 cup almond flour

3 Tbsp butter, cubed

1/3 cup brown sugar pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 inch or 12×6 inch baking dish.

2. Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a small pan or in the microwave. Cool and reserve.

3. Soak the matzah in a bowl of cold water. While the matzah is soaking, peel and core the apples. Dice the apples into small pieces. Transfer to a medium bowl and squeeze lemon juice over the apples. Reserve.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, salt, and ground ginger.

5. Drain the matzah, and squeeze out excess liquid. Crumble the matzah into the egg mixture. Add the diced apples and currants. Mix until everything is combined. Transfer the kugel mixture to the greased baking dish.

6. Add the streusel ingredients to a small bowl. Using your hands, rub the butter into the mixture until the streusel starts coming together and forms pea-sized crumbs. Crumble the streusel over the top of the kugel.

7. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown on top and bubbly. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes prior to serving.

8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Gefilte fish, other Jewish delights: Simcha or farshtunken?

AMY FENSTER BROWN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

If there is one hotly debated topic just as polarizing as politics, it’s whether gefilte fish is delicious or disgusting. I’m parked firmly in Camp Yuck, but many Jews pitch their tents in Camp Yum.

We are just beginning Passover, kicked off with seders and continuing with eight days of special foods we either dread or delight in. That can be said of many traditional Jewish foods we eat on holidays or any time of the year. I surveyed my tribe to find out some favorites and not so favorites.

Not surprisingly, the first-place winner is matzah ball soup by a schmaltzy landslide. With its Jewish penicillin chicken soup base, it can cure whatever schmutz is haunting your sinuses. It is the quintessential comfort food, no matter whether your bowl has floaters or sinkers. Each cozy spoonful tastes like your late bubbe loves you, God rest her soul. Every Jewish person thinks their mom or grandma’s matzah ball soup is the very best, and you

know what? They’re all correct.

Coming in at No. shnayim on the sur vey is the casserole to end all casse roles: kugel. My mother pronounces it KEE-gul, which is incorrect. It’s KOO-gul, and everyone knows it, including her. She just says KEE-gul to annoy us.

Kugel and all its lokshen goodness can be sweet or savory, giving it double duty status as a crowd-pleasing side dish for many holiday meals. One friend calls his late grandma a Kugel Ninja, because she slayed those noodles. My mother-in-law puts orange juice in hers, and it is chef’s kiss.

A runner up in versatility is the bagel. A surveyed friend says it’s because bagels know no bounds … sweet or savory, eaten plain or slathered in cream cheese, used for sandwiches or bread pudding. Bagels are rather universal and probably what non-Jews think Jewish food is all about.

My favorite Jewish foods are crafted by my mother — latkes and apple cake. No other latke or apple cake will do. My husband goes wild for his mom’s mandel bread. She could send him home with a dozen or a thousand, and they would be gone in no time flat. No other mandel bread will do.

This takes us into the dessert category, where mandel bread, hamantaschen and Passover brownies were the most common answers.

Actually, I was surprised by how many people shared their love of these brownies that make their appearance only when we discuss the bread of affliction. I figured they were more feh than fabulous, like a “best of what we are stuck with” at Passover, but the folks I surveyed actually look forward to them. They make dessert that night different from all other nights. Who knew?

So many honorable mentions include matzah, matzah brei, challah, brisket, knishes, kasha varnishkes and another camp divider — chopped liver.

If aliens came to Earth asking for a taste of Jewish food, most said they’d suggest a good deli for a hot corned beef on rye. Yum! If the alien needs a date, I nominate myself.

Memories tied to favorite Jewish foods most often include a mother or grandmother doing the cooking and hosting the family (except for one friend who says her mom starts baking too soon in advance, freezes everything, and then it all tastes like the freezer. Ick.).

No matter the food, everyone agreed that the key ingredient in all of these Jewish foods is love, typically from a mom

or grandma. One friend said: “Grandma represented Jewishness to me in so many ways. She cooked out of pure love for her family and commitment to Judaism.”

As for the hotly debated gefilte fish … Year after year we agree to disagree. Die-hard fans gobble down the delicacy remembering their grandmothers making it from scratch, while haters dry heave from the smell of those chunky pucks swimming in gelatinous goo.

Let us come together and unite in the glory of matzah ball soup and Pesach brownies! And maybe next year in Jerusalem, or St. Louis, we’ll add in the secret ingredient of chocolate Ex-Lax because, well, you know. We all know. Dayenu.

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.

SONYA SANFORD THE NOSHER VIA JTA

This apple matzah kugel is a delicious Passover treat

Monthly 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.

PHOTO: SONYA SANFORD

St. Louis arts groups offer variety of residency programs

BY NANCY KRANZBERG

I have been talking to many people in the arts about their specific programs and quite a few bring up their artist-in-residency programs.

Grant Benoit, director of education at Craft Alliance, talked about the special residency program at his arts institution.

“Craft Alliance invites two artists engaging with craft to participate in an 11-month program that begins in September 2023 and ends in July 2024,” he said. Among the benefits the program includes are:

St. Louis circus director pens chapter on Jewish big top history

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

From vaudeville to movies and TV, the entertainment business has frequently been linked to Jewish performers and producers. What may be less familiar is the connection of Jews and the circus. In fact, Jewish artists were largely responsible for building the circus industry in the late 19th century.

A new book published by Ben Yehuda Press examines that connection. “Under One Tent — Circus, Judaism, and Bible,” investigates that history and includes a chapter written by Jessica Hentoff, artistic and executive director of the St. Louis-based social circus known as Circus Harmony.

Hentoff, a member of Central Reform Congregation, also has a direct connection to Jewish circus history. According to a circus historian, her daughter Eliana

is likely the first Jewish human cannonball. Circus Harmony uses the circus arts to motivate social change, so Hentoff’s contribution to “Under One Tent” focuses on tzedek and tikkun olam.

“Circus arts have long been recognized as a tool for making the world a better place,” she writes, citing sources as varied as Ernest Hemingway (who said the circus is one of the few things in life that’s inherently good for a person) to the Talmud. The latter includes the story of Rabbi Baruka who asked two worthy men their occupation. They answered: “We are clowns. . . when we see two people quarreling, we try to make peace between them.”

Hentoff is also quite familiar with the concept of tikkun olam as the daughter of longtime Village Voice writer and social justice warrior Nat Hentoff. Her contribution to “Under One Tent”

describes her own work to support social change. It includes Circus Harmony’s “Peace Through Pyramids: Ferguson” initiative in the aftermath of the 2014 violence in north St. Louis County.

“The whole point of tikkun olam is as Jews, as humans, you’re supposed to repair the world where you are, whatever glue you have, whether that is music or journalism or medicine,” Hentoff said. “I just use the circus. And if I can just help a child to make better choices, to have more opportunities, that’s something that hopefully ripples out and helps to repair the world.

“The circus to me is always a perfect analogy for life,” she said. “I use circus terms all the time, like ‘juggling my responsibilities,’ ‘balancing my priorities.’ I teach children that when you’re walking a wire, it’s like in real life. If you’re having a problem, you just don’t

stand there and panic. You take your next step forward on the wire. That’s how you regain your balance.”

“Under One Tent — Circus, Judaism and Bible” is $36, available for purchase online at www.benyehudapress.com.

• A 350-square-foot private studio and access to Craft Alliance’s six main studio area outside of classes

• A monthly materials stipend and professional development reimbursement fund

• Tuition waivers for workshops per session

• Teaching and other professional development opportunities

• A two-person exhibition in Craft Alliance Staenberg Gallery with a catalogue.

Larry Morris, director of the Kranzberg Artist in Residency explained that over the last few years, this program has morphed from a music-focused residency to a multi-disciplinary arts residency currently supporting top-notch artists from all walks of life.

“Based in the Grand Center Arts District with access to amenities within the foundation footprint, our artists in residency can utilize resources started within our pillars to complete a final project, create endlessly during their tenure at no infrastructural costs and they have access to the greater St. Louis arts community,” he added.

See NANCY KRANZBERG on page 4B

For more of Nancy Kranzberg’s commentary, listen to KWMU (90.7) St. Louis on the Air the first Friday of each month at approximately 12:50 p.m. She also hosts a weekly Arts Interview podcast for KDHX (88.1), available at artsinterview.kdhxtra. org.

Jessica Hentoff is artistic and executive director of the St. Louis-based Circus Harmony.

Coming soon to screens near you

BY NATE BLOOM

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

The indie film “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” opens in theaters on April 7. “How To” got good advance reviews by respected critics following film festival showings.

The film is a political thriller about a group of eight young environmental activists who try to prevent the development of an oil pipeline by resorting to sabotage. Most of the film is set in West Texas.

The film is based on a 2021 non-fiction book of the same name. The author, Andres Malm, used the history of social justice movements to argue that property destruction should sometimes be considered a valid tactic.

The film was co-written by actress ARIELA BARER, 24 and (director) Daniel Goldhaber, 30. He may be Jewish—still checking.

Barer, who was born in Los Angeles, also co-stars in the film. Both her (Jewish) parents were born and raised in Mexico. In one interview, Barer said that most of her extended family still lives in Mexico and she frequently visits them.

Barer first got noticed for playing a recurring role on the Netflix reboot of the 1970s sit-com “One Day at a Time.” The reboot made the “One Day” family Hispanic. Barer played Carmen, the “Goth” friend of the teen daughter in the family. Then she got a co-starring role in “Runaways,” a Marvel Universe series that streamed on Hulu. For three seasons (2017-19) she co-starred as Gertrude Yorkes, one of six teen “runaways” with superpowers.

“Sweetwater,” which opens in theaters on April 14, chronicles the career of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, who was one of the first two African Americans players to break the NBA “color line” in 1950. (Two black players broke into the NBA within days of each other.) Clifton played for the N.Y. Knicks from 1950-57.

A number of real-life Jews are featured in the film. It would take a full column to detail who they were and why they are important to the Clifton story. Here they are, with their titles; and the actor playing them: MAURICE PODOLFF ( RICHARD DREYFUSS, 75), highly respected attorney and head of the NBA in 1950; JOE LAPHICK (JEREMY PIVEN, 57), he was the coach of the Knicks in 1950 and a great player before coaching; ABE SAPERSTEIN ( KEVIN POLLAK , 65), founder and coach of the all-black Harlem Globetrotters (Clifton played for the Globetrotters before joining the Knicks); and EDDIE GOTTLIEB, big-time coach (Mike Star). vvv

Many sources will tell you the same thing, but here’s my reminder: the fifth and final season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” will begin streaming on Amazon Prime on April 14. Three episodes will stream on the 14th, with the final seven episodes steaming on successive Fridays.

Recipe: Sephardic Matzah Spinach Pie

STORY & PHOTO BY SUSAN BAROCAS

THE NOSHER VIA JTA

This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

Matzah pies called minas are a classic Sephardic Passover dish, traditionally served for brunch or lunch with the slow-cooked, hardboiled eggs called huevos haminados. A mina makes a great side or main dish for any meal, even when

INGREDIENTS

it’s not Passover. With a top and bottom “crust” made from sheets of matzah, the filling can be made of meat — like seasoned lamb, beef, chicken — or vegetables, most commonly spinach and cheese, though sometimes with leeks or mashed potato added. The flavors in this vegetarian mina mimic spinach and feta borekas or spanikopita, but I’ve added a twist — using artichoke for extra texture and flavor.

20 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed

5 or 6 sheets plain matzah

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped Salt to taste

1 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and diced

½ cup fresh dill with thinner stems, finely chopped

1 cup (about 4 ounces) crumbled feta

2/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, divided

1 ½ cup milk (can be low-fat)

½ tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp nutmeg (optional)

3 large eggs, divided

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put the spinach into a fine mesh strainer and set in the sink or over a bowl to drain.

Fill a large baking pan with tepid water. Break two sheets in half as equally as possible. Add the matzah to the pan of water for 2 minutes, making sure they are submerged. (You can gently lay a couple heavy pieces of silverware across the top of

the matzah to hold down.) The matzah should be pliable, but still hold its shape. Take each sheet out by lifting it holding onto two corners. Let some of the water drip off for a moment, then lay the softened matzah in a single layer on a thick dish towel or two. You can do the matzah in batches depending on the size of your pan with water.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and a couple pinches of salt, stir and sauté about 5 minutes until the onion starts to soften. Mix in the chopped artichoke and cook another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, as the artichokes and onions begin to take on a little color.

As the mixture cooks, use a large spoon or your hands to squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the spinach. Set the squeezed spinach into a large mixing bowl, breaking up the clumps. When the onion and artichokes are ready, add to the bowl with the spinach and stir to blend the vegetables. Add the dill, feta, 1/3 cup grated cheese, milk, pepper and nutmeg, if using. Mix until well blended, then taste for saltiness. Depending on the saltiness of the feta, add salt as needed. Beat two eggs and stir into the mixture until well blended.

Put 1 tablespoon olive oil in an 8 x 11.5-inch (2 quart) glass baking dish. Swirl the oil to cover the bottom and a bit of the sides, then put the dish in the preheated oven for 4 to 5 minutes. Heating the baking dish will help create a good bottom crust and keep it from sticking. As soon as the dish comes out hot, cover the bottom completely with about 1 1/2 sheets of matzah, slightly overlapping. The matzah should sizzle as it hits the oil. Spoon half the spinach mixture onto the matzah and gently spread evenly. Cover with another layer of 1 1/2 sheets of matzah, then the remaining spinach mixture making sure it’s even. Add the top layer of matzah, covering the filling edge to edge. Use the extra half piece of wet matzah to fill in any of the layers as needed.

Beat the remaining egg and tablespoon of oil together. Pour the mixture all over the top of the matzah. Some will drip down the sides and that’s fine. Use a pastry brush to spread any pools of egg so the coating on the matzah is even. Bake for 40 minutes, then sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup grated cheese evenly over the top. Continue baking another 10 to 12 minutes until the top is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm.

3.50

5.00

Director embraced unique artistic challenges of bringing The Rep’s ‘Gruesome’ to the stage

BY JUDITH NEWMARK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

Becks Redman wishes she had had a chance to get to know Stephen Woolf.

“We only met once or twice,” explained Redman, co-associate artistic director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and its director of new play development. She joined the Rep around the time that Woolf — who retired in 2019 and died just two years later — was wrapping up his 33-year-long career as the theater’s artistic director.

Since then, she’s learned more about him. She’s learned that he founded the Rep’s Studio Series, filling the Loretto-Hilton’s downstairs theater with small-scale, sometimes offbeat, consistently intriguing plays. Those included two of the finest productions that Woolf directed himself, “Betrayal” by Harold Pinter and “Humble Boy” by Charlotte Jones.

That’s why Redman considers it “such a gift to be able to direct the first show in a series that has been named for him,” the Steve Woolf Studio Theatre Series.

Better still, she thinks its premiere post-pandemic production, Rajiv Joseph’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” offers exactly the kind of theater Woolf relished: intimate, provocative and fresh.

Suiting the Studio’s non-traditional traditions, “Gruesome” won’t play at the Loretto-Hilton, nor at COCA (where the Rep has mounted several recent shows). Instead, it runs April 14-May 13 in the Strauss Black Box Theatre at the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

“I love this play,” said Redman, noting that playwright Joseph set his director a challenge. It traces a relationship that begins in elementary school through scenes spaced over 30 years — but not in chronological order. “That’s tricky,” she acknowledged.

“But the through line — which involves love and friendship and trauma — is really poignant.”

The title is not a metaphor. The play opens in a school nurse’s office, where young Kayleen (Jessika Williams) and Doug (Brian Slaten) wait for help. She has a tummy ache, and he has just attempted to ride his bike off the school roof. (Not a success.) Over time, their relationship deepens and their medical issues get worse.

Redman knows that this play, which Soundstage Productions Theatre mounted here in 2011, may not be everybody’s cup of chicken soup. But she also points out that “as dark as it can be, ‘Gruesome’ is also about love and hope — and it’s suprisingly funny!”

This is Redman’s second outing as a St. Louis director. (The first she terms “a very different show,” “Puss in Boots” for the Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company.) At 30, she counts herself lucky to have had all kinds of opportunities come her way, starting when she was growing up in Los Angeles, the daughter of people involved in the per-

forming arts. Her late father, Nicholas Redman, was a film historian and documentarian; one of his docs, about director Sam Peckinpaugh and the “The Wild Bunch,” was up for an Academy Award. The nomination certificate he received now hangs in the Central West End apartment she shares with her partner, composer and musician David Gomez. He wrote the music for “Gruesome.”

‘Gruesome Playground Injuries’

A Repertory Theatre of St. Louis production

WHEN:

April 14-May 13

WHERE:

Strauss Black Box Theatre at the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center

Her mother, Nectar Goldman Redman, was “an actor in her younger days”; her parents came to LA from Tel Aviv.

“I grew up in a very Jewish community, very connected to grandparents and to my Jewish heritage,” said Redman, a petite woman with long brown hair.

Her nickname is short for Rebecca. “Culturally, I feel Israeli — I’ve spent so much time there.”

HOW MUCH: $35-$50

MORE INFO: www.repstl.org

Her family “never told me not to pursue a career in theater, never said that wasn’t viable — how could they!” With their encouragement, she went off to study acting at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. In time, however, she changed her focus to directing because “I realized that, to put it kindly, actors don’t have as much access to information as I want to have. I always want to know everything, and I want to be challenged.”

She finds those challenges in all kinds of plays, from the classics she studied in London to the small productions she worked on in New York and at the famed Humana Festival of New Plays in Louisville, Ky. She likes highly physical shows and immersive theater; she has, she says, “really enjoyed plays that made me uncomfortable.” Her taste is broad and eclectic, and she declines to play favorites. Besides, she has one standard that covers just about everything, regardless of style or subject. “I like plays,” Redman says, “that make me talk about them on the ride home.”

Nancy Kranzberg: Residencies support vibrant St. Louis arts scene

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2B

There are 15 artist residencies at Kranzberg including visual artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers. One of these bright, young artists, Felia Davenport, recently displayed her mixed media exhibition “Torn Mixology,” which explored the journey of identifying as a multi-racial female, at the Gallery at the Kranzberg.

B.J. Parker’s “In Search (Re)Building Myth” is a body of oil paintings, drawings and sculptures that explores the search for meaning in a fractured existential landscape and is now showing at the Kranzberg.

For her residency, writer Lizzy Petersen has collaboration with the St. Louis Poetry Center and the magazine, Outside Lit, as well as fellow artist in residence Prince Lyons’ film, “We’re All Pretty Broken.”

Besides the creative advisor role of Keyon Harrold at Jazz St. Louis, the organization has week-long residencies in which professional jazz artists and educators are brought to St. Louis. During the residency weeks the artists travel together throughout the metro area conducting master classes with middle and high school musicians, performing for large groups of elementary students and presenting concerts in the community. All residency weeks culminate with two nights of performances by the residency artists, with free tickets provided to students and teachers who participated in the program.

The World Chess Hall of Fame has had an artist-in-residency program since 2022. St. Louis’s own incomparable Brian Owens was a perfect fit for this role and became the first director.

Owens says he hopes to cement a more in-depth series

of concerts at the chess venue, which have been going on since 2014. His musical programming tries to interweave with the exhibitions at the museum.

Owens sees himself more as the “Creative in Residence” as he hopes to open up more possibilities beyond scheduling concerts and creating scores or soundtracks to the exhibitions. Owens dreams that the chess campus will be a place for emerging talent, whether they are chess players or not, to be inspired by the programming there as well as provide a place or destination for young creatives to come together and ideate in a way similar to the Harlem Renaissance.

Once again, St. Louis is showing it is willing to keep ramping up its educational and creative programs in all the arts.

STEVE WOOLF STUDIO THEATRE SERIES

Becks Redman

SIMCHAS

BIRTHS ENGAGEMENTS WEDDINGS MITZVOT

SUBMIT YOUR SIMCHA ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FREE!

Jamie and Joey Mufson of St. Louis would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Heidi Noa Mufson, on Jan. 3, 2023, weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

Heidi is the granddaughter of Kathi and Stuart Rosenberg, and Michelle and Ephraim Mufson, all of St. Louis. She is the great-granddaughter of Jerry and the late Sandy Kootman of St. Louis, the late Sandy and Mendel Rosenberg of St. Louis, Gail and Dr. Lewis Jay Mufson of Bergenfield, N.J., and Shirley and Sam Bluestein of St. Louis.

Heidi has one sibling, Sydney Eileen, who is 2 years old.

Anna Hope Dardick and William Ferguson Broderick of Astoria, N.Y. celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary at Anna’s brother’s wedding in Brooklyn, N.Y. on September 3, 2022. Anna is the daughter of Jeffrey and Laura Dardick of St. Louis and Billy is the son of Lee and David Broderick of West Chester, Penn. They met and fell in love at Oberlin College in Ohio before heading to their graduate schools in Chapel Hill, N.C and New York.

FINNERTY-DARDICK WEDDING

Haley Finnerty and Joseph Dardick were married Sept. 3, 2022 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Haley is the daughter of Barbara Weiss Finnerty and John Finnerty (of blessed memory) of Tenafly, N.J. She is the granddaughter of the late Irwin and Naomi Chestney Weiss, and the late John and Ruth Banker Finnerty.

Joseph is the son of Laura and Jeffrey Dardick of Creve Coeur. He is the grandson of the late Dr. Sidney and Gina Jick and the late Alec and Harriet Dardick.

The bride’s sister, Lindsey Finnerty, served as Maid of Honor, and Anna Dardick, the sister of the groom, served as bridesmaid. Rabbi Jordan Millstein officiated at the wedding.

The couple met in New York and fell in love on a blind date at a sushi restaurant. They married under the chuppah with a view of the Statue of Liberty behind them. They share the same wedding anniversary as their siblings, Anna Dardick and William Broderick.

Haley and Joseph took a wedding trip to Puerto Rico. The couple resides in Baltimore.

Brayden Charles Miederhoff, son of Brant and Heather Miederhoff of St. Louis, will become a bar mitzvah April 15, 2023 at Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Brayden is the grandson of Sheila Shucart and the late Jay Shucart of Chesterfield, William and Cindy Miederhoff of Bridgeton, and Charlotte Bredensteiner of St. Charles. He is the great-grandson of the late Bonnie Rosen of Creve Coeur. Brayden has one sibling, Madison Miederhoff, who is 17.

A seventh-grade student at Parkway Central Middle School, Brayden enjoys playing and watching all sports. His passion is hockey. He has been playing with the Chesterfield Falcons team for five years. He is a true St. Louis Blues fan. He spent time helping Special Blues for his mitzvah project. He enjoyed getting on the ice and helping others learn to skate or practice the skills of hockey.

Brayden will be playing hockey in the 2023 Maccabi games in August in Fort Lauderdale.

BAR MITZVAH: BRAYDEN CHARLES MIEDERHOFF

DARDICK-BRODERICK ANNIVERSARY

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: HEIDI NOA MUFSON

PHOTO COURTESY OF FORGED IN THE NORTH

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH

DALIN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: BRI WHITMAN PHOTO & FILMS

CHAI LIGHTS

STARTING | APRIL 7

Crown Center Friday film series

Every Friday at 2 p.m. Crown Center for Senior Living welcomes the community to enjoy a complimentary movie with snacks in Crown’s theater. Listening devices available. Upcoming films include “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” (April 7), “Devotion” (April 14), “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (April 21) and “Singing in the Rain” (April 28). For more information contact Crown Center at 314-991-2055.

TUESDAY | APRIL 11

The ABCs of Judaism

From noon to 1 p.m., Rabbi Ze’ev Smason will lead the latest installment of The ABCs of Judaism series to discuss “Freedom: Making Passover Personal.” Register online for this free, in-person Mirowitz Center event at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 12

Tech Tutor: Email 101

From 2 to 3 p.m. the Mirowitz Center hosts a free, in-person Tech Tutor class on the basics of email use and management using Gmail. Participants will be provided a Chromebook during this program to follow along with the instructor. Tech Tutor is supported by a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

THURSDAY | APRIL 13

Treemonisha: Scott Joplin’s opera

From 2 to 3 p.m., Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) docent Ingrid Neuefeind will lead a Mirowitz Center discussion about “Treemonisha,” an opera created by St. Louis’ own Scott Joplin, inspired by Freddie, his new bride and muse. OTSL is presenting “Treemonisha” May 20-June 24. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

FRIDAY | APRIL 14

‘On the Record’ with Bob Cohn

On the second Friday of every other month, join On the Record hosted by Bob Cohn, editor-in-chief emeritus of the Jewish Light, from 11 a.m. to noon to discuss films, plays, articles and books on issues of concern to our community. This online program is provided with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), the Mirowitz Center men’s organization. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

SATURDAY | APRIL 15

Shaare Emeth’s Boker Tov Shabbat

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. families with children 5 and younger are invited to join Shaare Emeth clergy and educators for a Shabbat morning worship experience designed especially for them. Participants will pray, sing, and share the joy and peace of Shabbat together. Breakfast will be served after the service. Free and open to the community. RSVP online at https://bit. ly/0415-boker-tov.

SUNDAY | APRIL 16

Yom HaShoah Holocaust commemoration planned

This year’s Holocaust commemoration, Yom HaShoah 2023: Voices of Resistance, will be presented at 3:30 p.m. at United Hebrew Congregation. As in past years, this

program will honor the victims, remember the survivors, and educate the community about the history and lessons of the Holocaust. For more information, visit STLHolocaustMuseum.org. Those interested in attending can register at https://bit.ly/2023Yom-HaShoah.

Kol Rinah honors Staenberg

Kol Rinah will honor Michael Staenberg during an art-themed fundraiser starting at 6 p.m. The event will recognize Staenberg’s “generous commitment of time, support and inspiration that helped us create and enhance this magnificent facility [the new Kol Rinah building] that will serve our community today and for generations to come.” Tickets are $100 per person. The event will include complimentary signature drinks, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. RSVP by April 11 by visiting www.kolrinahstl.org/form/ Staenberg-Tickets-Sponsor.html or calling the Kol Rinah office at 314-727-1747.

Jewish War Veterans meeting

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

Klezmer concert at Crown Center

At 2 p.m., Crown Center’s Circle@Crown Cafe will feature the music of Tshervovitser Tantz with an afternoon of instrumental klezmer music. Come and tap your feet to this traditional dance music of the accordion, piano and violin. Free and open to the community. To RSVP or for more information contact Crown Center at 314-991-2055.

TUESDAY | APRIL 18

Holocaust and heroism program

NHBZ invites the community to a personal and intimate evening to hear the children of Holocaust survivors share their parents’ unique stories. The program, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will preserve the memory of the Holocaust and heroism of the Shoah. There also will be a presentation by Isaac Amon, director of academic research at Jewish Heritage Alliance, about the largely unknown story of the Jews of Salonika, Greece. Free and open to the community. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.

Discussion on Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust

From 10 to 11 a.m., Sheldon Enger will lead an in-person discussion in commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remem-

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. APR

Holocaust survivor Larisa Graypel lights a candle of remembrance at the 2019 Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration. This year’s Yom HaShoah commemoration takes place Sunday, April 16.

brance Day. Enger, a Judaic educator, will explore Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust. Guests will watch a film produced one month before the Nazi invasion, which vividly provides images and recreates Jewish life as it once existed — a culture lost forever. This Mirowitz Center program, part of our “Fighting Bigotry & Hatred” series, is co-sponsored by ADL Heartland and St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. It also is provided with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), the Mirowitz Center men’s organization. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 19

Virtual tour of The Met

From 2 to 3 p.m., Elana Kaplan, museum educator and lecturer for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, will lead a virtual (online) tour of The Met’s Stained Glass Window Collection. Hear the stories behind the windows and the artists who created them. Register for this free, online Mirowitz Center program at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Sharsheret’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group

This monthly group provides support, connection and education to women in the St. Louis Jewish community who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer and are anywhere along their treatment path –before, during, or post-treatment. Facilitated by a licensed clinical social worker, this group meets from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday via Zoom. Newcomers are welcome along with female family and friends. Sharsheret Supports STL is a program of the J’s Nishmah. Free, but pre-registration is requested to Debbi Braunstein at 314-4423266 or dbraunstein@jccstl.org.

WashU Hillel to host lecture on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

See related news brief on page 4A.

STARTING | APRIL 19

‘Great Jewish Leaders and How You Can Become the Next One’

Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum will present a three-part series at NHBZ on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. analyzing great Jewish leaders whose decisions and actual personae had a lasting imprint on the Jewish people. This course will be offered on April 19, April 26 and May 3, and will focus on lessons learned from great leaders including, Moses, Abraham and Sarah and Queen Esther. Free and open to the Jewish community. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.

THURSDAY | APRIL 20

April Lunch & Learn: Criminal Justice with Lindsay Runnels NCJWSTL will present a lunch and learn

at noon with Lindsay Runnels, one of the attorneys who secured the freedom of Lamar Johnson, who was wrongly convicted of a 2004 killing and spent 13 years in prison. Register at https://bit.ly/Apr23LnL. For more information, contact Jen Bernstein at jbernstein@ncjwstl.org or 314-993-5181.

STL County Library Book Club

From 1 to 2 p.m., Reference Librarian Hillary Peppers will lead an in-person Mirowitz Center book club in partnership with the St. Louis County Library. Peppers facilitates a group discussion every third Thursday of each month. She also leads an online book club for the Mirowitz Center at 10 a.m. on the same day. The April book is “Memorial” by Bryan Washington. Register at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

SATURDAY | APRIL 22

Celebrate Israel’s 75th at Kol Rinah with Israeli lunch, speaker Kol Rinah will host a special lunch and learn with Ayala Hendin, Israel Institute fellow at Washington University. She will speak about “Israel at 75: The beginning or the end of the Jewish democratic state as we know it?” For more information, visit www.kolrinahstl.org/event/israel-75th-celebrationlunch-and-learn.html.

SUNDAY | APRIL 23

Israel @ 75 celebration at the J

See related news brief on page 8A.

TUESDAY | APRIL 25

NCJWSTL coffee talk with Harley Hammerman

At 8:30 a.m. NCJWSTL welcomes Dr. Harley Hammerman, a favorite guest of the Coffee Talk series and the creator of the websites Lost Tables and Lost Dishes. He will focus on two memorable St. Louis restaurants, Hamburger Heaven and The Greek Gourmet. Visit http://bit.ly/Apr23CT to register or contact Alec Rothman at arothman@ncjwstl.org or 314-993-5181.

THURSDAY | APRIL 27

Crown Center Yom Ha’Atzmaut event with the Shakshuka band

At 3:30 p.m., celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, in Crown Center’s Circle@Crown Cafe with the upbeat tunes of the Shakshuka band, who play folk and popular music from Israeli culture, as well as samples of Israeli food. Open to the community. To RSVP, call 314-991-2055.

Annual Staenberg Lecture to feature author Isabel Wilkerson

See related news brief on page 11A.

SATURDAY | APRIL 29

NHBZ Lunch & Learn: Jewish Genes & Hereditary Cancer

NHBZ and Sharsheret Supports STL invite you to an important and educational Lunch & Learn titled “Jewish Genes and Hereditary Cancer: Understand How This Impacts Both Men & Women.” Sharsheret educates Jewish women and men about the increased cancer risks they face because of their higher propensity to carry hereditary cancer gene mutations including the BRCA mutation. This lunch and learn is free and open to the entire Jewish community. For more information, contact Debbi Braunstein at dbraunstein@jcc.org or call 314-4423266.

Michael Staenberg

FILE PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

OBITUARIES

SYLVIA ABRAMS, March 28, 2023

Beloved wife of the late Melvin Abrams; dear mother and mother-in-law of Lynn (Cathy), Mark (Jill) and Howard Abrams (Fran); dear grandmother of Josh, Jeremy and Jonathan (Lisa), Joey (Lauren), Devorah, Ehraim (Jenna) and Menasha (Haddas) Abrams; dear greatgrandmother of Rosie, Josie, Madison, Delaney, Cullen, Fiona, Maeve, Isla, Sasha, Gavi, Shira and Leah; dear sister and sisterin-law of Eileen Baker and Rose Becker (Warren); former partner of Gilbert Hoffman. Dear aunt, greataunt, cousin and friend.

A graveside service was held Thursday, March 30th at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery-White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Emmaus Home, 3731 Mueller Road, St. Charles, MO 63301.

Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

JO ANN KAREN BARON, March 27, 2023

Beloved daughter of the late Irene and Kurt Baron. Dear sister of Herbert Baron. Our dear relative and friend.

A graveside service was held Tuesday, March 28 at Ohave Sholom Cemetery, 7400 Olive Blvd., University City, MO 63130. Contributions in her memory to the charity of the donor’s choice.

A Rindskopf-Roth Service

WILLIAM LEO BURSAK, March 21, 2023. Beloved son of Michael and Kimberly Bursak; dear brother of Olivia Bursak; dear grandson of Robert and Susan Bursak and Paul and Cindy Glickert.

A funeral service was held Friday, March 24 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. Interment Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. Memorial contributions preferred to National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases (visit https://bit.ly/Bursak).

Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

JACK PAUL FITTER, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2023 surrounded by his loved ones.

Born January 3, 1943 to the late Charles and Lillian Fitter. He was the beloved husband of Linda Fitter (nee Schrenzel) for 57 years.  Adored father and father-in-law of Jodi and David Engelbrecht, Carrie and Mike Faris, Craig and Stephanie Fitter, Amy and Christian Sikorski. Loving grandfather of: Emma and Jacob Engelbrecht, Grace and Julia Faris, Jack and Josh Fitter and Harrison and Alexa Sikorski. Cherished brother of Ben Fitter and the late Irv Fitter.  Dear brother in law, uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

Jack’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his family. His humor was infectious and no one was immune to his famous White Castle joke. Jack was forever positive, forever an optimist, and the greatest fan and supporter of

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

OBITUARIES INDEX

Abrams, Sylvia Baron, Jo Ann Karen Bursak, William Leo Fitter, Jack Paul Fleischman, Geraldine “Dodie” Gall, Judith Francis Grand, Mitchell C. Heyman, Louis “Lou” H. Rich, Warren

his friends and family.

Roselman, Irvin

Rosenberg, Gary Martin

Rotskoff, Albert

Sandmel, Michele “Mickey”

Shanker, Ethel Siegfried, Judith Schultz

Zimmerman, Harriet

Visitation and service held Tuesday April 4, 2023 at United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road, Chesterfield. Interment followed at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road, Chesterfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to the American Cancer Society in Jack’s honor.

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

GERALDINE “DODIE” FLEISCHMAN, born April 18, 1938, died evening of April 2, 2023

Beloved daughter of the late Rae Fleischmann; dear niece of the late Sarah and the late Sam Fleischmann and the late Harry and Frieda Fleischmann; dear cousin of Gerald Fleischmann (Judy), Carol Duncan (Jim), and Michael Fleischmann (Gaby); dear aunt of Tavo (Mara). Carlos (Fawn), Rafael (Ashley), and Sergio (Crystal) Diaz-Granados (Duncan), and many cousins and grand-cousins. Dodie (known as Gerry at her work) spent 40+ years as private medical secretary to Dr. Bernard Becker in the Department of Ophthalmology at Washington University. Her love of animals was impressive and widely known. Her two best 4-legged friends were Apollo and Bandit, who both will miss her terribly.

A funeral service was planned for Wednesday, April 5 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Boulevard, immediately followed by interment at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road, 63124. Memorial contributions preferred to the Humane Society of Missouri Attn: Donations 1201 Macklind Avenue, 63110 or the APA, 1705 S. Hanley Road, 63144.

Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream and other information. Berger Memorial Service

JUDITH FRANCIS GALL, March 28, 2023

Judith Francis Gall died peacefully March 28, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Ira C. Gall for 60 years; Mother of Steven, Thomas and the late Jeffrey (Carol) Gall; Grandmother of Jocelyn (Wesley) Masurat, Andrew, Brett and Melissa Gall; Great grandmother of Noah and Natalie Masurat; Sister of the late Lois Friedman.

Judith was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March

3, 1931 and moved to St. Louis for her husband’s medical residency in the ‘50s.  She followed St. Louis sports, loved musical theatre, treasured her family and was devoted to giving back to her community. She and her late husband were widely admired for their generous support of Washington University, Miriam School, the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center amongst others.

A funeral service was held Monday, April 3 at the Mausoleum at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 8430 Gravois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Jeffrey Scott Gall Memorial Scholarship Tribute Fund, Miriam Foundation, 1138 N Warson Road, St. Louis, 63132 (www.miriamstl. org); the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, 36 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146 (www.stlholocaustmuseum.org); or the charity of your choice.

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

MITCHELL C. GRAND, died peacefully on March 25th at the age of 94 in his own home with his family at his side.

Beloved husband of the late Lois Grand; dear father and father-in-law of Nancy Hammerman, David Grand (Judy) and Judy Zimmerman (Bill); dear grandfather of Daniel Hammerman (Ness), Jacob (Arielle), Ryan and Gabe Grand, Natalie, Sam and Ben Zimmerman; dear great-grandfather of Jesse Hammerman, Noa and Leo Grand; dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Sheldon Grand (late Carolyn), Norman Grand (Ollie), Carolyn Wolff and Ida Steinberg (late Buddy); dear uncle, cousin and friend.

Mitch was born on September 13th, 1928, to Wolfe and Lillian Grand. He grew up in in St. Louis, attended Soldan High School and graduated from the University of Missouri.

He joined A.G. Edwards in 1956 where, for 45 years, he worked as a stockbroker. Investing was his passion and he took great pleasure in finding, analyzing, and ultimately deciding to invest in businesses that met his strict criteria.

He was married to his beautiful wife, Lois, for 54 years until her passing in 2011. Together, they raised their family and were devoted parents and grandparents. Family was his first priority and as the patriarch, he served as a role model for his children, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. We will miss him dearly.

A funeral service was held Monday, March 27th at Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive. Interment Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery 7500 Olive Blvd. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

Obituaries continue on opposite page

American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.

LOUIS “LOU” H. HEYMAN, March 26, 2023

Beloved husband of the late Maxine Heyman; dear father and father-in-law of Steve Heyman (Barb) and Larry Heyman (Ellen); dear grandfather of Hilary Dysart (Doug), Kevin Heyman (Lauren), Scott Heyman, and Brian Heyman and family; amazing GGpa of Amelia and Olivia Heyman and Louise Dysart; dear brother of the late Sam Heyman (late Jean); dear brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and friend.

Lou was a lifetime member of the Boy Scouts of America, is an Eagle Scout, and received many honors through that organization.

A funeral service was held Thursday, March 30 at Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road. Private Interment. Memorial contributions preferred to The Backstoppers Inc., PO Box 795168, St. Louis, MO 63179 or to the charity of your choice. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream information. Berger Memorial Service

WARREN RICH, March 28, 2023

Beloved husband of Sandra “Sandy” Rich; dear father and father-in-law of Scott Rich (Cheri) and Andy Rich; dear grandfather of Lily and Ben Rich; dear brother of the late Teresa “Terri” Rich and Elliot Rich. Our dear friend.

A funeral service was held Thursday, March 30th at Traditional Congregation, 12437 Ladue Road. Interment

Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery-White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Traditional Congregation, 12437 Ladue Road, 63141 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 11433 Olde Cabin Road, Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63141.

Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

IRVIN ROSELMAN, 93, a lifelong resident of St. Louis, MO, passed away on March 27, 2023.

Irv was born to Russian immigrant parents Esther and Joseph in July 1929. During the Great Depression, his parents lost everything, and borrowing against a small life insurance policy, they purchased a small tailor shop. This served as a means of livelihood and as a shelter to avoid homelessness. Irv lived with his two brothers and parents in the back of the tailor shop, which lacked running water, an indoor bathroom, or a kitchen. Their “residence” was within walking distance of the local YMHA, so Irv and his family would walk there to shower. His regular attendance at the Y got him involved in sports of all kinds and built a lifelong loyalty to this facility. He and his brothers learned to swim competitively, and Irv excelled in diving.

Irv was a bright student, his good grades at Soldan High School ultimately earning him a scholarship to Saint Louis University. He met the love of his life, Doris, and after a whirlwind courtship, he dropped out of college and married her just before his twentieth birthday. To support his wife and growing family, Irv took on various jobs, including working for a fish market and a fabric/textile company before settling in as a life insurance salesman in 1956.

Always the competitor, Irv worked hard in the life insurance business and achieved success as one of his company’s top agents for many, many years. He continued to be active in sports at the JCC throughout his life. He played squash, but tennis elbow compelled him to switch to racquetball at age 45. This he also mastered, becoming a Class A player and eventually winning numerous gold medals in the Senior Olympics, both locally and nationally.  Irv was honored also to be inducted into the St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall Of Fame.

As Doris’s health failed in the later years of their marriage, Irv curtailed his work and racquetball play. He retired from Lincoln National Life after 58 years, and he stopped racquetball in his late eighties. He continued regular visits to the J over the years until his health no longer permitted it. The love of Irv’s life until the very end, Doris passed away in 2015. Their devoted marriage lasted for over 66 years.

Although excellence at work and on the racquetball court were points of pride, Irv derived the most pleasure from his family.

He would light up whenever seeing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Irv’s proudest legacy, his beautiful family, is large and continues to grow.  He is survived by his children, Michael Roselman (Jan), David Roselman (Leah), and Patti Deutsch; his dear grandchildren Jonathan, Jenna, Joshua, Eric, Melissa, Elizabeth, Zachary, Joshua, Alexander, Gabrielle, Samantha, Danielle, and Benjamin; and 17 great-grandchildren.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, relative, and friend to many. He will be greatly missed.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, March 29 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the St. Louis JCC or to the charity of your choice.

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

GARY MARTIN ROSENBERG, March 18, 2023 in Naperville, Illinois

Beloved husband of Sharon Winterman Rosenberg for 50 years.  Cherished father of Jennifer (Ronald) Mellott, Jr. and Daniel (fiancé, Melissa Piekosz Zuro) Rosenberg.  Loving grandfather of Jack and Avery Mellott.  Beloved brother of Earl (Laurie) Rosenberg and Janet (Steve) Casarella.  Dear brother-in-law of Debra (Robert) Stekloff.  Beloved son of the late Kenneth and Dorothy Rosenberg.  Dear uncle of Sandra (Steve) Diver, Michael (Jaclyn) Rosenberg, Douglas (Aparna) Casarella, Brian Casarella, Amanda (Bill) Hebron and Casey Stekloff.  Loving great uncle of Elizabeth and Joe Bugalski, Cameron and Sydney Rosenberg, Graham and Zelda Casarella.  Dear cousin and friend of many.

A graveside service was held Thursday, March 23 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 9370 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63132.

A Rindskopf-Roth Service

ALBERT ROTSKOFF, April 1, 2023

Beloved husband of Cheryl Weber Rotskoff; dear father and father-inlaw of Benjamin (Brittany) Rotskoff and Joseph (Kelly) Rotskoff; grandfather of Sam, Avery Jane, Eli, William, Haylan and Ethan. Brother and brotherin-law of Sherman (Dora) Rotskoff; dear uncle, cousin and friend to many.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, April 4 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. 63132.  Burial followed at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in Chesterfield.  Memorial contributions preferred to either St. Louis Children’s Hospital or Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

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

MICHELE “MICKEY” SANDMEL (née Leon), March 22, 2023

Beloved wife of Sheldon Sandmel; dear mother of Ben Sandmel, Karin Sandmel and Josh Sandmel; daughter of the late Sam and Dorothy Leon; dear sister and sister-in-law of Vicki (Rick) Butery, Barbara (late Harold) Sandmel and the late Zelda (late Herb) Glazer; loving aunt, cousin and friend of many.

Mickey was a passionate mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was an organizer and loved bringing her friends and family together. Whether birthdays, holidays, picnics, reunions, or other celebrations, Mickey volunteered, got involved, and often coordinated or chaired many of the events including several of the reunions for U-City Class of 1964. She loved her family and dedicated herself to her three children and husband of 55 years. She regularly served as a room mother, on PTO Boards and as President of the PTO.

Along with those dearest to her, Mickey also found love in education, both while helping others and for herself. She committed herself to achieving a Bachelor of Science degree and took great pride in accomplishing this with a degree from UMSL after several years of night school. She devoted more than 20 years volunteering in English as a Second Language classes teaching others, all the while learning about other cultures, traditions, and histories from across the globe. With her family, she hosted several international exchange students and delighted in showing off St. Louis and learning about their customs. Mickey and her husband also loved to travel and would do so for art exhibits, museum visits, or national parks around the US.

Mickey loved several other hobbies and expanded her learning through the arts. She was an avid reader and attended numerous author events, creating an impressive library, especially of autographed books. She loved making needlepoint pillows and canvases, devoured magazines and loved the challenge of a good puzzle book. She was also a long-time season ticket holder for the Fox Theatre, the Muny and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and loved watching musicals and listening to the showtunes regularly.

When she was away from her family and other

passions, she spent nearly 50 years as a legal secretary.

A funeral service was held Sunday, March 26 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road.

Memorial contributions preferred to Forest Park Forever, the St. Louis County Library Foundation, The Humane Society of St. Louis or the charity of your choice.

Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

ETHEL SHANKER, died peacefully on March 17th at the age of 98.

Beloved wife of the late Melvin Shanker.  Lovingly remembered by her children, Stan (Andy) Shanker, Philip (the late Cindy) Shanker and Ricky (Micki Brittin) Shanker.  Adored grandmother of nine, greatgrandmother of sixteen and great greatgrandmother of three.  Dear aunt, great aunt, cousin and friend.

Ethel was born on a very cold winter day, January 27, 1925. In 1942 she married the love of her life Melvin Shanker.  Ethel and Mel owned and operated a highly successful kosher style deli, first in University City, and then Shanker’s Deli in Creve Coeur on Ballas Road.  Mel ran the business side of the deli while Ethel was the glue that kept the customers coming back.

Ethel loved playing Mahjong, volunteering, going with Mel to Lake St Louis, and eventually spending the winters in Florida.  Her most important role was being the super-great mom, grams and “GG” to all her children. She made each one feel special and super loved.  Her love also spread to every animal and small child she met; her love was boundless. We will all miss her each and every day!

A graveside service was held Sunday, March 19 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Contributions in her memory may be made to the fund of your choice at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141.

A Rindskopf-Roth Service

celebration

tradition

rebirth.

Memorial Chapel wishes you and your loved ones the most joyous of Passovers. May happiness, peace and prosperity be with you this spring and the whole year through.

JUDITH SCHULTZ SIEGFRIED died March 21, 2023.

She is survived by Sidney, beloved husband of 70 years, children Ida (the late William Bricken), Elaine (Daniel Hoft) and Louis, grandchildren Isaac (Sarah Klein), Galen, and Stella Hoft and Max Siegfried, and brother-in-law Harold (the late Madelyn) Siegfried; predeceased by sisters Lois (the late Marvin) Platt and Alice (the late Sam) Rosch, sisters-inlaw Audrey (the late Richard) Hahn and Faye (the late Frank) Raisher, and brothersin-law Alvin (Helene, the late Charlotte) Siegfried.

Born November 25, 1931, to Theresa and Harry Schultz, she grew up in north Saint Louis where houses had porches and kids practicing music could be heard from outside. Judy began piano at five. From her tailor father she learned garment construction, a second passion.

Following a year at Washington University she met Sidney, a law student. They married and

started a family, spending his military service stationed in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan where they acquired lifelong friends and memories. They returned and remained back home excepting one anomalous Southern year in Memphis, Tennessee.

Low-key and responsible, Judy still managed to do mostly as she pleased. A pianist with “perfect pitch” playing by ear, she collaborated with local performers. She conceived and crafted beautiful clothing. She shared and explained wonders: Greek mythology, long division, how to diagram a sentence or pull off a faithful pencil portrait. She read novels to her daughters and short stories alone. She was a fierce advocate.

For her grandchildren she fashioned imaginative costumes and provided Lego towers and birthday parties, transportation to dance lessons and to sports practice. A rather reluctant cook, she rose to the challenge of producing superior family meals as the spirit moved her.

In 2016 Judy suffered health setbacks which let her off the hook of life’s tediums and gave way to adventures with puns, wordplay, wisecracks and one-liners, shared among her husband and kids now providing the assistance she relied upon. Despite diminished short term memory she could recite her Social and the lyrics to

JEWISH LITE

JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Rebekah

55. Sandler’s old stomping grounds, for short

56. Possible Golani outpost workout?

58. Aspirin target

60. Traveler’s info, briefly

61. Home of Sun Devil Stadium, for short

62. Ham’s brother

64. Back to back performances of “Funny Girl” and “Fiddler of the Roof” on Broadway?

68. Bob who created Batman

69. Amazon transaction, e.g.

70. What we all do eventually

along well

49. Glorify

51. Brother of

71. Part of 37-Across: Abbr.

72. Football great Grier

73. Related to

Down

1. Cover completely

2. ___ Teshuva

3. In a crowd of

4. Japanese dough

5. Aim alternative

6. Purple flowers

7. Words between “I’m” and “diet”

8. Conservative youth org.

9. Guinea pigs

10. Torah, e.g.

11. Bit from Lenny Bruce or Andrew Dice Clay?

12. 1989 Gold Glove winner Darling

13. Person with a J.D.

favorite Broadway songs and enjoy her extensive collection of Andre Previn improvisational jazz CD’s. More than once she declared she was more comfortable than she had ever been in her entire life. She died at home on her own terms, with family at her side.

Graveside services took place at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol, March 29. Visit www. bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

HARRIET ZIMMERMAN, March 2, 2023

Beloved wife of the late Monroe Zimmerman for 68 years. Dear daughter of the late Isadore and Martha Greenfield Sherman.

Daughter in law to the late George and Mildred Margulis Zimmerman. Sister of the late Arnold (Sylvia) Sherman. Sister in law to the late Gerald (Lenore) Zimmerman.

Dear mother of Rose (Ronald) Newman, the late Susan (Soozi) (Scott) Waxman, Elaine (Lawrence) Amitin, and Andrew (Andy) (the late Susan) Zimmerman. Grandmother of Michelle, Tom, Phillip, Laura,

Andrea, Nate, Rabbi Marshal, Christina, Jeremy, Sarah, Jacob, Natalie, Janet, Jayden, Dana, Elliot, Beck, Marla, Pavel, Nicole and Dan. Great grandmother (Baba) to Ryann, Logann, Dylann, Avery, Nora, Connor, Kasen, Myles, Ruby, Jasper, Gabriella, Hailie, Zachari, Tamara, Maya, Noam, Ava, Emma, Samuel, Mabel, Gabriel, Talia, Zackary, Susannah and Lyubov.

Harriet had a long wonderful life. After Monroe and her retired, they moved to Florida. She loved her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and Baba. Every grandchild had a special time with her while they lived in Florida. When they moved back to St. Louis 8 years ago, she loved having her family come and see her, bake with her and enjoyed getting out and visiting them for holidays and birthdays. She made delicious brownies that the great grandchildren loved. She always looked forward to seeing them as they were to see her.

Mah Jongg and knitting were some of her favorite leisure activities.

A graveside service was held Sunday, March 5 at Chesed Shel Emeth-White Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to KEIRUV (Rabbinic Outreach Services) or to The Jewish National Forest.

Berger Memorial Service

18. Kind of rehearsal

23. “Alas!” 25. The “shrew” in “The Taming of the Shrew”

Some -

SP TLIGHT

PHOTOS

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.

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Palooza

Hundreds of Congregation B’nai Amoona members arrived in costume Monday evening March 6 for Purim Palooza - Under The Big Tent. The circus-themed celebration included balloon sculptures, face painting, purim crafts, a mitzvah project and a special performance by Circus Harmony.

VIEW MORE ONLINE: stljewishlight.org/multimedia

NCJWSTLAdvocacy Conference

During the weekend of March 3-5, the National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis (NCJWSTL) hosted its Advocacy In Action conference, themed “Leading Through Uncertainty,” at the Sheraton Westport Plaza. NCJW’s national CEO Sheila Katz served as keynote speaker on March 3.

Nusach

at NHBZ

Rabbi Chaim Bogopulsky of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion and his family dress as chefs during Purim festivities at NHBZ.

Temple Emanuel Women’s Chavurah: Mandelbrot Madness!

On Sunday, March 19th Temple Emanuel Women’s Chavurah gathered for a hands-on Mandelbrot baking class. Our secret ingredient was laughter! What do you call it when 12 women get together to learn, create, and share? We call it a fantastic day!

FROM

Hari B’nai Zion Purim

PHOTOS: PHILIP DEITCH

National Council of Jewish Women CEO Sheila Katz speaks at the conference.

From left, Rev. Teresa Danieley, Maharat Rori Picker Neiss and Amy Kuo Hammerman take part in the conference.

B’nai Amoona Purim

PHOTOS: BILL MOTCHAN

vision and generosity. YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED LIVES.

Since 2008, 100+ emerging leaders from our Jewish community traveled to Israel with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis through the support of Pam and Ron Rubin and The Rubin Family Foundation. As we sunset The Rubin Israel Experience in 2023, Federation and all of the Rubinites would like to say a huge thank you for the energy and guidance of Mindee Fredman, Margo Newman, the lay leadership and volunteers who were part of the selection process over the years, and to Pam and Ron for their invaluable, immeasurable impact on our community through this visionary investment.