Jewish Light Digital Edition: April 19, 2023

BETTER LIVING FOR BABY BOOMERS AND SENIOR ADULTS

SEE PAGES 1B-12B

meet the shinshinim

Young Israelis volunteer as emissaries, sharing Israeli culture with communities abroad

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Here’s are just a few things they’re going to miss when they return home to Israel in August: Chipotle’s, Trader Joe’s, sale shopping and all of St. Louis’ professional sports teams.

“There’s no hockey in Israel,” said Guy Dobrin, 19, laughing with the other three Israeli teens participating in the Shinshinim program in St. Louis this year.

A Shinshin is an Israeli emissary, usually 18 or 19 years old, who defers their army service for a year to volunteer in Jewish communities abroad to help educate people there about Israel and Israeli culture. They teach at various local Jewish organiza tions, bringing their authentic Israel experiences to the community they serve.

“Largely, they work with the young population, ages 4 through 18,” explained Cynthia Wachtel, manager of Israel Emissary Initiatives at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “The fact that these children and teens are meeting an Israeli closer in age to them helps foster better connections, find similarities and learn from each other. It works both ways though. For the Shinshinim, they get to live here and absorb what Jewish Americans are like, and they bring that back to Israel with them and hopefully share that with friends and family.”

This is the sixth group of Shinshinim to come to St. Louis. They arrived in August 2022 for a one-year stay. Federation provides each of them with a monthly stipend,

access to a car, health insurance and a laptop while they in turn work fulltime at local religious and Hebrew schools, early childhood centers and with Jewish teen groups. They live with families who have volunteered to host them, changing homes – and host families — every three months or so.

Wachtel, who jokes she’s not only program supervisor but also mom and an older sister to the Shinshinim, explained

that St. Louis got involved with the program after a 2014 Jewish community demographic study showed a lack of connection between Jewish St. Louisans and Israel.

“We obviously cannot take everybody in the St. Louis Jewish community to Israel, so (the Shinshinim program) is the next best thing,” said Wachtel. “We are bringing See

read a Q+A with each shinshin page 6A

From left to right : Inbar Bloch, Inbar Bachar, Alma Cohen and Guy Dobrin

PHONE 314-743-3600

EMAIL news@stljewishlight.org

MAILING ADDRESS

For payments

P.O. Box 790372, St. Louis, Mo. 63179-0372

For general correspondence please email news@stljewishlight.org

CONNECT WITH US

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/stljewishlight

TWITTER @stljewishlight

INSTAGRAM @stljewishlight

Connect with us on all our social media using

#STLJEWISHLIGHT

OFFICERS

Bethe Growe, President

Laura K. Silver, Immediate Past President

Laurie Chod, Vice President

Beth Manlin, Vice President

Ben Weiss, Vice President

Justin Krachmalnick, Treasurer

Debra Klevens, Secretary

Joan Silber

TRUSTEES

Dan Bindler, Jerry Ehrlich, Richard Flom, Mark

Gershenson, Caroline Goldenberg, Mia Kweskin, Debbie Lefton, Lauren Murov, Kara Newmark, Ryan Rich, Steve Rosenzweig, Bruce Sandweiss, Adam Schneider, Alan Spector, Todd Taylor, Dan Winograd

JEWISH LIGHT PAST PRESIDENTS

Milton I. Goldstein*, Morris Pearlmutter*

(founder), Morris Moscowitz*, Melvin

Newmark*, Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin*, Vivian

Zwick, Joseph Edlin*, Michael Newmark, Richard Stein, Yusef Hakimian*, Sanford

Weiss*, Philip Isserman*, Linda Kraus, Richard

Flom, Marvin Schneider, Barbara Langsam

Shuman, Terry Bloomberg, John Greenberg, David Grebler*, Milton Movitz*, Gianna

Jacobson, Jenny Wolkowitz, Gary Kodner, Jane

Tzinberg Rubin, Steve Gallant, Laura K. Silver

* Of Blessed Memory

STAFF

EXECUTIVE

Betsy Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer

EDITORIAL

Robert A. Cohn, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Mike Sherwin, Managing Editor

BUSINESS AND ENGAGEMENT

Stacy Wolff Smart, Director of Business

Development and Communications

Terri Green, Administrative Assistant

SALES

Angie Rosenberg, Senior Account Executive

Kelly Morris, Account Executive

Elaine Wernick, Account Executive

PRODUCTION

Erin Eason, Creative & Design Manager

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT PUBLICATION DATES FOR 2023

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.

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

• May 10 and 24

• June 6 and 21

• July 12 and 26

• Aug. 9 and 23

CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES

Shabbat begins

Friday, April 21: 7:26 p.m.

Shabbat ends

Saturday, April 22: 8:27 p.m.

Torah reading: Tazria-Metzora

Shabbat begins

Friday, April 28: 7:33 p.m.

Shabbat ends

Saturday, April 29: 8:34 p.m.

Torah reading: Acharei-Kedoshim

• Sept. 6 and 20

• Oct. 4 and 18

• Nov. 8 and 22

• Dec. 6 and 20

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

ShowMeChabad.com

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

First look: Ben Poremba’s new Jewish deli

Israeli native’s latest culinary venture is located at the Delmar DivINe in the former St. Luke’s Hospital

Growing up in the suburbs of New York City in the 1960s and ’70s, Jewish delicatessens were as plentiful as corner bars in south St. Louis — they were pretty much everywhere.

And while the number of these delis (and corner bars, for that matter) have dwindled over the last few decades, the ones that remain seem to be thriving. Last summer, while on Long Island for my mother’s unveiling, we stopped at the legendary Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen to enjoy corned beef and pastrami sandwiches the size of our heads. And don’t get me started on the bottomless bowl of pickles and coleslaw. As I told my digestive system a few hours later, the meal was well worth a handful of antacids.

Ben Poremba, owner and chef of Bengelina Hospitality Group (Bar Moro, Elia & Olio, Nixta, Benevolent King and more) also remembers growing up with Jewish delis, though his were in his native Israel. For years he has been talking about opening a Jewish-style delicatessen in St. Louis because he felt that type of cuisine was lacking from our city’s otherwise vibrant food scene.

Well the good news is that come early next month, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Poremba will unveil his latest project: Deli DivINe, in the former St. Luke’s Hospital on Delmar Boulevard, now the site of Delmar DivINe, started by Jewish entrepreneur Maxine Clark as a hub for nonprofits.

Last week, I moseyed into Deli DivINe to see what to expect when its doors officially open. Chef Anne Fosterling was on hand to give me an impromptu tour of the expansive space, which up front is a casual eatery and toward the back, an eclectic market boasting everything Jewish, from fresh and frozen specialty foods to a dizzying array of canned goods to unique gift items to Yiddish-themed and pun-fun ny greeting cards. I mean what says love better than: “We go together

like pastrami on rye”?

While the menu is still a work in progress, says Poremba, the “appetizing” selections boast a variety of bagels and schmears as well as bagel sandwiches, including ones with smoked whitefish, kippered salmon, lox, smoked sturgeon and more. Herring and an assortment of caviars, served with sour cream and pumpernickel, round out the appetizing section.

The deli part of the menu features several soups, including chicken kneidlach and chicken kreplach (and a combo of both); kugels; knishes, stuffed cabbage, gefilte fish, jellied chicken feet, goulash and classic sandwiches, such as corned beef, pastrami served two different ways, beef salami and beef tongue.

Diners can choose between “nosher” and

“fresser” sizes, which translates to 4-ounces versus 6-ounces or go full-tilt glutton and combine meats or stack them double-decker.

Other sandwich offerings include Poremba’s grandmother’s famous egg salad as well as tuna, chicken salad, chopped liver and whitefish salad. Several kinds of Reubens are also highlighted as are some original creations such as the Manek, consisting of a kosher hotdog, turkey bacon, sliced tomato and sauerkraut, topped with “famous sauce.”

Desserts run the gamut, from crustless cheesecake to “Not Your Bubbeleh Rugelah” to babka to blintzes.

“We are not kosher, but we’re very kosher style,” Poremba said. “There are no pork products or shellfish on the premises. We will have a lot of packaged kosher items so while people who are more observant won’t be able to eat the food here, they will be able to get kosher products from our market.”

Poremba is still working on pricing but expect most regular-sized sandwiches to run between $10 and $16. Restaurant patrons will order at one of two the counters — one for appetizing, another for deli and sandwiches – and then can eat at one of the tables or booths either in the front dining room, the market area or outdoor patio and courtyard. Poremba estimates 40 people can be seated inside and another 40 outside.

He also said that while much of the meat and fish will be prepared on premises, some will be shipped in. For example, Detroit-based Sy Ginsberg’s Meat & Deli will supply the corned beef and lean brisket pastrami while Poremba, Fosterling and company will prepare a slightly fattier, hand-sliced pastrami in Deli DivINe’s compact kitchen.

As for the design and ambiance, Poremba wanted the look and feel of the

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

See SCHMOOZE on page 7A

Images of The Deli DivINe, located in the Delmar DivINe, started by entrepreneur Maxine Clark as a hub for nonprofits. PHOTOS: ELLEN FUTTERMAN

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

A labyrinth will be unveiled at the Jewish Community Center as part of the April 23 celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary as a nation. The permanent public art installation also will be completed during the event by anyone who wants to help out.

Labyrinths are ancient patterns with a single, winding path that leads to the center. The most famous labyrinth is located in the Chartres Cathedral in France. Labyrinths are frequently associated with faith and mysticism. They are intended for walking a precise path and personal reflection, said Robert Fishbone, who created the design.

“We wanted it to be interactive,” said Fishbone, owner of On the Wall Productions. “I wanted it to be something that people could discover, that would be a thing of subtle beauty, and which people

could derive meaning from.”

Fishbone is a member of Central Reform Congregation, the site of his first labyrinth. That design evokes the city of Jericho. Fishbone is known for his elaborate and whimsical murals but, in recent years, he has expanded his repertoire to include labyrinths. He explained the key difference between labyrinths and mazes.

“A maze has really tall walls and dead ends and multiple ways you can turn,” Fishbone said. “It’s meant to confuse and confound and entertain you. A labyrinth is at ground level. There’s one entrance, and as long as you stay on the path, you’ll always end up in the middle. It has more to do with mindfulness, prayer, letting go, release, surrender and humility. And there are thousands and thousands of them around the country.”

While the experience is intended to be

contemplative, Fishbone said, walking through a labyrinth need not be solemn.

He said some labyrinth visitors dance along the path. Before wedding ceremonies, couples have used the two entrances of a labyrinth to meet in the middle to represent two paths coming together.

One can experience walking through a labyrinth in a variety of ways. The idea is to gain something spiritual from the experience. The space, adjacent to the J’s community garden, will offer an area for visitors to consider the special connection between the St. Louis Jewish community and Israel.

The labyrinth at the J will be unique in that community members attending the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration can take part in building it, Fishbone said. He also chose design elements that have a direct connection to St. Louis and Israel.

“We’re going to have two benches in the center of the labyrinth,” he said. “One is going to be made out of midwestern limestone, and the whole top of the other bench is going to be made out of Jerusalem stone. So we’re literally and metaphorically looking for ways we can identify Israel, St. Louis and Jewish values, and this notion that you can’t get anything done unless you’re willing to sit down and be with someone.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen when they wake up or don’t wake up. The labyrinth helps with that. It literally gives you twists and turns, but you need to be paying attention to stay on the path. So it’s a mindfulness practice. People are encouraged to walk out on the other path as a reminder to not judge anyone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL’S INDEPENDENCE

WHERE: The Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex North back parking lot

WHEN: Sunday, April 23 - 5:30-8:30 p.m.

HOW MUCH: Free

DJ, activities and booths for all ages, and food for purchase throughout the evening. Professionally led Israeli dancing and fireworks to close the night. Participants also can help complete a new labyrinth being unveiled at the J.

UNLOCK THE SECRETS TO ARTHRITIS RELIEF: CLAIM YOUR FREE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE NOW!

By: Dr Beth Templin PT DPT GCS Geriatrics Physical Therapist

Have you been told by your physician that your arthritis is due to years of wear and tear ? Are you worried that it’s not safe to exercise because you may actually make your arthritis pain worse? Are you convinced the only way to manage your arthritis is by taking pain pills and getting painful injections? Are you trying to put off having joint replacement surgery as long as possible? If yes, you're not alone

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of pain and debility in older adults, affecting more than 54 million people in the US Unfortunately, it is very common for people to feel hopeless and helpless when it comes to arthritis Often, it stems from a belief that there are no helpful treatments for your arthritis pain or that it only gets worse over time Luckily, those beliefs tend to come from information that is outdated or simply incorrect!

Most people realize that their arthritis won't magically go away on its own, but they still don't take action It might be because they don't know what steps to take to improve their arthritis pain OR they don t truly believe they can improve arthritis "at their age" Fortunately, there are several options to help

manage your arthritis pain and to keep you active as you age I ve put together a FREE guide explaining that even though you're living with arthritis, it does not mean that you should expect to lose your independence or live with pain for the rest of your life

Inside this guide you'll find

The top 6 myths of arthritissome may surprise you!

Why we lose cartilage and what you can do to prevent it

Tips on how to reduce your arthritis pain

The impact exercise can make on your arthritis symptoms AND much more!

I want to make this guide available to you absolutely free of charge! To claim your own copy, simply call (314) 939-1377 or visit our website www housefitstl com/arthritis-myths to download the report directly to your computer

If you’re ready to manage your arthritis pain and lead an active lifestyle, this guide can help you get started with confidence!

Israel & Technion Partners In Innovation

Since the day it opened its doors in 1924, the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology has been the cornerstone of Israel’s remarkable advancements in science, technology, and education. Together, the Technion and Israel have forged a partnership to advance the nation’s global prominence and thriving high-tech economy.

As we approach the Technion Centennial next year, we honor Israel’s 75th anniversary today, and celebrate the bright future we are creating together through groundbreaking collaboration.

#TechnionImpact

ats.org | 212.407.6300 | info@ats.org

Q+A

Where in Israel are you from? Jerusalem

What is your job in St. Louis? I work at United Hebrew Congregation and with the Israeli scouts. And I do different jobs at United Hebrew. I teach kids about Israel. I teach Hebrew, all sorts of stuff. And at the Israeli Scouts, I’m kind of like the educational director there. So I’m the one guiding the counselors and making the decisions, handling events.

What has been your impression of St. Louis? I just have the best time in St. Louis so far. Like, the people here are so warm and welcoming, and I feel so wanted, and I feel like people want to listen to my things and they care about what I say, and I’m so happy.

What do you miss most being away from home? My mommy’s food.

What are some foods you’ve tried here that you enjoy? I’ve tried gooey butter cake.

Where in Israel are you from? Kibbutz Ramat Hashofet, which is in Megiddo, our partnership area (with Jewish Federation of St. Louis).

What does your job as a Shinshin in St. Louis entail? I work fulltime at Mirowitz (Jewish Community) school. I work with all the ages. It started out with me being only a part of Hebrew lessons. I usually come and choose a topic that is related to Israel. I try to connect the kids in an informal way. Then I started working a lot with their other classes like social studies. I go to Jefferson City with them. I’m going on overnight trips with them. I try to be involved as much as I can.

What has been your impression of St. Louis? I think the people are very warm. I didn’t think I would feel it to this level. I think a lot of people care deeply about their involvement in the community. People here show us that they want us here and that our jobs are important to them and that’s something I really like about this community.

What is something you’ve noticed about working in the Jewish community that is unique/different in St. Louis? The way that we have such a huge support system here. At Federation we have Cynthia, of course, and our host families have been great. It’s funny, you don’t think host families are going to be such a big part of your stay here, but when they are that inclusive and treat you with so much love and care, it makes the whole experience better. Our host families have been so incredible.

Guy Dobrin Inbar Bloch

Where in Israel are you from? Kibbutz Merhavia, in the north part of Israel.

What is your job as a Shinshin in St. Louis? I work at Kol Rinah where I teach at the preschool, I teach at the religious school and I’m also active in the Israel committee and in many of the shul’s events. I also work at Temple Israel teaching pre-school and Sunday school. I also work with the Israel scouts.

What has been your impression of St. Louis? I feel like St. Louis is a very American experience. It’s a place where you can do things that you can’t find in New York. Want me to give you an example? I went to see monster trucks. It was very smelly but it was very enjoyable. I feel like that my whole time here, St. Louis is a very warm place. People here are very nice. I’m glad my experience of the United States is Midwestern.

What is something you’ve noticed about working in the Jewish community that is unique/different in St. Louis? The people I meet in the community are really engaged and interested in Israel. They speak to me in Hebrew and talk to me about things going on back home that maybe I haven’t heard about. I was surprised by how well informed a lot of these people are.

What are you hoping to do that you haven’t done here yet? To see the Battle Hawks and hopefully, the soccer team, because it’s hard to get tickets and it’s expensive, but hopefully, God willing.

Where in Israel are you from? Tel Mond (a town of 14,000 located in central Israel).

What is your job in St. Louis? I work at Shaare Emeth and Temple Emanuel, and I just do all sorts of Israel programs there with all different ages.

Has it been fun for you? Yes, it’s been amazing. I get to meet a lot of new people and do all sorts of new things, and it’s really cool.

What has been your impression of St. Louis? It’s been really amazing. On our free time, we sometimes go see different things or do different things within St. Louis, and we get to see a lot and meet a lot of new people, which is really cool.

What are you hoping to do that you haven’t done here yet? I’m a person that believes there’s always more to see and more to do. I think in the touristy kind of area, I personally haven’t been to Union Station yet. I really want to go. And, like, a lot of new restaurants and stuff that I haven’t been able to try out yet, which I’m really excited about. I just like to see more and meet more people. I’m really excited for that.

Do you do typical St. Louis visitor things? So many Blues games.

What American musicians and entertainers are you fans of? I like Taylor Swift. We’re going to her concert. We got tickets from being online for hours.

The students that you work with in your respective synagogues, what have you learned from them and what do you hope they learn from you? I think the kids teach me so much, even if it’s about how to say the word right in English, or if they want to tell me about this very cool thing they did over, I don’t know, winter break that I’ve never heard of in the states.

What’s an example? This kid told me about what they did in Florida. I don’t even remember. They love sharing the things they do, and I don’t know some of it. And it’s so fun to listen to them. And I feel like they want to learn from me so much. They are so curious and always ready to listen and try something new. And it’s the most amazing feeling ever.

—Bill

Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light

What’s been the biggest surprise of your time in St.Louis so far? I didn’t think driving would be so much different than it is in Israel, in a good way. It’s better driving here. Much easier than in Israel. (Unfortunately, Cohen had her Kia stolen from her host family’s home in University City. It was later recovered, but not in the best shape.)

Would you encourage your peers to become a Shinshin and if so, why? What are the benefits of being one in St.Louis? Yes, for sure. You learn a lot about what it’s like being independent, being responsible for having a job, taking care of your car, and your family, being on top of things. But also on a deeper level, I feel like you don’t really know how the Jewish American community experiences Israel until you come and you bring it to them, or you learn from them. You get a completely different perspective about Israel living here, but you also can give an individual one about what life is like there.

What are your thoughts about the political situation in Israel of late? Do you have any personal concerns? I try to stay on top of things, so I read a lot. I feel the hardest part is being so far away from it now. Without saying too much, I don’t think this is anything we ever saw before in Israel. I don’t remember growing up with something like this, so what’s going on there is new.

—Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

What’s been the biggest surprise of your time in St. Louis so far? I was surprised by how easy it is to navigate here, everything being a grid and you have all these exits that are numbered. And there is no traffic here especially compared to Israel.

Besides family and friends, what do you miss the most about home? I miss nature, going out in the morning walking with my dog in the fields. There’s like this beautiful fog and you just walk through all this green around you.

Do you anticipate returning to St. Louis after you go back to Israel? Of course, to visit. (Our host families) become your family, you know. It’s people you made a connection with. It’s just a fact that they are your family.

Would you encourage your peers to become a Shinshin and if so, why? What are the benefits of being one in St.Louis? I’ve been recommending to my friends to do a gap year. For those who were interested I spoke about this more in depth and explained what I am doing and how impactful it is and how much we learn in our time here and how much we can educate the people around us. I believe that having another year to experience the world out of the bubble we grew up in before we jump into this sea that is the IDF is a good thing.

—Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

What are some foods you’ve tried here that you enjoy?

I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t get to eat a lot of the common things here. I always wanted to try toasted ravioli. I haven’t found a vegetarian version. I like hash browns.

Would you encourage your friends back home to participate in the Shinshinim program? I think it’s an amazing thing to go and be in. Even just the aspect of going and being in a place that isn’t home for a year is amazing. And you develop yourself so much, and you learn about yourself so much. And also just giving from yourself to other people and being in the states, it’s so amazing and so unique, and we’re doing things now that we’ll never get to do in any other stage of our lives.

What’s your impression of the news coverage in Israel and what’s going on there? I think it’s a really hard time. I think Israel always has . . . there’s always something going on I like to say. It’s a really tough time, and I hope and I believe that one day we’ll get back to just being one whole, one unit instead of being so divided as we are today. That’s what I’m hoping for.

—Bill Motchan, Special to the Jewish Light

Get to know more about each Shinshin and find out how they are enjoying their time in St. Louis.

Schmooze: A first look at Ben Poremba’s next venture: A Jewish deli

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A

place to evoke character and comfort.

“I wanted a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. That’s why I put in some vibrant colors,” he said, noting that each wall is painted a bright color, be it orange, yellow, green or blue. “I wanted a place that was indicative of American Jewish life — the comfort of food, the sort of humor. I just wanted it to have character like it’s been around for a long time. I didn’t want when you walked in for it to be so well-designed or too new feeling.”

More than anything, says Poremba, this project is “very personal.” One wall is devoted to his children’s artwork while the other walls showcase dozens of black-andwhite portraits taken by close family friend, Joseph Zimbrolt, a Central Reform Congregation member who had Parkinson’s disease and died in 2007.

“Joe was a semi-famous photographer. His wife, Carole, unexpectedly passed away shortly before he did,” Poremba explained. “Their house was full of beautiful things, everything of which was sold in an estate sale. Some distance relatives came in and sold it and swooped up everything.

Shinshinim:

Young Israelis volunteer as emissaries

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

Israel to St. Louis – what better way than to bring these brilliant 18-year-olds here?

“Each one brings their own Israel here, the way they were brought up, their own personal experiences. Some are from kibbutz, some live in the city, some are from our partnership region (of YokneanMegiddo). We’ve been very lucky to have a good diversity within the Shinshinim that have come to St. Louis. Of course, the teaching about Israel and Israeli culture and creating that knowledge is important, but the relationships that they form with community members they meet is what is so lasting.”

As emissaries, the Shinshinim are reluctant to comment too much about the current political situation in Israel, which involves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s proposal to reduce the power of Israel’s Supreme Court. That said, they expressed equal parts concern and hope for normalcy, but as one described their homeland, “It’s never boring.”

Recently, the Jewish Light got a chance to sit down with Dobrin, Alma Cohen, 18, Inbar Bachar, 18, and Inbar Bloch, 18 – the sixth cohort of Shinshinim to work in St. Louis – to find out more about them and how their time here is going. They are a lively and dynamic foursome who seem to be enjoying their various jobs in St. Louis and revel in the people they meet here and the places they’ve been able to go, including ski trips with their host families, Blues, Billikens and Cardinals games and an upcoming Taylor Swift concert in Chicago.

The four hope to meet more members of the St. Louis Jewish community at Yom Ha’atzmaut –Israel’s 75th Independence Day celebration at the Jewish Community Center’s Back Lot on Sunday, April 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The free event will include a petting zoo for children, food, treats, Israeli folk dances, live music from DJ Utopia, fireworks and more, including a chance to meet the Sinshinim, who will have their own booth where they will be making and giving away Dead Sea salt scrubs.

“I managed to buy a box of photos and a small box of negatives at the sale and kept them in my basement for more than 15 years. When I began this project, I wanted to fill the walls with character and wanted some unique things to represent Jewish life. I remembered I had the photos. I didn’t realize what I had until I opened the boxes and low and behold, a treasure trove of unbelievable pictures Joe had taken. Almost all of them are of Jewish figures from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.”

The deli at Deli DivINe, located at 5501 Delmar Boulevard (at Belt Avenue), will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the market, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Saturday. Poremba acknowledges that its near-north St. Louis location, which he chose in part to pay homage to the once-strong Jewish presence there, may give some people pause but adds:

“Jews have always been pioneering and breaking rules and norms. It’s safe and there’s secure parking. It’s a daytime kind of thing, close to Wash U. There are people in the building – it’s part of a bigger development.

“But yes, it’s north of Delmar and people are going to have to get used to that idea.”

The

Magen David Adom has been saving lives since 1930, some 18 years before Israel became a state. We take immense pride in being Israel’s national emergency medical service and in supplying the blood and medical care for the soldiers who have ensured Israel’s existence. Join us in celebrating Israel’s 75th year of independence on Yom HaAtzma’ut.

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.

deli at Deli DivINe, located at 5501 Delmar Boulevard (at Belt Avenue), will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the market, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Friday.

PHOTOS: ELLEN FUTTERMAN

Israel is celebrating 75 years. Magen David Adom has been there for all of them.

j associates

FABULOUS FEUD LIVE fundraising event

J Associates held its third annual Fabulous Feud Live fundraiser on Saturday, March 4 at the Pageant. Much like the popular television game show “Family Feud,” Fabulous Feud Live featured families from the community who battled it out while having fun and fundraising for the Jewish Community Center. The game show host for the evening was Ben Nordstrom, who has emceed several J Associates fundraising events.

Team J Crew, a special team made up of J Staff Members Jennifer Wilson, Rabbi Brad Horwitz, Craig Neuman, Laura Dunn and Lynn Wittels. Celebrating their victory, the Gamechangers! Jennifer Busch, Greg Busch, Mark Gellman, Wendy Gellman and Zoe Gellman.

Event co-chair and J Associates Board member Julie Sandler, Event co-chair and J Associates Board member Amy Gallant, J Associates Board member Carol Blinder and J Associates President Jennifer Deutsch.

The Family Hairlooms (left) face off against the Cantor Clan (right.)

The Family Hairlooms: Kevin Bender, Amy Bender-Levy, Rich Levy, Deanna Bender and David Bender. The Cantor Clan: Brent Cantor, Andrea Cantor, Rachel Cantor, Amy Cantor and Mark Cantor

Presenting Sponsor Mike Lefton (left) and Jeff Singer

J Associates Board Member Jody Waldman(left), Mickey Waldman(middle), and J Associates Board Member and Past President Tracey Singer(right).

Team Chai Maintenance and their family. From left: Zelda Brown, Ron Brown, Margo Newman, Davis Brown, Drew Newman, Jeff Brown, Amy FensterBrown, Leo Brown, Susie Fenster Mayer and Mike Mayer.

1. 2.

ALL PHOTOS BY TIM PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWSMAKERS

Molly Salky is the next board president of Jewish Family Services of St. Louis (JFS) for the 2023-2025 term. She first joined the JFS Board in 2017, serving as the Vice President of Financial Development. Salky is a senior consultant at EMD Consulting and is a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Dr. Arlene Stiffman and Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, Nancy Solomon Desloge and Donn Rubin will be honored at the Jewish Community Relations Council’s 2023 Tzedek Awards on May 11 at the Clayton Plaza Hotel. The Stiffmans, of Shaare Emeth, will receive the Batya AbramsonGoldstein Legacy Award for their combined dedication to the St. Louis Jewish community and their commitment to the St. Louis region through their interfaith, policy and other community involvement. Desloge, a member of United Hebrew Congregation, will receive the Michael and Barbara Newmark Emerging Leader Award for her dedication to JCRC’s mission and her commitment to the organization’s growth and wellbeing. She is a freelance communications strategist who recently retired from St. Louis University as the Public Relations and Communications Director. Rubin, founding president and CEO of BioSTL, will be honored with the Joel and Joanne Iskiwitch Israel Award for his commitment to developing and fostering economic ties between Israel and St. Louis through the work of GlobalSTL, the international initiative of BioSTL. He is a member of Kol Rinah.

Karen Foss is one of seven broadcasters who will be inducted into the Missouri Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame on Friday, June 2 at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Lake of the Ozarks. Foss spent 30 years as an anchor/reporter at KSDK after getting her broadcasting start in Kansas City. She currently lives in Santa Fe, NM.

Rabbi Scott Shafrin will take over the role of deputy director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis in July, replacing Cheryl Adelstein. For the past seven years, he has been the associate rabbi at Kol Rinah.

Martina Stern was promoted to director of special events at Congregation Temple Israel where she oversees opportunities for celebration and remembrance, community engagement and Jewish connection. She is a member of Temple Israel.

Hair stylist, Julia Manewith Castner, has joined the staff at Salon Lofts in Creve Coeur. She specializes in color services, specifically highlighting/balayage and smoothing treatments such as Keratin and Brazilian Blowout. Castner attends Temple Israel.

Lea Rachel Kosnik, author of “Seeking Forgiveness,” is a finalist in the Forward

Reviews Indie Book Awards; multicultural, adult fiction category. The narrative memoir tells the story of interracial adoption in the United States today, from the perspective of a white mother who adopts a black son, and finds she has no idea what the hell she is doing. Kosnik is a professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and attends Central Reform Congregation.

Central Reform Congregation welcomes Ryn Bonney, who will serve as executive assistant to the executive director. She will work with all the directors of CRC to streamline processes, organize workflows, and support the activities of the larger administration offices.

Darien Arnstein will join the national board of National Council Jewish Women (NCJW) for a three-year term. She will be installed this summer. Arnstein attends Kol Rinah.

Judith Garfinkel is among the 10 local leaders who will be honored among the 2023 Women of Achievement (Arts & Education). These women are being recognized at a luncheon on May 9 at the Ritz-Carlton for their commitment to the betterment of the St. Louis region through volunteer work and leadership. Garfinkel has spent the past 60 years as a docent at the St. Louis Art Museum and 15 years as

BROUGHT

TO YOU THIS MONTH BY:

(L-R)TOP ROW: Molly Salky, Dr. Arlene Stiffman and Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, Nancy Solomon Desloge,  Donn Rubin

2ND ROW: Karen Foss, Rabbi Scott Shafrin, Martina Stern, Julia Manewith Castner

3RD ROW: Lea Rachel Kosnik, Ryn Bonney, Darien Arnstein, Judith Garfinkel BOTTOM ROW: Amy Lampert, David Wright, Rick Gans

family’s company, Time Square, Inc./Lampe, LP.

a docent at both the Repertory Theatre and the Missouri Botanical Garden. She is a member of Temple Emanuel.

Amy Lampert will be honored with the Alumni Eagle Award, on May 18, by American University’s Alumni Board and Office of Alumni Relations. She is one of six 2023 Alumni Award recipients. These awards are the highest honors presented by the Alumni Association and recognize those who have rendered outstanding service to the university and/or the Alumni Association. A member of Temple Israel, Lampert is vice president and COO of her

David Wright received the St. Louis CoStar Impact Award in the Sale/ Acquisition of the Year category for the sale of Kohn’s Kosher Deli & Meat Market. CoStar is the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news. The Impact Awards recognize commercial real estate transactions and projects that have significantly influenced neighborhoods or submarkets across 128 major international markets in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Wright is the chief deal office at Lawyers Realty Co. and attends B’nai Amoona.

Rick Gans retired after serving as director of the Monarch Fire Protection District in Chesterfield for 25 years. A member of Shaare Emeth, he was the longest serving director in the district’s history. Because of his dedication, the Chesterfield mayor proclaimed March 30 as Rick Gans Day.

2022-2023 Ohr Chadash

Teen Page Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Molly Levine

Staff members:

Georgia Bland

Noam Buch

Benjamin Kruger

Maya Sagett

Daniel Shanker

Bella Soyfer

Avital Vorobeychik

Katie Wallace

Ella Wertman

Advisor: Caroline Goldenberg

Trip to Washington, D.C. teaches St. Louis teens about social justice

BY GEORGIA BLAND SOPHOMORE, LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL

In January, hundreds of Jewish teens from all across the United States traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Religious Action Center’s (RAC) L’Taken Social Justice Seminar. Twenty-five teens from Congregation Shaare Emeth attended the seminar.

Every year, the RAC hosts teens from all over for powerful weekends of informative seminars and interactive programs. These programs teach Reform Jewish teens about social justice, and how to take a position as a young member of the Jewish community on topics such as reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, health care, Israel and so much more.

Will Kodner, a sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and member of Shaare Emeth, shared his experience and how L’taken created opportunities for change.

He said the overall experience was “Empowering, educational and purposeful.”

On the trip, students were given the opportunity to speak to their state representatives and advocate for their own perspectives as Reform Jews.

“You can talk to these people, and they will actually listen to you. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to make a huge change, but maybe a small one,” Kodner said. “For me, the fact that you’re going out there, and have the ability to talk to people in power about issues that really matter, is for sure the best thing I got out of my trip.”

Teens from St. Louis spoke to state representatives about the Reform Jewish stance on gun violence, reproductive rights and climate change.

Ellie Cohn, another member of Shaare Emeth and a sophomore at Clayton High School, shared how L’Taken changed her perspective and her responsibilities as a young Jewish teen.

“Before going to D.C., I wasn’t super

involved in politics and didn’t really know where to take a stance, or even how to advocate as a teen,” Cohn said.

Cohn was part of a group advocating for reproductive rights.

“I spoke to representatives of (Missouri Congresswoman) Cori Bush and through this experience, I learned how to advocate for what I believe because I could tell they were actually listening to what I had to say and making me feel important and powerful,” Cohn said.

Along with many other teens, Cohn gained several new skills through this experience.

“[L’Taken] absolutely gave me the skills and confidence to speak out loud and voice my opinion,” Cohn said. “But most importantly, it made me more interested in participating in the Jewish aspects of my life and inspired me to continue my Jewish education.”

The RAC hosts five weekends of the teen L’Taken program each year, with hundreds of teen students and rabbis. Throughout the weekend, groups participate in a variety of diverse activities such as elective social justice seminars, mock protest scenarios and writing speeches to lobby for their state representatives. Teens also attend Shabbat Services and even get to explore D.C. One of the biggest goals of the program is to spark an interest in each student to become more involved and to teach them how to take a stance as a Reform Jew.

Rabbi Rachel Bearman of Shaare Emeth has had the opportunity to go to L’Taken in D.C. seven times and has seen the program evolve since 2014.

“Every year I see students transformed by the trip; I see the groups come together every year in a different way,” Bearman said. “It allows them to really make their Judaism real and a part of their lives that we just don’t have the opportunity to do every day.

“The goals of the weekend are to connect our teens to the Reform Movement, to show them how the Reformed Jewish values that we’re studying in confirmation class actually apply to the real world and to empower

our teens to advocate for the values that they believe in,” Bearman added. Throughout the weekend, students are able to foster connections and meet Jewish teens just like them from across the country.

Above, high school students from Congregation Shaare Emeth, in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C At left, L’taken hosts a candle light havdalah service in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“Overall, I think it’s really special to be able to connect with people from all over the country and experience this kind of Reformed Jewish moment together,” Bearman said.

Schools of St. Louis: A glimpse into schools across the area

BY AVITAL VOROBEYCHIK SOPHOMORE, YESHIVAT KADIMAH HIGH SCHOOL

Every school and every student have their own schedule for the day. Sometimes those schedules vary on a day-to day-basis, or an every-other-day, while some school schedules look the same every day. Depending on the school, a regular day can start at 7:30 in the morning and end as late as 8:15 at night.

One St. Louis area Jewish day school, Epstein Hebrew Academy (EHA), starts its school day at 8 a.m., and ends around 4 p.m. For most high school students attending EHA, their schedule consists of four 40-minute periods in the morning, followed by lunch. Then, there are either two double periods or two 40-minute periods

followed by one last double period to end the day.

Something unique about EHA’s high school division, Kadimah, is the size. The high school consists of 21 students and takes place upstairs of the EHA building in Olivette.

“Since we have such a small school,

each student has their own schedule based on the level they are at. You could have upper-classmen as well as lower-classmen in one class,” said Yehudah Greenberg, a freshman at EHA.

Kadimah offers a few after-school activities, such as working on a literary magazine and mock trial (which the majority of Kadimah students partici-

pated in this past year).

“Our school has a literary magazine –where students can submit all kinds of artwork or literature,” said Greenberg.

The literary magazine is run completely by high school students, with an occasional teacher to monitor the meetings. These meetings usually take place for a half hour after school.

Missouri Torah Institute (MTI), a yeshiva high school, is a Jewish all-boys day school for some and a boarding school for others. Students are expected to be at school at 7:40 a.m. For the in-town students, school ends at 7 p.m. most days. Twice a week, all students are required to attend a night seder (students from MTI learn with older boys in pairs of two), which ends at 8:15 at

Clean Speech initiative shows the power of positivity

BY DANIEL SHANKER SOPHOMORE, YESHIVAT KADIMAH HIGH SCHOOL

“The Torah and the Talmud teach us that hurtful speech is worse than cheating someone out of money,” said Rabbi Yosef David, executive director of Aish HaTorah of St. Louis. “If you cheat somebody financially, you can pay it back, but if you cheat somebody by hurting them with words—you might not be able to pay that back so easily.”

David and Aish HaToraH spearhaded Clean Speech St. Louis, a 30-day initiative during March that inspires people to speak positively and encourages people to refrain from hurtful language.

“The first year’s [curriculum] was the laws of slander and gossip, lashon hara and rechilus,” said David. “[This] year’s [focus] is onas devarim, which is negative words or messages that hurt other people face-to-face.”

This negativity has drastic consequences.

“It came to a point where families couldn’t sit together at the same Thanksgiving table or Pesach seder because this one’s a liberal and that one’s

SCHOOLS

CONTINUED FROM OPPOSITE PAGE

night. Students who live in a dorm are required to attend night seder Monday through Thursday. MTI has roughly 100 students, from 9th through 12th grade.

In addition to Monday through Friday classes, students at MTI have school on Sundays starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. However, unlike the other days of school, there are no secular classes on Sundays, just Judaic classes. Compared to most Jewish day schools and St. Louis

a conservative, this one’s a Democrat and that one’s a Republican,” David said. Negativity often surrounds modern culture. Social media invites people to complain to anyone who will listen. News compiles all the world’s problems into one easily digestible paper—how convenient!

“We’ve got to do something about [the

public schools, the scheduling for students attending MTI is very different and the days tend to be much longer.

“I’ve adapted to the new schedule,” said Noah Kornblum, a freshman at MTI. “It works nicely, and everyone is very supportive about it. I never have thoughts of waiting for the day to be over.”

Since school ends between 6:30 and 8:15 p.m., a common concern for students attending MTI is homework. When do they have the time to do homework?

“There is no pressure to do homework as soon as you go home, rather it’s more studying for tests, which are usually either every week or every other week,” said

negativity],” David said. “And not only that, but Judaism has answers to this. It has ideals that relate to the way we speak. It informs and inspires the world about the values of proper speech.”

The value, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” guides a Jewish lifestyle and is at the heart of Clean Speech.

“We should never do something that we wouldn’t want done to us, and therefore any speech, negativity, gossip or slander that we wouldn’t want to [experience], we should never do to somebody else,” David said.

Often, the world justifies slander with, “But it’s true.”

“We say it doesn’t make a difference if it’s true—it still hurts, and if it’s for no purpose, it’s destructive,” David said.

To push positive messages and encourage positive communication, Clean Speech sent out two-minute videos throughout March—which are currently available on YouTube—with a short message and a daily exercise. It also has a handbook containing 30 lessons.

The final—and most anticipated—event was an interview and concert with Hassidic rapper Nissim Black.

Aidan Kornblum, a freshman at MTI.

Parkway North High School, which is a public school, differs greatly from EHA and MTI when it comes to overall scheduling. School at Parkway North begins at 7:30 a.m. and the day ends at 2:30 p.m., instead of 4 or 7. Students receive block schedules, meaning each day can have a different schedule.

“One day a week I have all my classes in 45-minute blocks, and the other days it alternates between 40-and-90-minute classes,” said Ariela Grad, a senior at Parkway North.

At Parkway North, some students have lunch as early as 11 a.m. Other than an

“[Nissim Black] is somebody who’s just a great spokesperson for Clean Speech,” David said. “[He can] speak about his experiences with negative speech—people judging him by his religion, color or dress, and it was extremely powerful.

“His journey from the negativity and the hurt of the gangster rap culture to what he does today, using his words to lift people up and inspire others, is a tremendous lesson and very inspiring for everybody who hears him.”

Clean Speech is special in that it serves every Jew, regardless of affiliation or observance level.

“One of the most remarkable achievements and benefits of this program is that it’s a unifier,” David said. “It crosses all boundaries and [enables] all people, no matter where they are in their Jewish journey.” Speech is a great power, and it comes with great responsibility.

“Judaism is very clear that one of the greatest powers of the human being is our ability to communicate with speech,” David said. “When we understand the power of speech, and we understand how powerful we are, we’re going to treat it much more carefully.”

lunch break, most students have a full schedule.

“There’s not really a lot of time for breaks, so I don’t really get a time to walk around and socialize with my friends in school for a large amount of time,” Grad said.

Parkway North offers lots of after-school activities, such as theater and a variety of sports. It also has a Jewish Student Union (JSU), which connects Jewish teens in public schools with one another.

Different local schools have their own unique schedule structure. From arrival and dismissal times to extra-curricular activities, the differences among schools across the area are quite apparent.

Rabbi Yosef David (left) and Nissim Black.

Final Shir Hadash Shabbat speaker series program slated for April 22

Student Rabbi Shira Singelenberg will be the final featured scholar in Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community’s four-part Shabbat community education speaker series. She will lead a Shabbat morning service and Torah discussion on parsha Tazri-ya/Metzora beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, in the Arts and Education Building on the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex, 2 Millstone Campus Drive near Creve Coeur.

Immediately following the service and kiddush, Singelenberg will present a Lunch and Learn program titled “Why is this Movement Different from All Other Movements?” She will discuss the

Yom Hashoah

Reconstructionist view of God and Jewish versus American culture wars. Attendees will also get a glimpse of what distinguishes Reconstructionist Judaism from other Jewish movements.

A vegetarian or vegan box lunch will be provided. Reservations are required and can be made online at www.shirhadashstl. info/events/singelenbergshabbat or via e-mail to stlshirhadash@gmail.com.

Singelenberg, a native of Bethesda,

Md., is currently completing her third year of rabbinic studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Singelenberg has led High Holiday services and several Shabbat services at Shir Hadash in the past year. Next fall she will begin a two-year internship with the congregation.

The Shir Hadash community education series has been made possible, in part, by an Anything Grant from the Staenberg Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. For more information on the education series or about Shir Hadash, visit shirhadashstl.info or contact stlshirhadash@ gmail.com.

New ADL board chair named

The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Heartland regional office recently announced the election of Lauren Brenner as chair of the ADL Heartland Regional Advisory Board.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a leader of Lauren’s vision and intellect stepping into our top volunteer leadership role,” said Jordan Kadosh, ADL Heartland regional director, in a statement. “Lauren is deeply committed to the mission and work of ADL and will advance our efforts to fight hate in our community.”

A native of St. Louis, Brenner received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri. Brenner currently serves as General Counsel and Compliance Officer at Mid-America Transplant.

“I am excited to have been selected as ADL Heartland’s board chair at this pivotal moment and am deeply concerned about the growing threat of hate and extremism in our region,” Brenner said. “I look forward to working with Jordan and the ADL Heartland board to support this organization’s vital work in fighting hate for good.”

Brenner formally assumed the position in March of 2023, replacing outgoing chair Jennifer Schwesig.

The J to host bone health and cancer event

United Hebrew Congregation hosted the 2023 Yom HaShoah Holocaust remembrance ceremony on April 16. It marked the first in-person gathering since the pre-Covid 2019 Yom HaShoah. During the ceremony, survivors and descendants lit candles in memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. Above, Israeli scouts help lead guests in singing ‘Hatikvah.’ The event also commemorated the heroism of survivors and rescuers. Over 260 people attended, hearing from survivors, descendants and other guests. The theme, “Voices of Resistance,” was called out by several of the presenters, including descendant David Halpern, who said “Hitler did not win—we did, because we’re standing here today.” Carol Staenberg, chair of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, told the gathering “Today we pay tribute to survivors.” She reported that over 15,000 visitors have experienced the museum since its reopening last fall. For more photos from the Yom Hashoah commemoration, visit stljewishight.org/multimedia.

The Jewish Community Center’s community partner program, Sharsheret Supports STL, and Cancer Support Community will host an evening to better understand how to keep bones healthy and strong during and after cancer treatment. Bone Health and Cancer takes place virtually on Wednesday, May 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Research shows that cancer can have dramatic, yet often hidden consequences for bone health. While bone loss is a part of aging for many people, certain types of cancer and cancer treatments may lead to bone loss – no matter your age. If you or a loved one is undergoing cancer treatment, hear from experts what you can do to help keep your bones strong and improve the way you feel.

This event is free and open to all men and women. Registration is required at jccstl.com/bonehealth.

For more information on the J’s community partner program, Sharsheret Supports STL, visit jccstl.com/sharsheret or contact Debbi Braunstein, Program Manager, 314.442.3266, dbraunstein@ jccstl.org. For more information on Cancer Support Community, visit cancersupportstl.org or call 314-238-2000.

Three-part webinar series looks at ‘Sex and Judaism’

Shaare Emeth 20s and 30s and MaTovu invite the community to join Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi for an open-minded, queer-inclusive, personally relevant exploration of Jewish ideas about sex, sexuality and relationships. Sign up for the three-part series at https://sestl.co/ nikki to attend one, two or all three of these virtual classes. Open to the community. The webinars includes: May 10 - “Adam and Eve Started It!”; May 24“The Torah of Sex”; and May 31“Relationship Goals and Problematic Faves.”

Shira Singelenberg

Lauren Brenner

PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

OPINIONS

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

Trust in Israel’s future despite challenging present

BY RABBI JAMES BENNETT

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be,” wrote Robert Browning in his poem “Rabbi Ben Ezra,” imagining the wisdom of a real 12th century scholar counseling us to recognize the challenges of youth and the possibility of true maturity and growth.

Seventy-five years ago, on the fifth of Iyar in the Hebrew year 5708, corresponding to May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion and 36 other visionaries gathered dramatically in Tel Aviv and declared:

“Members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz-Yisrael and of the Zionist Movement,

are here assembled on the day of the termination of the British Mandate over Eretz-Yisrael and, by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish State in EretzYisrael, to be known as the State of Israel.”

Born of the 2,000-year dream of the Jewish people to return to the land in which the Jewish religion was born and of the necessities and traumas of modern Jewish life, Israel has grown and flourished and developed into a source of great pride for Jews around the world during these 75 years.

We celebrate, we rejoice and we take

Storah-telling

BY RABBI JAMES STONE GOODMAN

We marked Yom HaShoa, Holocaust Memorial Day, on April 17-18.

I don’t remember the details of the story, but I do remember some of the names. He was a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto. We met him on sabbatical to Israel, mid-’90s. I was studying music by night and, by day, we sat in an Ulpan, a language class.

The organizers of the Ulpan brought in a man to speak to us, to tell his story and to exercise our Hebrew. The man was retired and spent his time telling his story to classes and other gatherings.

He had been imprisoned inside the ghetto in Warsaw. There was a man outside the ghetto walls who would risk danger and toss supplies over the wall at night. They had not met, and there was no exchange of names or identities. The man telling the story assumed he was a sympathetic Pole, and although he was suspicious, there was enough of this exchange that the teller of the tale developed trust.

The man inside the ghetto had a box with heirlooms of his family and other valuables that his mother had entrusted him with. He was certain that the ghetto was going to end in destruction, so he took a chance and one night flung the box over the wall to his co-conspirator on the other side with a note to hold it for him in the event that he survived. That they would find each other seemed like an unlikely scenario.

The teller of the tale survived World War II and after another series of dramatic chapters he landed in Israel and made a life there. Part of his life became the telling of his story to classrooms mostly of kids who had no firsthand knowledge of the horrors he had lived through. I met him more than 50 years after the war in which his story took place.

His story was layered. He told it in the chapters that developed after he thought the story had been closed. One day, he was telling his story to a group of adults in Jerusalem. It was decades after the end of the war, and someone in the rear of the room interrupted with, “I know this story.”

“I have heard this story,” that person said, “but I heard it told from the other side of the wall. … I think the person

Rabbi James Stone Goodman serves Central Reform Congregation and is a past president of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.

who received your box lives in Tel Aviv, his name is Lieberman and he is a foreman in a factory there.”

“Cannot be,” the teller of the tale said. “This man was not a Jew.”

“Was he gingi” (fair skinned, red-headed)?

“Yes.”

“He is a Jew, he survived the war masquerading as a Pole, but his name is Lieberman and he runs a factory in Tel Aviv. I have heard him tell his side of the story.”

The teller of the tale left the room, made a phone call, jumped in his car and headed for Tel Aviv.

In Lieberman’s office, they found each other over a desk and Lieberman filled in his part of the story.

“I have kept this here with me all these years in case you had survived, just for this moment,” he said, reaching under his desk and for the box with the teller’s possessions in it.

I love this story not only for the few details I remember but because of the symmetry of stories that it represents. All story. When you are entrusted with stories, or when you write stories, or when you tell stories, you come to know that stories have an organic sense not unlike nature, like a tree of stories.

Sometimes, the story throws a branch here, a shoot there, the story surprises in that it has an organ symmetry. It has a shape, like the symmetry of a tree. A wildness that is not random, also not perpendicular.

When you are entrusted with such stories, you tell them and you become open to the storytelling. The story may be telling you in the sense that stories grow and move and change and throw a branch here another shoot there. These are stories about people, wild unpredictable and with a symmetry of their own, and I have had many stories entrusted to me that have grown in just this way.

I had been entrusted with this story about 25 years ago. In 2020, for the first time, I told it. What to do with such stories? Tell them.

pride in this remarkable accomplishment, filled with a deep and abiding love for the fulfillment of this ancient vision, renewed and flourishing in our lifetimes. The modern state of Israel has become, for most of us, a part of our core values as Jews. We cannot imagine a world without Israel, and we dedicate ourselves to celebrating and supporting Israel, praying for Israel, visiting and getting to know the land and its people.

As the Psalmist so powerful wrote: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill, may my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, If I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.”

How, then, are we who love Israel, who cannot imagine anything less, who wish to celebrate with unbridled joy an accomplishment that seemed impossible a century ago — 75 years of independence and

Your charitable lifecycle, part one

BY NINA NEEDLEMAN

When I was a financial planner, we helped individuals and families address their sequential financial needs and priorities at each stage of their lifecycle. There are three major stages of one’s financial lifecycle:

1) Learning years –birth to-age 21;

2) Earning years – ages 22-64;

3) Yearning or golden years—ages 65+.

Today, we’re going to focus on the learning years. During these years, a young person’s priorities are spending money for technology, clothes and entertainment. Their parents’ priorities are saving and investing for college tuition, supplies and boarding expenses.

So as a Jewish parent, there are a few key finance lessons you can teach your child: How to budget, grow and save your money and how to give back.

Budgeting lessons can start early. First – define the term budget. In simple terms, a budget is a written table showing money in—money out.

Second, explain wants versus needs. Wants are the newest Xbox or iPhone or whatever all the kids are getting. Needs are a roof over your head, groceries, electricity for your devices and more.

Next go into more detail. Explain that a budget is all sources of earnings and income received – from mowing, babysitting, an after-school job, money from birthday gifts, b’nai mitzvah gifts and any borrowing from parents. From that you subtract expenses. For a kid, expenses can be snacks, sports/choir/ band equipment or uniforms, hobby costs and the costs of any extras parents and other adults don’t supply.

Having a surplus or extra funds left after paying expenses is your goal. Besides spending on tangibles, a kid’s budget can also include saving and investing. Initially, those surplus dollars can be saved and accumulated to grow in an interest-bearing account.

The time value of money is a beautiful thing. Dollars in an interest-bearing account grows on a compounded basis –so over time, you make interest and interest on the interest. That’s the way to grow your savings for a big goal like a bike, the latest iPhone, or a down payment on a car.

Kids are also eligible to sock earnings away in an IRA. (Just imagine how much less she’d have to save for retirement if she starts as a teen.) Teach your child the

Nina Needleman is a retired financial planner. She spent the first three decades of her career in the financial services industry, where she mentored salespeople so they could teach, educate and sell financial products to consumers. For the past nine years, she worked directly with consumers as a financial planner to help them reach their life goals. Now she uses her business skills to help nonprofit organizations and, more importantly, as a volunteer to teach people about personal finance and philanthropy.

habit of paying yourself first. If she socks away 10% of earnings or income as a regular “expense” in her budget, she won’t miss the few dollars. And better still, she’ll have a great habit with which to start her adult life – an emergency fund. Giving back is the third valuable finance lesson and is a key tenet of Judaism. And it’s something else to include in a young person’s budget. Children learn from the charity work and donations done by the adults in their world. They also learn to give of their time and talents in their mitzvah projects.

How can you and your child discover what cause or causes move them to donate?

In “Raising Charitable Children,” author Carol Weisman recommends introducing children to charitable giving at 3 or 4 years old. Even at that age, she says, children understand giving and caring. How? She suggests several ways:

1) On a child’s birthday, that child would get to make a small financial donation to the charity of choice.

2) Ask each child, “What made you happy last year” and “What made you cry?” Next, put the joys and sorrows into categories. Then talk about how to invest in your community so others share your joy and could be spared some sadness.

3) If you have several children or grandchildren, give the group a sum of money to donate, and require them to research options and decide together. (Note this doesn’t have to be big dollars. For an individual child — maybe $20. For a group, you decide what’s reasonable — $100 or $250?)

4) Make part of a child’s Hanukkah gift, b’nai mitzvah gift or other gift giving occasion a donation to a charity of choice.

Stories send out branches, roots for the teller and the told

Rabbi James Bennett serves Congregation Shaare Emeth.

See BENNETT on page 19A

FEATURES

ARTS AND CULTURE FOOD HOLIDAYS LIFESTYLES

Barnes-Jewish Foundation, Jewish philanthropy help boost area health care

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

St. Louis has a reputation for excellence in medicine that transcends its size as the 21st largest metropolitan area in the country.

Consider that U.S. News & World Report ranks the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital the No. 10 cancer hospital in the country. The magazine ranks the Washington University School of Medicine at No. 11. It’s not unusual for patients from neighboring states to travel to St. Louis for medical care, particularly when the diagnosis calls for treatment unavailable to them locally.

How did the Gateway City become known as a health care mecca? In many ways, it can be traced back to the legacy of the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis and Jewish philanthropic leaders who emphasized giving back to the community.

Jewish Hospital as a standalone institution ceased to exist when it merged with Barnes Hospital in 1996, but one of its lasting legacies was the formation of the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The foundation has a total asset value just shy of $1 billion, making it the largest charitable foundation in St. Louis based on grant volume.

From medical innovation to community outreach education, the St. Louis area is richer due to the efforts of the foundation’s gifts. The foundation touches many areas of the community,

AMY FENSTER BROWN

On mah jongg, husbands and other random thoughts

BY AMY FENSTER BROWN

Sometimes you have leftover food in the fridge for too long and you have to clean it out. Or the photo roll on your smart phone is jam packed so you have to remove a few pics.

In the same way, my brain is filled with all kinds of random thoughts, so I need to purge. This seems like a great place for that.

As I empty that portion of my mind, rest assured that all of my useless anxieties and worries are still taking up prime real estate between my ears. I present you 18 random thoughts.

1. In an emergency, Americans call 911. In Israel, do they call 119?

2. There should be a class for husbands called “Storytelling and Details,” because none of them know how to relay a story or give us details.

3. My kids only need me when I am on the phone. Or the toilet.

4. I’m writing a bedtime story for older adults. It’s called “One Last Pish.”

5. If someone I sort of don’t like is going to Israel, I purposely forget to tell them not to shave their legs before going into the Dead Sea. If I really don’t like them, I secretly hope they float in the portion of water that’s only been lightly salted.

6. Why is it that I have to pay like $500 for an airplane ticket but the flight attendant can’t give me the whole can of soda?

7. Actual conversation with my sister: Susie – You seem anxious today.

Me – I’m anxious every day. Today I just don’t have the energy to hide it.

8. You’re limited to only what you know. But guess what: That’s not all there is. Open your mind.

9. My kids have never said the words “shut up” out loud to me. Instead, they just say it with their eyes, which might actually be louder.

10. Sometimes I feel the need to shop but don’t want to spend the money, so I shop online, put things in my virtual cart and then never hit “checkout.”

said Betsy Gallop Dennis, legacy relations manager.

“We are the largest donor to Washington University School of Medicine,” Dennis said. “We support Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Goldfarb School of Nursing, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center and Evelyn’s House (an arm of BJC Hospice). We also have what’s called a community grants program that funds the JCC and other programs. For example, we recently made a large gift to the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.”

The Jewish Hospital legacy

Jewish Hospital of St. Louis was known as a top health care institution because of its medical staff’s high level of expertise. It was also a leader in attracting charitable gifts. When Barnes and Jewish merged, both hospitals created the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital through their separate foundation assets. Barnes Hospital contributed $37.7 million to that effort. Jewish Hospital, the smaller of the two, contributed $127.2 million.

From the outset, the foundation sought to supplement the health care provided by its sponsoring hospitals and fulfill its mission of providing medical care to patients of any religion or economic background. It was also a mission of Jewish Hospital and one of the reasons the hospital attracted the current Barnes-Jewish Hospital president, Dr. John Lynch.

“During my pulmonary and critical care fellowship, I trained at both Barnes and Jewish,” Lynch said. “It was my first real experience of the culture at Jewish Hospital, which was remarkable. The values for patient care, no matter what walk of life, no matter the color of your skin, whatever your background, was evident everywhere, and it dated back to the very beginning.”

Lynch is also president of the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, See FOUNDATION on opposite page

11. Nine times out of 10, when I’m on the phone with my mother, she says, “I love you” at the exact second I’m hanging up, so I’m sure she thinks that when she tells me how she feels my instinct is to hang up on her.

12. Of all the things I’ve lost in my life, my metabolism is the thing I miss most.

13. The best snack for any occasion, daytime or late at night, tipsy or sober, whether you’re rich or poor, is American cheese melted onto tortilla chips.

14. One day I’m going to distract everyone in my mah jongg group and use a joker in a pair.

15. Having a husband with a cold is like having 100 babies.

16. When Catholics hear the word “mass” they think of church. When Jews hear the word “mass” the think of cancer.

17. We’re told everything happens for a reason. But I have a lot of questions.

18. You know you’ve reached the pinnacle of Jewish motherhood when your child calls and you answer the phone with, “What’s wrong?” instead of “Hello?”

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.

Dr. John Lynch holds “A History of the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. PHOTOS: BILL MOTCHAN

The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital donor wall.

A wall in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital lobby recalls the merger of the two legacy hospitals that make up its name.

so he can help guide the efforts of the foundation to be in sync with the needs of the hospital. That sometimes means providing health care to people who need it most and often don’t receive it.

“There are so many gaps and needs from traditional funding of health care,” he said. “The foundation allows us to step in and close a gap in funding to stabilize a situation, whether it’s disease or a population that has a gap in their needs. And that’s an enormous benefit to our community.”

The foundation looks for opportunities to fills those gaps, Lynch said. It begins by investing in programs that will stabilize lives. One example is early testing to diagnose breast cancer among at-risk populations. The foundation also helps fund leading-edge research to shorten the cycle from laboratory testing to medical treatment. Another key program funded by the foundation is its direct-to-community services.

“Every year, we give about 10,000 free flu shots,” Lynch said. “We used to have people come to our lobby. Now we go out into the community and neighborhoods. We also have funds that go to social workers who can use the money to get patients stabilized after they leave the hospital, like a wheelchair if they can’t afford it.”

Connected to Jewish community

The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital retains a significant Jewish connection via its board members, nearly half of whom are leaders in the Jewish community. Harvey Wallace is a partner in the accounting firm Brown Smith Wallace and a veteran volunteer for many Jewish institutions. Wallace joined the foundation board on the recommendation of the late S. Lee Kling.

“Lee opened a lot of doors in the world of philanthropy for me,” Wallace said. “I

always had a charitable side, but I learned more about giving from him. The amount of funds that the foundation distributes every year, whether it’s for research or for services, it has made a huge impact in the community. We’re fortunate to have a Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. So to be connected to it is just an honor.”

Another Jewish foundation board member is Keith Guller, retired CEO of Essex Industries. Guller said his board involvement affects many people.

“The number of grants the foundation provides that reach the ground level to a lot of folks, people in need, we all benefit from that,” Guller said. “The reward comes from actually seeing the direct benefits. Pedal for the Cause, which is part of the foundation, reaches out to a whole new area of individuals and that money comes back directly to the St. Louis area.”

One of the foundation’s newest board members is Dr. Ken Ludmerer, a master clinician, physician historian and professor at Washington University School of

Medicine. Ludmerer called the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital board exceptional and the foundation itself an “extraordinary organization.”

“I have never known a board and an organization so value laden as this one,” Ludmerer said. “It’s really been inspiring and an honor just to be part of it.”

Ludmerer said the foundation’s approach to fundraising and giving is focused on sustainability.

“Most foundations of its size will dispense money from the earnings of an endowment,” he said. “In addition, the foundation raises money annually to maximize this impact. It’s innovative to continue raising money when you’re that big. There is also extraordinary thought and reflection on how the funds of the foundation can most effectively be used for the good of patients.”

Innovative thought at the foundation also applies to the specific programs its supports, Ludmerer said. Those include cancer and neurological diseases, as well

as day-to-day needs that enhance patient care, such as translation services.

“We have translators immediately available to talk with the patient at the bedside and provide services — any language one can conceive of — and the foundation is responsible for that,” Ludmerer said. “Another important area that has not been supported by conventional medical foundations is bringing health services to the community. My hope is that this will become a model for other hospital foundations.

“This is the idea of engaging the community in a very constructive way, making sure people who need home care get it and lessen some of the social determinants of disease. This is quite novel for a hospital and the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital is supporting it. Extraordinary care coupled with the imagination and willingness to make true departures in the nature of philanthropy I think are highly characteristic of this organization and really make it unique.”

Above, Keith Guller, a member of the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital board.

At left, the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital donor wall.

Lefty’s Bagels opens its doors in Chesterfield

JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

Can you smell the bagels? You should because the day has finally arrived. Lefty’s Bagels officially opened its doors at 7 a.m. April 14.

The new Lefty’s Bagels is located at 13359 Olive Blvd. in the Woodchase Shopping Center in Chesterfield. Co-owner Scott Lefton says he hopes customers will be excited with what they find at the new shop.

“We plan on continuing bagel innovation by creating new varieties and using local ingredients wherever possible,” said Lefton. “Lefty’s will be a truly unique dining experience since everything will be made onsite and from scratch.”

Lefton and co-owner Doug Goldenberg are brothers-in-law, best buddies and Temple Israel congregants. They are also adamant that Lefty’s is where bagel traditionalists will come because they plan to honor the traditional way of making New York Style bagels. That means slowly fermenting dough overnight, boiling it in malt water, then baking on burlap-lined bagel boards like they did 100 years ago.

“We are excited to provide the St. Louis community with a quality bagel made in a time-honored traditional way that connects us to our past,” said Lefton.

The kitchen concept is open, so customers are able to see the boil kettle, the bagel oven and the bagel makers baking fresh bagels and taking them directly out of the oven.

“We will also have much more than just bagels. We are going to a wonderful variety of bagel sandwiches, deli meats and other bakery items such as challah, babkas and black-and-white cookies,” said Lefton.

Patrons will be able to eat at the shop as well as order to-go from the counter. Online ordering, credit card payments, pre-orders, catering, gift cards and loyalty programs will also be available.

Lefton and Goldenberg are striving to create a New York bagel café atmosphere that will double as a micro-deli. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches will be served, along with premium smoked fish, fresh brewed coffee from Kaldi’s and other specialty beverages.

“We will also be serving the most popular items you would typically see in a Jewish New York-style deli such as corned beef, smoked pastrami, fresh nova lox, smoked whitefish, sable and trout,” said Lefton.

Lefty’s has partnered with the Samaki Smoked Fish Co., which is flying in their famous hand-smoked fish weekly and Sy Ginsberg’s Meat & Deli out of Detroit is providing corned beef brisket, pastrami brisket, turkey breast and turkey breast pastrami.

There will be a wide variety of schmears made fresh daily, including plain, low-fat plain, garlic and herb, scallion, nova lox, veggie, jalapeño, blueberry and strawberry.

The menu will also have a couple of classic soup and salad options that can be ordered as a side or full portion for those who may want an alternative to a bagel.

When it comes to flavors, fans of Lefty’s know they don’t skimp.

“We love pushing the envelope on bagel flavors,” said Lefton. “We will always carry the classic flavors, but be on the lookout for bagels that you may have never seen before.”

The current flavors include plain, poppy, sesame, onion, garlic, tzitzel, everything, salt, cinnamon raisin, chocolate chip, blueberry, whole wheat and pumpernickel.

Scott Lefton and Doug Goldenberg.

Lefty’s Bagels is located at 13359 Olive Blvd. in the Woodchase Shopping Center in Chesterfield.

Students ready to ‘rock’ in fight against cancer

BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

It takes a certain kind of person with a specific kind of drive to be willing to sit in a rocking chair for 63 consecutive hours. Sam Shellist, a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia and a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, is just such a person.

At 6 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, Shellist will climb onto a stage set up at the corner of 9th Street and Broadway in downtown Columbia, Mo., in front of the Binghams Traditional Clothing store. He will then sit down in a rocking chair made in honor of Aaron Colwell, a member of AEPi from 1999-2003. Colwell was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016 and passed away in November 2021. The chair was a donation and memorial from members of the 2003 graduating class of AEPI Mizzou.

In the Colwell chair, Shellist will begin his journey to raise $200,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Continuing the tradition

It all started in 1969, when Jack Fishman read about a Rock-A-Thon at East Carolina University that had raised over $900 for the March of Dimes. Soon, Fishman and rocker Gary Panitz spearheaded a campaign that would raise $3,205.29 for the March of Dimes.

Fifty-two years and over one million dollars raised later, they still rock every other April and the Rock-A-Thon has become the largest single Greek philanthropy in the nation.

Former AEPi president and Rock-AThon Co-Chair Josh Thorpe emphasizes how important a passionate brotherhood is to making this 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.”

This year’s Rock-A-Thon is dedicating its efforts to brain cancer head and neck research through the American Cancer Society.

“Rock-A-Thon raised over $180,000 in 2021, bringing our donation amount over $1.2 million. We are thankful for our partnership with ACS and plan to break more records this year,” said Noah Grimsley, the chapter president.

And Thorpe believes they have just the right man in the chair in Sam, who grew up in Vernon Hills a northwest suburb of Chicago.

“Sam is the kind of guy who loves all the members of AEPi and cares deeply about this event for personal reasons as well as for the traditions that have been passed

down to us after so many years of this event,” said Thorpe. “Sam is a determined caring man and has strong opinions he is

willing to fight for. He also has so much knowledge of the event and is extremely excited for the weekend of the event and has already been a huge help in the planning process.”

How the Rock-A-Thon works

While Shellist rocks, his brotherhood will support him by “canning” for donations across Missouri.

“My brothers will be going around raising money while I sit there and I will also have people staying on the stage with me at all times,” said Shellist.

Supporters can also support Sam by making a donation online at mizzourockathon.com/donate.

“I will not be standing up for any reason whatsoever,” said Shellist, who understands what that means physically, and will make some adjustments.

To prepare, Shellist has been communicating with past rockers to get advice on what it will actually be like. As a result, he has developed a few strategies for his own success.

“I don’t have to be rocking the whole time but probably will a lot just to stay moving,” said Shellist.

The entire fraternity knows the importance of the Rock-A-Thon and says they will be working hard to raise money while Shellist is in the chair.

“I am honestly incredibly proud to be a part of such a great cause and event,” Shellist said. “It’s something that I always wanted to play an integral part in, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Healthwatch is a monthly feature focusing on a health- or fitness-related topic with a Jewish angle. The feature is published the second edition of each month. Have a suggestion for a potential Healthwatch subject? Email news@stljewishlight.org.

LEFT: Mizzou senior Sam Shellist is AEPi’s 2023 Rock-A-Thon Rocker.

Rockathon history: Jack Fishman (standing) and rocker Gary Panitz. IMAGE COURTESY OF AEPI

SUBMIT YOUR SIMCHA ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FREE!

GOLDSTEIN-KAPLAN ENGAGEMENT

Andrea Goldstein, daughter of Ken and Maxine Goldstein of St. Louis, and Josh Kaplan, son of Carl and Debbie Kaplan of Columbia, Mo., have announced their engagement.

Andrea is the granddaughter of Milton and Merle Goldstein of St. Louis, and William and Pearl Kramer of Philadelphia.

Josh is the grandson of Joseph and Eleanor Kaplan of New York, and John and Shirley Thoms of Wolcott, Conn.

A June 2023 wedding is planned.

TRIBUTES

ALLEN-TAYLOR WEDDING

Joshua Taylor and Alexis Allen were married September 24, 2022 at Westwood Country Club in St. Louis. Cantor Seth Warner of Shaare Emeth officiated.

Josh is the son of Todd and Judy Taylor of Creve Coeur and the grandson of Susan Allen, the late Joel Allen, the late Roger Imber, and the late Alyn and Marlyn Essman. Alexis is the daughter of Dr. Aaron and Angela Allen of Laguna Niguel, California and the granddaughter of the late Paul and Flora Allen. Annahita Haghighi and Stephanie Alonso served as Maids of Honor. Jordan Taylor served as Best Man. Harper Allen, niece of the bride, served as flower girl.

Alexis is a dentist at Kraner Family Dentistry and Josh is completing his third year at Washington University Law School. He will be joining Husch Blackwell’s Private Wealth & Estate Planning Group in September. Josh and Alexis reside in St. Louis and will honeymoon in Thailand and France.

GEIGER-ROOT WEDDING

Anna Geiger and Benjamin Root were married Jan. 14, 2023 at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Rabbi Rebecca Hornstein, a first cousin of the groom, officiated.

Anna is the daughter of Nancy and Glenn Geiger of West Palm Beach, Fla., and the granddaughter of the late Kay and Charlie Gieger, and the late Dorothy and John Kriz.

Ben is the son of Deborah Zimmerman and Jonathan Root of Clayton, and the grandson of the late Dolly and Herbert Zimmerman, and the late Evelyn and Arthur Root.

Ben and Anna decided to have their siblings stand up for them at the wedding. The wedding party included Michael Root and Eve Root, the brother and sister of the groom, as well as Erik Geiger and Genevieve Geiger, the brother and sister of the bride.

Ben and Anna met the summer of 2019 while working at Sloan Kettering in New York City. They started their relationship by taking candy breaks together at the hospital but soon found they had so much more in common.

“We knew Anna was the one when she watched every St. Louis Blues game during the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” the family noted.

After their wedding, Anna and Ben honeymooned in Japan. The couple resides in St. Louis.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: MARGO BLAIR EPSTEIN

SHEILA GREENBAUM, MICHELLE BROOKS, JENNIFER DEUTSCH, DIANNA FINE, WENDY FLUSSER, ALISON FOX, SARAH BETH MATT, JACK HUMMEL & MO AFL-CIO

“STL Jewish Light would like to honor the recipients of the 2023 NCJWSTL awards”

- St. Louis Jewish Light Board and Staff –

IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF

MICHAEL "MICKEY" MARKS

- Robert M. Steiner & Robin Steiner Fox –SANFORD NEUMAN

“To Shula Neuman and the Neuman family, our sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.”

- St. Louis Jewish Light Board and Staff –

Jennifer and Andrew Epstein of Chesterfield would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Margo Blair Epstein, on Feb. 10, 2023, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces.

Margo is the granddaughter of Cathy and the late Jon Poulin of Memphis; and Susie and Allan Epstein of Creve Coeur. She is the great-granddaughter of Lynn and the late Robert Kline of Memphis; the late Cele and David Poulin of Boca Raton, Fla.; Ann and Marty Epstein of Creve Coeur; and the late Barbara and George Gunther of Chicago.

Margo has a big brother, Charlie Jacob Epstein, who is 2 years old.

PHOTO: PAUL SIMON/FORGED IN THE NORTH PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES ROY

PHOTO COURTESY OF FELISE WAXMAN

By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com | ‘Jewish Wine’ Difficulty: Medium

Across

1. Baron Cohen of film

6. Indiana Jones prop

10. PFC’s superiors

14. Word repeated towards the end of many sedarim

15. + and - particles

16. Work in a restaurant, perhaps

17. Wine for Shmuel’s mom?

queen

20. Tefillin locale

21. “Citizen Kane” studio

22. Where to learn Hebrew

23. Camera parts or flowers

25. Wine for the father of Chophni and Pinchas?

28. Hit-boosting tool, in webspeak

31. Jewish group that went viral on TikTok in 2022, for short

32. Dessert-cart choice

33. Sukkot need?

35. “Bracketology” org.

37. Lightly char

38. Wine for writer Shai?

41. Kind of hall

44. Achi, in Adelaide

ble rasha?

68. Hebrew abode, 3000 years ago

69. Solo

70. Reads Torah (Var.)

71. “And Israel smote him with the ___ of the sword” (Num

21:24)

72. What “eer” means in poetry

73. Seder, e.g.

THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE ANSWERS

19. Possible nickname for a notable Persian

29. Miss Piggy, to herself

Find the answers to this week’s puzzle by visiting the following link: http://bit.ly/0419-crossword

BENNETT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13A

flourishing of the ancient dream — how are we to feel when so much of the dream seems unfulfilled at this momentous time?

Consider the vision of the founders, who went on in their Declaration of Independence to write:

“The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter

45. Yutzes

49. Filmmaker Horowitz who got more hate waving an Israeli flag than an Isis flag (at Berkeley)

50. Indignant

51. Premium cable channel, briefly

53. Solid wood

54. Wine for writer Stephens?

57. Gives a drasha

59. Mounds

60. Boo or yoo follower

62. Valentine misspelling

63. He directed James in “East of Eden”

64. Wines for a nota-

of the United Nations.”

Down

1. It’s a bit of a bit?

2. Mot preceder

3. Circus Maximus vehicle

4. Impairs

5. What to do with this: +

6. Suggest you’re not telling the truth

7. Stand for the elderly, e.g.

8. Words with pickle or jam

9. “Gangnam Style” singer

10. Nifty

11. Utility conduit

12. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” queen

While some may choose to turn a blind eye to the realities of our day, a reality in which the modern state governed today, controlled by a far-right coalition that is arguably not representative of the majority of the citizens of Israel and certainly not representative of the majority of people who dwell there, we who truly love Israel, both as it is and as it was dreamed to be, cannot deny the truth.

The truth is that almost every commitment in this clause of the Declaration of Independence is either unfulfilled or in grave jeopardy today, in this 75th year of Israel’s existence. To say otherwise is to deny the truth.

The current governing coalition is not fostering the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants. Nor is the current government basing its policies on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets. Surely, no one can claim that the complete equality of social and political rights of all Israel’s inhabitants, irrespective of reli-

13. Scene after a movie’s credits

18. Approximator’s words

22. Campus near LAX

23. Verizon Fios or Xfinity, for short

24. Notable Stone

26. .jpg and .gif files

27. Israeli Abba

30. Enter by force

34. Former intelli -

gence org.

36. Helper at

gion, race or sex, is being pursued, nor freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.

Recent events on the Temple Mount prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Holy Places of all religions are not being protected.

Some might despair of Israel completely, but to do so would be to give victory to both the enemies of Israel from the outside, and those who have seized power from within. As Jews, we are taught never to despair, and we must certainly never despair of Israel.

But many of us feel powerless to effect change. Rabbi Donniel Hartman, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, recently counseled otherwise:

“We are not powerless. We have the ability to help shape and influence the future values and ideologies of Israel’s citizens.

We have the power to lay the foundations for a new and broad social coalition with a different vision for Israel. This coalition needs to be formed, nurtured and

with “the”

64. Cavs, on the board

65. Car-pool abbr.

66. ‘80s prime-time alien

67. Onetime sonic boom maker, for short

equipped with the ideology, language, leadership and vision to recapture the imagination of the majority of Israeli society. The struggle will be slow and difficult, but there is no alternative to long-term change.”

This is the great challenge of Israel’s 75th year. We must celebrate with enthusiasm while also rededicating ourselves to working as partners with our fellow lovers of Zion, with all who love and share the vision of what Israel was established to be and is still yet to become.

The prophet Micah famously said, “God has told you, O human, what is good, and what God requires of you: Only to do justice, and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

May Israel and all who love Israel do justice, love and goodness, and walk with humility in God’s presence, thereby meriting many more celebrations of peace in the Land of Israel and throughout the world. May Israel grow mature, wise and old, for the future best is yet to be.

OBITUARIES

SUSAN JOYCE “SUE” BUSSMAN, January 28, 1956 – April 1, 2023

Today, our hearts are broken as we all mourn the loss of our beloved Sue. Her bright light and big heart left us too soon, but we will remember her warmth, love, and generosity.

Sue taught us all the power of friendship. The length, depth, and vibrance of her many friendships was amazing. She valued everybody. Regardless of who you might be, sibling, relative, friend, even stranger, she had your back and was also always there to help.

We will miss her as will those she impacted throughout her life, from friends and family to the work she did with Minds Eye Radio translating vision into audio for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

A graveside service was held Sunday, April 9th at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

BONNIE WEINBERG COWAN, of Rockville, Maryland, March 30, 2023.

Beloved wife of Elliot Cowan. Devoted mother of Marnina (Seth), Amalia, and Micah Cowan. Beloved daughter of Joyce Fischer and the late Joseph Weinberg. Devoted sister of Sandy Weinberg and Laurie Weinberg. Cherished grandmother of Aviv Cowan and his soon to be named newborn brother. Funeral services were held on Sunday, April 2 at Tikvat Israel Congregation, 2200 Baltimore Rd., Rockville, MD. Interment at Garden of Remembrance/Gan Zikaron Memorial Park in Clarksburg, MD.

Contributions can be made to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital or Tikvat Israel Congregation.

Arrangements by Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, Inc. under Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington Contract.

JOYCE A. (BRONSTEIN) FINKELSTEIN, March 22, 2023

Beloved wife of David Finkelstein; dear mother of Matthew Finkelstein and Jennifer (Finkelstein) McKie; dear grandmother AKA Mimi of Eli and Parker McKie; dear daughter of the late Julius and the late Evelyn Bronstein; dear sister of Gail Grosman and sister-inlaw of the late Bernard (Butch) Grosman; dear aunt of Jay Grosman, Andrew Grosman, Jeff Finkelstein, Danny Finkelstein, and Lisa Finkelstein; dear sisterin-law of Les Finkelstein and the late Bert Finkelstein.

Joyce was a kind and beautiful soul loved by all. Always went through life wearing a big smile and made countless friendships along the way. She loved music, dancing, socializing, shopping, and more than anything her grandchildren, Eli and Parker. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial gathering was held on April 2, 2023.

Memorial contributions preferred to American Stroke Association (stroke.org) or the charity of your choice.

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) DiazGranados (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

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

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 held Wednesday, April 5 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Boulevard, 63132. Interment immediately followed 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

DORIS LEAH “KAPPY” HAAS (née Kaplan) died in St. Louis, MO, on April 13, 2023, at the age of 106.

She was predeceased by her husband Milton Haas and her daughters Mary and Barbara, and is survived by her beloved grandchildren Michael Burak, Meredith Burak, and John Brunofski, as well as her nephews Jeffrey Kaplan (Patrice) and Richard Kaplan (Patricia).

Born on March 23, 1917 to Henry and Sara Kaplan, Kappy was a native of New York City, where she was a lead interior decorator for the Gimbels Department Store. She traveled extensively, and was an excellent golfer and tennis player.

She had a wonderful, wry sense of humor, and is remembered for her wise counsel, her vast generosity, and her ability to improve almost anything.  She will be greatly missed.

A private memorial service will be held by the family.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to HIAS (act.hias.org) or the charity of your choice. Berger Memorial Service

SARAH REVA “COOKIE” HOLTZMAN passed away peacefully on March 30, 2023, at the age of 102. She had a long, good life.

Sarah was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on February 16, 1921, to Joe and Birdie Braverman. Her round face and big, dark eyes earned her the nickname of “Cookie” as a toddler.

Cookie met Joe Holtzman when they worked together at Edison Brothers Stores. They were married from 1943 until Joe’s death in 2012.

Cookie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings, Karl, Eleanor, and Irv. She is survived by her four children, Michael (Amelia) Holtzman, James (Sarah) Holtzman, Barbara (Robert) Earthal, and Lynne (Mark) Myavec; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Cookie was an avid reader and mah jongg and rummikub player, and she kept her sarcastic sense of humor right up to the end. She will be missed.

Donations may be made to the AntiDefamation League or St. Jude’s Hospital. Interment will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

BONNIE SUE LAIDERMAN passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

She is survived by Howard Laiderman, her husband of 42 years.  Dear mother of Marcy Cohen Seeney and Danielle (Scott) Green, grandmother of Ethan Seeney and Noah Green, sister to the late Michael Kaltman, daughter of the late Irvin Kaltman and Edith Shoob, daughter in law of Lorraine and the late Stanley Laiderman, and sister-in-law to Barry (Lisa) Laiderman, Steven (Tammi) Laiderman, and Caryn Babich.  Dear aunt, great aunt, cousin,

and friend to many.

Bonnie was the founder of Veterans Home Care a national company she developed working tirelessly with Howard that helps senior veterans in need of homecare. The company has provided care for over 20,000 veterans and their spouses and is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2023.

Bonnie’s quest to help others started after her own mother was dying of breast cancer.

Her mom lived in Florida, and with limited means, Bonnie wanted to help her get help with an aide to assist with the chores of daily living.

That’s when Bonnie learned about a littleknown pension with the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides help for veterans and their spouses.

Her mother’s late husband, Bonnie’s stepfather, had served in the military during wartime, and her mom would have qualified for the VA benefit, but Bonnie’s mom passed away before she could seek help.

Bonnie decided to make it her mission to ensure veterans who have given so much for their country, as well as their surviving spouses, could take advantage of the pension. That formed the foundation for Veterans Home Care.

For her dedication and achievement Bonnie was named to the St. Louis Small Business Hall of Fame by Small Business Monthly, was recognized as one of the most influential women in St. Louis by Fox 2 as well as the St. Louis Business Journal and was named to the national Hall of Honor by McKnight’s Senior Living. Veterans Home Care was also recognized for many national business awards including the Inc. 5000.

“Her legacy will always be her tenacity and quick decision-making spirit. In my mind no matter how difficult or complex a situation would be, Bonnie could size it up and find a way to move on.   She loved to help the underdog, the people that needed a little help, the confidence,” said Donna Appel, Vice-President of Veterans Home Care and a long-time friend of Bonnie. “She took on many causes besides the entire business she built. She would give someone a chance, at a better life by offering them a way out of their situation. She would light up a room with her spirit, loud voice and cursing that never really seemed to offend anyone.  She never forgot what it felt like growing up and wanted to help anyone around her that couldn’t see the possibilities.”

Bonnie gave wholeheartedly to many organizations including the American Red Cross.

A funeral service was held on Monday, April 10th at United Hebrew Congregation with interment at Beth Shalom Cemetery-White Road. The family requests all donations be made to The St. Louis Mens Group Against Cancer www.mensgroupagainstcancer.org.

Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

LOIS YAFFE LESSER, April 8, 2023. Lois passed away unexpectedly at the age of 88.

She is survived by her two children, Herb (Sue) and Lori; her three grandchildren Ben, David and Mara; her sister Sue (Mort); cousin Stanley; niece and nephews and her ex-husband Howard Lesser. She is predeceased by her parents Ben and Betty Yaffe, her aunt Ruth and dear friends.

Lois lived most of her life in St. Louis, where she married and raised a family. She volunteered at the local women’s chapter of the Cancer Society and volunteered at the JCC, reading to children in day care.

Lois enjoyed playing Mah Jong and loved to read. She was a kind and caring person who would help anybody she could. She will be deeply missed.

A graveside service was held Tuesday, April 10 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the American Heart Association. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

ILEANE MIZES, April 8, 2023

Ileane Mizes, daughter of the late David and Leona Yawitz, lived a long, beautiful and lovefilled life of 92 years. She passed away peacefully on April 8 in Sarasota, FL.

Ileane was the devoted wife, for more than 60 years, of her late husband Harvey Mizes. She was the caring sister of the late Audrey Birenbaum. She was the adored aunt of Diane Breslow and Rob Birenbaum. She loved her children Barry Mizes (husband of Ellen Bern) Jim Mizes (husband of Robyn C. Mizes) and Marjorie Mizes and her grandchildren AJ Mizes (husband of Eric Egan), Laura Mizes Smith (wife of Chad Smith), Bennett Sher (husband of Lauren Sher) Adam Mizes (husband of Alecia Welscher), Ben Mizes and great grandchildren Creighton Smith, Isabel Sher and Henry Sher.

She had countless best friends as well. She loved everyone in her orbit dearly and was loved dearly in return. Her heart was bigger than the skies over Siesta Key, where she lived the past 8 years of her life.

Besides her family and friends, she loved her Monday night Watsonia Court canasta games with the girls, mahjong, the NCJW, theater, reading the newspaper, comedy clubs, art shows and trying new restaurants. She baked the world’s greatest brownies and shared them with everyone—including them in her college care packages for her kids and grandkids.

She was wonderfully smart and wonderfully wise, serving as mentor and life coach to everyone who knew her. She was a generous giver of whatever you needed to receive. She was witty and loved to laugh loudly. She was everyone’s champion and cheerleader, in your corner no matter what. She listened with her giant and generous heart and her advice was heartfelt and honest.

She will be missed forever. May her memory be a blessing.

The funeral service was held on April 16, 2023 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, 63132. Private interment followed. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to National Council of Jewish Women or Tidewell Hospice. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream and other information. Berger Memorial Service

SANFORD NEUMAN, April 17, 2023

For 87 years, when people would look up the definition of mensch in the dictionary, they would have read about Sanford Neuman. His fulfillment of that role ended on April 17, 2023 when he died surrounded by his family.

Whether he was known as San, Sandy, Sanford or Mr. Neuman, he treated everyone he met with dignity, respect and equanimity. San was born in Granite City, Illinois to Harry and Mary (Weinstein) Neuman. He was proud of his roots and loved to recount the experience of being a part of a small, tight-knit Jewish community.

San graduated from Washington University undergrad and Wash U law school. It was in law school that he re-met and courted the lovely Rosalind Farris who became his wife of 58 years until her passing in 2018. Together, they were a power couple who supported each other’s career ambitions, sense of community service, love of tennis and cycling, and dedication to their family. All four of their children consider themselves the luckiest people to have been born into their union.

San loved the practice of law and, based on how many of his clients became lifelong friends, it is safe to say the law loved him back. In 1976 San, along with nine others, founded the Gallop, Johnson & Neuman law firm. The firm thrived for 36 years before dissolving in 2012. At that time, he joined the Polsinelli law firm and was a partner there until his retirement in 2016.

He carried a love of Judaism throughout his life. He embodied the spirit of tikkun olam (repair the world) through his extensive service to St. Louis’ Jewish community. He served on the board of several organizations, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Community Center, the Psychoanalytic Institute and Jewish Federation, where he also served as president. He was devoted to Washington University School of Law from which he received a distinguished alumni award.

A single obituary cannot do justice to the kind, funny, smart, endlessly patient and affable person San was. He is survived (with great grief

in their hearts) by his devoted sister, Faye (Earl) Newman and his children: Jeff, Bennett (Rick Cohn), Larry (Qing Hou) and Shula, and his grandchildren, Julian, Gabriel and Maurice.

Funeral service Wednesday, April 19th, 11:00 AM at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Blvd, followed by interment at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. No visitation prior to service.

Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.Donations can be made in his name to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis or to Memory Care Home Solutions.

HAROLD SARNER, 78, passed away on Monday, April 10, in St. Louis from liver cancer.

Born in Albany, New York, Harold attended Washington University where he met his wife of 55 years, Grace Gerchen. Harold earned his law degree from Washington University, upon graduation, he served as a legal aid attorney in St. Louis before joining his family’s business. Harold served on the board of the Jewish Center for the Aged and later became president.

Harold is survived by his wife Grace Sarner (Gerchen), his son Michael Sarner and daughter-in-law Stacy Satz Sarner, daughter Vicki Dubinsky and son-in-law Josh Dubinsky, brother Gary Sarner and sister-inlaw Jean Sarner, brother-in-law Gary Gerchen and sister-in-law Gail Gerchen (White) and three grandchildren: Rose Sarner and Jack and Bram Dubinsky.

A graveside funeral service was held Friday, April 14 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Visit bergermemorialchapel. com for more information.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), 11433 Olde Cabin Road, Suite 10, (63141); or Siteman Cancer Center (www.siteman.wustl.edu), Washington University, MSC 1247-414-2100, 7425 Forsyth Blvd, (63105). Berger Memorial Service

GLORIA MARLENE SCHRAMM, April 13, 2023

Daughter of the late Meyer and Esther Bluestein; Beloved wife of the late Fred S. Schramm; de-voted mother and mother-in-law of Taena (Morty) Rock, Adina (Wayne) Zaideman, Malina Schramm and Rochelle (Tim) Lootens; Loving grandmother of Shawn Silverberg, Carrie (Luke) Kampschmidt, Jamie (Brandon) Hess, Eliana (Ilan) Shvartz, Marni (Ted) Koshiol, Jared Zaideman, Rachel Lootens and Sarah Lootens. Proud great-grandmother of Avi Conoley Silverberg, Ava Kampschmidt, Kaley Kampschmidt, Austin Hess, Genevieve Hess, Kina Koshiol, Livi Koshiol, Max Koshiol, Nathan Koshiol and Brielle Shvartz; cherished sister of Samuel (Shirley) Bluestein and the late Evelyn (late Roland) Roth; dear aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Gloria was born and raised in St. Louis to a loving family and lived there her entire life. She ex-celled at sports, school, work and really enjoyed her life. Gloria met her beloved, Fred, at a dance and it was love at first sight. He asked her to go steady immediately. She agreed and within a year they were married. They started their family together bonding through love, devotion and reli-gious beliefs. They were always the life of the party wherever they went. They enjoyed travel, food, dancing and meeting new people. They shared 59 wonderful years together until his passing in 2012.

Gloria’s greatest joy was being with her family, attending family mitzvahs and special events. She also enjoyed each of her dogs, playing mahjong, exercising, bowling, eating out, visiting local land-marks and traveling with her children. She was an active member of Na’amat and participated in various charity events.

She lived a long, full, happy life with many simchas. She was generous with her time and always lent an ear or a shoulder to anyone. Gloria was taken from us too soon and will be missed by eve-ryone she touched beyond imagination.

A graveside service was held Monday April 17 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Rd., 63017. Memorial contributions preferred to Congregation B’nai Amoona, the Humane Society of Missouri or a charity of your choice. Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more

information. Berger Memorial Service

MOISY SHOPPER, April 15, 2023

On April 15th, Moisy Shopper died at the age of 92. Born in the Bronx, NY to William and Jeanette Shopper, Moisy didn’t learn English until first grade. He attended NYU on a full scholarship then SUNY medical school. After completing a psychiatry residency, Moisy moved to St. Louis in 1966 with his childhood sweetheart, now-wife, Bonnie and their sons. He was a founding member of the St. Louis Psychiatric Institute, and during his fifty years of clinical practice, was on staff at Cardinal Glennon Hospital, served as president of the Association of Child Psychoanalysis, published extensively in medical and psychiatric journals, helped establish the St. Louis Holocaust Center, and served as an expert witness in juvenile-related legal cases of divorce and abuse.

Moisy was a true mensch. Raised in a dysfunctional family, he dedicated himself to promoting healthy minds and relationships. Professionally, he was quietly tenacious, always trying to improve his community by giving of himself and what he knew. He questioned the status quo, researched the issues, and promoted social change.

Moisy was an avid wood turner, bread baker/ salad maker, world traveler, and raised three boys who made him proud. He is survived by his wife Bonnie, three sons—David, Glenn, and Evan— and six grandchildren. Funeral will be private. Memorial service will be announced. Donations may be made to the Yiddish Book Center (https://www. yiddishbookcenter.org/). Berger Memorial Service

JUDITH SHARON VOGEL passed away peacefully on April 7, 2023.

Beloved wife of Roger Vogel. Loving mother and mother-in-law of Elizabeth (Corby) Cox, Meredith (Steve) Friedman, Nicole (Brian) Smith and Derek (Rebecca) Hoffman. Proud “Nana” to Marlowe Hanis, Malone Friedman, Sydney and Skyler Smith, Landon Cox, and “Nana Judi” to Gwendolyn and Gabrielle Hoffman. Beloved sister of James (Linda) Resnick. Dear sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, and friend.

Judi was an active member of the reunion committee at her alma mater, University City High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington University and a master’s from Saint Louis University. She enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, and time with family and friends. One of her biggest enjoyments was taking her daughters and granddaughters out for mani-pedis and “lunch-brunch.”

A graveside service was held Monday, April 10 at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 8430 Gravois Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred to the Siteman Cancer Center, MSC 1247-414-2100, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105 (https://siteman.wustl.edu/, 314-9354725). A Rindskopf-Roth Service

VIVIAN JEAN WIDES ZWICK, April 9, 2023

Vivian Jean Wides was born on April 8th, 1917, in Murphysboro, IL, the daughter of the late Barney, and the late Emma (Schur) Wides. She passed away one day after her 106th birthday, April 9th, 2023. Vivian grew up in St Louis and spent two years studying at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She married the late Sander Zwick in 1938. The marriage lasted 67 years until his death in 2005. They had two children, Barbara Sander (Joe) and Stephen Zwick (Robin), 5 grandchildren, Cindy Siegel (Allan), Brad Lewin (Beth), Stephen Zwick, Jean Hrdlicka, and Linda Zwick, two stepgrandchildren, Steven Sander, and the late Karen Sander. They also had 5 great-grandchildren, Courtney Siegel, Morgan Siegel, Cecelia Lewin, Jacob Lewin, and Maisie Hrdlicka, and one stepgreat-granddaughter, Paige Donovan. She was preceded in death by her sister, Alice Chasnoff.

Vivian liked to finish what she started, and in her 40s finished her BA at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in art and archeology. After her children were raised, she devoted herself to volunteer work. She was Chair of the Clover Garden gift shop at Jewish Hospital, and the first woman president of the board of the St. Louis Jewish Light newspaper.

Vivian’s main interest was in promoting the opportunities for women to make the best reproductive choices for themselves. As president of the board of Reproductive Health, she merged that organization into Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region. She served on the board of that Planned Parenthood for the rest of her life. She was also a volunteer counselor for Planned Parenthood, helping pregnant women of all ages make the best choices for themselves.

Mom was widely recognized for her philanthropic work in reproductive health, receiving both local andnational awards. She was the Globe Democrat Woman of Achievement for Creative Philanthropy in 1985; received the NARAL Defender of Choice Award in 1998; received the Voluntary Service Award from the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health association in 1999; was an Older Women’s League (OWL) Woman of Worth in 2011, and received the Hannah G. Solomon Award for the National Council of Jewish Women in 2013.

Mom contributed her time and treasure to many philanthropic causes. She was an amazing woman, widely read, who remained interested in politics and current issues her whole life.

A funeral service was held Friday, April 14th at Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive. Interment private. Memorial contributions preferred to Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, 4251 Forest Park, 63108. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

oldest Jewish Funeral Home west of the Mississippi

CHAI LIGHTS

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.

Yom HaAtzmaut lunch at NHBZ

Celebrate 75 years of Israel becoming a state at a festive family-friendly lunch with Israeli food at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, 650 N. Price Road. There will be special presentations by NHBZ Rabbi Chaim Bogopulsky, IDF soldiers, as well as special recognition of parents of children who have made aliyah. Free and open to the entire Jewish community. For more information, call 314991-2100, ext. 2.

Final Shir Hadash Shabbat speaker series program

See related news brief on page 12A.

SUNDAY | APRIL 23

Israel @ 75 celebration at the J

The community is invited to celebrate Israel’s 75th Independence Day at the Jewish Community’s Center Staenberg Family Complex, north back parking lot 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. Free and open to the public. Contact Snir Dagan at sdagan@ jccstl.org or 314-442-3137 with any questions.

TUESDAY | APRIL 25

NCJWSTL coffee talk

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.

Comedy and magic performance

From 10 to 11 a.m. enjoy comedy and magic by Jeff Lefton during a free, in-person Mirowitz Center presentation. This 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.

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 26

Hands-on cooking class

From 1 to 2 p.m., a nutritionist from Operation Food Search will lead a cooking class at the Mirowitz Center, showing how to improve quality of life through smart grocery shopping and affordable meal prep. Program participants get to sample menu items. Space is limited! Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

WEDS. | APR. 26 & MAY 3

‘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 26 and May 3. Free and open to the Jewish community. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.

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.

Tony Messenger discusses ‘The Journalist Advocate’

From 2 to 3 p.m., Tony Messenger, Pulitzer Prize-winning St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist will offer his perspective on current headlines and public-policy issues firsthand during this event co-sponsored by the Mirowitz Center and St. Louis Press Club. Messenger is also the author of “Profit and Punishment: How America Criminalizes the Poor in the Name of Justice.” Free and open to the public; register online at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Annual Staenberg Lecture to feature author Isabel Wilkerson

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 at The Factory in Chesterfield. Wilkerson’s 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. The lecture is open to the public. Tickets, at $12, are available through Ticketmaster. com.

SATURDAY | APRIL 29

NHBZ Lunch & Learn: Jewish

Genes & Hereditary Cancer

NHBZ and Sharsheret Supports STL invite you to a 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. Free and open to the entire Jewish community. For more information, contact Debbi Braunstein at dbraunstein@jcc.org or call 314-442-3266.

SUNDAY | APRIL 30

NHBZ Pizza Night

From 5-7 p.m., enjoy a dine-in buffet of kosher pizza, pasta, salad, garlic bread plus

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

The J will host an Israel@75 celebration on Sunday, April 23.

THURSDAY | MAY 4 & 11

Eleanor Roosevelt’s legacy

From 2 to 3 p.m. Jeffrey Urbin of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will lead an online Mirowitz Center discussion about the legacy of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Attend one or both sessions (prior attendance is not required). Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

SUNDAY | MAY 7

Mitzvah Day at Kol Rinah

a dessert and beverage. There are even movies for your kids. Prices are $15 for adults, $7 for kids ages 4-10, and free for kids ages 3 and under. The pizza cheese is Cholov Yisroel and pareve crusts are available upon request. Charge cards are accepted. For more information, call 314-9912100, ext. 2.

Rabbi and the Archbishop in Dialogue and Friendship

The community is invited to an evening of dialogue and friendship as Shaare Emeth welcomes Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Diocese of St. Louis, to join in public conversation with Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Stiffman at 7 p.m. at Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road. After their talk, entitled “Good Neighbors: The Rabbi and the Archbishop in Dialogue and Friendship,” the evening will conclude with a dessert reception. For more information or to register to attend, call 314569-0010 or go to: sestl.co/neighbors.

SUNDAY | APRIL 30

Temple Israel’s 15th Annual Israeli Film Festival

The community is invited to 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 festival starts with a screening of “Abe” at 3:30 p.m., followed by intermission at 5 and then the second film, “Zaytoun,” at 6:15. A $5 donation requested. RSVP required at www.ti-stl.org/Films or by phone at 314-432-8050.

WEDNESDAY | MAY 3

‘What do people mean when they say systemic racism?’

At 3:30 p.m. the Crown Center Speaker Series welcomes Crown Center’s Board President Sally Altman and her husband, journalist and retired Post-Dispatch editor Dick Weiss, who will discuss “What do people mean when they say systemic racism?” Through their involvement with the River City Journalism Fund and the nonprofit Before Ferguson/Beyond Ferguson, they seek to shine a light on what racial inequality means in St. Louis. Their talk takes place in the Circle@Crown Cafe. Free. RSVP to 314-991-2055.

Mental health 101

From 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center, join Jessie Brown, director of programs at NAMI St. Louis, for an interactive presentation on mental health, including signs of mental health conditions, suicide risk factors, ways to help, available treatments and local resources. This program – co- sponsored by Mirowitz Center, JFS St. Louis, and Senior Kollel – is part of the “Keep Your Head in the Game” series. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Kol Rinah will hold its Mitzvah Day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a blood drive from 12:30 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.kolrinahstl.org/event/blooddrive3.html.

MONDAY | MAY 8

Crown Presents: Contemporary Art Museum Workshop

Crown Center is starting a new partnership with the Contemporary Art Museum. CAM staff will lead a 1 p.m. workshop, “The Stars in my Streets,” sculpting black clay tiles and then stamping them with objects that look akin to daily life. There is a $2 supply fee. RSVP to 314-991-2055.

The J hosts bone health and cancer event

See related news brief on page 12A.

TUESDAY | MAY 9

The ABCs of Judaism

From noon to 1 p.m. join Rabbi Ze’ev Smason for the latest session of “The ABCs of Judaism,” offering in-person Mirowitz discussions the second Tuesday of each month on topics with a Jewish theme. This month’s topic: “What’s unique about Jewish mothers?” Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Lag B’Omer at Shaw Park

From 5 to 8:30 p.m. Kol Rinah and the Jewish Community Center are celebrating Lag B’Omer at Shaw Park. Bring your own dinner and enjoy a complimentary ice cream treat, as well as a bonfire, games and activities, and an ice cream truck. RSVP online at https://bit.ly/Kol-Rinah-May9. For more information email karen@kolrinahstl.org.

Learn about Boy Scouts Troop 11 during bowling night

Enjoy pizza and prizes at the Boy Scouts Troop 11 bowling party at Olivette Lanes at 7:30 p.m. Troop 11 has been around for more than 100 years. The troop meets once a week, with monthly outings and camping and an annual summer camp and high adventure trips. All new scouts get a year of free membership plus $100 towards membership each year after. For more information contact troop11newsletter@gmail.com.

STARTING | MAY 10

Three-part webinar series looks at ‘Sex and Judaism’

See related news brief on page 12A.

TUESDAY | MAY 16

Crown Center trip to Botanical Garden’s Chihuly Exhibit

At 12:30 p.m. visit the newly renovated Missouri Botanical Garden to see and smell the spring flowers and marvel at the Chihuly glass sculptures exhibited throughout the gardens. The cost is $3 per person. RSVP to 314-991-2055.

FILE PHOTO: JAMES GRIESEDIECK

Man/Woman of the Year Celebration

The Men’s Clubs of Congregation

B’nai Amoona and Kol Rinah recently honored their respective Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Youth of the Year and Medallion Award winner.

B’nai Amoona honored Edward Herzog as its Man of the Year, as well as Ilana Boyer as Youth of the Year and Mitchell Smith as Medallion Award winner.

Kol Rinah Men’s Club honored Marshall Myers as Man of the Year and Micki Kingsley as its first Woman of the Year.

LEFT: Kol Rinah Brotherhood President Bob Olshan, Kol Rinah Man of the Year Marshall Myers, Kol Rinah Woman of the Year Micki Kingsley, B’nai Amoona Man of the Year Ed Herzog, FJMC Regional President Creighton Cohn, and B’nai Amoona Men’a Club President Kevin Litt.

SP TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

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

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

VIEW MORE ONLINE: stljewishlight.org/multimedia

crown center for senior living Pre-Passover

Celebration

Crown Center held pre-Passover events led by Rabbi Josef Davidson and former Crown employee Florence Schachter. Crown Center thanks its board members who volunteered to help make this event a special one for residents and neighborhood seniors — Nancy Novack, Jody Waldman, Essie Rochman and Ann Spector (with Alan Spector).

ABOVE: Crown Center resident, Lina Melamed, brought last year’s Jewish Light to show photos of our 2022 Passover celebration.

BELOW: Crown Center Board member Ann Spector distributes charoset to attendees.

TOP LEFT: From left: Nina Gelimson, Crown Center Russian translator Zhanna Bershteyn, Emiliya Golubeva and Sonia Gelfand. TOP RIGHT: Glafira Gurevich and Sara Gimplevich . BOTTOM LEFT: Alla Kuranova and Anna Pikus. BOTTOM RIGHT: Fay Rosenblum, Yefim Morozovich and Galena Dega.

Aryna Petrashenko Rachael Pevnick

William & Sylvia Poe

David & Anna Poger Elizabeth Powell Steve Puro

Aileen Rabuska

Erin & Steve Schuver

Barbara Schwartz

Michelle & Matthew Schwerin

Judi Scissors

Irwin & Carol Shayne

Barrie & Karen Sher

Barbara Shrauner

John Siefert & Tricia Falmer

Marc & Elaine Tenzer

Ashleigh Thompson

Fred Tokowitz

Shirley Tzinberg

Tim & Stacey Vohsen

Jody & Mickey Waldman

Harvey Wallace & Madeline Elkins

Cindy Lander Wallach & John

Gary Wasserman & Sheila Greenbaum

Nancy & Andy Weigley

Janet Weinberg

Steven Weinreich

Carol Weiss

Elizabeth Weiss

Ellen Weiss

Miriam Wilhelm & Eric Friedman

Steve Wilhelm

Mark Winer & David Newman

Alan & Susan Witte

Gary & Sherry Wolff

Patti Wolkowitz

Sharon Woody

Tom & Cynthia Woolsey

Greg & Julie Yawitz

Barry & Leslie Yoffie

Judy Zafft

Aleene Zawada

Kathy Zigler

Hillary Zimmerman & Christopher Hebeler

Megan & Jake Zimmerman

Stuart & Susie Zimmerman

Muriel & Randy Zimring

BETTER LIVING FOR BABY BOOMERS & SENIOR ADULTS

Baby Boomers and Senior Adults represent two of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population. The St. Louis Jewish Light’s special Primetime section provides goods and services, and offers information about better living to Baby Boomers and Senior Adults.

2023 PRIMETIME SECTION SPONSORS

CLARENDALE CLAYTON Now Open

SENIOR LIVING THAT REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Clarendale Clayton has brought a new, elevated perspective to retirement life – figuratively and literally. We had a tall vision for the future of this senior living community, and it’s shaped up to be something even more spectacular than what we envisioned.

Located at the corner of Clayton and Hanley roads, active seniors benefit from upscale residences, exceptional amenities, and invigorating wellness programming. Clarendale Clayton is currently Clayton’s only high-rise community featuring modern design and offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

This is truly a level up in senior living. And did we mention the view from the 12th-floor Signature Room? With the rooftop terrace, polished penthouse, and private balconies, residents overlook the stunning sights of the city and feel like they truly have it all.

Executive Director Cathy Phillips is honored to work with a team of industry professionals who selflessly serve seniors and are enthusiastic about what each day brings for residents. Alongside Cathy is Meredith Evangelista, Director of Sales and Marketing and a Clayton-area native. Their team’s goal is to “ensure that everyone who works in and calls this community home is safe, happy and healthy!”

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS AND AMENITIES

Seniors looking for luxury living with the reassurance of future care are met with concierge services, exceptional dining, trendy fitness classes, live entertainment, art exhibits, excursions in and beyond the city, and more enriching opportunities. Clarendale Clayton resident John Drew says, “I have a new lease on life that I wasn’t even looking for – truly a pleasant surprise.”

John and his neighbors also benefit from these five-star features:

• Concierge service

• Coach transportation service

• Charming salon and spa

• Located within minutes of the Saint Louis Ar t Museum, The Muny, Powell Symphony Hall, Fox Theatre, Washington University, Forest Park, and the Missouri Botanical Garden

Health & Wellness Navigation ProgramTM : A program that manages daily health and wellness goals as well as medical challenges

Heartfelt CONNECTIONS : A Memory Care Program® – A proven approach to dementia and Alzheimer’s that nurtures dignity and improves quality of life

It’s where you want to be. It was our motto before we opened our doors, and now residents live it and breathe a sigh of relief knowing everything they’ve ever wanted out of their futures is here.

A BOLD APPROACH WITH A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN

Residences in our high-rise building are anything but limited. Independent living, assisted living, and memory care floor plans are designed not only for beauty and modernity, but for accessibility and convenience as well.

Here’s what you can expect to discover in your new home: One-, two- or three-bedroom/one- or two-bathroom independent living apartments, some featuring dens Studio, one- or two-bedroom/one- or two-bathroom assisted living apartments

Shared companion suite or studio/one-bathroom memory care apartments

Stainless steel kitchen appliances and in-unit washer and dryer included in all independent living apartments

You’ve reached the pinnacle of premier senior living.

When residents take in the breathtaking view from our penthouse, rooftop terrace, or their own private balcony, they feel on top of the world. Now you can too.

Now,

future care

dining

Wellness and fitness classes

social calendar filled with cultural and educational activities

Support in assisted living and memory care, if ever needed

Worry-free living at its finest

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

An email pops up with an offer of untold riches. You are the lucky beneficiary who will get millions of dollars from a Nigerian prince. All you have to do is provide your bank account number, for which you’ll be charged a nominal “transfer fee.”

Most computer users are savvy enough to steer clear of the so-called “419 scam” (section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code addresses obtaining property through false promises). But plenty of people do fall for bogus online offers. The FBI reported $7 billion was lost to cybercrime in 2021. The vast majority of the victims were age 60 and older.

“The No. 1 target of all these lies are mature, older adults,” said Alan Haber, a volunteer with the St. Louis NORC Get

Tech team, who help seniors feel more comfortable with technology. “Older adults are more susceptible because this is a technology they didn’t grow up with.” Haber and Jay Grosman are both Jewish St. Louisans who work with older adults and help them avoid being the victims of scams. Haber’s expertise is technology. Grosman specializes in car sales.

Everybody wants a deal

The reason so many internet scams succeed is that they promise great return with minimal investment. It can be especially tempting for someone on a fixed income. Evaluate these deals with a healthy dose of skepticism, said Haber, who owns the home computer consultant company pcbasix. com.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” he said. “Everybody wants a deal, and they want to get rich. You get an official looking email from an institution that

looks legitimate, and it says all you need to do is click on a link to make a lot of money. You think, ‘I need to click on this link.’ But you don’t want to click on it.

“There are also scammers who call and claim to be Microsoft. They tell you that your computer needs attention. With so many tech companies like Microsoft outsourcing their technical support, people think it’s a real person, and they are more likely to be taken advantage of.”

Haber said other common scams use a bit of theater. It begins when the scammer calls an older adult and pretends to be a relative who is in trouble.

“It can be as simple,” he said, “as the voice on the other end saying, ‘Grandpa? I’m in jail. Please don’t tell mom and dad. I was speeding. I need to have money wired. Can you go to Walmart and get a cashier’s check, so I can get out of jail?’ ”

A variation is the gift card scam, in which an email comes from someone you know and requests your help buying a gift card. But the scammer has hijacked the email account, so it appears to be a friend. That scam is an easy one to cash in on, Haber said, because gift cards can’t be tracked.

One tech concern many computer users have is viruses. Haber said he sometimes hears from older adults about their computer suddenly emitting a highpitched screeching sound. A pop-up message reads: “Do not turn off your computer. All your data will be lost.”

“You’re scared because you hear an alarm in your computer,” Haber said. “When this happens and someone calls me, I tell them, ‘First, turn your speaker down, then turn off your computer.’ This is why virus protection is important. I tell clients to have two types of virus protection on your computer. My analogy is if you buy a very expensive car but have cheap tires. The same is true for your computer. You don’t want cheap or free when it comes to virus protection.”

Haber suggested some basic tips to prevent being the victim of tech scams. First, he said, never provide your full Social Security number to someone on the phone. When scammers get that number, they can easily obtain your credit cards and even gain access to your financial accounts. And if someone calls claiming to be a retailer and asks for your credit card number, don’t provide it.

“I never give out my credit card to someone who calls me,” he said. “I tell them to give me the name of their company’s website and their phone number. Then I say, ‘I’ll call you back after I check it out.’ ”

Safe car sales

Selling a used car can be tough for older adults. It can be an emotionally draining experience if the driver has decided it is time to hand over the keys

because of slower reaction time that could compromise safety. And car owners who have been meticulous about caring for the vehicle want to get the maximum value when selling it.

Ideally, the seller should have a friend or relative along when meeting a potential buyer and do so in a safe place, such as the parking lot of a police station. Those are some basics to protect yourself, said Grosman, the car sales expert.

“I’m very involved in car sales for older people,” Grosman said. “My advice starts with the advertisement. Don’t put that you have the title in hand. A scammer could show up with a gun and take the car and the title.

“Then, when you take a photo of your car for the ad, don’t have the license plate visible in the photo. When you show your license plate, people can get a lot of information from that. And from your home address.”

Grosman’s company, iAutoAgent, serves as an independent broker for many car sellers and buyers who want to avoid the stress of going through a dealer or an online portal such as Craigslist.

But some car owners prefer to handle the sale, and for those people Grosman offers additional tips.

After a potential buyer agrees to the price of your car, insist on talking to them on the phone.

“Don’t immediately go meet with somebody,” Grosman said. “You can find a lot by talking to them. Ask them how they’re going to pay for it. If you do go alone to meet them, tell a loved one where you’re going. And when you arrive at the meeting place, use the camera in your phone to take a picture of their driver’s license, insurance card and license plate.”

If you allow the buyer to test drive your car, Grosman said, make sure you’ve removed all identifying information about yourself from the glove compartment. Also, remove your garage door opener — a scammer could easily hack the code on the opener and use it to break into your home when you’re away.

“And when you make the actual transaction, do it at a bank,” he said. “That way, you can verify funds and minimize the possibility of accepting a counterfeit cashier’s check.”

Alan Haber (left) and Jay Grosman (below) provide their tips for avoiding scams.

PRIMETIME JEWISH RESOURCES

Essential resources for older adults in the St. Louis Jewish community

Adult Day Center at the J 2 Millstone Campus Drive St. Louis, Mo. 63146

314-442-3248

Ashley Stockman, MSW, Director

Adult Day at the J (ADJ) offers quality programming by promoting cognitive stimulation, physical engagement and socialization, while also encouraging individual growth in an inclusive and supportive environment.

ADJ offers two unique tracks: IN (aimed at supporting young adults with disabilities) and CONNECTIONS (aimed at supporting aging adults with cognitive impairments, physical impairments, or just looking to increase opportunities to socialize). Each program is expressly designed to assist participants with achieving individual goals through interactions within a group setting. Offering a broad range of activities throughout the day our programs operate within the ADJ facility, and expand throughout the J’s Staenberg Family Complex as well as the greater community. In addition to the benefits experienced by participants, our services provide critical respite and support for caregivers and families.

Key features & services include:

• Recreation and Therapeutic Activities

• Sensory Garden, Daily Exercise & Intergenerational Programs

• RN Health Management and Individualized Care Planning

• Door-to-door Escorted Transportation

• Kosher, Nutritious Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Snack)

• Open Mon - Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Licensed by the State of Missouri

• Funded by VA, Medicaid, Dept. Mental Health, Aging Ahead vvv

Covenant Place

8 Millstone Campus Drive, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Mo. 63146 314-432-1610

email: jdenison@covenantplacestl.org website: covenantplacestl.org

Joan Denison, President & CEO

Covenant Place offers 353 one-bedroom, affordable, independent, senior living apartments, conveniently located on the Jewish Community Millstone Campus. Enjoy up-todate apartment amenities, ample closets, full kitchens, convenient laundry facilities, resident social and recreation areas, transportation to grocery and outings, and beautiful outdoor patios and courtyards.

Your worry-free living experience includes: 24/7 emergency monitoring, on-site night and weekend staff coverage, affordable housekeeping and laundry services, and service coordinators to connect you with community resources and services.

Covenant Place residents may participate in the many programs, classes and resourc-

es offered at the Mirowitz Center, located on the first floor of the Covenant Place II Cahn Family Building. An array of exercise classes, art, music, lifelong learning, and entertainment provide opportunities for engagement and fun! Also located at the Mirowitz Center: Washington University Physicians Primary Geriatric Care Clinic, RPI Therapy Services, Royal Banks of Missouri, and St. Louis NORC. (NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some Mirowitz Center programs are offered online and on telephone, in addition to in-person classes.)

Residents may participate in the Aging Ahead, subsidized weekday meal program and enjoy a delicious, affordable meal in a social setting.

Covenant Place has an active Tenant Council, which plans and sponsors resident events and programs – a great way to get involved and meet your neighbors. Covenant Place Ambassadors are residents who welcome new residents and help you to integrate into the community.

Housing is open to adults aged 62+. Income eligibility limits apply. A new wait list will open for the fully renovated Covenant Place III building in fall 2023; for more information, or to be notified when the waitlist opens, please visit our website, call or email: info@covenantplacestl.org.

Start your next chapter of engaged living in this warm and welcoming community. We look forward to meeting you!

Howard Rosen is Board Chair

Crown Center for Senior Living 8350 Delcrest Drive

St. Louis, Mo. 63124

314-991-2055

email: rschenberg@crowncenterstl.org

website: crowncenterstl.org

Nikki Goldstein, Executive Director Randi Schenberg, Community Relations Director

Crown Center is a vibrant and engaged community in which all seniors thrive. Contact Crown Center or visit our website for up-to-date information about programming and policies, including “Crown on the Road,” bringing meaningful opportunities and creative endeavors to senior adults. Watch for upcoming details about our new Staenberg Commons community space and Crown Center Phase 1 Apartments, opening in early 2023.

Sally Altman is Board President.

Continued on page 8B

We’d love to hear more about your wants and needs. Call us today for more information or to schedule a tour.

3 McKnight Place St. Louis, MO 63124 (314) 993-3333 Ÿ McKnightPlace.com

We are committed to equal housing opportunity that does not discriminate in housing and services because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin

An artist’s rendering of the revamped Crown Center campus currently under construction.

MI X ING MEDS R

DRUG INTERACTIONS ARE A GROWING THREAT TO OLDER ADULTS

BY BILL MOTCHAN

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

Memory loss. Difficulty breathing. Impaired vision. Rapid heart rate. Nausea.

Those are just a few medical issues faced by older adults — after taking medication. These side effects are all too common if two or more medications interact with each other and, in the process, do more harm than good.

About one-third of older adults who take prescription drugs experience problems caused by the interaction of medications. And most older adults take multiple prescription medications. Nearly 19 million adults ages 65 and older take five or more medications a day. Even over the counter medications have the potential to interact with prescription drugs and create new medical conditions.

This problem is growing as pharmaceutical companies develop new treatments and doctors prescribe them, said Hedva Barenholtz Levy, a geriatrics specialist who consults with older adults and their caregivers.

“It’s very common,” said Levy, 57. “The interactions can lead to a minor side effect or something more serious that can lead to hospitalization.”

Levy, a member of Kol Rinah, is the author of a soon to be published book titled “Maybe It’s Your Medications.” She aims to educate older adults, their family members and caregivers about the potential for problems associated with medications and their interactions.

“My goal is to help people engage with their health care providers,” Levy said. “I want to empower older adults to take a stand for themselves, know what the risks are and know what questions to ask.”

For example, when a prescription is filled, the pharmacist routinely asks, “Do you have any questions about this medication?” Most people don’t ask anything, but it’s a good opportunity to do just that, Levy said. The first key question should be: “Could this medication interact with anything else I’m taking?”

The pharmacist can provide guidance on the medication’s side effects. He or she is trained to know how prescription drugs interact and can be an excellent resource to warn against potential problems. The

Continues on opposite page

PILL ORGANIZER TO HELP PATIENTS STAY ON TRACK, ON TIME

Studies show that more than half of Americans don’t take their medications as prescribed by their doctors. That lack of adherence also results in nearly 125,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. The top reason cited by older adults is forgetfulness.

KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER

WHEN CHOOSING A PILL ORGANIZER INCLUDE:

HOW EASY IT IS TO LOAD?

ARE BUTTONS LABELED WITH LARGE DISPLAYS AND INTUITIVE?

WILL THE DEVICE ALERT A CARE-

GIVER WHEN A DOSE IS DUE OR MISSED?

CAN IT HOLD LARGE PILLS AND ACCOMMODATE MULTIPLE DOSES?

DOES THE DEVICE SIT ON A COUNTER, OR CAN IT BE CARRIED?

A pill organizer is one option to make sure a loved one is taking his or her medications correctly at the right time of day. Some pill organizers are smart devices and even dispense the pill. Their features include audible reminders to take the medications. The most sophisticated devices are automatic pill dispensers that notify the user, release the right amount of medication at a specific time, and even send a text or other notification to the patient and caregiver if the person misses a dose.

PRIMETIME COMPANY PROFILES

The St. Louis Jewish Light has teamed up with some of our trusted advertisers to give you a more detailed breakdown of what these businesses can do for you. The goal of our Primetime section is to provide our community’s Baby Boomers and Senior Adults information about better living.

Mixing Meds

CONTINUED FROM OPPOSITE PAGE

prescribing doctor also should know about drug interactions, but when multiple physicians prescribe drugs for the same patient, the likelihood of interactions increases.

“Physicians prescribe with the best intent,” Levy said. “They know the medicines they work with very well. They know safe parameters for prescribing. Pharmacists are trained to guard against interactions. But problems happen sometimes.

“Another thing I see a lot is when errors occur in the home. Patients might not be taking the medication correctly. They could be combining the prescription medication with a nonprescription medication like a sleep aid, a pain medication or a dietary supplement that could lead to adverse events.”

Adherence, the term for taking medications correctly, is especially important. Studies have shown older adults sometimes forget to take their meds or don’t follow instructions for taking them correctly.

“If people are not taking their medications, that’s something that needs to be brought to the attention of a caregiver or medical professional,” Levy said. “A home caregiver has eyes on the patient but, if that care worker isn’t trained in drug therapy issues or does not have the health background training, they may not know the cause could be medication-related.”

She also noted that each person’s physiology is different and two drugs may affect only some people adversely.

“Someone might take two medications and have problems, while others won’t have an issue,” Levy said. “That’s what’s known as interpatient variability.”

Older adults are especially vulnerable to drug interactions because they tend to take multiple prescriptions, and some of those drugs have more significant side effects. Blood thinners and proton inhibitors are especially problematic, Levy said.

“I designed my book so that it is addresses the general problems with medications for older adults and strategies to take medications more safely,” she said. “We need medications to keep us going, and they can be very helpful in doing that, but if they are overused or used in the wrong combination or too high of a dose or for too long, these are all issues that they can actually hinder our ability to age in a healthy manner.”

St. Louis Oasis seeks to provide a means of intellectual stimulation and social connection through interactive courses and volunteer opportunities. Since 1982, Oasis has served over 587,000 older adults with more than 7,600 lifelong learning classes. More than 3,500 health classes are offered nationwide each year. Classes range in a variety of topics, from art and history to pop culture, fitness, current events, science, and technology/digital literacy skills, with new courses continually added to the roster. Evidence-based programs include fall prevention, chronic disease self–management, and peerled discussion groups. Oasis also provides exercise, nutrition, healthy living, and wellness classes.

50 Gay Avenue • St. Louis MO, 63105 • 314-862-4859 st-louis.oasiseverywhere.org

Founded in 1965, Delmar Gardens provides healthcare services to over 4,000 seniors in Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Nebraska, Illinois and Nevada; featuring skilled nursing, retirement, assisted living, home health, hospice, medical equipment, and pharmacy. Since 1993, Gabe Grossberg has served as Delmar Gardens President and CEO. Nationally known and respected as a long-term care executive, Gabe Grossberg has over 40 years of experience in the senior healthcare and development arena. Read more at www. delmargardens.com.

The Delmar Gardens Family 636-733-7000 • www.DelmarGardens.com

PRIMETIME JEWISH RESOURCES

Essential resources for older adults in the St. Louis Jewish community

Continued from page 5B

ElderLink St. Louis — JFS

10950 Schuetz Rd. St. Louis, Mo. 63146

314-812-9300

email: info@jfsstl.org

website: jfsstl.org

Elderlink, a telephone-based assessment, information, and referral service, is staffed by a JFS case manager to assist callers and assess needs. Callers are provided with resources and referrals relevant to their needs. JFS supports independent living through a network of referral partners that offer transportation to medical appointments, food delivery, utility assistance, minor home repairs, home health care, housing information, support to apply for government and veterans benefits and Medicaid, socialization opportunities, and more. For information about available resources and services, please call ElderLink at 314-812-9300.

JFS Chaplaincy Program

10950 Schuetz Rd. St. Louis, Mo. 63146

314-993-1000

email: info@jfsstl.org

website: jfsstl.org

The Chaplaincy Program provides spiritual care for the Jewish community of the greater

St. Louis area, offering connection, compassion, and support during both joyful and difficult times.

JFS’s community chaplains provide a comforting presence and a listening ear, offer end-of-life support and bereavement care, and build bridges to Jewish tradition. They create relationships through individual visits and spiritual counseling as well as through Shabbat celebrations, holiday gatherings, discussion groups, and study sessions.

Chaplains visit the diverse members of the Jewish community, especially reaching out to those who are unaffiliated, isolated, and

disconnected from Jewish life. JFS supports residents in a variety of eldercare settings including nursing care, assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation centers, retirement communities, hospitals, and home hospice. JFS also supports residents living in group homes for adults with varying intellectual and developmental abilities.

JFS chaplains help to reconnect residents with their synagogues and they build strong relationships with the staff in congregate care communities, helping them to become more culturally sensitive to Jewish residents and their needs.

vvv

Mirowitz Center

8 Millstone Campus Drive, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Mo. 63146 314-432-1610 website: www.mirowitzcenter.org

Joan Denison, President & CEO

The Mirowitz Center, located on the first floor of the Covenant Place II Cahn Family Building, is your place to connect with programs, classes, events and services that enrich your life. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with some evenings and weekend programs, the Mirowitz Center focuses on meeting the interests of baby boomers

Musicians with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra perform a Valentine’s Day concert at the Mirowitz Center, which is located on the first floor of the Covenant Place II Cahn Family Building.

and older adults.

Stop in and meet-up with others, enjoy health and exercise programs, interesting speakers, multi-generational activities, use a game table to play with friends, watch films on our 14’ movie screen, pick up a new read or video from the St. Louis County mobile library, try your hand at an art class, meet people with similar interests! Classes and programs are offered at nominal fees or at no cost and there is no required membership fee to participate.

Also located at the Mirowitz Center: Washington University Geriatric Primary Care Clinic, Washington University Weight Management Program and Clinic, RPI Therapy Services, Royal Banks of Missouri, and St. Louis NORC.

NOTE: The Mirowitz Center is currently offering a mix of in-person classes with a variety of programs, classes and special interest groups offered online and on telephone. Call, email or check out the website for program information.

Howard Rosen is Board Chair.

vvv

Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care

14805 North Outer 40 Road, Suite 160 Chesterfield, Mo. 63017 636-733-7399 website: pathwayscomfort.com

Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care is accredited by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice and is part of the Delmar Gardens Family, dedicated to providing quality care to the members of our Jewish community. Through a process which helps identify essential hopes and needs, we enhance end-of-life care by drawing on traditional wisdom and guidance to enhance quality of life choices consistent with personal beliefs. The Pathways’ team is available to provide comprehensive support in partnership with patients and families. It is a sacred obligation to care for those we serve by contributing to wholeness, comfort and peace.

vvv

WHAT DOES THE GATESWORTH MEAN TO

The Gatesworth is like a self-contained city – whatever you want or need, they’ll get it for you. No matter what your question is, their answer is always ‘yes.’ I love it! — CAROL MAX

Discover Senior Living Your Way

The Gatesworth provides the perfect canvas to enjoy life your way. Living in an exquisitely appointed apartment surrounded by beautiful, lush grounds, you’ll feel inspired to pursue new interests, expand your knowledge, build friendships and embrace your independence.

We invite you to discover The Gatesworth and experience exceptional senior living today. Call 314-993-0111.

314-993-0111

T he G aT eswor T h com Facebook.com/TheGatesworth

The Gatesworth is an independent senior living community conveniently located north of Highway 40 just off I-170 at One McKnight Place

Sunrise was founded in 1981, and since then has remained true to our mission: to champion quality of life for all seniors. Grounded in the belief that every resident’s needs are unique, this mission is the responsibility of every team member to uphold, and is what makes Sunrise the leader in providing personalized senior care.

Each of our St. Louis based communities offer personalized support in beautiful environments, and our warm and welcoming teams will assist you with the care you need so you can enjoy a vibrant life at Sunrise.

Sunrise of Webster Groves 314-918-7300

Sunrise of Des Peres 314-965-3800

sunriseseniorliving.com

Emily Stein MacDonald is a fifth-generation funeral director who joined her father, Richard W. Stein, at Berger Memorial Chapel in 2009. As a funeral director, Emily provides compassionate, caring guidance and support to families in their time of need.

Alana Shapiro specializes in providing sensitive, personalized counseling to individuals seeking information about preplanning funeral services in her role as Advance Planning Director at Berger Memorial Chapel.

Richard, Emily, Alana and the staff of Berger Memorial Chapel are honored to provide thoughtful, professional service to the St. Louis Jewish Community.

Conveniently located in Olivette, Berger Memorial Chapel is a locally-managed and locally-operated funeral home that has been serving our Jewish community since 1896.

9340 Olive Boulevard • St. Louis, MO 63132 314-361-0622 • www.bergermemorialchapel.com

Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield 636-532-0150

Delmar Gardens of Creve Coeur 314-434-5900

Delmar Gardens of Meramec Valley 636-343-0016

For over 135 years, Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel has been dedicated to providing dignified funeral services to the St. Louis Jewish Community.  We offer a variety of funeral services ranging from traditional funerals in accordance with Jewish Law to memorial services and cremation.  We also offer funeral pre-planning.  Owned and operated by the Roth Family, our caring family staff members are committed to providing the utmost personal guidance and compassion while tailoring services to the wishes of the families we serve. 5216 Delmar Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63108-1093 (314) 367-0438 • www.rindskopfroth.com

Correct Capital is an independent, privately held wealth advisory firm built around our St. Louis, MO clients and their own financial journeys. No matter where you are in life, we are here to help you plan for today, tomorrow, and into your future.

Our seasoned fiduciary advisors leverage the best technology platforms and investment research to develop your custom financial plan. We build solutions that meet you where you are now and are made to offer you financial peace. Whether you are years away from retiring, contemplating retirement, or are currently enjoying retirement, we can help secure your future.

Conveniently located in Chesterfield, The Willows at Brooking Park offers the ultimate in retirement living, where luxury meets value.  This not-for-profit community provides abundant opportunities for residents to improve their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.  The Willows coordinates with Jewish Family Services to provide spiritual support with Rabbinic visits, High Holiday celebrations, and Jewish learning opportunities. They offer a monthly Sabbath Gathering and Torah Study. Call today to set up a virtual tour of their spacious Apartment Homes and modern Villas.

Love… Care… Unde

Delmar Gardens of O’Fallon 636-240-6100

Delmar Gardens on the Green 636-394-7515

Delmar Gardens North 314-355-1516

Delmar Gardens South 314-842-0588

Delmar Gardens West 314-878-1330

Med Resources

Main Office: 636-733-7200

Retail Stores

Chesterfield: 636-530-4500

Alton, IL: 618-466-5632

211 S Woods Mill Rd in Chesterfield 314-576-0800 • NewWillows.com

130 S. Bemiston Ave. STE. 602 • Clayton, MO 63105 314.930.401k (4015) • CorrectCap.com

RETIREMENT & ASSISTED LIVING

Chesterfield Villas 636-532-9296

Garden Villas 314-434-2520

Garden Villas of O’Fallon 636-240-5560

Garden Villas North 314-355-6100

Garden Villas South 314-843-7788

OTHER SERVICES MEDICAL

Delmar Gardens Home Care 636-733-7330

Delmar Gardens Private Services 636-733-7100

Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care 636-733-7399

Specialized Wound Management 636-536-0183

Corum Health Services Pharmacy 636-733-7300

Assisted Living & Memory Care

Setting the standard in assisted living and memory care for over 30 years. Our vibrant community is ideal for senior adults who still wish to live independently but may benefit from a little help to enjoy full, active lives. We offer the amenities and services you want, along with true, all-inclusive rates that are simple, predictable and worry-free. Our community features large suites and single bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, as well as beautifully landscaped gardens, outdoor spaces and walking paths.

Please call for more information or to schedule a tour.

3  McKnight Place • St. Louis, MO 63124 314-993-3333 • mcknightplace.com

At St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Institute, we pour our hearts into caring for yours. St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield puts you at the center of our awardwinning quality ratings and outstanding patient outcomes. St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Missouri named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™ by Healthgrades® four years in a row (2019-2022). St. Luke’s is also the only hospital in the region to be an official alliance member of Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute. St. Luke’s offers same-day cardiology appointments to patients seeking a first diagnosis or a second opinion.

232 S. Woods Mill Road • Chesterfield, MO 63017 314-205-6801 • stukes-stl.com/hearthealth

Conveniently located in Chesterfield, The Willows at Brooking Park offers the ultimate in retirement living, where luxury meets value.  This not-for-profit community provides abundant opportunities for residents to improve their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.  The Willows coordinates with Jewish Family Services to provide spiritual support with Rabbinic visits, High Holiday celebrations, and Jewish learning opportunities. They offer a monthly Sabbath Gathering and Torah Study. Call today to set up a virtual tour of their spacious Apartment Homes and modern Villas.

211 S Woods Mill Rd in Chesterfield 314-576-0800 • NewWillows.com

Medical Excellence, Compassionate Care

We believe our residents and their families deserve the best memory care possible. Leading

You want your loved one to get the best memory care available. We know how you feel. That’s why memory care is our primary focus. Parc Provence specialists are experts in their fields and committed to compassionate care. Our residents benefit from the latest in research and best practices, so they ccontinue to make the best of every day.

Please call to learn more or to schedule a tour. 605 Coeur de Ville Drive, Creve Coeur, MO 63141

We

AccuCare Home Health Care of St. Louis was founded in 1994 by Jacque Phillips, RN, BSN, and is locally, family RN-owned and RN-managed, and is dedicated to providing seniors with the finest private, in-home health care. Treating clients as they would care for their own family is the driving force that allows AccuCare to provide exceptional care, delivered with compassion, integrity, and dedication. AccuCare provides a custom care plan for each client with 24/7 RN Oversight. In addition, our caregivers can assist with essential everyday needs, transport clients to appointments, perform light housekeeping, meal preparation, provide respite care to families, and more.

1185 N. Price Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63123 314-692-0020 • accucare.com

Oasis offers a variety lifelong learning and exercise classes, discussion groups, and volunteer opportunities. For 40 years, Oasis has been a hub for older adults to meet people who share the same interests , gain a greater sense of purpose , and continue learning —because a productive lifestyle doesn’t end with retirement.

Celebrating Exceptional Years

With towering trees and a park-like landscape for in-ground burials, New Mount Sinai is the only Jewish cemetery in St. Louis with a Community Mausoleum. Serves the entire Jewish Community. Permits burial of cremains and nonJewish burials. Feel free to drive or stroll through our 2.5 miles of paved pathways. Call or email to schedule an actual or virtual tour. Open dawn to dusk. Current photos on Facebook and Instagram. Established in 1850, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

8430 Gravois Road • St. Louis, MO 63123 314-353-2540 • NewMtSinaiCemetery.org

customized exclusively for seniors. 314-993-0111 TheGatesworth.com committed to equal housing opportunity and does not discriminate in housing and services because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

With a choice of rental apartments and accommodating floor plans, The Gatesworth provides the very best independent lifestyle exclusively for seniors. With no entry fees, our apartment living at The Gatesworth is a great way to maintain your independence and take advantage of the peace of mind and camaraderie of a thoughtfully planned community. Experience retirement living nothing short of exceptional. The Gatesworth is now welcoming new residents and would love to get to know you. Call or visit online.

Please call for more information or to schedule a tour.

1  McKnight Place • St. Louis, MO 63124 314-993-0111 • thegatesworth.com

Parc Provence — a licensed skilled nursing community — proudly serves the St. Louis region. Our community offers its residents and their families exceptional care for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through dedicated, person-centered support. As a community of well-being, Parc Provence empowers senior adults by promoting individual physical and cognitive abilities. Our staff is led by an experienced team of medically-trained professionals. From an administrator who has over 30 years of nursing experience to medical directors who serve as leading authorities on gerontology and dementia at Washington University, our staff provides unrivaled care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Please call for more information or to schedule a tour.

605 Coeur de Ville Drive • Creve Coeur, MO 63141 314-542-2500 • parcprovence.com

Crown is a welcoming community, offering independence, unique programming, a vibrant neighborhood and quality living. Ages 62+, some residents are fully retired, others still employed, and all have a variety of interests. This mix makes Crown Center a wonderful place to live. Programs are available to senior adults in the community; kosher meals to those who qualify. Contact Randi Schenberg at 314-991-2055 for information about leasing an apartment in the Crown Community.

Crown Center for Senior Living 8350 Delcrest Dr. • St. Louis, MO 63124 314-991-2055 • crowncenterstl.org

Our specialty is you.

At St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Institute, you’ll find a full range of state-of-the-art procedures, treatments and services to keep your heart strong and healthy. Whether you’re dealing with a history of heart disease, need follow-up care, or are simply seeking a second opinion, our diagnostic tools and surgical expertise are second to none. Schedule your appointment at StLukesCare.com/Heart

Compassionate care

Strong relationships that help you navigate every step of your health and wellness journey.

Nationally recognized

America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™ by Healthgrades® 5 years in a row.

Best technology

In alliance with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Easy access

Convenient locations plus same-day second opinions.

Our specialty is superior heart care.

Making Every Day Brilliant

Every day we strive to ensure our residents live to their fullest while taking care of their evey need. Championing quality of life for all seniors—it’s our mission and a responsibility that every Sunrise team member takes seriously. To deliver the highest level of care, our compassionate team members complete comprehensive training focused on the holistic well-being of our residents. Discover this firsthand with a tour at one of our St. Louis communities nearest you.

TO LEARN MORE AND SCHEDULE A TOUR, CONTACT ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY.

EXPERIENCE THE VERY BEST IN CARE AT SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING