JEWS OF MISSOURI HISTORY COMES TO LIFE IN MARA W. COHEN IOANNIDES’ NEW BOOK
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A N O N P R O FIT, IN D EP EN D EN T N E W S S O U R CE TO I N F O R M , I N S P I R E , E D U C AT E A N D CO N N E C T T H E S T. LO U I S J E W I S H CO M M U N IT Y.
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Galit Lev-Harir (center) dances with the St. Louis Israel Folk Dancing group in the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School gym earlier this month. PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN
Longtime folk dance group helps connect St. Louisans with Israel The St. Louis Israeli Folk Dance (IFD) group has been meeting for 50 years.
BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Every Monday night the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School hosts a dance party in the gym. The participants, who range from teenagers to octogenarians, learn and practice the art of Israeli folk dancing. The St. Louis Israeli Folk Dance (IFD) group has been going strong for 50 years. It began as a Jewish Community Center-hosted program run by Shlomit Eisner. In 1978, Bob Olshan took over the group. Olshan learned to dance at age 8 growing up in Skokie, Ill. Now 69, he leads the late-night couples dance session. He shares his love for dance with his mother who, at age 95, still leads a Chicago-area group. Israeli folk dance is good exercise, and learning the routines is good for the mind, he said. “It helps your body physically and cognitively, and it’s fun, too,” said Olshan, who belongs to Kol Rinah. “You learn
the dances, and some are quite complicated. I know probably a thousand different dances.” Israeli folk dancing has an intricate choreography. It bears some similarities to country music line dancing, except that dancers form a circle. They take their cues from the leader, who also selects the music, which includes
Turkish, Asian and Kurdish influences. Add in Israeli pop music, and you’ll find a mashup of many styles. The songs and dance moves are directly related to Israeli culture and its arid desert climate. Israeli folk dancing came into its own as a movement in the several years See FOLK DANCING on page 6A
SEE SUMMER ARTS GUIDE ON PAGES 1B-8B
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In 1972 Gail Lang skipped her commencement to get married. On May 20, she got the chance to enjoy the pomp and circumstance she missed.
50 years later, Wash U grad walks in cap and gown BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Friday, May 20, Gail Lang did something she had waited to do for 50 years — walk at her college graduation ceremony. There she was, replete in cap and gown, at the age of 71, walking with roughly 50 members of Washington University’s Class of 1972 onto the campus’ historic Francis Field where commencement was held. Gail and her classmates had returned for their 50th college reunion, and one of the perks was walking at graduation. She didn’t expect to feel so excited; in fact, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to attend the reunion, or walk at graduation, when she first learned about it. “Initially I wasn’t going to go to the reunion because the few people I’ve maintained a friendship with since college I am in touch with and the others I probably wouldn’t remember,” said Gail, who is a member of Temple Emanuel. “But there was mention in the information packet about walking at graduation. I started thinking this is my only opportunity and if I don’t do it now, I’ll regret it.” Gail missed walking the first time around because she had a wedding to attend. It happened to be her own. She met her future husband, Carl Lang, when she was a 20-year-old junior studying occupational therapy at Wash U and he was 25 and in law school there. Talking at a party late in the spring semester, she told him she had to stay in St. Louis over the summer to complete practicums for See GAIL LANG on page 7A
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Ryan Lawson-Maeske (left) and Molly Diane Burris (below left) star in New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise.’
NEWS & SCHMOOZE
NJT promo, a new deli and name change
PHOTO: JON GITCHOFF
also feature a small market for take-out purchases. Poremba says while there is still much to be planned, he expects the deli to open in spring 2023.
What’s in a name? Maybe more than you think
What’s love got to do with it? The New Jewish Theatre has a “sweetheart” of a promotion for its next play, “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” running June 9-26. Written by Ken Ludwig, the play tells the real-life, joyous story of his grandparents’ courtship during World War II. Couples can receive a percentage off the ticket price, depending on how long they’ve been married. For example, couples married 10 years can receive 10% off while those married 25 years can get a 25% discount and so on. Couples married 60 or more years can receive free admission. Bear in mind, this promotion is good for selected performances only; you must call the box office at 314-442-3283 to see if you qualify. For more information, go to newjewishtheatre.org
A divINe delicatessen Last week at a Federation event, I moderated a panel that consisted of five local Jewish restaurateurs, including Israeli native Ben Poremba, owner and chef of Bengelina Hospitality Group (Elaia, Ol io, Ni x ta, T he Benevolent King and more). When asked what type of cuisine was missing from the local food scene, Poremba quickly responded “a deli.” As it turns out, in this month’s edition of the Delmar DivINe newsletter, Poremba talks about his plan to open 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. Part of the reason for Poremba locating the deli there is to pay homage to the strong Jewish presence in the north St. Louis neighborhood early in the 20th century. “A Jewish-style deli to preserve the legacy of my ancestors and to bring comfort and nourishment to the community around it,” Poremba said in the newsletter. “What’s more comforting than a matzah ball soup, or ‘Jewish penicillin’ as we call it?” Among the items on the planned menu are handcrafted pastrami and corned beef, babka, bagels and lox, and Poremba’s grandma’s famous egg salad. The deli will
Restaurateur Ben Poremba. (left)
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Cantor Seth Warner of Congregation Shaare Emeth (right)
News and Schmooze is a column by Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman. Email Ellen at: efutterman@stljewishlight.org
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In a letter to Shaare Emeth members, Cantor Seth Warner explains how the Reform congregation has renamed its B’nei Mitzvah program to B’Mitzvah Program. “This shift reflects Shaare Emeth’s commitment to ‘best practices’ to include all as their true, authentic selves so all of our congregants can fully participate in communal worship. Gender inclusiveness is already part of Shaare Emeth’s welcoming culture,” writes Warner, adding that “renaming the program includes Hebraically removing gender specificity from bar and bat mitzvah; thus we will refer to everyone as b’mitzvah when referring to the cohort. “This subtle yet important change in our nomenclature gives more choices to all of our students and their families,” Warner continued. “Our goal is to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible to all.” Students in the B’Mitzvah Program can choose what they prefer to call their celebration. Warner says this change follows a national trend that reflects the Reform movement’s “respectful inclusion.” He also notes that Shaare Emeth is the first synagogue locally to name their program b’mitzvah.
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May 25, 2022
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Newmark tapped to become next Federation board chair Robert “Bob” Newmark has been nominated as Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, to succeed current chair, Greg Yawitz, according to a news release issued from Federation. Newmark will be formally presented for election at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Board of Directors’ meeting in December and take office on Jan. 1. Newmark is a partner at the global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, with a practice that focuses on business counseling, mergers and acquisitions, and estate and succession planning. He previously served as the firm’s St. Louis Managing Partner from 2011 to 2021. Newmark has been involved with Federation since 1995 in a variety of roles.
He is also a member of the National Louis Public Schools Foundation. He is a Executive Council of American Jewish past President of the National Conference Committee (AJC), and he has previously of Community and Justice of Metropolitan served as President of the St. St. Louis and a past President of L ouis Regional Board. the Princeton Club of St. Louis. Newmark is also a member of “I can think of no one better to the Advisory Board for the lead the organization at this time Newmark Institute for Human than Bob,” said Brian Herstig, Relations with the Jewish CEO and president of Community Relations Council, Federation. “His leadership, an institute established by his nationally through AJC, locally parents, Barbara and Michael through the St. Louis Public Newmark. Schools Foundation, and at Bob Newmark also sits on the Bryan Cave have shown how he Robert “Bob” Regional Business Council, he can bring people together while Newmark serves on the Board of also transforming and moving Concordance, and he is stepping down forward communities.” next month as the Vice Chair of the St. The Governance and Board Enrichment
(GBE) committee recently made this recommendation to the full Board of Directors and are excited for the opportunities this nomination will have for the Board of Directors and Federation in the future. When Newmark accepted this nomination, he told the Board, “I am truly honored to take on this role and I recognize the significant responsibility associated with building our community and caring for our extended Jewish family. I will work hard to ensure the continuation of our thriving and vibrant community.” Newmark will be following in his father’s path and taking the Chair 30 years after Michael Newmark served as Board Chair of Federation.
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum recently announced a $1 million dollar pledge from the Tilles Foundation to support the Museum’s new Impact Lab. The Tilles Foundation is a private foundation “dedicated to finding the most effective and impactful ways to help children in the Greater St. Louis Region through innovative charitable partnerships.” The Impact Lab will challenge students and visitors to reject hatred, promote understanding and inspire change. In this highly interactive space, visitors will be empowered to consider contemporary issues and challenges through the lens of the Holocaust. “The Impact Lab is where change happens,” said Helen Turner, the Museum’s director of education. “When paired with a visit to the Museum’s permanent Holocaust exhibition, this experience will serve as the beginning of transformative change for individual visitors and the region at large. We’re grateful for the partnership of the Tilles Foundation in this important mission.” The Holocaust Museum is currently undergoing renovation and expansion and will reopen in fall 2022.
PHOTO: OFFICE OF MISSOURI GOVERNOR
Holocaust Museum receives $1 million pledge
‘Education and Sharing Day’ On April 12, Missouri Gov. Michael Parson, the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate marked “Education and Sharing Day” in Missouri, celebrating 120 years since the birth of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (z’’l). Members of the House and Senate received an ARK (Acts of Routine Kindness), a small charity box shaped like Noah’s Ark. Above, Gov. Parson presents the delegation with a proclamation. From left are Rabbi Chaim Landa of St. Charles County; Rabbi Yitzchok Itkin of Kansas City; Rabbi Avraham Lapine of Columbia; Gov. Parson; Rabbi Yosef and Shiffy Landa of St. Louis; accompanied by attorney Harvey Tettlebaum. At left are Rabbi Chaim Landa, Rep. Adam Schwadron of St. Charles, and Rabbi Yosef and Shiffy Landa. PHOTO: JULIE SMITH FOR CHABAD OF GREATER ST. LOUIS
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May 25, 2022
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The J partners with County Library on author series Book lovers and those who fully appreciate the craft of book writing are in for a treat, as a new partnership between the St. Louis County Library and the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival will keep the library’s author series going during the construction at the Library Headquarters on Lindbergh Boulevard. For years, the SLCL has brought in popular authors to speak and meet with fans looking to engage with their favorite writers. With construction on a new library branch starting this summer, the nationally renowned author series needed a new home. The new program, “SLCL Authors at the J,” is taking place at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex in the Mirowitz Performing Arts Center (located at 2 Millstone Campus Drive), starting on June 1. “We are thrilled to partner with the J to offer SLCL author events in their Performing Arts Center while our head-
quarters is under construction. We look forward to combining our enthusiastic audiences and connecting the readers of St. Louis with many more nationally renowned, popular authors,” said Kristen Sorth, St. Louis County library director and CEO. “The J is beyond excited to partner with the St. Louis County Library,” said Lynn Wittels, J president and CEO. “The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival has a rich 44-year tradition in St. Louis, and this collaboration will further our efforts to promote authors, books, and literacy throughout the St. Louis region.” On June 1, SLCL Authors at the J will kick off with an event featuring Jeff Nussbaum, speechwriter for President Joe Biden and author of “Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches that Would Have Re-Written History.” Other highlights from the June line-up include Chris Pavone, bestselling author of international spy thrillers, and an event with
erwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
June schedule of SLCL Authors at the J:
On June 1, author Jeffrey Nussbaum kicks off the “SLCL Authors at the J” series. St. Louis Olympic committee chairman Michael Loynd in conversation with Olympic legend and East St. Louis native Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Additional information about St. Louis County Library’s author series is available at www.slcl.org/authors. Unless oth-
• Wednesday, June 1, 7 p.m.: Jeff Nussbaum, “Undelivered: The NeverHeard Speeches that Would Have Re-Written History” • Tuesday, June 7, 7 p.m.: Chris Pavone, “Two Nights in Lisbon” • Monday, June 13, 7 p.m.: B.A. Shapiro, “Metropolis” • Wednesday, June 15, 7 p.m.: Michael Loynd, “The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man’s Fight to Capture Olympic Gold” — in Conversation with Olympic Legend Jackie Joyner Kersee • Thursday, June 23, 7 p.m.: Lynne Cox, “Tales of Al: The Water Rescue Dog” • Wednesday, June 29, 7 p.m.: Louis Bayard, “Jackie & Me”
Central Reform Congregation hires new executive director Sonya J. Vann has been named executive director of Central Reform Congregation, the congregation announced in a recent news release. Vann, who has a Master of Divinity degree, served as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves. She is a trained minister, and serves on several boards of directors, including as the Vice Chair for St. Vincent Home for Children. “I am thrilled to be joining CRC,” Vann said in the release. “The opportunity to serve in this important role is one that
humbles and excites me. I feel a ed that Vann also has “signifikindred spirit with CRC, their cant fundraising” experience. rabbinic team, staff and mem“Your rabbis are thrilled to be bers as we seek to bring about able to welcome Sonya Vann as justice and shalom in meaningour new executive director,” said ful ways that create change.” Rabbi Susan Talve. “CRC’s rapid Vann will oversee the synagrowth has brought a host of gogue’s business operations and challenges and opportunities to is expected to lead CRC as it our membership, leadership returns to a normal flow of team and staff. Sonya’s skill set, Sonya J. Vann in-person services and events, experience and spiritual soul are and help the synagogue re-engage with its just what we need to remain true to our membership as it recovers from the pan- core values as we expand meaningful demic. In a release issued to CRC congre- engagement within our community and gants announcing the appointment, it stat- beyond.”
CRC has been without a permanent executive director since last fall. John Stamm has been serving as interim executive director since January. Rabbi Randy Fleisher said he was “thrilled” that Vann would be joining CRC, adding, “Sonya brings together expertise with budgets and engaging people-skills in a way that is seamless and highly effective.” Vann was formally introduced to CRC’s congregants on May 20 at a Shabbat service. Other virtual and in-person meetand-greets with Vann will take place over the next few months.
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Applications for Anything Grants from the Staenberg Family Foundation are now open and are due by June 22. The Foundation will distribute grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to Jewish organizations. Each grant will total one half of the applicant organization’s project budget, and grantees will be responsible for raising the remaining dollars needed to complete their projects. Eligible grant applications could be, as the name says, for anything, including things like hiring a nonprofit consultant; purchasing technology; staff or board professional development; building beautification or improvement; or one-time programmatic needs. For more information, visit JFedSTL. org/Anything-Grants. For more information about the application process, contact Marla Guggenheimer at MGuggenheimer@JFedSTL.org.
Missouri Torah Institute plans 15th annual dinner
Lynnsie Balk Kantor leads a St. Louis Israel Folk Dancing group in the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School gym earlier this month. PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN has been attending for two months. “Somebody told me about the class, and I went the next night and loved it,” said Azar, 58. “I love the music, being with people, the exercise. My goal is to improve and move up to the advanced class. I actually stay for the advanced dancers and stand in the outer circle to follow people. That’s the only way to really learn.” Persellin Armoza and Brown lead the advanced class that follows the beginner’s group. Brown first learned Israeli folk dance as a counselor at a Young Israel camp in New Hampshire. At 67, his dance
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Grants available to Jewish groups for ‘Anything’
Folk dancing: Group connects members to Israel before statehood in 1948. Previously, dancing was common on the kibbutz, but it eventually took on patriotic themes. “While Israel was creating a state, dancing became an important part of the culture,” Olshan said. “The songs were about agriculture and living in the desert, a land without water, and all those themes got into the songs and the dances, so it was the spirit of the country.” Another cultural aspect of folk dancing in Israel is that everybody participates. While living in Israel as a McDonnellDouglas vice president, Olshan frequently found time to dance in the evenings. After returning to St. Louis, he reconnected with the dance group here, as have other Israeli-Americans who moved here. They include the group’s leader, Rachel Persellin Armoza. “In Jerusalem, I was dancing four times a week,” Persellin Armoza said. “When I moved here from Israel in 2000, I would only move to a place that had Israeli dancing.” The strength and longevity of the St. Louis group are due in part to its governing philosophy, she said. “We run it like a co-op,” she said. “We get buy-in and input from everyone when we make decisions. Nobody gets paid, and that’s unique. Our dance leaders, Wayne Brown, Bob Olshan, Lynnsie Balk Kantor and me, we have bonded, and we want to make it successful.” Kantor teaches the beginner’s group that leads off the Monday night session. In early May, she started each dance by explaining the choreography, then started the music. Shelly Azar, manager of research and grants at Jewish Federation of St. Louis,
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moves are fluid and effortless. That wasn’t always the case. “Everybody’s a beginner at one point,” Brown said. “It took me a very long time to learn the steps. When it took people on average two to four weeks to learn, it took me a year!” Ilanit Michelson, an Israeli expat who’s been dancing in the group for 27 years, said Monday nights remind her of home. “I love the music,” she said. “It brings me close to home, and we’ve formed a really close group even outside of dancing. It makes me happy, and it’s good exercise. Growing up in Israel, we danced every Friday at school during a big recess. The whole school would get together in a big circle.” Another longtime member of the group is Galit Lev-Harir, who echoed Michelson’s feelings. “I love the dancing, I love the excitement,” Lev-Harir said. “I danced when I was in Israel and, when we moved here, I asked some people if there was dancing here, and they told me about this group. I love the feeling you get when you’re in a larger group especially, with 100 dancers. There’s a special energy.”
Missouri Torah Institute will hold its 15th Annual Dinner at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. The event will honor Yosef and Chaya Bernath, celebrating the Bernath Family Bais Medrash dedication, as well as Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, who will receive the school’s Community Service Award. To RSVP and/or to put in an ad, call 636-7781896, visit missouritorah.org/dinner or email dinner@missouritorah.org.
Four congregations partner for Shavuot celebration Bais Abraham Congregation, Central Reform Congregation, Kol Rinah and Neve Shalom invite the community to celebrate Shavuot with thought-provoking classes and teachers on Saturday, June 4 at Bais Abraham, 6910 Delmar Blvd. in University City. Community Tikkun Leil Shavuot: A Celebration of Torah Learning starts at 9 p.m. with Maariv, followed by dinner at 9:30 p.m. (there is a suggested donation of $15/meal). The community learning will start at 10:30 p.m., ending at 1:30 a.m. The deadline to register for the dinner is Wednesday, June 1. Walkins are welcome for the Tikkun. For more information or to sign up, v isit w w w.baisabe.com /event/ Tikkun5782 or contact the Bais Abe office at 314-721-3030 or office@baisabe.com.
The St. Louis Israeli Dance Group is open to anyone interested in learning. The group meets every Monday from 8:30 to 11 p.m. in the rear gym at Mirowitz School, 348 S. Mason Rd. Beginners are welcome during the introductory class at 7:30 p.m., followed by the advanced group and the late night couples dance.
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Gail Lang: 50 years later, Wash U grad gets to walk in cap and gown CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A her OT program. She mentioned being alone since many of friends were leaving town for the summer. “He said, ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ ” Gail recalled. “And I said, ‘Yeah, you can feed me dinner.’ ” They dated for three weeks before Gail went home for a month to spend time with her family in Eastchester, N.Y. When she returned to St. Louis, they dated for another three weeks before Carl proposed in late September 1971. The plan was to get married after Gail graduated in May. Carl, who still had another year of law school, had secured an internship with a law firm in St. Louis for the summer. He also was in the U.S. Army Reserves, which meant reporting once a month to its center that was located on Page Avenue. May was the decided month to marry because it would allow them to have the wedding followed by a weeklong honeymoon in Bermuda, before returning to St. Louis for Carl’s internship and reserves duty and for Gail to finish another practicum here.
Gail and Carl Lang on their wedding day in 1972 (left) and at Wash U’s commencement (right). But May posed some challenges for Gail’s observant family, the biggest being a date that wouldn’t interfere with the weeks of “counting the Omer” between Passover and Shavuot. The only exception
for a wedding during that time is Lag Ba’Omer — the 33rd day in the counting — but it fell on a Tuesday that year and the couple wanted to marry on a Saturday, after sundown.
They decided on the Saturday after Shavuot, May 20, 1972. Unfortunately, that date would interfere with Gail attending graduation. “If the only day we could get married on a Saturday night was May 20th, that was alright by me,” said Gail, noting that her marriage is still strong after 50 years. “It was also 1972, people were protesting about Vietnam. Honestly, at the time, I don’t think walking at graduation was high on my priority list.” It wasn’t high on mine, either. Like Gail, I skipped walking at my Wash U commencement to be in Ann Arbor, Mich. with my then-boyfriend. “Don’t miss the chance to walk,” Gail told me. “It was a really fun day. I got to carry the Class of 1972 banner and lead the procession. And Friday night, Carl and I went out to dinner with some friends to celebrate our 50th anniversary.” I plan to take Gail’s advice to heart when my 50th reunion rolls around in six years. At this stage of life, I’ve learned to embrace unexpected opportunities, including ones that let you turn back time for a few minutes and walk the walk.
B’nai Amoona plans ‘Operation Max Levin: A STL homecoming’ on June 11 and 12 Congregation B’nai Amoona is pleased to welcome Max Levin and his mother, Judy Levin, to St. Louis for a special weekend homecoming June 11-12. Max Levin will recount, in person, his experience in the 2014 “Operation Protective Edge,” the latest of the GazaIsraeli conflicts as an American-born Israeli soldier who immigrated in 2012 to join the Israeli army. He will share his personal stories as a soldier who joined an elite unit as an American-raised boy, with American values, serving in the modern Israeli army. Levin is a 2007 graduate of Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis (now Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School). He will be signing copies of his book, “Under the Stretcher,” and introducing his army friend, Eial, who now makes mezuzot from Israel’s olive wood and resin. Sponsors will be invited to join Saturday, June 11, for Havdalah and a safely COVIDdistanced Sponsor’s Dinner where Max Levin will entertain questions about his experiences. At 1 p.m. Sunday, B’nai Amoona will host a community-wide program to hear Levin speak and to meet his friend Eial. After, the community is invited for the official ribbon-cutting and grand re-opening at 2:30 p.m. of the Gallant Family Judaica Shop, where Levin’s book and Eial’s mezuzot will be available. Honorary co-chairs are Leslie and Michael Litwack and Galia Movitz. For more information or to sponsor, or to purchase book talk tickets, books, etc. go to www.bnaiamoona.com Tickets are $18 each; two or more family group are $36. Books are $18. Mezuzot made by Eial will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Bishvil Hamachar organization, which helps heal emotional scars caused by war.
e Willows Apartment Homes and Villas 211 S Woods Mill Rd ~ Chesterreld, MO 63017 314-576-0800 ~ www.NewWillows.com : eWillowsatBrookingPark
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2021-2022 Ohr Chadash Teen Page Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Eisen Staff members: Idan Lerner Molly Levine Poppy Orchard Noah Sentnor Daniel Shanker Katie Silver Ryan Silver Avital Vorobeychik Advisor: Caroline Goldenberg
YEAR-END SENIOR SEND-OFF As Ohr Chadash staffers prepare for graduation, they reflect on their time working on the teen page, and what lies ahead
The day before my senior year started, I distinctly remember my brother telling me to take time to enjoy it. I had a difficult time at first, dealing with the stresses of high school and college at the same time. But as time passed, and college applications left my mind, I finally had the time to listen to my brother’s advice. I went out of my way to be with people I like spending time with, and I developed new, genuine friendships. Before this year, I hadn’t had a large friend group to go places with, but I finally started taking advantage of my life and the time that I had. Never had I felt greater connection with the people around me than during our last week of school. Despite not being in lockstep with many of the other seniors for most of my high school experience, that week came with a newfound sense of community. We were all going through the same emotional experience, and all negativity was forgotten for that time, creating an unexplainable feeling.
I have been a part of Ohr Chadash since my freshman year of high school. Before joining the teen page, I had no experience with journalistic writing. Yet, with the help of everyone on the team, I’ve been able to not only develop my skills as a journalist and consistently create articles, but also have a sizable audience that will read what I have to say. Ohr Chadash has given me a platform to form and share my thoughts. Favorite articles that I’ve written have been ones where I simply get to share about what’s going on in my life. This year, my favorite articles were talking about how I spent my summer and how the college application process went. While I have definitely learned and improved on interview-style articles, I have truly learned to love narrative-based writing. From here, I plan to major in economics at Duke University. I’m so thankful for the writing skills that Ohr Chadash has taught me because I know I will be better prepared to tackle the work that college and my professional career has in store for me.
And the emotions were mixed. Of course, we were all excited to move on to the next chapter of our lives and admittedly happy we didn’t have to return to high school. At the same time, however, we were sad. Leaving the people we’d known for four years, or in most cases even longer, was difficult to accept. Every opportunity I had I was saying goodbye to my friends in case I didn’t get a chance to later. Through not wanting to leave my friends, I found a new reason to be excited for next year. Months ago, I decided I wanted to take a gap year, primarily to rest after all the academic stress of high school. I will be staying in St. Louis, with a lot of free time. A lot of my friends will be near me; underclassmen who aren’t leaving for college, and college students within a few hours drive. After our collective experience of not wanting to leave everyone else behind, I’m ready for the opportunity to go out and visit them.
I first started writing for the Ohr Chadash teen page after my Journalism 1 class freshman year. Since then, I’ve loved that the Jewish Light has given me an outlet to share my interests and perspectives on different topics. When I was an underclassman, I tended to do news stories. Some of my favorite articles weren’t just the content, but rather the amazing people I got to meet while doing the interviews. From speaking to a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (the site of the 2018 school shooting that left 17 people dead) to simply meeting different young members of our community, Ohr Chadash has given me so many amazing opportunities. As I have gotten into my senior year, I’ve had the opportunity to build upon one of my favorite topics—
cooking—and have turned to submitting recipes throughout the year to the teen page. While I’ve loved writing in all of my years, I felt that I was really able to show myself in my writing this year. From here, I plan to study either political science or psychology at Emory University. I’m extremely grateful for all of the amazing opportunities and skills that I’ve gained from working on the teen page, and I hop e to carry these lessons with me throughout my time at college.
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It may be cliche, but that’s because it’s true: High school is a rollercoaster. Having gone to Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, which runs through eighth grade, acclimating to Parkway North in my freshman year took some time. I never struggled with this transition, but socially, it felt as if all my peers had a head-start advantage over me. In my first year, I had friends but wasn’t a part of a tight friend group. I knew people in my classes and clubs but not many others. I
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didn’t feel out-of-place per se, but I also didn’t feel like I exactly belonged either. Then things began to change when I hosted a Super Bowl party. Once the Chiefs defeated the 49ers and everyone had left my house, I could tell that my sense of belonging at North was rapidly heading in the right direction. The problem is, as any football fan can tell you, the Chiefs played the 49ers in February 2020. Right as I had finally found my place at North, everyone’s places changed. Although the reason for the lockdown was far from ideal, I capitalized on this newfound time. I assumed leadership roles in extracurriculars (notably becoming the Ohr Chadash Editor-In-Chief) and pursued passion projects (such as creating my podcast “Field of Vision Sports”).
G enu i nel y, w ithout the lockdown, I don’t know where I would be
today. But also, my social life at North was largely stunted during this time. I prioritized safety during the lockdown: the extent of “going out with friends” was sitting in someone’s backyard with the two other members of my bubble. I was perfectly content with this arrangement, especially considering the circumstances. But the catalysts for growing closer with my school friends like Super Bowl parties—or simply being in school together— vanished. Right as I had finally found my place at North, everyone’s places changed. What I failed to realize is that everyone was going through a similar experience. Universally, we all simply sat in each other’s backyards with only a couple of friends. Everyone’s social lives were stunted. When I returned to in-person school in fall 2021, everything clicked. I returned as
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a better student and leader than ever before, and I also picked up where I left off socially. Concluding a—shall we say— nontraditional high school experience was the best year I can remember… albeit the 17 college applications were fairly tedious, but even those paid off. Now, I will be headed 326 miles north to study journalism and data science at Northwestern University. The past four years were far from what I expected as I was leaving Mirowitz, but I am certain that was for the better. The road had several twists and a few sharp hairpin turns, but I wouldn’t choose to take any other route. The sense that my hard work paid off and the memories that I made are priceless. And now, as I look forward to my next four years, I have high expectations. But if my last four years are any indication, my next four will surpass any expectations I may have.
Thanks for all the wonderful writting. Good luck in all your future endeavors! ~The St. Louis Jewish Light
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OPINIONS Attack on Roe v. Wade is a religious freedoms issue Editor’s note: Rabbi Andrea Goldstein first delivered a version of this essay at a reproductive rights rally in downtown St. Louis on May 14. BY RABBI ANDREA GOLDSTEIN
I believe that all women, all girls, all people in this nation, should have access to safe and affordable reproductive health care, including contraception, and safe and legal abortions. I believe this not in spite of the fact that I am Jewish and a woman of faith, but because of it. What do I mean when I say this? First, plainly put, Jewish law allows for abortion. In Judaism, abortion is not considered murder because the fetus does not attain the status of full personhood until birth. In the Mishnah (Ohalot 7:6), we read that if the life of the person carrying the pregnancy is being threatened by the pregnancy, the pregnancy may, and in some cases must, be aborted in order to save their life. In Judaism, the life of the person carrying the pregnancy takes precedence over the potential life they are carrying. In Judaism, life begins at birth, not conception, and our country and our state should not be allowed to dictate how I or anyone practice our faith (or lack of faith) when it comes to family planning and health care decisions. This is not just a privacy issue. It is a religious freedoms issue that should be deeply concerning to all people of faith. But I also want to say that Jewish law regarding abortion is not the only reason I am here today. I believe that one of Judaism’s most beautiful teachings, one of its great contributions to all of humanity, is that each one of us, regardless of our race, gender, status, sexual orientation, religion or political beliefs — each of us is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. This teaching calls on us to have, as Rabbi Art Green teaches, “boundless respect for each other, to value human difference and individuality and to make a commitment to fair and decent treatment of one another.” If I see you as created in the image of God, then I trust in your ability to discern and decide. I believe that you are able to choose what is right for you and your family. I honor your autonomy and agency over your body and your future. A government that attempts to control
Rabbi Andrea Goldstein serves Congregation Shaare Emeth and directs the Jewish Mindfulness Center of St. Louis.
the bodies of its citizens does not see us as created in the image of God. A government that seeks to abolish our ability to make responsible choices about our own lives is a government that has gone too far. From my faith, I have learned and know what it means to value life. And if those judges and lawmakers who seek to abolish Roe v. Wade, who seek to chip away at Roe bit by bit with restriction after restriction — if these people truly valued life, then they would be part of movements and coalitions working to make safe and affordable health care a guaranteed right for all people in this nation. They would be marching with those of us who seek to establish a living wage in this nation, and those of us who fight for equal rights and protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community. And they would certainly be working on legislation to protect and save the health of the greatest mother of all, Mother Earth, so that all of us, as well as generations into the future, are able to truly live. Those who seek to overturn Roe do not deserve the moniker pro-life because their movement is not about life. It is about the consolidation of power. But we who have gathered, we who believe in everyone’s right to access safe and legal abortions, we are actually the majority in this nation. In a democracy, that means that we hold the power. Right now that power, our freedom and our lives are being threatened. When an individual is being threatened, the body’s natural response is fear. When an individual is being threatened, we understand FEAR through the acronym Forget Everything And Run. We do anything we can to protect and save ourselves. But when a community is threatened, when all of us are being threatened, we can look at FEAR through a different lens: Face Everything And Rise. We are not alone. We are not afraid. We are powerful. So let’s rise.
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We often hear about how “the culture war” is being lost in America. What exactly is meant by this? The culture has never been perfect. Obviously, in the past there was much racism, sexism and other pathologies in the way we lived our lives. While some of these problems still exist to an extent, there are many new pathologies that have developed more recently, partly in a misguided effort to address the older ones. Given the limits of space, let me comment on just three. I will call these the Three M’s. Whatever happened to modesty, merit and middle of the road politics? First, modesty as an important cultural value has completely collapsed. My Lubavitch son has often used the word tznius (Hebrew for “modesty”) to caution my oldest granddaughter to wear her
clothes properly in public whenever she failed to cover certain body parts. What some might find prudish I find refreshingly tasteful in an age when regard for physical appearance has gone to the opposite extreme. There is no better example of just how vulgar and tasteless the culture has become than the near-naked fashion exhibition offered by several celebrities at the recent Academy Awards ceremony. As bad as the Will Smith altercation with Chris Rock was, the evening had already become tawdry with the steady stream of Hollywood women appearing on the dais with virtually their entire cleavage exposed. So much for the film industry’s most important night to recognize and dignify the profession. So much, also, for liberals’ concern about “the objectification” of women. Then again, this is the same liberal-dominated
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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
We pay heavy price for polarizing slogans in abortion debate unborn life, the fetus. If the fetus threatens the mother’s life (it does so I was among many in the St. Louis unintentionally), halachah requires us Jewish community who received an — justly and compassionately — to email from the Jewish Community protect the mother. Relations Council entitled “Abortion Nevertheless, the fetus, particularly Justice.” As I have previously written after 40 days, according to rabbinic (Jewish Light, May 23, 2019—read it teaching, is a living being; halachah online at https://bit.ly/Gordon2019), tra- regards it with compassion and justice. ditional Jewish teaching does not align This has been the traditional Jewish with either the “pro-choice” or the “pro- position for thousands of years. life” movements. Last week, as a conseExtreme positions sometimes have quence of the leaked Supreme Court merit because they clarify but are taintopinion, the Orthodox Union issued its ed when they dismiss the legitimate response (read it online at https://bit.ly/ concerns of those who do not agree. OU-response). When an issue is infused with emotion, I wrote to Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, although it may energize and galvanize executive director of the JCRC; she some, it aims to eviscerate others. promptly, respectfully and Choice is a strong arguclearly emailed me. I raised ment, but it is not the only two issues: How can the argument, for so framed, it JCRC, which represents the ignores the life created. The entire Jewish community of position that life begins at St. Louis, advocate abortion conception is also strong; it when a significant segment, is logical and scientific. But albeit a minority, supports it, too, is not the only arguTorah teaching? (Others ment, for so framed, it come to a similar position ignores the mother, and can unguided by Torah.) be construed that killing the While pro-choice advo- Rabbi Seth D. Gordon fetus is murder. Again, the cates in the St. Louis Jewish serves Traditional Torah position rejects each community apparently have Congregation. as extreme, limited in justice a decisive majority, the quesand compassion. tion is whether the JCRC should vote on We pay a heavy price for slogans that issues that are not broadly supported portray legitimate concerns as unworand are contrary to our religious heri- thy and the people who do so as moraltage. Many Jews and non-Jews, ly or intellectually inferior. unaware of the issues from a Torah The primary price is an undercutting point of view and the nuances within of intellectual integrity. The secondary the community, are likely to believe price is often, over time, a loss of politithat the JCRC represents the Jewish cal support. The third price is that inatreligion and virtually all Jews. tention to sound views feeds extreme The title — “Abortion Justice” — is views. We can forever live in combat, the second issue. It implies that any- ignore each other and intensify the thing other than full support is injus- rhetoric, and people will suffer. tice. I reject the implication that Torah It is no small matter that we turn and rabbinic teachings are unjust and away from Torah teachings — morally that, therefore, we who adhere to them and ritually — to our own detriment. are also unjust. We lose our moral compass and weakThe Torah/rabbinic teaching regard- en ourselves as Jews. I am proud that ing abortion is not only just but also our Torah heritage for millennia has compassionate. The mother is prima- found justice and compassion for both ry; her life takes precedence over the mother and the unborn fetus.
BY RABBI SETH D. GORDON
Three signs we’re losing the ‘culture war’ BY MARTY ROCHESTER
JEWISH LIGHT
industry that produced Harvey Weinstein. What signals does this send to the rest of society? Merit is another value that has almost disappeared from our culture. Admittedly, we have never relied 100% on merit as a basis for making hiring, awards and other kinds of decisions. Aside from the fact that some people start life with clear advantages over others, merit has often been overshadowed by “the old boy network,” “legacy” admission decisions at universities and other such biased practices. That said, today it is fair to say that merit increasingly counts for almost nothing as we obsess over “identity” — racial, gender and whatever — as the primary criterion in selection processes. Wonderful as diversity, equity and inclusion is, should it trump all other values? There is no better example here than the recent selection of Ketanji Brown Jackson
J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on international and American politics. as the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She certainly seems to have the qualifications for the job and conceivably might even be the single most brilliant jurist ever appointed. But the point is that it is impossible to know, since clearly the No. 1 criterion for why she was chosen was not merit but because she is a Black woman. We never have had a Black woman on the Supreme Court. We also never have had a Muslim, a trans person, an Asian and dozens of other identities. Will we ever again See MARTY ROCHESTER on page 16A
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D’VAR TORAH — PARASHAT BECHUKOTAI
Welcoming a ‘Second Naïveté’ can help deepen our faith BY RABBI CARNIE SHALOM ROSE
This week, the world over, we will be reading and studying the Torah portion of Bechukotai, which is drawn from the Book of Leviticus. Our weekly Parashah opens with the words: “If you follow My CHUKIM (statutes) and faithfully observe My MITZVOT (commandments), I will grant rain so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees their fruit. I will grant peace and you shall sleep with no fear. I will cause vicious beasts to withdraw from the land and your enemies will fall before you”. (Leviticus 26: 3-6) For those familiar with the Torah, the opening words of this particular section are a bit jarring. After all, we have become accustomed to the words “The Lord spoke to Moses saying…” as the introduction or preamble to the majority of our scriptural readings. And whenever we encounter unique scriptural language, syntax that is a little bit out of the ordinary it serves as an opportunity to take note, pause and reflect upon why this particular passage deviates from the standard.
This year, as I was reviewing the Parashah and its many commentaries, I came upon an insight attributed to the tradition of the school of the Rabbi of Ishbitz. He, along with many others, notes this somewhat unique opening, including the use of the word chukim, comes to underscore the notion that this Torah portion deals with matters which are beyond the comprehension of humans. These are laws and statutes do not fall into the category of “logical”, but rather are transcendent and incomprehensible if we utilize standard categories. We adhere to these statutes as a matter of faith rather than reason. We suspend the use of the rational, logical mind in order to experience something profound and spiritually elevating and uplifting. We apprehend and put into practice these laws not because they appeal to the faculties of the mind, the brain, but rather because they stimulate the heart space, the locus of our EMUNAH, faith. As post-moderns, this kind of “blind faith” does not come easily. In so many ways, it runs contrary to the manner in which we live our lives. We want our religious-spiritu-
al life to not only be meaningful, but also fit neatly into the categories of the rational and logical. The teaching of the Ishbitzer Rebbe seems totally incongruous with the kind of religion with which many resonate. So, is the Rebbe’s teaching simply anachronistic? Is it impossible to allow for it to inform our contemporary lives? I think not! A number of years ago, I was introduced to the writings of the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur. In his reflections, he posits three stages of faith: the pre-critical stage, the critical stage and finally, the post critical moment. Ricoeur suggests that as we mature in our faith, we begin by accepting religion as we are taught in childhood. At a certain point, we are exposed to the scientific and historical-critical methodology which destroys our overly simplified understandings of religion and faith. And finally, at a final stage, one that is far more sophisticated than either Stage I or Stage II, we return to belief but not from a place of pediatric naïveté, but rather as a matter of choosing to suspend our disbelief in order to allow for the flowering of faith. This we call Second (or Conscious) Naiveté and it
Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose, D.Div., is The Rabbi Bernard Lipnick Senior Rabbinic Chair at Congregation B’nai Amoona and a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Light. can serve a profound role in our lives if we are honest and brave enough to appreciate its utility, profundity and power. And in this light, I believe we can all appreciate the comments of the Ishbitzer. There are moments in our lives when it is beneficial to act in ways not consistent with logic or rationality. These are moments of religious inspiration and ecstasy. Moments when we are moved by the Spirit of the Numinous that though we wish we could explain in standard categories, is not possible to do and yet are profoundly meaningful and moving. It is my hope that as we read this section of our Sacred Writ that each of us can allow, from time to time, Second Naïveté to take over and transport us to ever higher heights and even deeper depths. With blessings for a Shabbat filled with meaning, consequence and spiritual transcendence!
OTHER VIEWPOINTS Voices on Jewish topics from St. Louis and beyond
It’s time for Jewish Federation to revisit education priorities BY RUSSEL NEISS
Jewish Federation of St. Louis is in danger of losing millions of dollars for Jewish education unless it acts soon. Sadly, the decision to not pursue these funds is just the latest in a string of poor choices that have caused me to question the current leadership’s commitment to Jewish education. Last year, the Missouri General Assembly passed HB349 and SB86, which established the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, MOScholars. This program, modeled after experiments in other states, provides tax credits for contributions to Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs), a type of nonprofit corporation setup to award scholarships of up to $6,375 to qualified students to attend private schools. Jewish Federations around the country in states that have similar tax credit programs harness these government funds to support Jewish education in their communities. The Jewish Federations of Pittsburgh and Phoenix, for example, each raise more than $4 million annually through these programs to help support Jewish families who otherwise struggle to provide a quality Jewish day school or Yeshiva education. Fast-forward to two weeks ago, when the state treasurer announced the six organizations chosen to run Missouri’s new tax-credit scholarship program. Among them were five Christian EAOs and Agudath Israel of Missouri, which, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “will primarily provide scholarships to attend Orthodox Jewish schools in St. Louis County.” Not on the list was any EAO backed by Federation nor any with the explicit aim of serving the entirety of the St. Louis Jewish community. Which means that families seeking tuition assistance for non-Orthodox Jewish schools will be shut out of being able to apply for these
Russel Neiss is a Jewish educator, technologist and activist who builds critically acclaimed educational apps and experiences used by thousands of people each day. In 2017, he was selected by the Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jewish Americans and is a 2020 recipient of the Covenant Award, one of the highest honors in the field of Jewish education. scholarships for this upcoming school year. In my communications with Federation, they have committed to “doing [their] due diligence to understand what it means to administer and what type of mechanism needs to be established to handle the expectations” of running an EAO, which I think is doublespeak for saying, “We haven’t worked on this issue over the course of the last year, but we’re willing to say we’re looking into it so long as we don’t need to commit ourselves to doing anything more than that.” I do hope that Federation’s due diligence into EAOs ends with the creation of an institution that will serve the needs of all Jewish families in St. Louis. But more importantly, I hope that it spurs a broader conversation about how it missed this opportunity in the first place and how its continued underinvestment in supporting Jewish education in this community is destined to create more future negative outcomes. Federation’s strategic plan and 2022 priorities say it is committed to “deepening and expanding Jewish education” throughout the community. But since 2020, when Federation disbanded its Center for Jewish Learning only a few years after it was created by absorbing See RUSSEL NEISS on page 16A
Federation is exploring state scholarship program among its initiatives BY BRIAN HERSTIG
Brian Herstig is President & CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
Building a vibrant Jewish Community is a core commitment and priority of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Part of building that vibrant community must be and does include, deepening and expanding Jewish education and investing in and supporting Jewish educational opportunities. So, when an op-ed is written about Federation’s commitment to education, we want to make sure our tours and speakers to educate the comcommunity knows about our plans and munity on current events related to Israel what we are doing for the community. and the Jewish people. Federation’s own strategic plan states Mentioned in the article (on this page, that we work primarily through support- by Russel Neiss) was our three ing and collaborating with existing agen- Professional Councils for Directors of our cies, synagogues and other organizations religious schools, early childhood centers and will directly provide services only in and youth groups. These Councils are limited circumstances where we can led by professionals themselves who more effectively and/or efficiently do so, know the issues and needs and play a gaps exist or there is a need for commu- vital role in providing a network of supnity-wide coordination. Our community port to our professionals who work tireis fortunate to have thriving institutions lessly to create a vibrant Jewish commuthat offer meaningful educational experiences for students of all Our community is forages. Federation’s priority is to support that work, not duplicate tunate to have thriving or compete. We also ensure that those institutions that offer meaningefforts by our community partful educational experiences for ners are supplemented in a variety of ways. Federation continues students of all ages. Federation’s to provide scholarship support for adult Jewish education through priority is to support that work, the Melton School of Adult not duplicate or compete. Jewish Learning hosted by Temple Emanuel. A few examples include our Sh’ma Listen! Speaker nity for our youngest members from Series that offers and promotes a wide birth to teens. As a result, a significant variety of engaging educational offerings investment was made by Federation into sponsored by Federation and our com- our early childhood directors to enable munity partners. The Brodsky Library our ECCs to thrive and flourish for years Committee continues to provide pro- to come. grams that meet the interest of its audiBut there was another message from ence, and our Israel Center has hosted See BRIAN HERSTIG on page 16A several high-level educational virtual
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OBITUARIES
IRVIN ALAN APPT, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at 7:35 p.m., Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Hollywood, FL. Irvin was born September 2, 1943 to Henrietta and Henry Appt. He is preceded in death by his sisters Rosalie Miller and Wendy Levy. He is survived by his daughter, Stacee Appt Suarez, his son, Jason Appt, and grandson Sage Suarez. A graveside service was held on Thursday, May 12 at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 8430 Gravois Road in St. Louis, MO. Contributions in his memory may be made to Vitas Healthcare, 1801 Park 270 Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
IRVING LEE “BUDDY” COOPER, passed away May 12, 2022 with his family by his side at the age of 91. Buddy was born in St. Louis on Aug 6, 1930 to the late Selma and Morris Cooper. He attended Clayton High School, then earned his bachelor degree from the University of Miami, followed by a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. After college, he proudly served three years in the Army in Korea as a JAG Officer. He then began his law practice in Clayton, where he practiced diligently until he retired at the age of 75. He also served on the staff of two Missouri State Attorney Generals (Norman Anderson and John Dalton). After retirement, Buddy tutored children at Glenridge Elementary School, where he himself attended as a child. He also volunteered as a docent at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. An avid sports fan and athlete, Buddy was a regular at various tennis clubs throughout the area, and in the ‘80s competed in the national Senior Olympics tennis tournament. He rarely missed a Cardinals or Blues game on TV and held season tickets to the Blues for nearly 15 years starting in 1969. He also was a season ticket holder to the St. Louis Football Cardinals. Buddy married Marilyn Sokolik Cooper in 1959 and the two stayed married through the rest of his life in the Creve Coeur home they purchased in 1961. Buddy is survived by his wife Marilyn, three sons Jeff (Pam) Cooper, Roger (Kim) Cooper and Scott Cooper, and sister Judy Allen, a swell as grandchildren Maddie Cooper, Dylan (Ashley) Cooper, Rylee Cooper and Mylo Cooper-Mora. He is preceded in death by sister Barbara Katz. A funeral service was held Monday, May 16 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd 63132. Interment followed at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road, 63124. Memorial contributions preferred to the St. Louis Kaplan
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PHILIP JOEL ALTMAN, May 12, 2022 Beloved son of Dr. Martin and Patricia Altman. Dear nephew, cousin and friend. Philip earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri, Columbia. From a young age he exhibited an innate talent for organization, leading to his professional career as a Senior Business Analyst. Philip had many passions in life including gardening, music, golf and fishing. He was generous with his time and energy and could often be found helping family and friends. He loved spending time with his family and his beloved dog, Farfel. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Private family funeral service. A family visitation was held on Thursday, May 19. Please visit www.rindskopfroth.com for more information. Contributions in Philip’s memory may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 16100 Chesterfield Parkway West, Suite 125, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63017 or to The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter, 1950 Craig Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO, 63146. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
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Feldman Holocaust Museum https://www. jfedstl.org/community-engagement/holocaustmuseum/ or a charity of your choice. The service was livestreamed at www. bergermemorialchapel.com. Berger Memorial Service RITA FINEBERG (née Levey), August 11, 1938 May 14, 2022. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah, her son, Michael (Brenda), her granddaughters Stephanie and Analinda Rae, and many cousins. Rita was the only child born to parents Annie Goldberg Levey and Benjamin Levey in Memphis, Tennessee. The valedictorian of Mississippi’s Hollandale High School in 1956, Rita was a voracious reader and a champion bridge player. She loved to travel, and managed to visit all seven continents throughout her life. A graveside service was held Monday May 16 at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery, 1601 North and South Rd. 63130. Memorial contributions preferred to the JFS Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry. Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service PHYLLIS FOX, May 15, 2022 Beloved wife of the late Frank Fox for 51 years. Dear mother of Harland (Linda) Fox, Kevin (Olga) Fox and Cynthia (Shawn) Omrani. Loving grandmother of Dylan, Kyler and Devin (Alana) and step-grandmother of Kimberly. Sister of Linda (the late Edward) Sosna, Alita (the late Harold) Rossen and the late Jerry Robnak. Dear aunt, cousin and friend. Private family graveside services were held at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. A Rindskopf-Roth Service JOAN FRELICH, 70, died on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at home surrounded by her family. Joan grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and was a resident of Lexington, MA for 40 years. Joan was predeceased by her husband of 29 years, Jim Fee. She is survived by her two children, Alex (Casey) Fee of Newton, MA and Molly Fee (Rick Doerr) of Los Angeles, CA; three beloved grandchildren, Jamie Fee, Devin Fee, and Roan Doerr; two sisters and a brother, Susan (Robert) Appleton, Anne Frelich (Steve Whitman), and Alan Frelich; a sister-in-law, Margie (Bill) O’Brien; and many nieces and nephews. Joan was also survived by her adoring mother, Winifred Frelich, who died almost a year
later. Joan was a licensed social worker and received her B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College and M.Ed. in Special Education from Boston University. She was dedicated to helping and guiding young children and their families. She began her career in Early Childhood Education at the Cambridge-Somerville Preschool Unit and the Beaverbrook Guidance Center Preschool Program before working as a Special Educator and social worker for the Lexington Early Childhood Department for 30 years. Most important to Joan was her family. She was active in the Lexington Public Schools as a room parent, as a classroom volunteer, and through sports activities. She completed three marathons in the 1970s and 1980s and in more recent years was an avid walker. Joan also enjoyed following current events and cooking for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s memory can be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1702 East Highland Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ, 85016 or to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 840 First Street NE, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20002. WINIFRED TOBER FRELICH (April 13, 1925 – April 28, 2022) died peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a brief illness. Wini, who grew up in St. Louis, was the youngest and last survivor of the five children of Anna Saifer Tober and Abraham Ellsworth Mountain Tober. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 48 years, Bennett Edward Frelich, and her adored daughter Joan Ellen Frelich (the late James Fee), who died almost a year before. She is survived by three loving children: Susan Katherine Frelich Appleton (Robert O. Appleton, Jr.), Alan Edward Frelich, and Anne Shelly Frelich (Stephen P. Whitman); five treasured grandchildren: Jesse Appleton (Alyson Appleton), Seth Appleton (Brooke Appleton), Alexander Fee (Casey Fee), Molly Fee (Richard Doerr), and Jack Frelich-Sobel; and six amazing great-grandchildren: Jamie Fee, Bennett Appleton, Devin Fee, Roan Doerr, Catherine Appleton, and Daniel Appleton. A graduate of Mary Institute (1942) and Washington University (1947), Wini made her family the center of her life—both younger generations (who called her “Weo”) and older ones, as well as her many cousins and other relatives. Wini’s beauty, style, and infectious sense of humor all stood out. She loved her home, but under protest she traveled widely and always confessed afterwards that she enjoyed it. She played tennis and mahjong, hosted parties and holiday gatherings, and relished a good meal even while frequently following a diet. She was blessed to have become a special friend to Irwin “Chic” Mohr, who predeceased her. She also valued all those who helped her in
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recent times, including Lisa Busalaki, Togor Maipandi, Eden Dadi, Michael Aiello, Macy Bluestein, and Sahra Jamal. Burial was private. Donations to Washington University, MSC 1082-414-2555, Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-9989 or to Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 S. Mason Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141 or to the charity of the donor’s choice. A Rindskopf-Roth Service ALICE S. HANDELMAN, adored mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many, passed away Monday, May 16, 2022 after a brave battle with leukemia. She was 79. An award-winning writer and photographer, Mrs. Handelman’s passion for journalism began when she was a teenager, writing and editing for the West Miami Junior High Star and the Miami High News. She was later a reporter for the University of Missouri’s Maneater student newspaper. In that capacity, she met the love of her life, Howard Handelman, when she interviewed him for an exposé about men’s senior honors societies. The two were happily married for 55 years, and she missed him terribly after he died on October 14, 2020. Mrs. Handelman and her sister Arlene were raised in Miami, the daughters of Ned (z’’l) and Margaret (z’’l) Samuels. A journalism degree at Mizzou was intended to be Alice’s ticket out of modest means. She never forgot the scholarship that made that degree possible, and later devoted much time raising awareness and funding for student journalism scholarships. Discouraged from pursuing a professional career, Mrs. Handelman turned down a job at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after college, but she quickly discovered that freelance writing would allow her to balance the expectations of domestic life — and raising three daughters — with her career ambitions. Six decades as a journalist gave her opportunities to interview professional athletes, performers, composers and hometown heroes. In the 70s, she wrote feature stories for St. Louis Blues Goal Magazine and taught a class for women at Meramec Community College called “How to Understand Hockey.” She also hosted “Alice in Hockeyland,” a news show on KPLR-TV on that featured interviews with St. Louis Blues players and their wives. In 1981, Mrs. Handelman became Director of Community Relations for Jewish Center for Aged, a position she held until 2000. While there, she procured donations of original art for the nursing home. Today, the sizable collection decorates the walls of Covenant Place. She was honored by Jewish Federation of St. Louis with the Fred A. Goldstein Professional Leadership Award for excelling in her field. Upon her retirement, she remained devoted to advocating for older adults, and served as president of the Mid-east Area Agency on Aging (now the Aging Ahead Foundation). She also continued writing as a columnist for the Ladue News,and remained actively involved on many non-profit boards: St. Louis Press Club (past president), Women of Achievement (past president), Aging Ahead Foundation (past president), St. Louis Jewish Light (vice president), Craft Alliance and Women’s Society of
OBITUARIES Washington University. She is a past board member of Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation, and a life member of National Council of Jewish Women and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Auxiliary. Her passion for the causes, people and institutions she believed in was genuine, and she served in an outreach and publicity role for each organization. Those who knew her will always remember her love of flowers and her uncanny ability to revive wilting orchids. She also enjoyed traveling (and writing feature stories about her travels), playing bridge, collecting art glass and — most of all — spoiling her four grandchildren. She had many friends from every chapter of her life, and cherished each of them. Mrs. Handelman is survived by three daughters Karen Handelman (Marc Hirshman) and Patty Bloom (Jonathan) of St. Louis, and Marjorie Handelman of New York; grandchildren Rebecca and Matthew Bloom, and Abby and Emily Hirshman; sister Arlene Sackman of California; siblings-in-law Neil and Natalie Handelman, and Gary Handelman (Ronni z’’l), and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service took place Thursday, May 19 at Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive. The livestreamed video of the service is available at www. bergermemorialchapel.com. Private family internment. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alice Handelman Scholarship Fund for Feature Writing at the St. Louis Press Club, P.O. Box 410522, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 or by visiting http://tinyurl.com/alicehandelman. Berger Memorial Service ALENE SHIRLEY KOPOLOW, May 22, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Meyer Kopolow; dear mother and mother-in law of the late Robin Lowy, Michele Kopolow (Sven Eliasson) and Bonnie Kopolow; dear grandmother of Holly Bernstein (Marc), Andy Lowy, Nicole Lowy (Wendy Clymer), Michael Lowy (Jen), Moshe-Yosef (Aimee), Terrell Lane (Danielle Harlan) and Liam Kopolow; dear great-grandmother of Sam Bernstein, Bryce Bernstein, Myer Kopolow, Aviva Kopolow, Kaylee Lowy and Myles Lane; dear aunt, cousin and friend. A graveside service was held Tuesday, May 24th at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 8430 Gravois. Memorial contributions of your choice preferred. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
May 25, 2022
Colman (Toby) Kraus and late David (Leane) Kraus and brother-in-law of Gary Rowe. He also leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Mel was a graduate of Washington University, St. Louis with a degree in electrical engineering and moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the U.S. Patent Office and get his law degree from GW University. After serving in the U.S. Army in JAG, he worked as a prominent patent attorney for over 50 years. He was a partner at the firm of Antonelli, Terry, Stout and Kraus. He was a gentle soul and a man of few words. He loved the many travels that he took with family and friends, his favorite being to Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas. He loved his French bulldogs who will miss him. Graveside funeral was held on May 3, 2022 at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park in Clarksburg, MD. Arrangements were entrusted to Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home, 202-5411001 BETTY RENEE MARVER, May 16, 2022 Renee is the beloved mother of Benjamin Rowan (J.C. Rose); dear daughter of the late Sherman and the late Idell Marver; dear sister of James Marver and Loui Marver; dear aunt of Laura Somberg and Melissa Marver; dear cousin and friend to so many. Renee spent her career as an executive of Grace Hill Settlement House. An outstanding career achievement, she brought to St. Louis a major Head Start grant that continues to provide services to countless children. In her retirement, she advocated for quality early childhood education for all children. A graveside service was held Wednesday, May 18 at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Avenue. Please visit bergermemorialchapel. com for Live Stream details. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions preferred to the National Women›s Political Caucus-St. Louis Chapter or Ready Readers. Berger Memorial Service
RUTH ROCHESTER passed away on Monday, May 16 at the age of 75. Beloved wife of Marty Rochester; dear mother and mother-in-law of Shaya Rochester (Marisa) and Sean Rochester (Carolyn); loving “Bubby” to Leah, Mendy, Sara, Sholom, Raya, Eli, Yossi, Lottie, and Samantha; dear sister of Lee Kirsh; and dear aunt, cousin, and friend. Ruth was born in and grew up in Baltimore. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Syracuse University. She came from a family of doctors. Her father Milton was one of the first Jews to be admitted to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and her brother Marvin was a Professor of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Michigan. Ruth could have been a doctor--she knew almost the entire Merck Manual. Ruth worked for many years in the Special School District as a psychological examiner, devoting herself to helping children. Upon retirement, she trained herself to create beautiful jewelry at Craft Alliance and displayed her work at Artisans in the Loop and Missouri Artists on Main. She was a brilliant artist who won many awards. But most important, she cherished her nine grandchildren and nothing made her happier than to be with them. She has left a large void in our family, but we will treasure her memory. A funeral service was held Thursday, May 19 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Boulevard. Interment followed at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. The service is available via Live Stream for those who were unable to attend. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association or to the charity of the donor›s choice. Berger Memorial Service Continues on following page
MELVIN KRAUS was born and raised in St. Louis and was a resident of Bethesda, Maryland where he passed away after a short illness on May 1, 2022. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Dear son of the late Doris and late Hyman Kraus. Beloved husband of Andrea Kraus. Devoted father of Jennifer Kraus and Daniel Kraus. Cherished Papa of Matthew and Zachary Kraus. Brother to
LIZ GLAZER - MAY 29, 2006
S
weetheart, it has been 16 years since you have gone. Every day I think of how much I loved you and thank God for all the wonderful years we shared our love. You are missed by all your friends and your children: Kevin & Gina, their spouses: Elizabeth & Mano and your grandchildren: Kelsey, Sydney, Ryan, Sam, & Charley miss you so very much. You know how much I loved you from the first time I saw you. You were the most wonderful women I ever met. You have so much sense, style and beauty. I always wondered how God made me the luckiest man anyone could imagine. I will never stop loving you and I love you more today than yesterday....STU
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in loving memory of our cherished board member and friend
alice handelman the board and staff of the st. louis jewish light
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May 25, 2022
BRAD SCHWARTZ, age 62, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2022. He was born November 17, 1959 in St. Louis, the eldest son of Arthur and Susan (nee Lippman) Schwartz. Brad received his Master’s degree from Washington University, and was owner of Liberty Auto Parts. He had a love and compassion for theater directing, seeing Broadway shows in New York, traveling with his family. He was a prolific director of theater productions in St. Louis throughout his life and was a multiple winner of the Arts for Lifetime Best Achievement in Directing Award. One friend has commented that “Brad was a remarkable gentleman... talented and creative... and loved to introduce children to theater. His smile and encouragement will be missed. I guess there is a show in heaven that God needed a director for.” Brad is the beloved husband of Janet RobeySchwartz; loving father of Jamie Schwartz, and Jacob Schwartz; dear son of Arthur and Susan Schwartz; brother of Joel (Mary Ann) Schwartz, Loren (Dennis) Schwartz-Currans, Lindsey (Jack) Terry; and nephew of Kenneth (Lucy) Schwartz, and Richard (late Anita) Lippman. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Heart Association (www.heart.org). DAVID LAURENCE SMITH, May 14, 2022 Beloved husband of Michele Smith. Loving son and son-in-law of late Theodore and the late Regina Smith and the late Gilbert and the late Lillian Kulbersh. Dear father of Michael (Miranda) Smith. Beloved grandfather of Alexis, Nathan and Mackenzie Smith. Dear brother of Robert A. Smith. Loving uncle of Zachary (Julia) Smith, Melissa Smith, Lainey (Rich) Asadorian, and Olivia Smith. Our dear great-uncle, cousin and friend. A graveside service was held Monday, May 16 at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 650 White Road. Contributions in David’s memory may be made to charity of the donor’s choice. A Rindskopf-Roth Service RICHARD SOKOL, 91, passed away on May 9, 2022. He was the beloved husband of the late Irene Feir Sokol; dear father and father-in-law of Judy Evans (Tom), Jerry Chason-Sokol (Martha), and Bob Sokol; cherished grandfather of Jeannie Diedisheim (Guillaume) and Jason Evans, Ilana and Benjamin Chason-Sokol, and Rebecca and Lindsey Sokol; dear great-grandfather of Maxime, Isabelle, and Juliette Diedisheim; and dear brother of the late Alvin Sokol and the late David Sokol. After a long career working for the U.S. government, Richard enjoyed more than 30 years of retirement. He and Irene loved spending time with family, traveling frequently to celebrate birthdays, b’nai mitzvahs, weddings, and other joyous occasions. They also loved to explore faraway places, visiting Australia, England, Israel, Egypt, Mexico, Canada, and more countries over the years, as well as the United States. Wherever Irene and Richard went, they made a beeline to art museums. When Richard spent the summer of 1972 working in Germany, the entire family came along. On weekends and during two weeklong vacations, they piled into their small car and visited numerous countries – and even more numerous museums. In St. Louis, Irene was a longtime docent at the St. Louis Art Museum, and she and Richard spent countless hours enjoying the galleries and special exhibits. They also shared a love of classical music and opera, and both volunteered with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Richard also served as a docent at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center. Every summer, he tended his large vegetable garden and yard full of flowers. Richard grew up in northern Ohio. He was a graduate of the University of Akron and earned a
OBITUARIES master’s degree at the University of St. Louis. During the Korean War, the Air Force stationed him at Scott Field (as it was then called), and he and Irene met at a USO dance in St. Louis. They lost touch after he was transferred to another base in Illinois, then reconnected during a chance meeting at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. They were married for 62 years. Richard and Irene both spent their last years at Parc Provence in Creve Coeur, Mo. Their family would like to thank the staff and management for their care and compassion over the last six years. A graveside funeral service was held Wednesday, May 11 at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave., University City, Mo. (For those who could not attend, the service was be live-streamed and recorded. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for the link.) Berger Memorial Service STEVEN STIFFELMAN, May 10, 2022 Beloved son of the late Jeanne and the late Dave Stiffelman. Loving husband of Deborah “Debbie” Stiffelman; dear father and father-inlaw of Erin Heckendorn (Colby), Andrew Stiffelman (Lauren) and Lauren Denning (Alex); loving grandfather of Audrey and Finn Heckendorn, Skye Stiffelman and Nora Denning; dear brother of Alan Stiffelman (late Tema), Bob Stiffelman (Jodi) and Larry Stiffelman (Sally); dear brother-in-law of Jack Campbell, Patrick Campbell (JoAnne), Mary Beth McCarroll (Ed), Margaret Campbell, Ted Campbell (Julie) and Edith Campbell; special uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to so many. Steve was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 27, 1952. Growing up in Clayton, he spent summers with his brothers at the pool; lifeguarding, swimming, playing water polo, refereeing, and later on was a swimming and water polo coach. Steve graduated from Clayton High School in 1970 and graduated with his Master’s Degree from Webster University in 1977. Steve worked for over 40 years for St. Louis County Justice Services. In 1978, he met Debbie while walking his golden retriever, Lonnie, and her dog, Tara. Together, they had three children and many, many more golden retrievers. Steve played an active role in his kids’ lives, from coaching them in softball and baseball, to watching them at swim and dive meets, and dance and cheerleading performances. Steve loved spending quality time with his family and planning vacations where they could all be together. They traveled everywhere, from Disney to New York to Mexico, Arizona, California, Washington DC, cruises to the Caribbean, and so many more wonderful places. Of all the vacations the family took, Steve loved Florida beaches the most. After his 3 children graduated from Mizzou, Steve and Debbie went on to have many wonderful trips to Europe and the U.S. National Parks. Despite his illness, Steve was able to see the accomplishments and successes of his children, both in marriage and professionally. Steve was a kind and passionate man who found joy in the small things. He was a lover of great music, Seinfeld, and always finding a good deal. Above all, Steve’s biggest love was his family. He spent his retirement doting over his four beautiful grandchildren, Audrey, Finn, Skye, and Nora. Their laughter, smiles, milestones, and adventures brought him so much joy. Steve brought so much love to his family and friends and will be greatly missed by everyone in his life. Steve’s family would like to thank Dr. Murali Chikinala and his team of nurses as well as the many other Washington University physicians who provided exceptional care over the past several years. A graveside service was held Friday, May 20 at Bellerive Gardens Cemetery, 740 N Mason Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the National Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923 or the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 8401 Colesville Road, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
PHYLLIS SUNSHINE, May 16, 2022 Phyllis Lefton Sunshine was born to Dorothy and Joseph Lefton on January 29, 1934 in St. Louis, MO. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Herbert Sunshine; dear mother and mother in law of Debbie (Abe Cherrick) Sunshine, Judith (Neil) Weintraub, Naomi (Eddie) Weiss, Joshua (Elizabeth) Sunshine; dear grandmother of Danielle (Dave Bender) Cherrick, Lauren (Mike) Kashtan, Efram Cherrick, Jake (Naomi) Weintraub, Deena (Avi) Stein, Miriam (Yaakov) Pollak, Ben (Blimah) Weintraub, Tsippy (Gedali) Goldstein, Deena (Eliot) Graham, Yitzy (Nicole) Weiss, Naftali Weiss, Ahuva Sunshine, Yoni Sunshine, Aryeh (Yocheved) Sunshine; dear great grandmother of 23 great grandchildren from ages 6 months to 21; dear sister of the late Jerome L.T. Lefton (Harriet), Charles (Lois) Lefton; dear aunt, cousin and friend to many. Phyllis attended Soldan High School and graduated from Washington University School of Occupational Therapy. Twenty years later, she received her masters degree in Vocational Counseling from St. Louis University. She was married to her beloved husband, the late Dr. Herbert Sunshine for 64 years. She was a member of Nusach Ha’ari Bnei Zion, Young Israel of St. Louis and Agudas Israel. A funeral service was held Wednesday, May 18 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. Interment Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. Memorial Contributions in Phyllis’s memory may be sent to Epstein Hebrew Academy or a charity of your choice. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service SANFORD WILLIAM WEISS, July 21, 1932 – May 10, 2022 Sanford Weiss was born July 21, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri. Raised in Clayton then Richmond Heights, Sanford attended St. Louis Country Day School, where he excelled in football and track. At Princeton, he studied psychology, and published the first research paper on fingernail biting, in 1954. Sanford went on to business school at Northwestern University, then enlisted in the military. Returning to St. Louis to learn the family business, he married the love of his life, Ellen Coppersmith, in 1960. By 1970, Sanford and his younger brother Richard were running the family business, Weiss-Neuman Shoe Company, and later added Gucci franchise stores to their portfolio. Richard died tragically at age 57 in 1995. Sanford remained President of Weiss-Neuman until it was sold and he retired, in 1997. Sanford served as President of the board of the St. Louis Jewish Light, and other boards including St. Louis Country Day School, The NCCJ, United Hebrew Temple and Westwood Country Club. He was also an active member of YPO for many years. Sanford loved horses, snow skiing, golf, a good book about politics or history, and a being with his family and friends. He and Ellen spent time at their home base at Westwood Country Club, and homes in Breckenridge, Colorado and Admiral’s Cove in Jupiter, Florida. They loved visits from grandkids, family, and friends, which often included golf, hikes, golf ball hunts, and reservations for a nice dinner. He remained close with lifelong friends from Country Day, Princeton, and Westwood. Sanford also made new friends everywhere, possessing a soothing, friendly personality, always interested in a good conversation, and the opinions of others. Sanford developed dementia in his mid-80s. While living at Dolan Memory Care home, he loved visits from family and friends, always welldressed, still asking if there were reservations for dinner. In addition to his wife and two sons, Stephen (Jenny Weimann) and David (Bobby Sanderson) Sanford is survived by four grandchildren,
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OBITUARIES INDEX Altman, Philip Joel Appt, Irvin Alan Cooper, Irving Lee “Buddy” Fineberg, Rita Fox, Phyllis Frelich, Joan Frelich, Winifred Tober Handelman, Alice S. Kopolow, Alene Shirley
Kraus, Melvin Marver, Betty Renee Rochester, Ruth Schwartz, Brad Smith, David Laurence Sokol, Richard Stiffelman, Steven Sunshine, Phyllis Weiss, Sanford William Wiggs, Maxine L.
Mackenzie, Shelby, Madison and Jonathan Weiss. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the St. Louis Jewish Light, MICDS, or the charity of your choice A funeral service was held May 12 at Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive (Ladue at Spoede Roads), 63141. Private family interment. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service MAXINE L. WIGGS of San Pedro, CA, passed away with her daughter and granddaughter by her side, on April 26, 2022, in Portland, OR. Born June 11, 1937, in St. Louis, MO to Jack and Dena Harris. Maxine is predeceased by her parents, brother Bernard Harris and sisters Rosalie Harris, Tillie Berger, Eileen Jordan, and her daughter Nicole Duff. Maxine moved from St. Louis to Chicago, eventually making a life on the West Coast in Los Angeles, CA. She was a brave and fiercely independent woman, leaving home with very little and pursuing a lifelong career with various titles at Continental airlines. Maxine transitioned to purchasing at Garrett/Allied Signal, where she formed lifelong friendships and assisted with their many luncheons. Maxine was very particular about how she lived. She loved to cook, eat more chocolate than humanly possible, drink sweet wine, sing, dance, though sometimes goofy, and dabble in many forms of art. Technology was a challenge for Maxine, so she made sure her daughters were always reminded to face any challenge head-on. She was a huge advocate for animals and her drive to stay busy and active kept her involved with many charities dedicated to their protection. She had style and grace, and lovingly or fiercely earned her nickname “Little Red”, as every hotel manager in Hermosa Beach will testify while searching for a lost beloved stuffed hippo named Henry. Maxine lived her life with passion. Never to leave the house unkempt, even if applying her red lipstick kept her from leaving on time. Maxine was fond of art, travel, music, and writing poetry. She enjoyed spending time with close friends, meeting new people, entertaining and being active within her community where she could create treasured memories. Maxine loved her family and deeply cherished her pets Maiya and Demi. She was an extraordinary woman who fought for life, as she loved life, and was taken too soon. Her heart was great and her poetic desire for a fairytale was matched by her fierce strength to love and live fully. She will be missed by all who knew her. Death is just a gateway into the next journey, “It’s never Goodbye, just So Long for now”. Maxine is lovingly remembered by her sister Audrey (Bernie) Millman, daughter Tracey Summers, grandchildren Hannah (Becky), Jacob and Zachary Summers, Shane Wiggs, and Bryce and Ryan Duff, and great-grandson Ryker Earl Duff. Graveside service Friday, May 27, 2:00pm at B’nai Amoona Cemetery, 930 North and South Road. Contributions in Maxine’s memory may be made to St. Joseph Indian School or the ASPCA. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
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May 25, 2022
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BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: AVA ROSE WEBER Bradley and Leslie Weber of Denver would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Ava Rose Weber, on April 12, 2022, weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces. Ava is the granddaughter of Sheryl and Doug Weber of St. Louis and Linda and Steve Senzer of Denver. She is the great-granddaughter of Esther and Alvin Appelbaum of St. Louis, the late Joyce and Harold Weber of St. Louis, the late Louise and Lynn Baird of Orange County, Calif., and Raymond and the late Rosalind Senzer of Tappan, N.Y. PHOTO: IRIS KOSMICKI
ESSMAN-OGDEN ENGAGEMENT Elizabeth (Liz) Essman, daughter of Richard and Vicki Essman of St. Louis, and John-Christopher (JC) Ogden, son of Jared and Judy Ogden of Blairesville, Ga. have announced their engagement. Liz is the granddaughter of Herbert and Sue Orenstein; Betty Shaikewitz Morgan and the late Joseph Shaikewitz; and the late Noel Essman, all of St. Louis. JC is the grandson of Alice Law Mallard Ogden and Lynn Lazarre Ogden, of Augusta, Ga. and Joslyn Eleanore Kvamme Knutson and Gorden Harold Knutson of Kennedy, Texas. Liz graduated from Mizzou and earned a master’s degree from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is the operations manager of a local nonprofit and adoptive mom to a 5-year-old lab mix named Miley. JC graduated from Sewanee University of the South, followed by a master’s degree in Accounting at Vanderbilt University. He works as the financial controller of Triumph Systems. Aside from his CPA, JC earned the title of Thru-Hiker, backpacking the 2000+ miles of the Appalachian Trail. A September 2022 wedding is planned.
ALICE HANDELMAN
“We send you and your “In Memory of Sanford Weiss family love and our very who made a big difference in deepest sympathy.” my life.” - Patty & Freddie Steinbach - Albert Rose -
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Brian Herstig: Federation supports Jewish education in St. Louis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11A the op-ed piece that we want to address that was somehow intertwined with the work we already do within our community. The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program is a state-funded opportunity to direct dollars to parochial education. While we, and most of our day schools, were not supportive of the way this program brings together the traditionally separated church and state lines, now that the pro-
gram has been voted into existence it cannot be ignored. Several Federations around the country are actively engaged with similar private school funding programs through their states and help and administer the programs for the Jewish communities they serve. Let us be clear: We are very interested in the support this program can bring to our community’s day schools and to families who already take advantage of, or want to take advantage of private Jewish school options. We are doing the work
necessary to see if it fits into the scope of what we can do and should do for the community, including meeting with state officials who administer the program at the end of the month. There is another round of partnership opportunities this fall, and we are exploring applying then. Rest assured that we are doing the work and having the conversations necessary to bring the benefits of this state sponsored opportunity to our entire day school community. We hope to have more information on the timing of this soon
and will let everyone know when we have more information. We want to thank Russel Neiss for giving us the opportunity to address our community by raising this question in the public forum and we hope if anyone has more questions about Federation, you take the time to visit our website, JFedSTL.org, to see all we do within and for the education community or certainly, call us with any questions.
Russel Neiss: It’s time for Federation to revisit education priorities CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11A the St. Louis Central Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE), this community has not had a single entity (lay or professional) focused explicitly on advocating for or thinking seriously and regularly about how to do that essential work. Instead, the work of trying to ascertain where and how to invest, where and how to support, and where, how and when to create serious, deep and attractive Jewish educational opportunities across the community has become disunified, unfocused and neglected.
This lack of attention has manifested itself in a number of ways. The direct educational services that Federation used to provide have disappeared. The Brodsky Library has become a shell of itself with Federation redistributing its funds to other communal initiatives, removing thousands of titles from its collection and relocating it from its central location on the first floor of the Federation building to a storage room upstairs. Adult education initiatives have been disbanded and, aside from some direct payments to the community’s day schools and yeshivas (that are comparatively small
compared with our peer cities), Federation’s primary commitment to Jewish education in this town nowadays appears to be that the local JPro chapter runs two professional councils, one for preschool educators and another for religious school educators. It’s true that many Jewish Federations around the country do not provide direct Jewish educational services and instead off-load them to a communal partner such as a central agency for Jewish education. But those federations that have brought these educational institutions in-house, like our Federation did, usually maintain at least one (and often several) staff mem-
bers to serve as centralized point people for the community to do the important work described above. For whatever reason, our Federation has failed to provide the resources for even this most basic intervention. It has disinvested in Jewish education to the point where it’s not even able or interested in accessing essentially free money provided by the state. If it doesn’t rectify this underlying issue, this won’t be the last time that Jewish education in St. Louis will suffer, Jewish families will suffer and the vibrancy of our Jewish communal institutions will suffer.
Marty Rochester: Three signs that we’re losing the ‘culture war’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A select a justice based on merit? Will we have to pack the court not just for ideological purposes but to get the necessary distribution of identities? Long ago, it was assumed one had to be a WASP to join the Court. Louis Brandeis broke that pattern when he became the first Jew to be appointed in 1916, leading to the establishment of “the Jewish seat.” By 2010, the Court had three Jewish justices (Ginsburg, Kagan and Breyer) and six Catholics, i.e., no WASPS. It arguably was more meritorious than it is today, when identity bean-counting seems more in play than ever in the selection process. Should one’s religion, skin color, gender or other such characteristics ever determine Supreme Court selection? I would say not. Merit should be the one — and only — criterion, no? For those who argue that there needs to be, say, a Black point of view on the Court, I respond with two words: Clarence Thomas. Is there anything more ridiculous than
the liberal music editor of the New York Times arguing that “behind the curtain” auditions to hire symphony musicians is unfair because it does not produce enough diversity (“To Make Orchestras More Diverse, End Blind Auditions,” New York Times, July 16, 2020)? Could there be a more meritorious, i.e., just, way to select a first violinist and other players? I doubt it. A third value that has vanished from our culture is middle-of-the road politics. In an earlier Jewish Light op-ed (June 22, 2017), I wrote: “We are witnessing the growing polarization of the American polity. The center is not holding, and we are going down a treacherous path.” Things are only getting worse. American politics used to be criticized for limiting voter choices to Tweedledum and Tweedledee, such as the 1996 presidential election between liberal-centrist Democrat Bill Clinton and conservative-centrist Republican Bob Dole. In place of extreme alternatives, we settled for moderation. That was a bargain I would welcome again.
Today, try to identify moderates in either party positioned to run for president who take centrist, compromise positions on gun control, immigration, abortion or most issues. As just one example of how consensus on even our most basic values has dissipated, note the debates that have occurred over “the national history standards”
“
the most prosperous nation in history, it was to rape the environment and keep workers in misery.” In 1995, the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 99-1, rejected the standards as misrepresenting U.S. history. Today, if a similar set of left-wing standards, such as the “1619 Project” curriculum developed by the Times, were present-
We are witnessing the growing polarization of the American polity. The center is not holding, and we are going down a treacherous path.
taught in our schools. The National History Standards document released in 1994 sparked a firestorm of protest because of its leftist bent. As professor Walter McDougall of the University of Pennsylvania critically commented, “If the ‘Founding Fathers’ (the term has been banished) invoked human rights, it was to deny them to others. If businessmen built
ed for a vote in Washington, no doubt half the Senate would support it and the other half would condemn it. We cannot even agree on the founding date of the country anymore. Can we agree that we need to revisit the culture war and rethink where we are going?
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JEWISH LIGHT
Page 1B
2022
Kayla Cyphers (left) performs as Nala in ‘The Lion King,’ which is coming to the Fox Theatre in June. PHOTO: DEEN VAN MEER, ©DISNEY
SUMMER
THE 2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF:
ARTS GUIDE
BY PATRICIA CORRIGAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Alan H. Green, Jovanni Sy, John Cardoza and Jake Bentley Young are featured in ‘The Karate Kid: The Musical,’ which gets its world premiere at Stages St. Louis.
J
une is busting out all over with arts and entertainment events — quickly followed by equally enticing opportunities to get out and about in July and August. What’s coming to St. Louis? Opera! Jackson Browne! Theater — indoors and out! Music! Circus Flora! Willie Nelson! Festivals! We’ve rounded up a veritable slew (over four dozen) of appealing performances, exhibits and activities for your consideration between now and Labor Day weekend. In response to the continuing presence of COVID-19, some venues do have safety protocols in place, so check for current policies. Then, it’s off for some fun in the sun!
PHOTO: STAGES ST. LOUIS
vvv
MAY & JUNE Dance St. Louis holds the 14th Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival May 27-29 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St Louis. The festival brings together 18 professional dance companies, including Diavolo, Pilobolus, Philadelphia Ballet, Chicago Top Theatre and Aerial Dance Chicago, for performances of a range of dance styles such as ballet, modern and contemporary to tap, hip hop, aerial and flamenco. Single tickets are $10-$25, and nightly 4-packs are $75. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/DSL-22. It’s rare, as in once in a blue moon rare, that a bound-forBroadway show debuts in St. Louis. But thanks to Stages St. Louis, “The Karate Kid: The Musical” makes its pre-Broadway world premiere through June 26 at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 210 E. Monroe Ave. The show tells the story of a youngster who to defend himself
against bullying classmates, trains with a reclusive handyman – who just happens to be an expert martial artist. What the kid learns, though, is that fighting is done with the head and the heart, not the fists. Tickets range from $60-$85. For more information, go to stagesstlouis.org. The 2022 season for Opera Theatre of St. Louis, on stage at the Loretto-Hilton Center now through June 26, includes four rotating operas: Bizet’s “Carmen,” Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” the world premiere of Picker’s “Awakenings” (based on the life of Dr. Oliver Sacks) and Wallace’s “Harvey Milk,” based on the life of the gay activist and politician. For ticket availability, prices and performance times, call 314-9610644 or visit opera-stl.org. Continues on following page
MORE INSIDE
‘The Karate Kid: The Musical’ gets world premiere at Stages St. Louis STORY ON PAGE 7B
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May 25, 2022
2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE
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At the St. Louis Art Museum, “Impression and Beyond” continues through July 31, with works by Degas, Chagall, Picasso, McNeill, Cassatt and van Gogh. “Currents 121: Oscar Murillo” continues through Aug. 28. And on June 26, “Catching the Moment” opens, showcasing acquisitions of contemporary art assembled by Ted L. and Maryanne Ellison Simmons. Works by more than 40 artists, predominately active in the U.S., are part of the collection. See slam.org for more information. Every Wednesday from June 1 through Aug. 3, music lovers gather on the Cohen Amphitheater lawn at the Missouri Botanical Garden for free concerts sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation. Visitors are encouraged to arrive after 5 p.m. for a picnic — bring your own or buy food and beverages on site. No pets, barbecue grills or smoking. The music starts at 7 p.m. For a schedule of performers, see missouribotanicalgarden.org. Believe it when people tell you the puppets are amazing — it’s true! The Fox Theatre brings back the highly acclaimed “The Lion King” June 1-19, so if you haven’t experienced director Julie Taymor’s brand of magic yet, now’s your chance. Tickets cost $29-$189. See www.fabulousfox.com. Here’s something: “Much Ado About Nothing” will be presented June 1-26 by Shakespeare Festival St. Louis at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, just off Fine Arts Drive on the east side of Art Hill between the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Art Museum. Performances of the Bard’s popular comedy start at 8 p.m. six nights a week. (No shows on Mondays). Seating is free, unless you opt for paid, pre-reserved seating. For details, visit stlshakes.org or call 314-287-3348. New Line Theatre’s production of the satirical comedy “Urinetown,” on stage
Hip hop/contemporary dance company Chicago Dance Crash is one of 18 companies performing at Dance St. Louis’ Spring to Dance Festival over Memorial Day weekend. PHOTO: ASHLEY DERAN June 2-25 at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive. This rollicking musical is about “greed, corruption, love, revolution, — and urination.” Tickets cost $20-$30 at www.metrotix.com/events/detail/ new-line-theatre-urinetown. Jackson Browne fans: He’ll be back among us at 7:30 p.m. June 3 at the St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr. in Maryland Heights. Tickets start at $25 and ascend to $149. See https://bit.ly/Jackson-Browne-2022.
The Webster Art Fair is back with more than 70 exhibitors and two stages of live music, along with food, drink and lots of artsy activities for the kids. The outdoor fair, located at 475 E. Lockwood in Webster Groves, takes place June 3-5. Admission is free but the art will cost you. For more information, including opening and closing times, go to www.websterartsfair.com. In the mood for some big band music? The Glenn Miller Orchestra performs at 4 p.m. June 5 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Tickets cost $45-$65; available at Metrotix
(314-534-1111 or www.metrotix.com). For more information, visit thesheldon.org/ events/glenn-miller-orchestra. Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents “Music as the Message: Sing On, Sing On!” — a concert celebrating Black Music Month — at 7:30 p.m. June 7 at The Grandel at 3610 Grandel Square in the Grand Center Arts District. General admission is free though advance reservations are “strongly recommended.” Call 314-9610644 or visit opera-stl.org.
Eugene OnegiN
PERFORMANCES START AT 8PM
Falstaff
A Little Night Music
TICKETS CALL 314-361-2881 OR UNIONAVENUEOPERA.ORG LOCATED WITHIN UNION AVENUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 733 UNION BLVD (UNION & DELMAR), STL 63108 | FREE PARKING
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2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE
May 25, 2022
Page 3B
ABOVE: David Lowery and Johnny Hickman of Cracker, one of the bands at this year’s Twangfest. PHOTO: JASON THRASHER LEFT: Ryan Lawson-Maeske and Molly Diane Burris perform in New Jewish Theatre’s production of ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise.’ PHOTO: JON GITCHOFF Jazz St. Louis celebrates a big anniversary at 7:30 p.m. June 8 with “JSL @ 25,” featuring Terell Stafford, Cyrus Chestnut, Grace Kelly, Allison Miller and Nathan Pence. They’ll be on stage at the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz (formerly Jazz at the Bistro), 3536 Washington Ave. Tickets cost $41-$46. See https://my. jazzstl.org/774. Speaking of jazz, celebrate St. Louis’ jazz legacy and future at the Wednesday Night Jazz Jam, from 6 to 9 p.m., live inside The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square. Presented by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, this every Wednesday gathering brings jazz within reach for people of all ages and backgrounds. Hosted by Bob Deboo, these weekly shows are free and family friendly. The Jayhawks, Cracker, Ha Ha Tonka and Katie Pruitt are just some of the entertainers performing at this year’s Twangfest, running June 8-11 at Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave. Single tickets run $25$40. Four-night passes, which include a Saturday (June 11) house concert with Cracker as well as various merch, go for $175. Go to twangfest.com for more info. “The Quest for the Innkeeper’s Cask” — a mysterious tale featuring acrobats, daredevils, aerialists, comedians and more — explores the caves beneath the streets of St. Louis when Circus Flora comes to the Big Top in Grand Center, 3401 Washington Blvd. (The show itself, happily, is above ground!) Performances are scheduled June 9 through July 3, with morning, mid-day and early evening shows. Tickets range from $10-$65 at metrotix.com or call 314-534-1111. A World War II love story is the theme of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” on stage June 9-26 at the New Jewish Theatre. Afternoon and evening performances take place at the Wool Theatre in the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex. Tickets cost $49-$54. See http://newjewishtheatre.org. Celebrate “Ragtime, Blues and All That Jazz” at 3 p.m. June 12 with jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling as he and the St. Louis Symphony showcase ragtime masters Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton and blues legends B.B. King and Muddy Waters at Powell Symphony Hall. Tickets range from $35-$68. Visit slso.org for tickets or more information. The Muny’s 104th season kicks off June 13-19 with Kander and Ebb’s rowdy “Chicago” and “Camelot” follows, with performances June 22-28. Shows start at 8:15 p.m. and tickets ($18 to $115) are available at Metrotix (314-534-1111 or metrotix. com) or come early to grab a free seat. For more information, visit muny.org. The Ambassadors of Harmony do their remarkable, award-winning thing at 2 p.m. and then again at 8 p.m. on June 18 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Tickets range from $27-$69. Call 314-516-4949.
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents “Centerstage,” a young artist’s showcase, at 7:30 p.m. June 21 at the Loretto-Hilton Center. Tickets are $21.25-$79. Call 314961-0644 or visit opera-stl.org. Willie Nelson & Friends (including Jason Isbell, Nathaniel Rateliff and more) bring
the Outlaw Music Festival Tour to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre at 4:30 p.m. June 24. Tickets range from $25 to $350. Buy tickets at Livenation.com, visit the Amphitheatre Box Office or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Pridefest St. Louis’ celebration “Togeth-
er Again” will take place June 25-26 on the green spaces by Soldiers Memorial, on Market Street between North Tucker and North 15th. Expect plenty of food and live entertainment. The parade begins at 11 a.m. June 26. Continues on following page
Page 4B
May 25, 2022
2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE
JULY Who would dare follow Willie at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre? Santana and Earth Wind & Fire, that’s who, in the “Miraculous Supernatural Tour” at 7 p.m. July 1. Tickets range from $24 to $159. See Livenation.com, visit the Amphitheatre Box Office or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. If you’re over 18, you can enjoy D.L. Hughley’s act July 1-3 at the Helium Comedy Club at the St. Louis Galleria. Known for “The Hughleys” and “The Original Kings of Comedy,” he’s also been on “Dancing with the Stars!” Tickets are $40-$50; see https://st-louis.heliumcomedy.com/ events/56737 Fair Saint Louis brings people together for a free Independence Day celebration from noon to 10 p.m. July 2-4 on the grounds of the Gateway Arch. Expect concerts, food booths and fireworks. For a schedule of entertainment (not available at press time) go to fairsaintlouis.org “Mary Poppins” flies in July 5-13 at The Muny, followed by that demon barber “Sweeney Todd” (July 16-22) and then it’s all about Elle in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (July 25-31). Shows start at 8:15 p.m. and tickets ($18 to $115) are available at Metrotix (314-534-1111 or metrotix.com) or come early to grab a free seat. For more information, visit www.muny.org. Welcome Lyle Lovett and His Large Band and Chris Isaak at 8 p.m. July 8 at the Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market Street. Tickets range from $26.50-$186.50. See www. stifeltheatre.com/events/detail/lyle-lovettand-his-large-band-and-chris-isaak Let Them Eat Art, a tribute to France’s Bastille Day, will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. July 8 in downtown Maplewood. The
LEFT: Fair Saint Louis offers a free Independence Day celebration July 2-4. PHOTO: CARLOS SANTA MARIA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
RIGHT: Chris Isaak (right) visits Stifel Theatre July 8 with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
free event features live art demonstrations by regional artists, live music, kid’s activities and food and drink by Maplewood’s food purveyors. Shops will be open late. For more info, go to https://bit.ly/Maplewood2022. The 2022 season at Union Avenue Opera opens with Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” with performances at 8 p.m. on July 8, 9, 15 and 16. Next up is Gounod’s
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May 25, 2022
JEWISH LIGHT
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THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF BELLEVILLE Dr. Robert Hart Baker, Music Director UPCOMING EVENTS COFFEE CONCERT
FROM SWITZERLAND JUNE 3 DIRECT CHRISTINA HARNISCH, PIANO
10:00 AM
SAINT-SAENS CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Let Them Eat Art, billed as ‘Maplewood’s whimsical tribute to Bastille Day,’ will take place July 8. PHOTO: CITY OF MAPLEWOOD WEBSITE
“Hamilton” fans alert! Stages St. Louis will present Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” July 22 through Aug. 21 at the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Honored with “Best Musical” at the 2008 Tony Awards, the show highlights a community balancing change and hope. Tickets range from $51 to $76 at stagesstlouis.org or call 314-8212407. COCA presents Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” The Musical” July 22-24, with matinee and evening performances. Round up the kids or grandkids — the show is suitable for youngsters 6 and older. Tickets cost $15-
JULY 17 FEATURING DANCERS FROM
7:00 PM BELLEVILLE SCHOOL OF BALLET
$25. See cocastl.org/calendar/matilda-the-musical/
MAYOR PATTY GREGORY, NARRATOR Bellevue Park Bandshell, Belleville
Comedian and actor John Mulaney grapples with serious topics in an open way in his show “From Scratch,” scheduled for 8 p.m. July 22 at the Enterprise Center. Tickets, ranging from $36.50 to $126.50, are available at www.enterprisecenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
AN EVENING ON ABEND
PRESENTED BY OLD BELLEVILLE
SEPT. 10 HISTORIC DISTRICT RESIDENTS 7:00 PM BRING CHAIRS AND SNACKS! 221 Abend St. Belleville
The Open Highway Music Festival returns July 28-30, with performances at the Old Rock House at 1200 South 7th St. and Chesterfield Amphitheatre, 631 Veterans Place Drive. Hear Steve Earle & The Dukes, James McMurtry, John Moreland and more. Weekend and three-day passes range from $100-$140; individual tickets cost $45-$75. For details, visit openhighwaymusic.com.
FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL EVENTS DONATIONS ACCEPTED
TO MAKE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS VISIT WWW.BELLEVILLEPHILHARMONC.ORG WALK-UPS ALWAYS WELCOME
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency
Continues on following page This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts
ON SALE NOW! JUNE 1 - 19 SUN
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19 1:00 PM
FABULOUS FOX THEATRE
Metrotix.com ©Disney
“Falstaff,” on stage at 8 p.m. July 29 and 30 and Aug. 5 and 6. All performances are at the Union Avenue Opera House, 733 North Union Blvd. Tickets range from $32-$55. For tickets and more info, go to unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.
Philharmonic Hall 116 N. Jackson St. Belleville IL
Page 6B
2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE
May 25, 2022
AUGUST Before they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will make a stop at the Factory at the District in Chesterfield for an Aug. 1 show that is sure to feature fan favorites such as “Love is a Battlefield,” “Heartbreaker” and “Hell is For Children,” among many others. Tickets, starting at $59, are available at ticketmaster.com. The Muny wraps up the summer with “The Color Purple” (Aug. 3-9) and then
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expands to other hues with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Aug. 12-18). Shows start at 8:15 p.m. and tickets ($18 to $115) are available at Metrotix (314-534-1111 or metrotix.com) or come early to grab a free seat. For more information, visit muny.org. It’s not for kids, but grown-ups will delight in the earnest, hilarious musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” coming to Stray Dog Theatre Aug. 4-20, with matinees and evening performances at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave. Tickets cost $25-$30. Call 314-
Missouri Botanical Garden will hold its Japanese Festival over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5. PHOTO: ERIK S. ANDERSON/MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
865-1995 or visit straydogtheatre.org for more information. Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt and the legendary Mavis Staples will sing for you at 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Fox Theatre on the “Just Like That 2022” tour. Tickets run $43.50-$126. For tickets and more information, go to fabulousfox.com. Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service, is hosting Blues at the Arch, reimagined as a free music festival Aug. 12-14. The festival pays tribute to St. Louis’ storied blues history and showcases the talents of national and local entertainers along with featuring food trucks, a market, after parties and more. For a full schedule, go to www.archpark.org/events/blues-at-the-arch-2022. Playgoers, the 7th Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis is on for Aug. 18-28 with performances of “The Rose Tattoo” in a version described as “a newly reimagined and sensual Fellini-esque production of Williams’ romantic Sicilian love story.” Performances will take place under the Big Top in the Grand Arts Center, 3401 Washington Blvd. For performance times and ticket information, call 314-517-5253. Isn’t it rich? Fans of Stephen Sondheim can glory in the master’s music and lyrics at “A Little Night Music,” on stage at Union Avenue Opera Aug. 19, 20, 26 and 27. Performances are at the Union Avenue Opera House, 733 North Union Blvd. Tickets range from $25-$55. For tickets and more info, go to unionavenueopera.org or call
Golf the Galleries! June 17 - August 28
314-361-2881. Alicia Keys brings “The World Tour” the St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr. in Maryland Heights. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets range from $39.50-$139.50. See https://bit.ly/Alicia-Keys2022. The St. Louis Fringe Festival runs Aug. 21-22 at several venues in Grand Center. Check out stlouisfringe.com for more information, including ticket prices. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis season opens Aug. 26 with Madhuri Shekar’s “House of Joy,” described as a “genre-busting adventure fantasy.” Performances are at the Loretto-Hilton through Sept. 18. For show times and ticket prices, see repstl.org. Expect dance, music, craft demonstrations, an ethnic gift bazaar and some 50 food booths at the Festival of Nations, said to be the bi-state region’s largest annual multicultural celebration. The free festival takes place Aug. 27–28 in Tower Grove Park. For more information, see festivalofnationsstl.org/ or call 314-773-9090.
SEPTEMBER Look for local musicians, performers, artists, food trucks and a green space for kids to play at the World’s Fair Heritage Festival Sept. 2-4 at the upper Muny parking lot in Forest Park. Admission is free. For more information, see explorestlouis. com/event/st-louis-worlds-fare-heritage-festival-games. The glorious Japanese Festival makes the most of Labor Day weekend at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Hours on Sept. 3-4 are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 5. General admission is $14 for individuals 13 and up and $6 for residents 13 and up who live in St. Louis City or St. Louis County. For details, see events.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ japanese_festival.
at The Sheldon
Tee off at The Sheldon this summer at this playable, artist-designed, nine-hole mini golf course! Fun for the whole family! Sponsored by
Tickets on sale June 1! Visit TheSheldon.org or call MetroTix at 314.534.1111
Bonnie Raitt (above) and Mavis Staples will play the Fox Theatre on Aug. 5.
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May 25, 2022
Page 7B
Jewish creator of ‘Karate Kid’ franchise discusses new musical adaptation premiering in St. Louis BY JUDITH NEWMARK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
“Will this thing ever leave my life?” Robert Mark Kamen asks the sunlight flooding into his office through a broad stretch of windows. They grant a spectacular view of his Sonoma, Calif., vineyard. No, comes the unspoken answer. It never will. But since the “thing” is “The Karate Kid” franchise, which reaches back to a 1984 movie and forward, in various forms, well into the future, the immensely successful screenwriter isn’t exactly complaining. Now its latest incarnation is bringing him here. Stages St. Louis is presenting the world premiere of “The Karate Kid: The Musical.” “Think of the story of the first ‘Karate Kid’ movie,” the man who wrote it says. “But with songs and dances. It’s Robert Mark Kamen fantastic.” Broadway-bound shows like this one often start someplace other than New York. Boston, Atlanta and La Jolla, Calif., are among the popular choices. Kamen described Stages’ topper — and New York producer — Jack Lane as “very, very persuasive” and said he really likes the idea of opening in the Midwest instead of one one of the coasts. “Midwesterners love musical theater,” he says. “They come to New York to see Broadway and they fill their (performance venues) at home.” Why not start one in a place where a friendly audience seems like a lock?
The cast of ‘The Karate Kid: The Musical.’
PHOTO: STAGES ST. LOUIS
Audiences are something Kamen understands. The “Karate Kid” franchise already includes five movies, an animated TV series, video games and a current TV show from Netflix, “Cobra Kai.” In that one, the movie’s stars, Ralph Macchio (good Daniel) and William Zabka (troubled Johnny), play their original characters as grown but still karate obsessed men. Kamen also had a long, ambitious collaboration with French director Luc Besson, the writer behind the “Taken” and
“Transporter” franchises, as well as “The Fifth Element,” “Gladiator” and many other titles. But “The Karate Kid” isn’t just an action franchise. With its compelling characters and vigorous competitions, Kamen’s basic story taps deeply into the imagination of American boys. Its sense of us against them — the good, spiritual karate that Daniel practices versus See ROBERT MARK KAMEN on page 8B
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2022 SUMMER ARTS GUIDE
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Robert Mark Kamen: Talking with Jewish creator of ‘The Karate Kid’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7B the martial, insanely competitive approach embodied by Johnny’s Cobra Kai — simultaneously feeds fantasies of how crummy the world really is, then offers a way to succeed despite all odds. In one of the movies, Daniel rescues a girl trapped outdoors in a typhoon. This is by no means the only time that his karate-honed self-discipline comes in handy. And the character of Mr. Miyagi, the Okinawan karate teacher played by the late Pat Morita, allowed Kamen to address an even deeper longing. He gave his audience “the perfect father. Always protective, always looking out for you.” Even if you can’t always grasp his intentions — “Wax on, wax off,” anyone? — you know he’s got your back. Is it any surprise, then, that Kamen had a Mr. Miyagi of his own? For more than 50 years, Kamen has spent at least an hour a day practicing karate. On the verge of his 75th birthday, Kamen looks at least 15 years younger, with a lean build and thick silver hair. Divorced and the father of three daughters, he still spends much of his day writing screenplays. (Grapes are more than a
Jetta Juriansz and John Cardoza of ‘The Karate Kid: The Musical’ cast at Stages St. Louis. PHOTO: STAGES ST. LOUIS
hobby, though; Kamen Estate Wines has done well by him.) Is karate responsible for such vigor? He shrugs: “Maybe karate. Maybe genetics.”
But he never doubts that karate is responsible for the life that he enjoys. How strange that antisemitism led to the essential first step on his journey.
Kamen says he grew up “in a bifurcated world. We lived in the projects in Brooklyn. But at home, it was all kosher and Yiddish, warm and safe. Outside, I ran around like a wild thing.” In 1964, New York City hosted the World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows, not too far from Kamen’s home. Naturally, one day he and a friend decided to take it in. But while they were there, a gang of other teens attacked them. “Antisemites,” Kamen says dismissively. How could he possibly know that? “When they’re yelling ‘f---ing Jew’ while they’re chasing you, that’s how you find out,” he says. “I was just a skinny little shrimp. But I ran track, and I was fast. I ran straight into the New York State Pavilion.” There, he saw his first karate demonstration. Impressed, he watched a sensei (a karate teacher) disarm a student who was “attacking” him with a knife. A few minutes earlier, one of the attackers had tried the same move on Kamen with a World’s Fair souvenir letter opener, stabbing him in his shoulder blade. Kamen didn’t delay. He found out where the sensei taught and enrolled. Eventually he moved onto “his” Mr. Miyagi, an Okinawan sensei who “spoke no English.” “But he could do a karate form perfectly with a cigarette dangling from his lips and never drop the ash,” Kamen recalled fondly. “He was pretty special.” That teacher trained at the Okinawanstyle school celebrated in the “Karate Kid” movies. At that level, karate instruction is dynastic, not unlike a Hasidic sect. Kamen knows a lot about that, too. For his doctorate in American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, he explored the world of New York’s Bobover Hasidim. His dissertation “is a textbook now,” he says, brandishing a copy of “Growing Up Hasidic.” “I was going to be an ethnographer.” Obviously, plans changed. He had his first screenwriting credit in 1981, for “Taps”; “The Karate Kid” came just three years later. Although there are five “Karate Kid” movies, Kamen is especially attached to the first three, which he wrote. Danny and Johnny, the heroes, are characters that men now in their 40s first identified with during their teen years. Many younger men feel the same way, often thanks to their dads. But, Kamen says, “Mr. Miyagi is the soul of the ‘Karate Kid.’ ” The musical is Kamen’s main focus. But he has plans. After “Cobra Kai,” there will be another series, this one a prequel devoted to Miyagi’s origin story. “It will include his youth, World War II, the internment camps, everything that made him what he was,” Kamen says. Which is what? Kamen smiled. “The father that everybody wants to have.”
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LIFESTYLES
Small-town Missouri Jewish history comes alive in new book BY ERIC BERGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Mara Cohen Ioannides, an English professor at Missouri State University, once lived in New York where, she said, “If you want something, you ask for it.” So Cohen Ioannides did not understand when the editor of OzarksWatch magazine approached her a few times at the university in Springfield and said, “No one has done an issue on Jews of the Ozarks,” in southern Missouri. He was hinting that Cohen Ioannides, who is Jewish, should do such a publication. That project led her to another realization: Missouri has a rich Jewish history — not only in St. Louis, Kansas City and the Ozarks — but across the state. OzarksWatch published an edition dedicated to documenting the region’s Jewish history in 1999. More than two decades later, that initial exploration has culminated in her new book, “Jews of Missouri: An Ornament to Israel.” Cohen Ioannides said she wants to illuminate the role that Jews played in shaping the state. “Missouri history is very Christian, as it has been presented, and I think we need to stop that,” she said. “We need to place ourselves in it. It is important because of the rising amount of hate in this country and the overriding Christian feeling that America is Christian, America is white and everyone else is irrelevant.” The book, which covers the period from before statehood in 1821 until World War I, details the Jewish history of 74 cities and towns, some as small as Knob Noster and unincorporated Mine La Motte. “My goal was to find as many towns as
possible, to show the extent to which Jews were a part of the cultural, social and economic landscape and how they were involved in the creation of the state,” Cohen Ioannides writes in an introduction to the book, which draws its title from an 1843 essay in which the writer, Julius Stern, called for Israelites to purchase a large tract of land in the Western territories. “In such a society, excellent men and worthy women might spring up, who would deserve to be called an ornament to Israel, and an honor to mankind,” Stern wrote. Cohen Ioannides spent more than three years conducting genealogical research and writing the book. She used sites such as Ancestry.com and Fold3, which collects military records, and researched records at the St. Louis Jewish Community Archives and the Missouri Historical Society. “The hardest part was trying to figure out how everyone is related before they came over (from Europe) because the genealogical materials in Europe are harder to get into and not as complete” as those in the United States, she said. That meant she could sometimes only deduce that people were probably related without definitively stating that, which she acknowledges in the book. Still, Cohen Ioannides was able to trace how Jews used railroad lines and waterways such as the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to migrate across the state and open businesses in small towns. They would advertise their businesses as “The Jew Store.” It was a description, rather than a slur, she said. “The Jew in town was the unique per-
son, and people were often referred to in reference to their uniqueness,” said Cohen Ioannides, who is president of the Midwest Jewish Studies
Association, a nonprofit academic group. “Once a store became known as that name, the owner would then use the nickMara Cohen Ioannides, an English professor at Missouri State Uniname.” The first recognizable versity, is the author of ‘Jews of Missouri: An Ornament to Israel.’ PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR Jew to settle in the territory before it became a the surrounding communities,” Cohen state in 1821 was Ezekiel Block, a German Ioannides writes. “Charles Edward Jew who was in New Madrid by at least Pancoast, in his memoir about traveling to 1803 and likely by 1796, Cohen Ioannides California, called Phineas ‘rabbi’ and determined. Members of his family then remarked he ‘had a delightful time’ with spread out across the state. the Block family in Louisiana.” In Louisiana, Mo., a town along the The book contains other interesting stoMississippi River north of St. Louis, ries. In the early 19th century in St. Louis, Phineas Block owned a mill and a grocery Joseph Philipson, a German Jew, opened and became president of the Upper the first brewery west of the Mississippi Mississippi Insurance Co. and a partner in River and was a partner in the first such distillery. the Northern Mississippi Steamship Co. “He also worked as a religious leader See BOOK on page 10B and shochet [kosher ritual slaughterer] for
Netflix releases Israeli period drama starring Michael Aloni BY CALEB GUEDES-REED & GABE FRIEDMAN JTA
Last week, Netflix released “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” a period drama that follows a family of Spanish Sephardic Jews living in Jerusalem through different decades of the early 20th century. The first 10 episodes were made available on Friday, and a second batch of 10 episodes will be released on July 29. The series, which won four Israeli TV Academy Awards this year after debuting there last summer, stars Israeli heartthrob Michael Aloni — of “Shtisel” and “When Heroes Fly” fame — and is based on a book of the same name first translated into English in 2016. It is produced by Israel’s Yes Studios — which was behind the Orthodox family drama “Shtisel” and the IDF thriller “Fauda” — and is being touted as one of Israeli TV’s most expensive and ambitious projects yet. Its English Netflix version is dubbed. The story flips back and forth between decades, from the Ottoman Empire era to the
days of the British Mandate of Palestine, which eventually becomes the state of Israel. The series showcases Judeo-Spanish traditions and chronicles the dynamics of pre-state Jerusalem, including tensions between its Jewish, Arab and Christian residents — with dialogue in Hebrew, English, Arabic and even Ladino, a rarity in Israeli TV. The plot involves the Armoza family, whose
men seem cursed to marry women they don’t love. Aloni and fellow cast members were quick to sign on based on the success and quality of Sarit Yishai-Levi’s novel, they told audience members at a recent event at Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker Center in New York City. Aloni said he read the book in less than two days and cried while reading it; Swell Ariel Or, who plays Aloni’s daughter in the show, said she read the book in two hours.
Hila Saada and Michael Aloni as Rosa and Gabriel Armoza in “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.” PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX.
Page 10B
FEATURES
May 25, 2022
AMY FENSTER BROWN
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JEWISH LIGHT
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A tip o’ the grad cap to the anxieties of fledgling adulthood
For parents of college and trade school graduates, it most often means some ‘Tis the season of caps and gowns, pomp financial freedom if mom and dad covered and circumstance, diplomas and celebra- the education bill. Sometimes, their kids tions — it’s graduation time! My kids are a move back home for a bit, but many are few years away from this milestone. Some already living on their own and choose to of my friends’ kids are finishing high keep it that way. These babies are all school and college, giving me a preview of grown up and entering the real world of the many emotions that will engulf my jobs, rent and adulthood. LER SHADES soul in the not-too-distant future. This season makes me think about my Apparently, there will be lot of random own time in college, and what I would do crying and anxiety over things out of my differently. Before stepping into my time control, which shouldn’t be a big deal since machine, I have a few conditions. I would that’s the baseline I operate under normal- want to know what I know now before ly. going back. And energy I would need a guarantee Increase your comfort and help lower your bills For the parents of high school graduates, that I would end up marrying Jeff and it most often means that their child, now having Davis and Leo as my sons. All year-round with insulating Hunter Douglas shades. technically a young adult, will be moving aboard the time machine. away. College, trade school, military and foremost, knowing what I Rebate savings available now. AskFirst forand details. job options usually mean leaving the nest. know now, I wouldn’t have been so worIt’s a huge adjustment for everyone — ried. So, so worried. As a Jewish mothexciting for the teenager starting a new er, it was probably my training ground chapter with independence and freedom, for my greatest role in life. However, and bittersweet for parents losing daily knowing everything ends up fine I interaction in person with their precious could have relaxed a little. offspring. These were typical worries: Will I
get a job after college? What will that job be? How much money will I make? Where will I live? And all of those after-college unknowns. As a young adult, you don’t quite realize that your career interests, strengths and paths can change repeatedly, and, if the job doesn’t work out, you can always find another one. Sometimes it’s a full-time job to find a job, but it will happen. Chill out, young Amy, chill out. Being away from home, making new friends, Rebates learning a new way of at living and starting being scared by all of it is incredibly common when you take the next step after
high school. Had I known then that pretty much everyone had the same feelings, I would have felt way more normal and way less like a wimp. I would be bolder. Was I not bold enough? I certainly wasn’t shy and took plenty of risks. But could I have taken more? I’d go for it, no matter what “it” was, in every single way without fear of rejection, because with confidence you bounce back and move on to the next thing. I’m talking dating for fun without wondering whether it would lead to a relationship or moving to a new city and giving it time knowing I could move again if it didn’t work out. With a do-over, I Columnist Amy Fenster Brown is married would do it over without all the to Jeff and has two teenage sons, worry and what-if’s. Coulda, Davis and Leo. She volunteers woulda, shoulda. for several Jewish not-for-profit We will try to tell our kids on select styles groups. Fenster Brown is an these lessons that took us time to March 12– June 20, 2022 Emmy Award-winning TV news learn on our own. It will likely writer and counts time with fall on deaf ears. And then they’ll family and friends, talking and figure it out for themselves. eating peanut butter among L’dor v’dor people. L’dor v’dor. her hobbies.
BY AMY FENSTER BROWN
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ShadeJewish Company Book: Small-townVictor Missouri history comes alive in new book CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9B An 1816 editorial that Cohen Ioannides quotes in the book states that in “the opulent town of St. Louis, with a capital of one million dollars, it has but few manufactures, no respectable seminary, no place of worship for dissenters, no public edifices, no steam mills, nor boats, no bank. Mr. [Joseph] Philipson has just established a brewery … thousands of bushels of grain are offered at a very low price to any man who will establish a distillery.”
April 13– June 24, 2019
10100 Page Ave Saint Louis, MO
Cohen Ionannides said she doesn’t think antisemitism was a big issue for Jews who settled in Missouri. “In the South, Jews were not allowed into private clubs and stuff like that,” she said. “That wasn’t the case in most of Missouri.” Still, the Jewish presence in small towns eventually evaporated. Some of it had to do with intermarriage, as options were few for Jews seeking a Jewish spouse, Cohen Ioannides said. Some Jews just saw their life in a small
town as a temporary escape from the pogroms of eastern Europe, rather than their end goal. “They would send their sons and daughters off to college, where they would find spouses, so they wouldn’t come back, so you had the closing of the Orthodox congregations or melding and merging into the Reform ones,” Cohen Ioannides said. But some Jewish presence outside of the state’s two big cities remains, as evidenced by Cohen Ioannides’ own life in Springfield over the past 30 years. She is a
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member of the city’s only synagogue, Temple Israel, which was founded in 1893, and is working on a second book about the city’s Jewish community. Cohen Ioannides also continues to deliver talks in places where she might be the first Jew who attendees have met. “The last talk I gave someone said, ‘Wow, I never knew Jews were in pretty much every small town in Missouri.’ ” Cohen Ioannides said. “I said, ‘Yeah, once the railroads opened, they were everywhere.’ ”
valid for qualifying purchases made March 12 – June 20, 2022 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a Virtual Reward Card and emailed within 6 weeks o applicable law, a $3.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 12 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. See complete terms distributed with Virtual Reward Card. k participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2022 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. April 13– June 24, 2019
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May 25, 2022
JEWISH CELEBRITIES
Top Gun, Bosch sequels, ‘Mean Baby’ and ‘Mincemeat’ BY NATE BLOOM SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
vvv “Mean Baby,” a memoir by actress SELMA BLAIR, 49, has got a lot of media coverage. You might have already read or
The very well-read Blair praises works by many “tribe members” in the same interview: PRIMO LEVI, TODD SOLDONZ, A.O. SCOTT, MELISSA and JOAN RIVERS, JUDY BLUME, and CARRIE FISHER. vvv
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“Bosch” a series about Harry Bosch, a LAPD detective, streamed on Amazon Prime from 2014-2021. A spin-off, entitled “Bosch: Legacy,” began streaming on May 6 on the newish Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDB TV) streaming service (free, with ads). In “Legacy,” Bosch is retired from the LAPD and is working as investigator for Honey Chandler, a defense attorney. MIMI ROGERS, 66, co-stars as Chandler. Born Miriam Spickler, Rogers is the daughter of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother. She was raised a Scientologist. She broke with that controversial religious practice about 15 years ago. By the way, it was Rogers who introduced Tom Cruise to Scientology while they were married (1987-89). She left Scientology, he never did.
heard that it addresses her battles with alcoholism and with multiple sclerosis. Another side of Blair is revealed in a May 15 on-line (print) interview she did with the New York Times Book Review. Blair talks about what it meant to her to record “The Diary of Anne Frank.”
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Jennifer Connelly in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’
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“Top Gun: Maverick” opens in theaters on May 27. It is a sequel to “Top Gun” (1986), a huge box-office hit that starred Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a student at the Navy’s fighter pilot school. The sequel finds Maverick (Cruise) leading a group of recent pilot school graduates on a secret, very dangerous mission. JENNIFER CONNELLY, 51, plays Penny, Maverick’s love interest. Penny’s a single mother, bar owner, and the daughter of a former admiral. Connelly, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind” (2001), is the daughter of a Jewish mother; her father is not Jewish. She’s always been secular. Tom Cruise is 59 but looks about 50. Still, I am sure that everyone connected with the film realized that even a 50-yearold fighter pilot is improbable. Also, the Maverick character was originally written as a full-of-himself, “cheeky bad boy” who wooed the strait-laced (female) flight instructor at the flight school. Can Cruise be that guy again? Connelly was a good casting choice. She’s a strikingly attractive woman at 51. Penny and Maverick’s relationship is age-appropriate, but still potentially “hot.” You have to figure that Penny, the daughter of an admiral and a bar owner, is prepared to banter with the “still-cheeky” Maverick as they do the dance of a movie romance.
“Operation Mincemeat” is an original Netflix film that is now streaming. It’s about a British intelligence operation during World War II that saved thousands of lives. Colin Firth stars as EWEN MONTAGU (1901-1985), a naval intelligence officer who played a central role in this operation. Montagu belonged to one of the most famous British Jewish families and was very active in the Jewish community. He was a top barrister before joining British Naval intelligence in 1938. I didn’t write about “Mincemeat” before I saw it because some advance reviews referred to Montagu’s wife as Jewish. I thought perhaps the film had erased Montagu’s own Jewish identity. Not quite so. In an early scene, Montagu is sending his wife and kids to Canada. He says he is doing so because of the potential Nazi danger to a “Jewish family.” It’s a bit unclear, but viewers probably “get it” that Montagu is Jewish, too. This scene is the only Jewish reference in the film.
hoei
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.L St
Did you Know? When you cater with Circle@Crown Cafe, you’re helping Crown Center provide kosher, healthy nutrition options for area seniors.
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Mimi Rogers has a leading role as a defense attorney in ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ PHOTO: TYLER GOLDEN/ AMAZON FREEVEE
8350 Delcrest Drive • St. Louis, MO 63124 • 314-412-4350 • crowncenterstl.org/cafe
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May 25, 2022
STL
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JEWISH LIGHT
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BROUGHT TO YOU THIS WEEK BY:
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.
How Orna Guralnik went from the Israeli army to ‘Couples Therapy’ stardom BY SARAH ROSEN JTA
Since the Showtime docuseries “Couples Therapy” premiered, some might call its psychologist star Orna Guralnik the world’s therapist. “I’ve become something,” she corrected, via Zoom. “I don’t know what to call it, but people write to me a lot, from all over the world.” In the series, the Jewish IsraeliAmerican psychoanalyst counsels real
couples navigating many complex issues: infidelity, alcoholism, sexual and racial identities, and the intense stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, to name a few. Though the concept of watching real couples in real therapy sessions sounds like overly-dramatic reality TV, the New Yorkbased show avoids the usual pitfall by adopting the more nuanced sensibility of a documentary. The proof is in its rave reviews — the first season earned a coveted 100% approval rating on the Rotten Tomatoes critic aggregation site.
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Its second season saw couples through the first year of the pandemic, through lockdowns and remote therapy. A third season of “Couples Therapy” premiered
ABOVE: Orna Guralnik was born in the United States to Israeli parents and moved to Israel at age 7. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOWTIME May 13, at a time when couples have emerged from the worst of COVID but are reckoning with the dynamics of the precarious present (see: climate change, a new Cold War, etc.). The show has been licensed to other countries, including to the Israeli network Kan. It’s a natural fit in Israel, the country that birthed the therapy drama “Betipul,” which became HBO’s “In Treatment.” But unlike those shows, “Couples Therapy” is not fiction, and the therapist’s own needs and desires do not dramatically intermingle with those of her patients. Instead, the couples undergo a real therapeutic experience and often profoundly change. Giving psychotherapy a better onscreen reputation was a prime reason that Guralnik decided to participate in the series in the first place. “When people write to me, I don’t think it’s about me personally, I think it’s the function the show provides,” she said. “People actually have a therapeutic experience.” Guralnik has much in common with the famous couples psychotherapist Esther Perel: Both are Jewish New Yorkers with Israeli-European backgrounds who have become well-known for their media portrayals of real therapy. But while Perel focuses on the podcast “Where Should We Begin,” the audience can both hear and see Guralnik in action on screen, where she comes across as both cerebral and warm, probing and serious. She’s an expressive listener, her eyebrows constantly raised above an intense gaze. And she’s no frump; with her leather bracelets, visible tattoos, and funky structural tops, her look could be described as rockstar intellectual chic. With perfect English that has a hint of an untraceable accent, Guralnik is a true Israeli-American mix. Born in the United States to Israeli parents, she moved to Israel at age 7. There, she completed her army service and studied film at Tel Aviv University. “I started off thinking I might want to be a filmmaker. But I kept making all these weird experimental kinds of films that nobody would ever want to watch. And yet, decades later, here I am working with the best filmmakers and it’s so much fun!” she said. Afterwards she returned to the States where she completed a PhD in clinical psychology and started a family. After a brief detour into tech, she undertook 10 years’ worth of psychoanalytic training with a specific focus on couples. Josh Kriegman, one of the creators of “Couples Therapy,” said that finding a therapist for the series was challenging. “That was a long and arduous process of
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JEWISH LIGHT
trying to speak with basically every therapist in the New York tri state area — which is quite a crew,” he said wryly. “When we met Orna, the air crackled. We knew this was our person.” The child of two therapists himself, Kriegman explained that the show was conceived as an experiment, an attempt to capture authentic therapy on screen. “In addition to Orna’s brilliance, her expertise, her charisma and her insight — all the things that make her a really remarkable therapist — she also isn’t that interested in being on TV. I think that underlines the authenticity. It’s a therapy-first endeavor,” he said. Below is an edited conversation with Guralnik, including how her Jewish identity prepared her to be a therapist and her advice to couples today. What did you think when you were approached about this show? Did you have reservations? What made you want to participate? I had intense reservations. When I first talked to them, I thought I would probably enjoy consulting on the show because of my background in film. And like many of my colleagues, I was really irked by the way psychoanalysts are typically portrayed in the media. There’s this very intense negative transference towards psychoanalysts. In film and TV, often there’s a deep suspicion about the motivation psychoanalysts have. I think it’s especially because of the kind of blank screen neutral stance that analysts take that invites a lot of projections, and those are typically pretty paranoid projections; this idea that analysts are really out there to exploit their patients. They either want to sleep with their patients or they’re falling asleep. When really it’s a deeply ethical practice that people train for decades to do and commit their lives to. So I felt motivated to have an impact. There’s something similar between performing and therapy, where you are both inside of the experience and outside looking at it at the same time. Does the fact that there’s a camera change anything about that dynamic? Are you more aware of performing? It does change things but not the way you’d expect. People ask me if I’m self conscious. I’m not self conscious. I’m not there thinking “how do I look?” But normally when you practice you feel like you can fix things in the next session, there’s a process. With the cameras rolling it feels more like, it’s now, there’s no tomorrow. This is not a dress rehearsal. So there’s an intensity to the work that feels different from regular practice. Psychoanalysis has a deep Jewish origin. And therapy in the media does as well – from Hagai Levi’s “In Treatment” to Esther Perel’s podcast “Where Should We Begin.” Like you, Esther Perel is a Jewish woman, her parents were Holocaust survivors, and she comes from a mix of countries. Do you have thoughts about these elements? How do you think about your Jewish identity? I have certain thoughts about it. First of all, the Judaism that I relate to and grew up with has to do with the role of the Jew in the global collective network of humanity. The Jew has taken on a certain kind of role of wanderer, a sort of witness accumulating trauma and trying to process it. You’re always in the process of thinking historically about things, what happened, what’s going to happen? There’s a lot of history and a lot of trauma that needs to be processed. There’s this very deep concept of tikkun [repair] which is kind of bred into Jews, and Israeli Jews for sure. There’s an ongoing calling to heal, fix, make better. I think many religious practices have that element in them, but it’s certainly strong in Judaism. I was raised in a super secular family that is also very Israeli identified. My parents were born on the dawn of the new state of Israel. They have very strong
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Zionist and socialist identifications. So In this pandemic, we all need therapy. there’s a certain kind of secular, spiritual We’re all traumatized in different ways ideology that goes along with that. and to different degrees. Do you think My parents moved back and forth that watching this show creates a kind of between Israel and the States, and they vicarious therapeutic experience for the still live on both continents. They’re sort of viewer? Jewish wanderers forever. And I think in Yes. I get a lot of feedback from viewers the process of growing up in between cul- from all over the world. I think watching tures — I live both in the show is different Israel and the United from reading a book States, and I lived in that teaches you how to I think good TV, like Europe — you’re relate to your partner good literature, gives always on some level differently. I think good watching, observing, TV, like good literature, people a space where and trying to make gives people a space they can imagine them- where they can imagsense of what you’re seeing. This is good selves into the shoes of ine themselves into the preparation for being of someone else. someone else. It’s like a shoes an analyst. It’s like a rehearsal. It’s rehearsal. It’s the way the way play prepares It also translated into a particular interest us for the real experiplay prepares us for that I have in academic ence. the real experience. work about the seam The participants in between individual the show are incredibly psychology and colleccourageous and genertive ideology, and how the two infiltrate ous. They’re giving the audiences the and influence each other. A more classical option to jump into their shoes and go analytic approach sees the individual psy- through their experience with them. che as very separate from culture. In my When you read a really good novel, particular school of thought, culture is you’re changed, right? Because you’ve always already there, and individuality is gone through what the characters in the something that comes out of collective ide- novel have been through and it changes ology. you. It’s not like doing therapy yourself,
but there is kind of an intermediary space there that is hugely influential. It’s important for people, especially now during the pandemic, when people are both in so much distress and kind of ongoing agitation and isolation. As we go into another year of dealing with heightened circumstances, what’s your advice to couples about how to cope? What I have seen is that being locked down together [during COVID] certainly exacerbated whatever tendency a couple already had. If a couple tended towards alienation, they’d be more alienated. If they tended to function well together, they would function incredibly well together. If their method of being a couple was by processing a lot together, they would do more of that because they’re locked down together. So in a way, it pushed every couple to just be more of their own thing. My take on what makes things easier for couples and families is to be really mindful of boundaries and space. Create boundaries, respect boundaries, even artificial boundaries. Create space because there’s so much mashed togetherness in a state of anxiety that I think is adding distress rather than helping. That would be my prime advice.
Should You Seek Advanced Cholesterol Testing? When it comes to your heart health, your cholesterol levels can tell you a great deal about your risk of having a heart attack or developing another form of heart disease. Also called a lipid panel or lipid profile, a traditional cholesterol blood test measures the fats in your blood. It can show measurements of your total cholesterol, your lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and more. LDL, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol in your blood, causes plaque to buildup in your arteries and reduces blood flow. HDL, also known as “good” cholesterol, helps keep arteries open and blood flowing more freely. While for many people, a standard cholesterol test assessment of your LDL and HDL levels can be a good indicator of heart health, research has found that some people with healthy levels of LDL cholesterol still have an unseen elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. An advanced lipoprotein analysis can assess LDL particles according to their number, size, and density. Oftentimes, an individual’s LDL particle number can be markedly elevated with a normal LDL cholesterol value from a standard lipid panel.
An advanced lipoprotein analysis can provide useful additional information for assessing cardiac risk in people who have a family history of premature coronary artery disease (especially in young adults) and those with diabetes or diabetic predisposition (socalled metabolic syndrome). If you have any of these increased risk factors for heart disease, ask your doctor if an advanced lipoprotein analysis may be right for you. If so, many insurance plans now provide coverage that makes an advanced lipoprotein analysis affordable and accessible. If a heart condition or elevated risk is identified, doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital have powerful new drugs available to lower cholesterol in place of previously standard statins. This makes us more adept than ever before at preventing heart disease and second occurrences in people who have already experienced a cardiac event. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a heart condition that needs a first diagnosis or a second opinion, trust the heart specialists at St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Institute. Contact us at 314-205-6801 or visit stlukes-stl.com/hearthealth. Same-day cardiology appointments are available.
Glenn Davison, MD, FACC St. Luke’s Hospital
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By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com | ‘Jewish Game Shows’ Difficulty: Manageable
20. Kind of tree 21. Belonging to us
1. Geller of note
22. #1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft Deandre
6. Some TV’s and VCR’s 10. NCAA part: Abbr.
23. What 34-Across effectively said when trading his birthright
14. Dodge or duck 15. Idina’s role in “Frozen”
28. Baruch follower
16. 2002 Idan Raichel hit
29. Jar top 30. Shemer of note
17. Yaakov vs. Laban, e.g.
33. Beverage brand named for the fruit it contains
19. “Golden Fleece” ship
34. See 23-Across
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS 1
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38. What Ephron said to Abraham when offered 400 Shekels for his land? 42. Lashon or Yetzer 43. “Hee ___” 44. Loosen bonds 45. Raptors, on scoreboards 46. Pasadena bowl game 48. Elisha to Elijah
66. Jewish top that’s not a dreidle? 67. Attitude
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25. Do some mixing
Beatles song
26. Race in an H.G. Wells story
36. Crosswords’ most common kosher fish
27. Plans
11. Kind of
30. High degree
12. Dotted vowel
31. “I got it!”
13. Bright gas
32. “ ___ the ramparts we...”
18. Tishrei-centered tractate
13
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12
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34. Esa follower
24. Brady’s town
35. Mil. title in a
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8. Sparky the Sun Devil’s sch.
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63. These may be martial
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59. Eliab, to Jesse’s other sons
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54. Like many a Tishrei challah
58. Italian coin
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14
JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE
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JEWISH LIGHT
37. Beehive State native 39. “Breakfast for Dinner” eatery
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46. Yosef Yitzchak or Menachem Mendel 47. Words before “about” 48. Historic Newport synagogue 49. Inflicts pain
57
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53. Nasser, to Israel 54. Raise children 57. Room size calculation 59. “Dynamite” K-pop band 60. Levin or Gershwin
40. Gefilte fish fish
50. Son of Shet
41. Oxidization
51. Goes berserk
61. Giants Hall of Famer Mel
45. Smidgeon
52. “Hallelujah” writer Leonard
62. Article in some hip-hop titles
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
WHO ARE YOUR UNSUNG HEROES? We are excited to open nominations for our annual 2022 Unsung Heroes!
SUBMIT NOMINEES ONLINE AT STLJEWISHLIGHT.ORG/HEROES
!
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 @ 5PM
WHO’S ELIGIBLE:
Jewish adults and youth who have made a meaningful impact on the greater metropolitan community. Jewish and non-Jewish adults and youth who have made a meaningful impact on the local Jewish community. AREAS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDE:
• Arts, Culture and Entertainment • Science and Technology • Business and Finance • Religious Institutions • Academia and Education • Government
Find a complete list of past Unsung Heroes online at stljewishlight.org/unsung-list
• Nonprofits • Sports and More!
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JEWISH LIGHT
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CONGRE G AT ION B ’N A I A MOON A
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BILL MOTCHAN The annual Mitzvah Day event at Congregation B’nai Amoona was held May 1 and honored two longtime volunteers, Beverly Chervitz and Beth Saltzman. Mitzvah Day is an opportunity to recognize special members of the congregation. It is sponsored by Dr. Gary Myers in memory of his wife, Lynn. Chervitz coordinates the congregation’s twice daily minyans and Saltzman is coordinator of volunteers. Everyone in the B’nai Amoona community gets involved in Mitzvah Day. After the ceremony recognizing the mitzvah honorees, volunteers formed groups to participate in mitzvah service projects. Rabbi Carnie Rose noted in introductory remarks that Lynn and Gary Myers embodied the spirit of volunteerism. “They were wonderful people who loaded up their cars on a regular basis until rolls of toilet paper were falling out the windows and cans of food were falling out the doors of their cars when they came to deliver food for people in need,” Rose said. “I was always amazed at their dedication.”
From left: Beth Saltzman, Beverly Chervitz and Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham.
Guests look on during B’nai Amoona’s Mitzvah Day award presentation. At right, Liessa Alperin, B’nai Amoona’s director of innovative learning, youth and engagement, recognizes Chervitz and Saltzman.
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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. VIEW MORE ONLINE: stljewishlight.org/multimedia
ABOVE, AT LEFT AND BELOW: Volunteers work on a variety of projects during B’nai Amoona’s Mitzvah Day on May 1. The annual event is sponsored by Dr. Gary Myers in memory of his late wife, Lynn.
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CHAILIGHTS
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Y O U R C A L E N D A R O F S T. L O U I S J E W I S H C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S
The Jewish War Veterans Heritage Post 644 will hold a Memorial Day program at Jewish Federation’s Kaplan Feldman Complex on May 29.
SATURDAY | MAY 28 NHBZ Starting Points discussion: “How to Love Your Difficult Neighbor . . . or Relative”
The Torah teaches us in Leviticus “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But what if your neighbor (or relative) is extremely unlikeable? Don’t miss Nusach Hari B’nai Zion Rabbi Ze’ev Smason’s discussion “How to Love Your Difficult Neighbor . . . or Relative” at 10:15 a.m., part of NHBZ’s weekly “Starting Points: Wisdom for Daily Living” series. NHBZ membership is not necessary to attend, and RSVPs are not required. For more information, call 314991-2100, ext. 2.
FILE PHOTO (2020): BILL MOTCHAN
SUNDAY | MAY 29
SATURDAY | JUNE 4
Jewish War Veterans Memorial Day Program
Four congregations partner for Shavuot celebration
Heritage Post 644, Jewish War Veterans, St. Louis will conduct a Memorial Day Program at 11 a.m. at the flagpole in front of the Jewish Federation’s Kaplan Feldman Complex. The program will include remarks from Rabbi Chaim Landa of the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County, presentation of the Chuck Sandroff Scholarship and the reading of name of those St. Louisans who lost their lives in conflicts since World War I. All are invited to attend to honor our fallen comrades.
MONDAY | MAY 30 Aish Memorial Day BBQ
Come celebrate the unofficial start of summer by playing softball and enjoying barbecue at a free outdoor bash with Aish HaTorah from 2-6 p.m. at Millar Park, 1351 N. Hanley Rd. For more info, please call 314862-2474 or email cwolff@aish.com
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 1 Challah Club with Mimi David
Have fun, get inspired and make enough challah to last an entire month with Mimi David at this Jewish Women’s Society Event (for women only) at 7 p.m. at Aish Firehouse, 457 N. Woods Mill Rd. The cost is $15 unless you had previously paid for the entire Mimi David 2021/2022 year. RSVP to 314-862-2474 or email mimidavid@aish.com.
Safety Smarts: Personal security dos and don’ts At 10 a.m. Scott Biondo, director of community security for Jewish Federation of St. Louis, will lead an online Mirowitz Center class on ways to proactively protect yourself and your family without unnecessarily worrying. Biondo will explain how to increase your situational awareness and personal confidence while also reducing your chance of becoming a crime victim. Free. Register online at http://bit. ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@ mirowitzcenter.org.
Scott Biondo, director of community security for Jewish Federation of St. Louis, will lead a Mirowitz Center discussion on June 1.
See related news brief on page 6A.
SUNDAY | JUNE 5 Aish Shavuot seminar and children’s program
From 11:30 a.m.- 2:45 p.m., celebrate the giving of the Torah with the whole family at Torah Prep Girls’ School, 8136 Groby Rd. Adults can choose two classes from five amazing teachers. Special program for kids ages 5-12 and babysitting for kids under 5. A dairy lunch with cheesecake and ice cream bar will be featured. The cost is $18 per adult, $12 per child (ages 5-12), kids under 5 are free. $50 limit per family. RSVP required to 314-862-2474 or cwolff@aish.com
Cheesecake and ice cream party celebrating Shavuot
The community is invited to enjoy a cheesecake and ice cream party to celebrate Shavuot, at noon, at Chabad of Chesterfield’s temporary location in Chesterfield Mall (Cheesecake Factory entrance). The event will begin with the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments, followed by a dairy brunch buffet, cheesecake and ice cream bar at 12:30 p.m. Each participant will be entered into a raffle to win a hover board. There is no charge but RSVPs are required. www.ChabadOfChesterfield.com/ icecream.
ties, in-person voting, absentee voting and other topics. This program is co-sponsored by Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, and Mirowitz Center. Free. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.
STARTING | JUNE 9 NJT season continues with ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ Read more in this week’s News & Schmooze column on page 3A.
FRIDAY | JUNE 10 On the Record with Bob Cohn
At 11 a.m. on the second Friday of every other month, join On the Record hosted by Bob Cohn, Editor-In-Chief Emeritus of the Jewish Light, to discuss films, plays and books on issues of concern to our community. This program is provided in conjunction with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), an organization supported by the Mirowitz Center. The program topics will be the war in Ukraine, the anniversary of Israel’s founding and Israel’s government coalition crisis. Free. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.
SAT. & SUN. | JUNE 11-12
THURSDAY | JUNE 9
B’nai Amoona’s ‘Operation Max Levin: A St. Louis Homecoming’
Aish plans Annual Mark Raiffie Memorial Lecture
SUNDAY | JUNE 12
At 7 p.m., Aish HaTorah will hold its Annual Mark Raiffie Memorial Lecture featuring Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish Global, who will discuss “Leadership & Responsibility: The two most important ingredients in the DNA of a Jew.” This event, at Aish Firehouse, 457 N. Woods Mill Rd., is free and open to the community, and is sponsored in loving memory of Mark Raiffie by his family. RSVP to 314-862-2474 or email cwolff@aish.com.
Voter registration, election information and more
At 2 p.m. nationally recognized voter rights lawyer Denise Lieberman will lead an online seminar about the election process in advance of the Aug. 2 primary. Lieberman is the director and general counsel for Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC), the Washington University faculty director of the Voter Access and Engagement Initiative, and an adjunct professor of law and political science. This discussion will touch on voter registration, critical deadlines, ID requirements, accommodations for disabili-
See related news brief on page 7A.
Missouri Torah Institute plans 15th annual dinner See related news brief on page 6A.
TUESDAY | JUNE 14 Online talk about the stock market/Wall Street
At 10 a.m. Mike Ferman, a former financial advisor at RubinBrown, will discuss the stock market and Wall Street during an online Mirowitz Center program provided in conjunction with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life). Free. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 15 Tech Tutor: Understanding cloud computing
At 10 a.m. Tech Tutor instructor and computer expert Larry Edison will lead a discussion demystifying “cloud computing” and looking how it can be helpful, how safe it is
JEWISH LIGHT
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and other aspects. Tech Tutor is supported by a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged. Free. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@ mirowitzcenter.org.
Sharsheret’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group
This monthly group provides support, connection and education to women in the St. Louis Jewish community who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer and are anywhere along their treatment path – before, during, or post-treatment. Facilitated by a licensed clinical social worker, this group meets from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday via Zoom. Newcomers are welcome along with female family and friends. Free, but pre-registration is requested to Debbi Braunstein at 314-442-3266 or dbraunstein@jccstl.org. Sharsheret Supports STL is a program of the J’s Nishmah.
THURSDAY | JUNE 16 Lunch & Learn: LGBTQ+ inclusion matters
In honor of Pride Month, NCJWSTL will welcome PROMO’s Executive Director, Katy Erker-Lynch, who will lead a lunch and learn on how to help build a truly inclusive community. The group will also hear from representatives from Metro Trans Umbrella Group and the local peer support hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, SQSH. For more information, contact Jen Bernstein at jbernstein@ ncjwstl.org or 314-993-5181, or visit https:// bit.ly/JUNE22LLncjwstl.
SATURDAY | JUNE 18 Kol Rinah’s Tot Shabbat for young families
Join Morah Karen Kern for a short musical Shabbat service, perfect for kids ages 5 and under and their families and siblings. Service will be outdoors in the Kol Rinah courtyard or Guller Chapel (10:30 to 11:30 a.m.). Masks are required for ages 2 and up. Registration required. For more information, email office@kolrinahstl.org.
ONGOING Tech Tutor – Hardware helper
On Mondays in May, sign up for a half-hour session with Larry Edison, who offers oneon-one assistance in learning how to use one’s technology devices. Sessions are in-person at the Mirowitz Center (plan to wear a mask and maintain social distance). Tech Tutor is supported through a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged. Free. Register at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.
Rabbi leads weekly meditation
Join Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and 5 p.m. on Thursdays for mindfulness meditation sits. It incorporates lessons from the weekly Torah portion, as well as stories, rituals and symbols of the season. No meditation experience necessary. Questions? Contact Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org.
Queer Torah Class
Join Autumn Dennis of Central Reform Congregation at 2 p.m. on Saturday for a weekly Zoom class on LGBTQ themes in the Torah portion. We will study chevruta-style as well as group discussion, using the book Torah Queeries. You do not need to identify as LGBTQ to attend. For more information, visit www.centralreform.org/events/ queer-torah.