Jewish Light Digital Edition - July 12, 2023

An atypical life

SECURITY EXPERT SCOTT BIONDO FORGES TIES, HELPS KEEP JEWISH COMMUNITY SAFE

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

To unwind at the end of a long day, Scott Biondo watches movies, especially ones about sports. His favorite is the 1986 film “Hoosiers,” which tells the story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team in 1954 that makes the state championship.

“I also like disaster movies,” he says. “I know people get hurt in those movies and it’s kind of sad to see that happen, but I like to see the rescue and the triumph. What I do not like, what I don’t need to see, are movies about real-life . . . I get that every day.”

To be sure. Biondo is community security director at Jewish Federation of St. Louis. He looks out for the safety and well-being of more than 60 organizations and 75,000-plus people working in the greater St. Louis Jewish community. His responsibilities also extend to Jewish entities in outstate Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. His life could easily turn into a plot for a movie in both the worst ways and the best ways. People get hurt. Rescue. Triumph. In “real life,” as he says, he does his utmost to prevent harm from happening.

His role as security chief encompasses enforcing security policy, protecting dignitaries, assessing vulnerabilities, monitoring threats, investigating hate crimes and conducting training of all kinds. He regularly assists organizations — both Jewish and other religious denominations — when they apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. And he oversees a staff of 10 community security officers.

“A typical day is not typical,” says Biondo, a compact man with slicked-back silver hair, ruddy complexion and ready smile.

Nor is he. Biondo, as his surname implies, is not Jewish. At age 60, he is well seasoned in security, but his interests and passions extend way beyond public safety.

He is a professional drummer, the latest in a long line of percussionists in his family. He is a genealogy buff. You can find a 750-word writeup on just that in a 2006 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It notes that he created a 125-foot family tree after which he organized a family reunion attended by more than 200 relatives.

He is also a father to eight children, grandfather to 18, the youngest of whom was born two weeks ago, and husband to Lynne-Dale Biondo, who he has been married to for 33 years.

AND IN HIS SPARE TIME …

He sat down with me to talk about his day job, which he has held since 2020. He started with what’s typical.

“I can expect to have to review the community security officers’ reports on any given day. I can expect to have to respond to community requests for assistance and/or information on any given day. And of course, I have projects I know are forthcoming, like special events, galas, community-wide meetings, that kind of thing.”

He keeps track of those events and more on a giant white board in his office at Federation.

But it was the atypical that brought him from working as a security consultant for Federation to full-time and more.

In 2017, as Biondo was working with Federation executives on security measures for its new headquarters building, the nearby Jewish Community Center received a bomb threat.

“I asked if I could come along,” Biondo recalls as Federation executives met with Lynn Wittels, the J’s president and CEO, to plan a response.

“I was watching at first,” he continues. “I just sensed that I should offer some input and asked if they would mind. Lynn was like I would love for you to offer some suggestions.

“So we worked the process out and it worked out well. I think Don (Hannon, Federation’s COO at the time) saw that my background was not only varied on paper but that I had a much broader skill set than just physical security during construction projects. I had done more than that in my previous life.”

PRACTICING INTELLIGENCE-LED SECURITY

Biondo’s hiring was part of a massive change in the way federations approached security. In 2018, while Biondo was consulting, only 25 of 150 federations nationwide employed a community security director. Now there are 93.

“I didn’t think the job was for me, but I was happy to help them build it,” Biondo says, adding that his own private security business that he began in 2009 — the Scott Biondo Detective Agency — was doing well. He wasn’t looking to make a change.

“It was a ‘Field of Dreams’ kind of thing. I had a vision of how to build something like this that is effective, productive and sustainable. The problem was that I knew to do that it would actually take doing that. This was something that needed to be built out in real time and built out in person.”

What Biondo “built” and continues to grow are trusted relationships with hundreds of employees

See SCOTT BIONDO on page 8

PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

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Family vacation.

Do those two words strike fear in you or something joyful?

When I was a kid, family vacations entailed driving 2 ½ days from our home in suburban Westbury, N.Y. to southeast Florida, not far from Miami Beach. During that road trip I could always count on two things:

1. That my parents would have a hellacious argument outside Washington, D.C. because — according to my father — my mother failed to navigate correctly, despite her consulting the auto club TripTik mapping the route in fluorescent yellow highlighter and 2. We would spend the night at a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, the Futterman family preferred motel chain.

Over the years, we went on other family vacations — mom, dad, brother Gary and me, but it’s really those driving trips to Florida that stand out. The only entertainment technology we had back then was the car radio, which my dad had tuned to sports or news, never music, on the rare occasions he had turned it on at all. So to occupy ourselves during long stretches on I-95, Gary and I would huddle in the backseat of the family Oldsmobile looping together paper chains made out of pre-cut, multi-colored construction paper.

We’d also count South of the Border billboards, which if I remember correctly, would begin appearing in New Jersey,

gain steam in Virginia and really pick up in North Carolina as we got closer to its outpost in Dillon, S.C.

For the uninitiated, South of the Border was kitsch heaven, at least back then, boasting tchotchkes and hazarai galore, many with a Mexican flare (like my favorite, Mexican jumping beans, which I later learned weren’t Mexican at all).

“Can we please stop at Pedro’s?” Gary and I would plead beginning with the sighting of the first billboard. Pedro was the attraction’s mascot, a cartoonish, stereotypical “Mexican bandido,” replete with oversized sombrero, bushy eyebrows and mustache and flowing, colorful poncho. He spoke (from his billboard perch) in corny puns designed to poke fun at his broken English, espousing cheerful nuggets such as “you’re always a wiener at Pedro’s” or providing a weather report: “Chili today, hot tamale.”

From what I understand, political correctness eventually mandated a billboard makeover, but that apparently hasn’t cut down on the traffic to this 350-acre compound, which now contains a miniature golf course, truck stop, 300-room motel, multiple souvenir shops, a campground, multiple restaurants, amusement rides, the largest U.S. indoor reptile display and a 200-foot observation tower with a sombrero shaped observation deck.

As an adult, family trips have become no less memorable even though the players have changed. Over Fourth of July, we celebrated 20 years of Burk/Bro Summerpalooza with a family trip to Table Rock Lake, where 14 of us shared a house overlooking the lake.

Burk/Bro is a shortened, combined version of my husband’s and brother-in-law’s surnames. For the past 20 years, these family trips have featured siblings, spouses, aunts, uncles and cousins renting a house together in locales such as Martha’s Vineyard; the Outer Banks; Myrtle Beach and Surf City, N.C., to name a few.

While so many people cohabitating may seem chaotic — and it definitely can be — we tend to concentrate on the positives like cooking gourmet meals together, boogie boarding in the ocean and laughing until our sides hurt watching my husband’s brother sweat buckets trying to erect one of those canvas pop-ups on the beach.

There are also time-honored traditions like gathering after dinner to learn who is “camper of the day” (as awarded by my husband, the patriarch), the dissemination of custom-designed Burk/Bro vacation T-shirts and the “big race,” where a younger family member competes against one of us “olds” in a 50-yard dash for bragging rights.

Occasionally drama ensues. There was the time in July 2014 when we were forced to abandon our family vacation on North Carolina’s Hatteras Island because of Hurricane Arthur. That was the year we rented two nearby homes to accom modate all of us but had to evacu ate after three days because of 100 mile-per-hour winds and serious flooding from major storm surges.

Disappointed didn’t begin to describe how we felt at the time, not to mention the money lost, but — as often happens with these sorts of happenings — this one

became family lore. Now when it rains during family vacation, we are at least appreciative it’s not a torrential hurricane.

This last trip to Table Rock included the first Burk/Bro experience for our granddaughters, ages 5 and 7. They listened intently as stories were told and retold, watched with glee as we gathered by the lake for fireworks, and participated as they could in many of the activities. Both cheered on their father when good-natured ribbing among cousins created a first-ever Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Their wide-eyed expressions of joy at the fun and frivolity motivates us all to continue the tradition even though the growth of our family makes it more difficult to plan and execute future excursions.

Social media now provides us a glimpse into other families’ vacations. Everyone seems to have their own traditions and like ours, they provide a welcomed break from the grind of the daily routine.

Ultimately, we are making memories in real time; memories that hopefully will be passed along for generations to come. The thought of our granddaughters sharing with their offspring the story of their father winning the first ever hot-dog eating contest not only makes me smile, but also brings to mind my beautiful Jewish mother (of blessed memory) who grew up near Coney Island, where this contest originated.

The privilege of being able to afford a family vacation isn’t lost on me. But what’s even better is having family whom I cherish taking a vacation with. For that I am truly grateful.

NEWS & SCHMOOZE

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

Epstein Gala

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PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

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GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Current students Daniel Shanker, Avi Friedman, Eliya Saville and Leon Jacobsen

Board member and Event Co-Chairs Yehuda and Adira Romanoff

Current parents and friends Zack and Rachel Deutsch and Emily and Ed Cherry

Jackie Gerson browsing the historical exhibit

Chani Brown, Rivka Amon and Event Co-Chair Molly Rosenblum

Board President Jeff Glogower, Meyer Klein, Dr. Erol Amon, Isaac Amon

Dr. Dov Zeffren, honoree Daniel Lefton and Head of School Rabbi Shmuel Miller

Itta Boyko, Rabbi Simcha Cohen, award winner Rabbi Jonathan Fruchter (and son Eitan) and Rabbi Shmuel Miller

Board President Jeff Glogower, Epstein Head of School Rabbi Shmuel Miller, honorees Daniel and Jessie Lefton and Sabrina and Max Gornish

Epstein parents Matt and Anna Bukhshtaber and Abi and Jason Berg

80th Timeline Exhibit

h f epstein hebrew academy

St. Louis woman killed by fallen tree remembered by Federation colleagues

BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

Family, friends and colleagues are remembering the remarkable life of a young St. Louis woman who just started working at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis this year.

St. Louis police say Katherine Coen, 33, was tragically killed in a weather-related accident on Saturday, July 2, after a tree fell on her car along Manchester and Chouteau avenues in the Grove neighborhood. Police say she was in the car waiting for the storm to pass.

Coen joined the staff at Federation in February as a resource assistant on the development team. And while she only worked at the Federation for five months, it’s clear she had a huge impact on her colleagues through her work and her personality.

Here’s what several of them had to say:

• “It was clear from that first day that Kate was special. In her role, Kate made sure everyone and everything was taken care of. At events, she welcomed guests with the largest smile, making friends with everyone she met. Being Kate’s supervisor, her colleague and her friend have been a true joy. Although we only had the pleasure of knowing Kate for a few short months, her impact on Federation, our staff, and the community will be everlasting.” — Amy Bornstein, senior director of Transformational Giving and Coen’s supervisor

• “Every day working with Kate was unique. She approached every moment as an opportunity to spread joy to others and

had a natural way to make everyone feel so seen and valued. Her humor, energy and spontaneity will be deeply missed.” — Jeremy Goldberg, manager of Campaign Operations & Data

• “Kate was one of the funniest and kindest people I have had the privilege of working with. Her personality could, and did, light up any room. I am thankful for the time we got to spend with her and she will be greatly missed.” — Brandon Rosen, Grants Associate, Community Impact

• “When Kate Coen arrived at Federation to work as a resource assistant, she quickly learned new processes and became a very strong staff member supporting the leadership team. I worked closely with Kate, which was a joyful experience. Kate had a

Congregation Shaare Emeth plans tour of Israel, Jordan in October Rabbi Jim and Amy Bennett will lead trip; includes Petra, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat

Congregation Shaare Emeth is planning a tour of Israel, Petra, Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula from Oct. 16 to 31. This small, personal tour will be led by Rabbi Jim and Amy Bennett, guided by Shaare Emeth Israel Guide Yael Vatury of SY Travel Israel.

unique way of simplifying complex processes, achieving heavy loads of work, all the while bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. I will never forget her terrific sense of humor, curiosity, fearlessness, and positive energy that she brought to our workspace.” — Lisa Magness, resource assistant

• “Kate was a unique and special individual whose individualism, energy and friendliness came through from the first moment you met her. She was always the first to welcome anyone— whether she knew them or not. She seemed to effortlessly be able to make a smile appear on your face. Kate was a positive light for all of us and the world.” —

Brian Herstig, President and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis

The itinerary will be designed to meet the interests of our group, including two nights in Tel Aviv, two nights at the Sea of Galilee, one night in Petra, Jordan, three nights in Eilat and five nights in Jerusalem. The group will stay in deluxe hotels and will feature “unique encounters with members of the Israeli and Palestinian community as we seek to understand the nuances of this land that is so beloved and precious to many peoples.”

Limited space is still available. For more information, contact Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@ sestl.org or Rosalie Stein at rstein@ sestl.org.

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Kate Coen, 33, pictured above at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Professional Society Thank You event at The Muny on April 30.

Seven St. Louis teen athletes competing in JCC Maccabi Games in Israel this week

BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

Seven St. Louis Jewish teen athletes are in Israel, taking part in the weeklong JCC Maccabi Games. This is the first time since 2011 that the games are taking place in Israel. This year’s games started with opening ceremonies on July 9.

The athletes, Nathan Arst (baseball), Annabel Brockman (tennis), Morgan Cohen (tennis), Noah Kravetz (baseball), Dylan Johns (tennis), Grant Rauner (Star Reporter journalism program) and Alyssa Weisenberg (swimming), are among the more than 1,000 Jewish teens from 10 countries competing in the Olympic-style sports event that includes opening and closing ceremonies, community service, and social and cultural events.

For Weisenberg, who will be a senior this fall at Parkway Central High School and is a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona, this will be her second time at the Maccabi Games. Last year, she competed at the games in San Diego. She has been swimming since third grade and competes in the 500-meter freestyle and the 200- and 100-meter butterfly.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people during the competition. You sit around quite a bit during swim meets, so there is lots of time to meet new people and cheer for them when they swim their events,” said Weisenberg, who will be visiting Israel for the first time.

Arst is also a rising senior at Parkway Central who competed in San Diego last year. This is also his first trip to Israel.

“San Diego was a special experience. I met a bunch of great people and had an

amazing time,” said Arst, whose family are members of Congregation Temple Israel. “When I heard that I had the opportunity to compete in Israel for three weeks, I knew I wanted in.”

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The JCC Maccabi Games are being held in Israel this year as a part of the annual celebration of the nation’s 75th anniversary.

“The JCC Maccabi Games are perhaps the most extraordinary Jewish peoplehood initiative of our time. Drawing teens from JCC communities across North America, Israel, and around the globe, the Games bring us together through competition, service, and a profound encounter with the wider Jewish world,” said Doron Krakow, president and CEO of the JCC Association. “To be returning to Israel as part of the ongoing celebration of the

country’s 75th anniversary year and the enduring fulfillment of the dream of the modern Zionist movement is a source of enormous pride for all of us.”

At the conclusion of the games, the teens will spend two weeks traveling throughout the country, designed as “a dynamic journey designed to strengthen their commitment to Jewish peoplehood and build meaningful connections with Israel’s land, people, history and cultures,” according to a news release. North American JCC Maccabi Education Fellows, many of whom are young professionals who work with teens in JCCs, will lead interactive, educational elements of the program.

“I’m looking forward to the tour because I’ll get to experience many cool activities. For example, visiting the Western Wall, floating in the Dead Sea, and riding a camel,” said Arst. “Overall, I’m grateful to be able to visit Israel to reflect on my religious values, connect with other Jewish teens, and make lifelong memories.”

Weisenberg is looking forward “to seeing all the sites and experiencing everything” in Israel.

“I’m excited to shop in the shuks, climb Masada, swim in the Mediterranean, eat good food and maybe learn some Hebrew,” she said.

ABOVE: St. Louis teen athletes traveling to Israel for the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games: (from left) Annabel Brockman, Dylan Johns, Morgan Cohen, Emilie Brockman, Nathan Arst, Grant Rauner, Noah Kravetz and Alyssa Weisenberg.

$800,000 raised for Ukraine by St. Louis Jewish community since Russian invasion began

BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis along with the Jewish Federations of North America were uniquely positioned to respond immediately and effectively to the crisis due to their long presence in the region.

Less than a month later, two St. Louisans, Greg Yawitz, who at the time was chair of the board of Federation here, and Abby Goldstein, a lay leader at

10-session Jewish Mysticism course planned

Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh will teach “Jewish Mysticism: Tracing the History of Kabbalah,” a 10-session Melton School course, starting in August. The course will be offered on Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., from Aug. 3 through Oct. 12 (with no class on Oct. 5) and will be in a hybrid format: in-person at Temple Emanuel, or online via Zoom.

The course will aim to provide “a deep and intellectually honest understanding of the historical development of Kabbalah,” examining how centuries of societal and cultural changes shaped Jewish mysticism, including its cryptic nature and its controversies. Learners will explore the rich source material itself on a rigorous, scholarly level, and to discuss the timeless mysteries of human existence and the laws of the universe.

The cost is $295. Confidential scholarships are available by contacting rabbijanine@testl.org. A special tuition rate of $50 is available for any full- or part-time professionals working at Jewish organizations, including teachers and staff in St. Louis Jewish preschools, religious schools, day schools, and youth groups, through the Borow Endowment for Jewish Education, managed by Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Email rabbijanine@testl.org for the coupon code. For more information, visit www. meltonschool.org/st-louis.

Federation, departed from St. Louis on a flight bound for Warsaw, Poland. They were among dozens of American Jewish leaders and organizations traveling to be a part of a larger Jewish effort to help feed, clothe and shelter Ukrainians in neighboring countries.

“I’ve got a carry-on for me and about 100 pounds of hats, gloves, socks, coats, Olivette Turkey Trot race shirts, Turkey Trot beanies, and more,” wrote Yawitz on social media in 2022.

Last week, Federation announced that since Yawitz and Goldstein’s trip, St. Louis

donors helped raise $800,000 locally. All told 146 Jewish Federations in North America raised nearly $85 million.

“It’s moments like this that remind us of the importance of the day-in and day-out work of our system,” said Brian Herstig, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “We didn’t spring into action the day the war broke out in Ukraine. We work year-round building communities in more than 70 countries so that in moments of calm we see Jewish life flourish around the world, and in moments of crisis, we are ready to spring into action.”

What St. Louis’ $800,000 accomplished

Those dollars raised by St. Louis donors went towards the following.

• 500,000 people received humanitarian assistance, relief or support

• 700,000 meals distributed

• 65,000 people supported in making aliyah

• 130,000 received medical care

• 4,000 medical and mental health professionals trained

• 180,000 Ukrainian newcomers supported by advocacy efforts.

2023 PrideFest

A large representation from the St. Louis Jewish community participated in the 2023 Grand Pride Parade on June 25. The parade, held in conjunction with the St. Louis PrideFest, celebrates diversity and the LGBTQ+ community.

Michele Dinman, a member of United Hebrew Congregation, said she was marching in the parade because “Our son is gay and we want to show our support for the entire community.”

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY BILL MOTCHAN.

Scott Biondo: St. Louis Jewish Community’s very own Superhero

working in every corner of the St. Louis Jewish community. Today, if they or their colleagues encounter anything the least bit suspicious — an email, letter, phone call, social media post, or anything threatening or hate-related — they know to contact Biondo who starts investigating immediately.

“Depending on what I learn, the next step is dissemination of information coupled with recommendations. I would then put that information out to the St. Louis Fusion Center (a collaboration of local law enforcement and other emergency management agencies to combat terrorism), the FBI, the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), police in the jurisdiction where the threat came from and police where anyone targeted lives.

“This preemptive information allows me to do intelligence-led security,” Biondo says. “The goal is to have as many eyes as possible looking out for potential problems to circumvent those problems and mitigate the threat prior to an incident.”

Brian Herstig, president and CEO of St. Louis Jewish Federation, says Biondo is so skilled at what he does that his colleagues at other federations look to him as a resource.

“What Scott does for us in some ways is immeasurable because he has a very specific job, but he uses it as a springboard to essentially create relationships with people,” says Herstig. “He’s not just walking in and checking off boxes. He knows his clients. He understands their audiences. He knows how to ask the questions in order for him and his staff to be able to do more than just the basic job of protecting people. It is about making people feel comfortable and safe and no one does that better than Scott.”

DRUMMING TO HIS OWN BEAT

Martin “Scott” Biondo comes from a long line of first responders. His father was a police officer and a firefighter, and his maternal grandfather was a police officer who ended his career as a ranger at the St. Louis Zoo.

Biondo also comes from a long line of drummers.

“My father was a musician, a drummer, who played in a big band called the Jack Stevens Orchestra,” says Biondo, who grew up in north St. Louis County. “My great grandfather was the first of our family to come to America from Sicily and he was a master musician. He played about 13 different instruments. All of my great grandfather’s children, including my grandfather, were musicians.”

Scott started playing drums professionally at an early age, sometimes making as much as $50 a night.

“Because my father was a firefighter, he worked some 24-hour shifts. Very often, those shifts would fall on a Friday or Saturday night, which were the big music nights. So instead of having a back-up guy because my father wanted to keep his place in the band, he offered me to fill in.

“Now, the funny part of the story is that I’m 12 years old. And the drums are the worst piece of equipment to have to tote around. We had a station wagon specifically for that purpose and my mother drove me to band jobs.”

After graduating from Hazelwood Central High School, Biondo attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he majored in criminal justice. He worked as a police officer in Jefferson County for 18 months but wasn’t sure he wanted to build a career in law enforcement.

“I actually knew a little bit about the security world from people I knew and thought it was pretty fascinating. I had an opportunity through contacts, a friend of my father’s, who was working with the Breckenridge Hotel Corporation, and he needed a No. 2 guy. So I was hired and

started as director of security for Don Breckenridge’s hotels.”

RESCUE MISSIONS ABROAD

When the hotels were later sold to independent operators, Biondo decided to stay on and took over security operations at the DoubleTree in Chesterfield. It was there where he met Robert Burke, a former deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service. Burke had been hired to head corporate security at Monsanto Company, which had a number of hotel and meeting rooms earmarked at the DoubleTree for visiting executives.

Burke wanted some sea-

WHAT

soned St. Louis-based security and investigation pros on the Monsanto team and eventually turned to Biondo and two others — Michael Intravia and Don Kissell — who had also worked security at Breckenridge. Together, as part of a new security and executive protection company begun by Intravia and Kissell called Allied Intelligence, the three men were hired and charged with Monsanto’s corporate security work. That included protecting their highest-level executives wherever they traveled, in or out of the country.

Biondo was 26 years old at the time.

“Allied begins to get a tremendous reputation because of the work that we’re doing. And here, once again — the central theme of my life is relationships,” he explains. “Bob Burke says I want to help you guys grow the company so I’m going to introduce you to all my Secret Service friends who have now taken jobs like mine at major corporations across the country.

“And so we start doing work for other big corporations and that includes everything from working with large energy companies to protecting them during the coal miners’ strikes to working with other companies that do work in foreign countries laying pipelines. Just about anything you can imagine. We got very well known for providing executive protection.”

Through Allied, not only was Biondo protecting CEOs and presidents of major companies, he also was protecting ambassadors, foreign ministers and all kinds of dignitaries.

He recalls the day Allied received a phone call from an American woman who had been in a marriage with a foreign national. Her ex-husband was Mexican and had taken their children to Mexico without her knowledge and he didn’t have custody.

“He had violated their custody agreement and taken them across the border. That case started us becoming the go-to guys in terms of kidnapping cases where U.S. citizens were involved.”

Perhaps the most notorious of these kidnap-and-rescue cases — and one that garnered much publicity — took place in 1988 and was the subject of an ABC TV “20/20” program. A mother from Sioux Falls, S.D. had contacted Allied Intelligence to help rescue her four children, ranging in age

from 7 to 13, from a cult outside of Bangkok, Thailand called Children of God. The cult allegedly sanctioned children sexual abuse and incest. The children’s American father also was part of the cult.

The mother had escaped three years earlier with her fifth and youngest child but said the cult leader wouldn’t let her take the others. She eventually obtained help from various organizations and individuals including a U.S. senator, Child Find, Inc., the U.S. State Department and her church, whose members helped raised the money needed to hire Intravia and Biondo of Allied, to find and recover her children.

In November 1987, a circuit court judge in South Dakota signed temporary orders granting the mother full custody of her children in Thailand. That’s when Intravia and Biondo went into high gear, spending several weeks clandestinely tracking the father and kids until the investigators finally located them and were able to extract the children. Much of this was captured by “20/20,” which aired the episode in July of 1988. In addition, Intravia wrote a book about the case called “Desperate Measures.”

LOVE, MARRIAGE & IS EIGHT ENOUGH?

It was Biondo’s expertise in these sorts of kidnapping cases that landed him as a speaker at a four-day conference in Portland, Ore. in the late 1980s. Attending the same conference was a single mom from Red Deer, Canada, a city in Alberta, named Lynne-Dale Gellert. She was there because she was training to be an exit counselor, helping people to leave cults.

“We sat at the same table at lunch. There were 11 men and me at the table and Scott was directly across from me,” she recalls. “We kept looking at each other, trying not to make it obvious but it was hard. Basically, it really was love at first sight.

“When I went out with Scott – he asked me out for that evening — I thought I better get this off the table right away, so I pulled out a picture of me with my four kids and said, ‘I am a package deal. This is my life and I love my children.’ Amazingly, he didn’t hesitate to continue to see me when I was back in Canada and the rest is history.”

The two had a long-distance relationship for about a year and a half before she was able to move here, and they could build a life together.

Biondo adopted Lynne-Dale’s four children and together they had three more. When their eldest daughter was 14, the Biondos took in one of her friends who was a foster child because he had no other place to go. He became Biondo Sibling No. 8.

“Matt was the oldest, he was 10, when Scott and I got married,” says Lynne-Dale Biondo. “They don’t have a good memory of their (biological) father, he had nothing to do with the children. They all always considered Scott their dad.”

Jason Biondo, 37, echoes his mother’s sentiments. At 4 years old, he was the youngest of Lynne-Dale’s four children when she and Scott married.

“Scott is my dad in the truest meaning of the word,” says Jason, who is a married father of four, and works as a chiropractor and director of fitness at Palm Health in Ladue. “I truly admire his selflessness, his ability over the years to make his kids a priority despite his schedule and workload.”

PUTTING A SECURITY PLAN INTO PLAY

Biondo created a security plan as his first order of business after becoming full-time security director. He noticed that Federation had one security officer greeting people at a front desk, but no one at any of the other buildings on the Jewish

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SCOTT BIONDO

Family and colleagues share their feelings about the Director of Community Security at Jewish Federation of St. Louis

BIONDO “BUILT” AND CONTINUES TO GROW ARE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WORKING IN EVERY CORNER OF THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY.

ABOVE: Scott Biondo speaks with a reporter in 2018 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City about security enhancements implemented at the cemetery.

PHOTO: MIKE SHERWIN

LEFT: Biondo with Federation’s Amanda Miller, Jennifer Baer and Sari Levy at the 2023 Pride Parade.

PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

community campus. Where was security there?

“The plan included that we develop a patrol that covers the entire 56-acre Millstone campus — this was our biggest target, this campus that everyone knows houses so many Jewish facilities and organizations. The very first thing we did was transition the security force into a mobile first-responder security force for this campus.

“After we built this program, I started to recognize that these patrols could service organizations beyond the campus and at a cost much more appealing and beneficial to the rest of the community. And so we began doing that.”

Also, from the get-go, Biondo got involved in the Jewish community’s construction projects, doing for the reimagined St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, for example, what he did for the new Federation building — consulting on every aspect of the build, every detail, to ensure staff and visitors will be safe.

“We’ve been involved in dozens of community construction projects, right now we’ve got four,” Biondo says. “I work with the people on the ground, with the general contractors, with the various vendors. In some cases, it might be, ‘Hey guys, I noticed that the bollards seem to be a little bit too far apart, we need to rethink this’ or ‘Have you noticed there is no quick way to an exit or nowhere to shelter in place?’ We go through everything.

“I jokingly say drumming saved our marriage because at the end of a long, hard day, he would go downstairs to his drums to decompress. He’s an excellent percussionist; actually, he’s an excellent musician. He’s got a wonderful voice. He sings very well—he sings a lot of solos at our church. Drumming really relaxes him.”

BIONDO’S CAREER ARC IN JEWISH COMMUNITY BEGAN 25 YEARS AGO

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Even before Scott Biondo went to work as community security director for Jewish Federation of St. Louis, he was well known in the St. Louis Jewish community.

“My first foray working in the local Jewish community was with the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), we’re talking maybe 25 years ago,” says Biondo, who is not Jewish and has traced his ancestors from Sicily back to the 16th century.

As he remembers it, Karen Aroesty, who was regional director of the ADL Heartland from 2000 until 2021, had asked a mutual acquaintance, FBI agent Bill Francis, if he knew of anyone who could discuss security precautions at a seminar about antisemitism and domestic terrorism.

“Karen told Bill she wanted someone who could talk about securing facilities across a wide range of organization types as well as someone who understands domestic terrorism, domestic terrorist groups, and how those groups function,” Biondo says. “She was tossing it out to Bill like this, and he says, ‘I know the guy, Scott Biondo. This is what he does. He consults with a lot of major corporations.’ So I did the seminar and it went well and was very well-attended.”

For her part, Aroesty barely remembers a time not knowing Biondo, explaining, “He was one of the key people who was around the community for security even before I became (regional director), when I was an ADL board member.

“The real key to these construction projects is that all the parties are working together to create the safest environment so we’re not building things that then require retroactive safety measures. It’s always best and less expensive to build them into these projects to begin with.”

Biondo also did a thorough assessment of what the community’s needs were when it came to safety and security. He learned most employees hadn’t received much education in security preparedness at all. Most had never undergone active-shooter training or even knew what vulnerabilities existed in their workplace, let alone how best to address them.

So he went about visiting every Jewish school, early childhood center, synagogue and agency to get to know the staff, build relationships, figure out their security needs and determine how best to conduct training — everything from active shooter to situational awareness to cybersecurity.

“I felt strongly that our programs have to be specific to the entity,” Biondo says. “I have 60 different active shooter programs that get updated continuously because they are specific to the organization. Every building is different. I train them specific to their space.”

To communicate with all the various Jewish organizations locally, Biondo created a security liaison group where he sends key people from each organization updated security reports as he becomes aware of certain situations. This way, the liaison person can best determine how to use the

information within their organization. Biondo always ends these missives the same: “Stay vigilant, Stay safe, Scott.”

Another security tool that has proved helpful is the Secure Community Network (SCN), a nonprofit started by Jewish Federations of North America, which serves as the central organization dedicated to the safety and security of the American Jewish community. Staffed with analysts with backgrounds in the military or private intelligence, SCN works across 146 federations, 50 partner organizations and over 300 independent communities as well as with other partners in the public, private, non-profit and academic sector to track antisemitic extremism and Jewish hate activity. The organization, while created after 9/11, has grown significantly since the Tree of Life synagogue mass shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018, from a staff of five to more than 75 employees around the country.

While more resources and security tools are at Biondo’s disposal today than ever before, he’s still deeply troubled by the increasing number of threats, vandalisms, assaults and worse on the Jewish community in St. Louis, and around the country.

“The Jewish community has a real threat — it comprises 60% of attacks on religious organizations yet makes up only 2% of the population,” he says, admitting that he sleeps with his phone next to his pillow. “I think you are a fool in my line of work if you don’t have a healthy dose of fear. Fear is not a bad thing. Fear will help you make better decisions.”

“Then when I became (regional director), it was natural to engage him as personal security for (then-ADL national director) Abe Foxman when he came to town,” she says. “Scott’s attention to detail, his professionalism, and his willingness for flexibility – I had confidence and a sense of being safe because Scott was on top of it. He stayed as our main go-to.”

Biondo believes that cultivating relationships cemented his connections even more with the local Jewish community.

“It’s important to the Jewish community to feel that anyone they work with is recommended, referred, and liked by other people in the community,” he says. “And so it started to grow with Jewish groups that would contact me.”

Early on, he recalls Aish Hatorah contacting him to provide security for one of its galas. Then another Jewish organization did the same, and another.

“Back then, I also got called to provide security for controversial figures that might be brought into St. Louis to speak, so people like (Israeli) Ambassador Dore Gold and Walid Shoebat, a Palestinian terrorist who had converted and was on a speaking tour. These guys had put themselves in harm’s way by speaking against the cause. There was a white supremacist who had woken up and saw the light named T.J. Lyden.,” says Biondo.

“The community would use me for that type of work. I still had my other business, and all the other stuff I was doing, but getting more engaged in the Jewish community.”

“I’m a huge Blues hockey fan, which was introduced to me by dad. It’s something we always shared an interest in together. My dad would go play in a men’s roller hockey league and bring me along with him. He’s actually an excellent skater and an excellent shot.”

“Every agency Scott works with benefits from his expertise and his commitment to maintaining a safe and welcoming community.  What makes Scott special, however, is his true spirit of partnership.  He’s just a really good guy and he has a unique ability to see both sides of every issue.”

– LYNN WITTELS –President and CEO of the Jewish Community Center

“Scott’s the real deal. He makes it a point to reach out to law enforcement so they know him, not just locally but on the state and federal level, too. He is a true professional. His integrity is sound.”

“It’s so relieving to have a knowledgeable resource like Scott. Knowing you can just call him and get his sound advice and then know he has contacts that he’s calling to support the investigations that we are doing . . . I don’t know what we did in the Jewish community for safety before Scott was hired.”

– RACHEL WALLIS ANDREASSON –Executive Director of Congregation Temple Israel

“One day I was watching Channel 9. They were doing a special on the Italian history of the Hill and lo and behold, Scott shows up. They’re asking him about what he knows about the history, and he gave a little synopsis. They went to him as a resource and that’s just one of the things he does – he gets involved.”

DANIEL LUCAS

– JASON BIONDO –Son of Scott Biondo

–

–Security manager for the St. Louis County Library system

– RICK KNOX –Retired Olivette police chief and board member of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum

– LYNNE-DALE BIONDO

Scott and wife Lynne-Dale

Scott, Lynne-Dale and seven of their children

NEWSMAKERS

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

Recent college graduate Alex Kemppainen is now working for NextEra Energy Resources as a business rotation associate. His responsibilities include transmission, mergers and acquisitions, and valuations for clean energy projects.

Ellyn Rosenblum is the new executive director of strategic initiatives at Ranken Jordan. She is responsible for the strategic planning efforts and evaluating new initiatives and partnerships as well as marketing for the hospital. Rosenblum is a member of United Hebrew.

Scott Berzon is the new director of Community Impact at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. In this position he works closely with community partners and lay leadership to drive strategy for impact. Berzon was recently the director of Business Operations at Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Dr. Steve Miller joined MediBeacon, Inc., a St. Louis-based medical technology company, in the newly created role of chief medical officer. Miller, who has served on MediBeacon’s board of directors since 2015, was most recently the executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Cigna. He is a member of Shaare Emeth.

Haley Abramson, winner of the Paul Talalay Young Investigator Award, graduated with honors from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. She will join Becton Dickinson’s career accelerator program, where she will continue her research and design of medical devices.

Former St. Louisan Nancy Layish has a new book, “From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Dazzling Upcycled Projects to Enhance Your Home and Life.” It combines crafting and repurposing (upcycling) projects with a vintage style while doing good from an environmental standpoint. Layish, who lives in Orlando, Fla., is a licensed clinical social worker, certified in the field of perinatal mental health. She is co-founder of Central Florida Postpartum Alliance.

Mari Thomeczek , a student at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, received the C.R. Snyder Research Award from the KU Department of Psychology. It is given annually to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in psychological research. She also was awarded the Academy for Eating Disorders RSH Scholarship. Thomeczek is the daughter

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Alex Kemppainen, Ellyn Rosenblum, Scott Berzon, Dr. Steve Miller and Haley Abramson.

SECOND ROW: Nancy Layish, Mari Thomeczek, Josh Thomeczek, Dani Wasserman and Benjamin Kruger.

THIRD ROW: Jen Schmitz, Michelle Gralnick, and Sidni and Dave Weglarz.

of JoAnne Levy and Jim Thomeczek and is studying to earn her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Her family attends Congregation Temple Israel.

Josh Thomeczek, Mari’s brother, was awarded the David Larson Prize from Hendrix College in Arkansas, where Josh is entering his senior year as a history major with a minor in computer science. The award recognizes enthusiasm for and promise in the study of history.

Dani Wasserman and Benjamin Kruger were selected to join the 37th cohort of the Bronfman Fellowship. The 26 Fellows will participate in a transformative, free fellowship-year experience beginning with a summer in the U.S. and Israel, where they explore Jewish texts and ideas in conversation with one another, a faculty team of rabbis, educators, and artists, and an alumni mentor.

Dani, daughter of Renee and Robert Wasserman, is the founder of InvestNow Clubs, a nonprofit which brings investment clubs to schools in historically disad-

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vantaged, lower income communities. She will be a senior at University City High School and attends Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Benjamin is the son of Drs. Nicole and Warren Kruger and will be a senior at Parkway Central High School. He is a contributing writer for the Jewish Light’s Ohr Chadash Teen Page. Benjamin is an alum of the program Cultural Leadership and also attends B’nai Amoona.

Jen Schmitz has joined Delta Dental of Missouri as Business Operations System Support manager. She supports the disciplined agile delivery approach for Delta Dental’s enterprise insurance benefits platform. Schmitz was previously the chief operating officer of Covenant Place/ Mirowitz Center and is a member of B’nai Amoona.

Michelle Gralnick was invited to be one of the presenters at VOYCE STL’s annual conference, speaking on resident rights

and creating family councils. VOYCE helps to ensure a quality life for people living on the long-term care continuum. Gralnick works as a professional private care manager and is on call 24 hours a day and provides customized services based on the client’s needs.

Confluence American Gin, one of three gins distilled by StilL 630, was recently named Best Craft Gin in the Country by the American Distilling Institute. Sidni and Dave Weglarz are the owners of StilL 630 and Temple Israel members. The American Distilling Institute’s 2023 International Spirits Competition had over 850 entries from 23 countries. Dave Weglarz is president of the Missouri Craft Distillers Guild.

Eight Jewish University City High School alums among 2023 Hall of Fame inductees

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

The University City High School 2023 Hall of Fame inductees will include eight Jewish alumni. University City Schools recently announced the honorees for the program, which is now in its 24th year.

The Hall of Fame includes 157 current members, who were selected by making a difference and shaping the world through their accomplishments. The induction ceremony will be held on September 29 (homecoming weekend), at the high school. Tickets are available online at www.ucityschools.org/ HOF2023.

Following is a summary of the Jewish 2023 inductees (an asterisk denotes honorees of blessed memory):

• Arthur Litz, Class of 1941, lawyer, judge and civic leader. Judge Litz is a former chair of the St. Louis County Civil Service Commission. He also was a volunteer religious school teacher at Temple Emanuel.

• Richard “Dick” Breiner*, Class of 1953, lawyer, judge and civil rights activist. Breiner volunteered his legal expertise and went to Mississippi to gather depositions from Black citizens who had been unjustly denied their right to vote.

• Sheldon “Shelly” Breiner*, Class of 1955, inventor in the field of magnetometers and historical artifact finder. Briener co-founded the Peninsula Open Space Trust that protected more than 80,000 acres of land in California for conservation.

• Art Shamsky, Class of 1958, MLB player, author and television broadcaster. In 1966, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Shamsky tied an MLB record by hitting four consecutive home runs in four at-bats during two games, an accomplishment that remains unmatched to this day.

• Stephen Gerber, Class of 1965,* animated film/television and comic book creator. Gerber received an Emmy Award for his work on “The Batman/Superman Adventures” and was honored with a plaque in the Comic Book Hall of Fame.

• Sheri Sherman, Class of 1965, community volunteer, event maker and theater booster. Sherman has championed numerous projects and causes that have left a mark on the community, including

the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp, St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, and many others. She helped create the Jewish Light’s annual Unsung Hero program. In 2010, she received the national Woman of Worth Award, and, in 2015, she was honored as a Woman of Achievement for Humanitarian Concerns.

• Richard “Dick” Weiss, Class of 1969, print journalist with a focus on race, equity and underserved communities. After retiring from a 30-year career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, at the age of 67, Weiss established Before Ferguson, which highlights voices and experiences of individuals affected by racial segregation.

• Michael Silverman, Class of 1989, record-breaking musician with dozens of top albums. Silverman is one of the most downloaded solo pianists in the world, with six billion downloads. Michael and his brother Rob have founded several music festivals in the St. Louis area.

The other 2023 inductees are:

• Karl Van Meter, Class of 1917*

• W.L. Hadley Griffin, Class of 1936,*

• Maureen Arthur, Class of 1952*

• Justina Bricka, Class of 1961

• Dr. Michael Shannon, Class of 1970*

• Richard Smith, Class of 1973

• Jerryl Christmas, Class of 1981

• Gary Boyd, Class of 1982

• Petra Jackson, Class of 1982

• Dorthea B. Nevils, Class of 1984

• George Harper Jr., Class of 1987

• Roderick Smith, Class of 1987*

• Tanya Smith-Johnson, Class of 1994

Unsung Heroes event co-chairs announced

The Jewish Light is pleased to announce that Marilyn Ratkin and Stan Shanker will serve as co-chairs of this year’s Unsung Heroes event. Both have previously received the Unsung Heroes award which makes them the perfect pair for this honor. This will be the 14th year of Unsung Heroes. Visit stljewishlight.org/unsung-list to view all of the past Unsung Heroes honored. The 2023 Unsung Heroes awards event will be held on Nov. 28 at the Missouri History Museum.

Through July 7, the Light accepted Unsung Heroes nominations for the 2023 awards. A committee will review the nominations and make selections. Afterward, the Light will announce the 2023 Unsung Heroes in an upcoming edition.

Marilyn Ratkin and Stan Shanker

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Judge Arthur Litz, Art Shamsky and Stephen Gerber.

SECOND ROW: Sheri Sherman, Richard “Dick” Weiss and Michael Silverman

OPINIONS

D’VAR TORAH — PARASHAT MATOT-MASEI

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

Torah portion is a welcome reminder to reflect on the journey of the past year

BY RABBI BRIGITTE ROSENBERG

Amid this week’s double parashah, Matot-Masei, there are 49 verses, a lot of detail, describing the 42 journeys of the Jewish people through the desert, to the Land of Israel. It is almost like reading the journal of an explorer, with specific details about departure points, encampments, and destinations. In this moment it seems that it is not about Egypt or even about reaching the Promised Land, but rather about the journey, itself, the day-to-day details, and moments experienced.

From the moment that God said to Abraham, “Lech Lecha, Go forth from … to a place that I will show you,” journeying and journeys have been a central theme for our people, as our people have been journeying from land to land, from exile to exile, from experience to experience for thousands of years.

Rabbi Benjy Levy teaches, “when travelling long distances, people tend to look up towards the horizon; and the trouble with the horizon is that when you finally think you are about to reach it; you discover that it is even further away. And you start trying to reach it all over again.”

I know that we are in the midst of the summer, and it feels like we have miles and miles to go before this summer long journey is done, but I cannot help but recognize that we have less than three months to Rosh Hashanah and the start of a new year.

Perhaps this week’s parashah is speaking, calling out to

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg serves United Hebrew Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.

their journey incredible things happened, and these parashiot remind us that often, it isn’t about the destination or the end point, but rather about the journey itself. It is about the moments and the experiences from beginning to end, because it is in these moments that growth and blessings happen. It is in these moments when we learn just how strong and resilient, we really are.

us in this moment to stop and take stock of the journey we’re currently on before we reach the horizon of another year. Have we done what we set out to do? Have we reached destinations we meant to reach or are we stuck, feeling unable to move from where we are? If so, that’s OK, as this section of the Torah reminds us that journeys are never perfect, never easy, and often filled with bumps, mishaps, unimagined obstacles, frustration, tears, and sometimes even the desire to quit and forget all about the journey.

The Israelites were supposed to leave Egypt, make it to Sinai, receive the Torah, and shortly thereafter enter the Promised Land. But things happened — some within their control and some out of their control, and their journey lasted much longer than anyone imagined. Yet, amid

I know we’re in the middle of summer and it seems crazy to think of a new year on the horizon but take a moment this Shabbat — to reflect on your journey of this past year. I bet you will find some beautiful moments and blessings sprinkled amidst those moments of sadness and maybe feeling stuck. We, Jews, know long journeys, and because of them, we are a strong and resilient people, who always seem to find beautiful moments and blessings amid crazy and chaos.

When we find ourselves on a journey, our tradition offers us Tefillat HaDerech, the Traveler’s prayer.

May it be Your will, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace.

On this Shabbat let us remember that we are not alone, that we journey together under the sheltering presence of G-d. May the gifts of shalom/peace and shalem/wholeness help us find the strength and resilience to journey on and make the most of this summer and this year!

Amen and Shabbat Shalom.

Israel: The good, the bad and the ugly

BY RABBI SETH D GORDON

Obviously, I love Israel, the national embodiment of the Jewish people. No other place on earth provides the cultural atmosphere — religious, traditional, non-religious — with thousands of years of history confirmed in archaeological discoveries and vibrant and living Hebrew — than the State of Israel can and does.

Israel is truly a miracle, even by rational definitions. Who would have foreseen a vibrant democratic (yes, it’s messy), cultural, economic, environmental, and technological model, anywhere, but particularly in the Middle East? Compare these achievements under more benign circumstances, let alone a people under constant military and false verbal assault. And all this was achieved in the generations after more than one third of the Jewish people were systematically and cruelly murdered. That miracle is actually spectacular, unparalleled, amazing.

However, like any other society, Israel is not perfect. The film, whose title I borrowed, separated the “bad” and the “ugly.” I cannot do so. When something is bad, it is often ugly.

The worst of Israel was on display last month. Settlers, a mob, rampaged a Palestinian village and murdered people. Like any other bad/ugly act, it can be explained. Jews have been murdered repeatedly by terrorists whose actions are lauded, subsidized and publicly honored. The world does not care much. If not for the well-trained Israeli security services, bombings and other murders would occur daily, multiple times. In late June, Israel’s Shin-Bet Director Ronen Bar said that since January 2022, it has foiled 800 major attacks. Cyprus recently interdicted an attack by Iranian operatives on Israelis and Jews. Imagine how any other nation would respond — including the United States. And it has been going on in Israel, targeting Jews, for many decades.

A few weeks ago, a woman and her two daughters were cruelly gunned down in their car. Recently a woman died after two decades of being in a vegetative state as a result

of a terrorist bombing in the Sbarro Pizza shop in Jerusalem. Israeli citizens endure thousands of rockets cast into civilian areas. For years, in the North, Israeli children lived in bomb shelters. The list is so long, and so often repeated, that it has become ho-hum to outsiders and not a few Jews.

But Jews should never murder. Mob rule is antithetical to Jewish teaching, religious and otherwise. For months, placards reading “Death to the Arabs” have been proudly raised by religious men, identifiable by their dress. It is wrong by Torah. I wonder where their religious leaders are. I wonder what informs their souls and how they read the holy words of Torah and the Sages. Torah teaching does not exist to confirm what we already think, but to guide us when we are off track, when passions rule, when

justification is easy. It was bad / ugly — and if not checked — will be worse / uglier.

Such actions and thinking lead to more deaths — for Arabs and for Jews. Most of the world often falsely criticizes Israel. There is little sympathy or understanding for Jews. However, criticism for this mob is valid. Their actions undermine our credibility when we are right. It is a horrible, ugly lesson for our children, and theirs.

The coalition ministers in the Israeli government have had different reactions. Read these reports from the Times of Israel: “The Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed administrative detention orders on [June 28] to hold four Jewish extremists involved in recent attacks against Palestinians without charges, in line with recommendations from the Shin Bet security service. The four are currently imprisoned, the Defense Ministry confirmed. Administrative detention enables them to be held in custody without charges for renewable six-month periods, practically indefinitely.” But “National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party slammed the administrative detentions as disproportionate.”

Outside of Israel, too many Jews have made it their mission to criticize Israel without the facts, without balance, without discerning what we face. I hesitate to join them, even when they are partially right, because, in my view, they do more harm than good; they aid our real enemies — people who advocate our destruction and support murderers and jeopardize Jewish lives. And it undermines peace and a better life for the Palestinians by justifying lies and further radicalizing them.

But some things are so beyond the pale, so antithetical to Torah, so dangerous, so bad and so ugly, that they cannot be ignored or understated. I am ashamed of these acts and the thinking that animates it. Defense of the innocent, absolutely; murderous mob rampages — bad and ugly. The Israel I love and have studied has done each and every good and excellent thing I outlined. It did it miraculously against all odds. It can stamp out this perversion — if we have the will to do so.

Rabbi Seth D Gordon serves Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur.

Why love is a Jewish value

BY RABBI JANINE SCHLOSS

In the summer of 2005, my family moved from St. Louis to Seattle. A few weeks later, we went for the first time to the Seattle Center to see the Space Needle and the International Fountain. When we arrived, we saw that the entire area was filled with people, booths, music, and lots and lots of rainbows. It turns out it was the Seattle Pride Festival.

My 6-year-old took one look at the festivities and asked: “Mommy, who is this a party for?” So we explained it was a party to show that people could love who they wanted to love. Men and women could love each other, men could love men, and women could love women. This was a party to celebrate love. Both my children simply said, “OK!” and we went on to enjoy an afternoon surrounded by beautiful sights and joyful celebration.

Children often accept so easily what we as adults can find so challenging. Why would we question love? Why would we restrict who can love each other? It’s so easy for children. Why is it so hard for us?

As a Reform rabbi, I believe in the authority of Jewish law and Jewish tradition. At the same time, I believe that our tradition has never been static or fixed. For example, our Torah assumes that men can have multiple wives. Around

Look to ‘eternal truths of the Torah’ for Jewish view of marriage, family

BY RABBI ZE’EV SMASON

loved ones make to each other. We watch as they join together not just in a partnership but in a sacred covenant together. We witness their promise to turn their home into a mikdash m’at, literally a small sanctuary, for their home now becomes a sacred space. Also, perhaps most importantly and yet on the most basic of levels, we celebrate their love.

What about these values require a man and a woman? Nothing. So why would we restrict them? Sometimes in today’s world — and this has been true for many “todays” throughout Jewish history – we need to let go of the law in order to honor the values at its core.

Concerning the Jew, Leo Tolstoy wrote: “The Jew is that sacred being who has brought down from heaven the everlasting fire, and has illumined with it the entire world. He is the religious source, spring, and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religion. The Jew is the pioneer of liberty. The Jew is the pioneer of civilization. The Jew is the emblem of eternity.”

The Jewish “emblem of eternity” can best be seen in the Biblical, traditional approach to marriage and family.

ents, two different genders — not just for now, but for always.

1000 CE, however, Rabbeinu Gershom banned polygamy for the Ashkenazi community. Clearly, our practices change over time.

How do we know when a tradition can change and when it can’t? This is one of the many challenges that Jews face as we adapt to our ever-changing circumstances.

I try to look at the underlying values of a law. Our tradition teaches many things about marriage, including that a marriage must be between a man and a woman. But what is most important about this tradition? Is it really the gender of the participants that is the most important?

I would argue that there are far more important values at the core of a Jewish marriage. We celebrate the sanctity that is given to the union of these loving partners. We honor the commitment these

When you add to this our understanding that the male and female polarities of gender are not and have never been reflective of the human body, requiring a wedding to be defined by this polarity all the more so no longer makes sense. Rabbinic texts (Mishnah, Talmud, classical midrash, legal codes) contain hundreds of references to a ndrogynos, tumtum, ay’lonit and saris. These are people who have both male and female sexual characteristics, or whose sexual characteristics are unclear, or who are identified as “female” at birth but develop “male characteristics” at puberty or the reverse. Our tradition recognizes that gender is not either/or — not only male/female. So why are we continuing to require this for our marriages?

These are the reasons why I believe that a Jewish marriage no longer needs to be restricted to a man and a woman. I believe Judaism celebrates covenantal relationships, commitment, sanctified unions and the creation of sacred space between and among loved ones. I believe that God created each of us b’tzelem Elohim, in God’s image, and each of us is worthy of loving and being loved. These are the core values that I celebrate when I attend or officiate at a Jewish wedding today.

Love is and always has been a Jewish value. Children understand this instinctively. Let us do the same, celebrating it, honoring it and protecting it for all.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Readers respond to recent stories

Thank you for your June 21 article highlighting the many contributions made by Julia Goldstein to the children and families of University City (“Story behind the name: Julia Goldstein’s lifetime of championing kids”). She was instrumental in bringing early childhood education and Parents as Teachers to the school district.

It is important to clarify that the founder of Parents as Teachers was Mildred Winter (of blessed memory).

Abby Susman St. Louis

In your interview with J Street Israel’s CEO Nadav Tamir (June 21), Tamir said, “Many people were affected by the way J Street has been attacked as an anti-Israel organization.” And J Street promotes itself on its website as “The political home of

Until recently, most people took the institution of marriage for granted, hardly ever wondering at its universal acceptance. The idea of man and woman living in a lifetime committed partnership in at least some form is as old as the beginnings of humanity. That partnership, long-established in the Torah as the bedrock of a meaningful, sanctified and optimal life God desires for all His children, and the Jewish People in particular, is marriage. Today, however, we live in an era when marriage and the family are under attack. People young and old are exposed daily to misrepresentations of the traditional Jewish Biblical views on gender identity, sexuality and marriage. Promotion and even celebration of euphemistically termed “alternate lifestyles” is prevalent. It’s a war out there — a culture war. Therefore, an examination of the timeless Jewish views on these issues must be offered.

The Book of Genesis declares, “Male and female He Created them.” (1:27) The following chapter explains that male and female were created together, and then separated so that husband and wife might rejoin, once again becoming “one flesh” through the forming of their offspring. And that is the sum total of what the Bible has to say about “gender identity.” Men and women are distinct creations, complementary to each other, each made the way God wanted them to be.

A Jewish marriage is a sacred spiritual entity that calls upon man and woman to join not simply in a partnership, but to create a union where two distinct entities join to become one. The story is told of a prominent 20th century rabbi who accompanied his wife when she was in need of medical attention. When the office receptionist inquired what the issue was, the rabbi replied, “Our leg is hurting us.”

A Jewish marriage is a template upon which to build a home in which God will feel welcome and dwell, a foundation upon which to actualize our emotional and spiritual potential. Marriage is the uniting of a man and woman, two personalities, two minds, two wills, two tal-

pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans.” How does Tamir and J Street reconcile those statements with J Street recently having defended Rashida Tlaib for organizing an anti-Israel “Nakba” event on Capitol Hill? “Nakba” is a day that refers to the founding of Israel as a “catastrophe” and is used by Palestinians to spread dangerous lies about Israel.

Within the past year, J Street has lobbied Congress for U.S. investigations into Israel’s military. In the last election cycle, J Street endorsed four of the mere eight Democrats who voted against emergency supplemental Iron Dome funding, and it spent $100,000 to reelect Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who took his name off a bipartisan bill to strengthen the Abraham Accords peace

In the family structure we find the one human, social institution that is optimal for creating and forming the individual. This explains why those who have kept the Torah’s ways regarding marriage — and those who also have been blessed by God to raise a family — have, for thousands of years in different environments, created the most successful communities on the face of the earth.

Confusion about these basic eternal truths is so pervasive that at times it seems we live in an Orwellian dystopia. Academics, judges, politicians and lay people alike struggle to define questions as basic as “What is a man? What is a woman?” The Talmud records praise for the ancient world that “they do not write marriage documents for men.” Nearly a millennium ago, although such behavior occurred, and some even had specific, dedicated same-sex partners, they at least refrained from calling it “marriage.”

The Torah outlook clashes strongly with other aspects of the modern secular world. Adding to the bewilderment, surrounding us are notions such as “gender fluidity” and “multiple genders,” often blatantly misrepresented with claims of Jewish Biblical origin. Invasive and irreversible medical procedures are couched euphemistically as “gender affirming care” harming many, including vulnerable children.

Many years ago my travels took me to London. While riding the Tube (subway), a striking wall poster caught my eye. Displayed was a young girl sitting on a bed, cradling and hugging a small robot. The caption read, “Times change. Values don’t.”

Times indeed have changed. But the eternal truths of the Torah regarding marriage and family are just as true, enriching and elevating as they were when we received them at Mt. Sinai more than 3,000 years ago. Enduring Jewish pride and success derive from the acceptance and implementation of God’s timeless practices and values regarding marriage and family. May we, our community, our society and the world as a whole merit these blessings.

agreements. J Street was prevented from joining the American Zionist Movement, which has 36 members. J Street is many things, but it is certainly not pro-Israel.

Irl Solomon St. Louis County

The July 9 article “Biden slams Israel and the Palestinian Authority in CNN interview” by Ron Kampeas of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (published on the Jewish Light’s website, stljewishlight.org) about recent Arab-Israeli violence stated that “Since the beginning of the year, more than 150 West Bank Palestinians and more than two dozen Israelis have

Rabbi Janine Schloss is the rabbi educator at Temple Emanuel and President of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association.

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason is the chairman of the Coalition for Jewish Values Missouri.

How do we know when a tradition can change and when it can’t? This is one of the many challenges that Jews face as we adapt to our ever-changing circumstances.

In Chesterfield shul’s kitchen, noted baker connects with students through challah

Giti Fredman of Just Bake It helped St. Louis students learn how to bake

BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

During the spring, Mark Sauer, a self-professed “foodie” saw a social media post about a workshop offering to teach anyone to bake traditional Jewish challah.

“My wife is Jewish and loves challah, so when I saw the post from Just Bake It it piqued my interest,” remembered Sauer.

That interest stems from the fact that Sauer, a 10th-grade advisor at the The Innovation School at Cool Valley, part of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, is always looking to match his students with ways to grow their learning based on their personal interests.

“The Innovation School is student-centered. We work with each student to identify interests and create personalized learning through internships and mentoring,” said Sauer. “And I knew I had several students interested in baking.”

One of those students is Montisse Jamil, 16.

“I have always enjoyed making meals out of what seems to be little ingredients and that creativity sparked my interest in cooking,” said Jamil. “I wanted to learn about the different realms of cooking, so I took on baking.”

The social media post that caught Sauer’s attention was from Giti Fredman, the owner of Just Bake It.

Fredman learned to bake at an early age. Her paternal grandmother showed her the art of baking and she soon discovered she was a natural.

She opened Just Bake It in 2021 and provides workshops for learning to bake challah, pretzel-challah, New York Style bagels, chocolate babka and cinnamon buns.

“I emailed Giti and she called me back quickly,” said Sauer. “I explained that we set up our students with local businesses or non-profits for a real hands-on experience and she was very excited to work with our young people.”

Said Fredman: “I remember how hard high school was for me and how much I would have liked to pursue my passions back then, which is why I

knew I would love nothing more than to teach these kids how to bake. I really liked how the Innovation School learns in small pods and sends students out to the actual potential workplace of fields they are considering.”

Fredman designed a simple curriculum around her existing five baking workshops. The initial idea was to tackle one class a week and let the students choose the curriculum for the final week.

Each week, Sauer would take Jamil and two other students to meet Fredman at Tipheris Israel Chevra Kadisha (TICK), an Orthodox synagogue in Chesterfield. The synagogue

Anxiety: The uninvited guest that doesn’t go away

BY AMY FENSTER BROWN

Every year we invite Elijah to our Passover seders, setting out a glass of wine to welcome him upon arrival. The guy never shows up. Rude. But you know who shows up uninvited all the time? Anxiety. So rude.

It just pops in like a nosy neighbor who doesn’t even entertain the thought that you could be busy doing something important, like overthinking every life choice you’ve ever made. You’re double screwed if anxiety brings along its equally disrespectful friend, depression. Double tsuris.

There are many wonderful resources to help... medications (yum), therapists (fun), information to read (educational). There’s a self-help book titled “The Panic Attack Workbook.” I’m sure it’s great, but I’m too scared to read it.

Fun fact — people with tremendous angst don’t always have a million things to worry about. It’s often just one or two frontrunners… like how are they going to get through the day and why are you judging them for it?

Sweaty hands can be a sign of anxiety.

Cold hands can be a sign of anxiety.

Having hands can be a sign of anxiety.

In movies you see people live life with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. People who panic live life with a devil on one shoulder and anxiety on the other, and frankly the devil is pooping his pants scared because the anxiety is going to win every time.

That jerk anxiety has its own GPS. It’s like any second you’ll hear Siri’s voice say, “in one minute you will arrive at the worst-case scenario.”

Experts say anxious people should avoid caffeine, probably because it makes your anxiety faster. Who can keep up?

Well-meaning friends say, “Oh it’s all in your head.” Correct. And it is also in my stomach.

That thing in your skull is technically called a brain, but it should be renamed the three-pound shpilkes marshmallow. It’s such an insult to think we only have one nervous system. Dude, all of my systems are nervous. I would talk to my therapist about it, but I don’t want to bug her. She’s got enough going on.

If you’re ever playing charades and your word is “anxiety,” just pantomime eating corn on the cob like a typewriter on warp-speed. And then, don’t stop, even after your team guesses correctly.

If you’ve never experienced random panic

allow me to explain it. Imagine you turn out the lights, lay your sweet keppie on the pillow, close your eyes to go to sleep, and just as you’re drifting off all of the world’s loudest heavy metal bands start one huge jam session. That’s anxiety. What a convenient time to be reminded of that stupid thing you said out loud in 1997!

Do you ever watch the garage door close when you leave for the day, but spend the next 20 minutes worrying that you might not have closed the garage? Bingo. Anxiety.

It’s like a constant game of hide-and-seek where you know there is a venomous snake dressed as a scary clown ready to pop out of one of those fake cans of peanuts at any second.

Picture Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” but change the famous line “Heeeere’s Anxiety.”

People who don’t understand try to help by saying things like, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Buddy, how much time have you got? Either that, or they’ll suggest you take deep breaths and relax. It’s like “Eureka. You solved it, Einstein.” Eye roll, eye roll, eye roll.

I do not relax. Instead, I just simmer in anxiety while lying on a hammock. I can be verklempt even while on vacation.

Luckily, I can multitask. I can act calm and confident while losing my mind at the same time. It’s a gift.

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

See BAKING on page 17

Students from The Innovation School at Cool Valley learn to make challah during an internship with St. Louis baker Giti Fredman, owner of Just Bake It.

Below, Montisse Jamil (center) and classmates from the Innovation School.

PHOTOS: GITI FREDMAN

Q&A Five questions with ragtime pianist Ethan Leinwand

BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

An upcoming concert at the Mirowitz Center, “Boogie-Woogie & All That Jazz!” will feature Ethan Leinwand, one of St. Louis’ top pianists. Leinwand, 40, who is Jewish, regularly plays to large audiences at musical festivals around the country. He is a popular solo performer and a member of three local bands: Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys, The St. Louis Steady Grinders and The Bottlesnakes.

During the Mirowitz Center event at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, Leinwand will provide background on the folk piano music that originated in African American communities and work camps in the deep south. Leinwand gave the Jewish Light a preview of the event, which is co-sponsored by the St. Louis Jazz Club. To register for “Boogie-Woogie & All That Jazz!” visit http://bit.ly/Mirowitz-registration or call 314-733-9813.

Is it accurate to call ragtime an American-born style of music?

Ragtime is the first truly American

music. If Bach laid out the groundwork for how classical music could be played in ideas of chords and progressions for 300 years, Scott Joplin laid it out for the next 50 years of what jazz was going to be. When you take ragtime and add blues into it, that’s how you get jazz.

How did St. Louis shape the growth of ragtime and blues?

St. Louis was the first major hotbed of ragtime. We are a place where the south meets the north and east meets west. It was the perfect breeding ground for this southern folk melody music. That gets elevated to this sophisticated ragtime music, which mixes Black southern folk music with the ideals of European classical

music. This was a piano town, and the music thrived here.

You came to St. Louis eight years ago because of the music scene and history here, correct?

Yes, and my love of blues piano. I learned that it was still very much alive here and I found a lot of like-minded people to play with. I was interested in the history of the music and the the community, and I continue to love being a part of it.

Do you plan to provide some historical context for the audience at Mirowitz Center?

Yes. I’ve been doing a show on the Viking Cruise Lines when they come

through St. Louis on the Mississippi. I do a presentation about ragtime piano history. It’s called “St. Louis—A piano town.” It starts with ragtime, then boogie-woogie and barrelhouse blues and how they connect to later music like rock and roll.

Does the history of the music inform your playing style?

Absolutely. The music does speak for itself. It has its own power. There’s so much personal expression happening, and that’s always the goal. I want there to be some historical perspective so you can know what you’re listening for or find a new way in. Ultimately, my hope is that people can just enjoy the fun expression of this music, the joy of it, and my joy in playing it.

Ethan Leinwand

PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN

‘The Lesson,’ a gripping Israeli drama, casts spotlight on thorny social issues straight from the headlines

BY ERIC BERGER JTA NATIVE CONTENT TEAM

There are so many elements to unpack in the extraordinary Israeli drama “The Lesson” — which is based on a true story and won the best series award at the Cannes International Series Festival last year — that it’s hard to know where to begin.

The starting point of this gripping sixpart miniseries, which premiered this month on ChaiFlicks, the Jewish streaming service in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, is a confrontation between an outspoken student and her civics teacher in a high school in the Tel Aviv suburb of Kfar Saba that rapidly spins out of control.

When a class gets into a debate over whether Arabs should be banned from the local swimming pool after incidents of sexual harassment, it’s not long before the students break out into chants of “Death to Arabs!”

The liberal teacher — Amir, played by Doron Ben-David of the popular Israeli TV series “Fauda” — tries to tamp down passions and admonish the student who started it all, Leanne, played by Maya Landsman. But Amir inadvertently calls her a “fatty” and later loses his temper at Leanne in a tirade that besmirches Israeli soldiers — and the whole incident is captured on video and goes viral on social media.

All hell breaks loose.

“It’s about being hurt and fighting back harder, and I feel that is the fuel of many conflicts,” said screenwriter Deakla Keydar, who wrote the series. “This is the cycle of pain.”

Keydar, 48, sought a way to bring a story ripped from Israel’s headlines to the screen. The result is a riveting drama that touches on difficult moral issues: the treatment of Arabs in Israeli society, shifting power dynamics between teens and adults, the challenges of living in the glare of social media.

The series came was inspired by a rash of conflicts between Israeli civics teachers and students in recent years that extended beyond the classroom. In 2020, an Israeli school in Rishon LeZion made headlines after students complained of their civics teacher’s pushback following classroom discussions in which students said all Arabs should be killed and that assassinated Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin “deserved to die.”

In the end it was the teacher, a 30-year veteran of the job, who was fired after parents and students complained about him sharing his left-wing opinions and using the class as a “platform for expressing opinions that do not concord with the state’s education system.”

The teacher said his goal was to “challenge students, to teach them to think independently and to conduct a dialogue.”

Keydar, who also teaches writing classes and is a book author, said she became obsessed with these disputes and didn’t understand why they weren’t getting more attention. So she started writing “The Lesson.”

The miniseries, which is directed by Eitan Zur, references various flashpoints in Israeli society, including riots by Arab Israelis during Israel’s May 2021 operation in Gaza and the 2016 point-blank killing of an already-incapacitated Palestinian assailant in Hebron in 2016 by IDF soldier Elor Azaria. Hailed as a hero by some Israelis and condemned as a killer by others, Azaria eventually was convicted of manslaughter and served nine months in prison.

The show also gets at more universal themes, including romance, being overweight and whether people on opposite ends of the political spectrum can disagree civilly. It’s poignant, sometimes funny, and filled with emotionally complex characters, and includes a moving scene evocative of the “Oh captain, my captain” scene in “Dead Poets Society,” the Oscar-winning 1989 film.

Ben-David, who played one of the Shin Bet operatives on “Fauda,” delivers an emotionally wrenching performance as Amir, the teacher and recently divorced father of two teenagers.

Landsman shines as Leanne, the sharptongued student who is self-conscious about her weight, suffers emotional abuse from her mother and struggles with figuring out right and wrong amid the conflict with her teacher. She also finds herself in

a budding romance with Asi, a classmate played by Leib Levin whose brother was irrevocably wounded by Arab terrorists.

Keydar said she wanted to tell this story because she is fascinated by how social media makes people angry even when the facts are unclear.

“In real life, we’re very suspicious. We’re very cautious,” she said. But with social media “we get attached very quickly.”

In Israeli civics classes it’s hard for teachers to abstain from airing controversial views or challenging students about their own views. But that’s the point, Keydar says.

“You cannot really teach about democracy unless you use examples from reality,” Keydar said. But, in today’s environment, if you do you may “get to the edge and might find yourself without a job.”

Keydar sees some of herself in the character of Leanne. Born in Buffalo, New York, but raised in central Israel, she too struggled in school and was pugnacious toward teachers. Like Leanne, she had a physique that made her stand out — in Keydar’s case, considerable height.

Keydar eventually got a degree in script writing from the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem. She first worked at an ad agency and at a financial newspaper, but she wanted to do something more creative. So she started to edit TV and film scripts and write novels and short stories.

In “The Lesson,” the story takes off when Amir challenges his students for condemning all Arabs for harassment at the pool. He points out that Jews, too, per petrate sexual harassment, noting that the former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was sent to prison for rape.

“The Lesson” sets up a clash between Amir, a liberal teacher played by Doron Ben-David, and Leanne, an outspoken student played by Maya Landsman.

“Harassment is a problem. Women’s status in Arab society is a problem. But attributing a trait to race, saying that men harass because they’re Arabs, is racism,” he says.

Leanne responds: “Let them swim in their own pools, with the Arab girls who go swimming in their pajamas.”

Amir shoot backs: “Ever wondered why they come to your pool? Because they don’t have one. The Arab municipalities are poor. They have no pools or parks.”

After a student condemns Amir for his “liberal, lefty talk,” it’s only a moment before the classroom erupts into chants of “Arabs into the sea!” and then “Death to Arabs!”

Amir tells Leanne, “You get a zero on the assignment, and a zero as a human being.”

Keydar says she hopes that this series will give viewers an opportunity to consider others’ viewpoints in a way they might not be able to in real life.

After being released in Israel last year, the show (called “Zero Hour” in Hebrew and produced by Kan 11 and Yasmin TV), won the award for best drama from the Israeli Academy of Film and Television. It also has been aired in many Israeli classrooms.

“Stories still connect people, make them ask questions,” Keydar said. “It’s amazing

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAIFLICKS

Baking: STL students find ‘kismet’ through baking challah

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

graciously agreed to allow Fredman and the interns to utilize their kitchen space.

“The students would help me unload all our ingredients and equipment from the car and we would get ready to bake,” said Fredman. “I would supervise the process, but I tried to let them do as much as they could independently.”

During the internship, Fredman worked to give each student a solid base of good baking comprehension. They learned how to read a recipe, follow the directions and understand measuring within the recipes.

“Giti taught us a lot of things, but one takeaway for sure is to be flexible when it comes to cooking,” said Jamil. “A lot of things can happen but by staying level-headed and calm you can figure out any problems to get back on task.”

Each lesson began with the students practicing their challah dough techniques. Then they would move onto a new challenge.

“The interns mastered so much in just the first few weeks, so we were able to include a lot more training than originally anticipated,” said Fredman. “We did cupcakes, torched meringue pies, banana bread, soup, cookies and even chicken teriyaki.”

According to Sauer, the student-centered learning plan that Fredman created challenged the students to pursue more of their own interests.

“I would consider this experience a total success. Giti had a natural way of working with kids this age. I could see how she treated them as young adults, and they learned the skills they wanted to learn,” said Sauer. “I also loved that the students got to experience a different culture as well.”

“Giti was a great teacher she didn’t only teach me about baking she also taught me about Jewish culture and how there’s more to cooking than the food, it’s also about the history behind it,” added Jamil.

For Fredman, the partnership with the Innovation School students was also a learning experience.

“It taught me that my business is so multifaceted,” she said. “It’s not just a baking experience for team building but can serve as a learning experience, a hope, and a direction to younger children.

“Just Bake It is an entity that can service people of all ages and stages in life. I learned that entrepreneurship can be a tool used to influence other for the good.”

Indigenous arts in the spotlight

BY NANCY KRANZBERG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

I just returned from watching my grandson play lacrosse. Lacrosse is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins with the indigenous people of North America as early as the 12th century.

Indigenous describes any group of people native to a specific region. In other words, it refers to people who lived there before colonists or settlers arrived, defined new borders, and began to occupy the land.

When I think of indigenous people, I think of our own Native Americans or the First Nation people of Canada, but there are famous and not so famous indigenous peoples all over the world.

In Central and South America, the native or indigenous people are collectively referred to by different names that vary by region. In Asia, vast regions contain the majority of the worlds’ present day Indigenous populations. In western Asia, Armenians are the indigenous population of the Armenian Highlands. Kurds are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia. There are the Aboriginals of Australia and the Maori of New Zealand. And the list of indigenous peoples goes on and on.

There have been wars and skirmishes going on forever between indigenous people and the settlers who took over their lands for thousands of years. These wars and battles are still going on all over the world.

Finally, people all around the globe are becoming more and more aware of the struggles and unfair treatment that the Native and indigenous people have dealt with, and things are being done to repair at least some of the damage.

There is a National Indigenous Day and as usual, the arts are leading the way in showing and helping create change for these people. There is even a very popular museum on the Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the Indian.

The arts in all disciplines are bringing to the fore these sensitive issues. Film, theater, visual, music and literature have works that shine.

Here are some examples of works in different disciplines’ either by or about American and Canadian indigenous people:

Sherman Alexie’s film “Smoke

Signals,” a groundbreaking and critically acclaimed independent film from the ’90s that tells an emotionally powerful story of two Native American teenagers.

“Reservation Dogs,” a television series featuring indigenous people created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Watiti. It’s the first series to feature indigenous writers and directors along with an almost entirely indigenous cast.

“Unreserved” on CBS radio with Roseanna Deerchild, a Cree broadcaster and poet, hosting. Her second book, “Calling Down the Sky,” is a deeply personal poetry collection about the residential school experience.

Even the very popular television series, “Yellowstone” deals with the residential school experience.

Performing arts programs are often

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

introduced by this land acknowledgement:

It is important for us to acknowledge that the land beneath us owes its vitality to generations who have come before us in the spirit of making erased and silenced histories visible. We acknowledge that we are standing on the ancestral and occupied lands of many Native tribes that stewarded and cared for this land for centuries. The Illini, Osage and Missouria tribes are just a few of peoples that we pay our respect to. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration and settlement that brings us together here today and join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public and in person virtual events.

The visual arts are also presenting beautiful and meaningful exhibitions showing the work and culture of the indigenous peoples. The Pulitzer and St. Louis Art Museum are currently featuring the work of Faye Heavyshield in very powerful exhibitions.

And this summer SLAM will, for the first time, focus on modern Native American art, “Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s–1970s,” which runs through Sept. 3. I am so glad that our community is giving the proper attention to those who came before us in our beautiful country.

Giti Fredman is the owner of Just Bake It.

Henry “Hank” Delano Gobin, (Kwi Tlum Kadim), Tulalip/Snohomish, 1941–2013; Northwest Design (detail), 1966. The image is one of the works included in the St. Louis Art Museum’s “Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s–1970s” exhibit.

CHAI LIGHTS

SUNDAY | JULY 16

Jewish War Veterans Meeting

Jewish War Veterans Post 644 will meet in the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum meeting room at 10 a.m. on the third Sunday each month (ask for directions at the desk). A Zoom option will be available for those who are unable to be at the meeting. For more information and the Zoom link contact Post 644 Commander Ellis Frohman at 636519-7512 (leave a message if no one answers).

TUESDAY | JULY 18

Mirowitz Center presents ‘The Owner’s Guide to Aging’

From 2 to 3 p.m. the Mirowitz Center welcomes Dr. Catherine Kush for the free, online “Owner’s Guide to Aging” series (the third Tuesday of each month). Explore with others how to cope with all of the ups and downs of aging. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

WEDNESDAY | JULY 19

‘Boogie-Woogie & All That Jazz!’ at Mirowitz Center

From 3 to 4 p.m. pianist Ethan Leinwand will perform at the Mirowitz Center. Leinwand will draw on St. Louis’ history as a birthplace of ragtime and the blues, which provided the foundation for America’s Jazz Age. This Mirowitz Center program is co-sponsored by St. Louis Jazz Club. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Sharsheret Supports STL 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 5:30 – 7:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday at the J near Creve Coeur. Newcomers are always welcome along with female family and friends.

Sharsheret Supports STL is a program at the J and a partner of the national, not for profit Sharsheret organization. This program is free but pre-registration is requested to Debbi Braunstein at 314-442-3266 or dbraunstein@jccstl.org.

THURSDAY | JULY 20

National Council of Jewish

Women St. Louis lunch and learn NCJWSTL’s monthly lunch and learn series will look at “Domestic Violence and the Court Watch Project” with Carla Maley” from noon to 1 p.m. Maley works with St. Martha’s Hall, a domestic violence shelter and longtime NCJWSTL coalition partner. Maley will discuss how to recognize signs of abuse and how to direct survivors to resources and how else to help. She will also talk about the Court Watch Project, which aims to make the justice system more effective and responsive in handling cases of domestic violence perpetrated against women and children and to create a more informed and involved public. Register online at https://bit.ly/NCJW-July20. For more information, email Jen Bernstein at jbernstein@ ncjwstl.org or call 314-993-5181.

Mirowitz Center book clubs

Librarian Hillary Peppers is facilitating two book club discussions, in person and online,

on the third Thursday of each month. Both groups provide an opportunity to share your love of literature with positive, nurturing discussions. The July book is “The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich. The Between the Covers: STL County Library Book Club (online) is from 10 to 11 a.m. The “On the Same Page: STL County Library Book Club (in person) is from 1 to 2 p.m. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

FRIDAY | JULY 21

Children’s Pre-Shabbat Experience and Playdate in the Park Chabad of Chesterfield invites the community to join other kids and families for a Pre-Shabbat Experience and Playdate in the Park from 5:30 – 7 p.m., in Chesterfield Central Park. Children will have the opportunity to enjoy some pre-Shabbat fun with challah shaping, Shabbat themed crafts, summer activities, storytelling, a buffet dinner followed by hot, fresh popcorn, cotton candy and a few more surprises in store. Each participant will be entered into a raffle. Participants should bring a blanket or chairs. There is no charge, but RSVPs are required by July 17: bit.ly/preshabbatplaydate. Sponsorships available.

SATURDAY | JULY 22

Bais Abraham Shabbat Lunch and Learn on Jewish law and transgender identity, with Rabbi Garth Silberstein

Final event in the ‘Gender Identity and Judaism Summer Speaker Series.’ Events are free, but registration requested at www. baisabe.com. As more and more Jews identify as transgender, and more and more transgender Jews choose to remain within the observant Jewish community, questions arise about how transgender Jews fit into the traditional gender categories when it comes to matters of Jewish law. In seeking to answer these questions, today’s rabbis are able to draw on a rich tradition, going back thousands of years, of exploring cases that do not fit neatly or simply into existing legal categories, including the gender binary. Silberstein will explore some contemporary rabbinic thinking on this important topic over a light lunch immediately following Shabbat morning services.

SUNDAY | JULY 23

Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas

At 4 p.m., Kol Rinah’s Verein group will present an online discussion of the “book “Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas” by Arthur Green.

He is a former dean of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia who has written at least 20 books and is considered one of the foremost experts on Jewish mys-

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

ticism and Neo-Hasidic theology. He was a founding dean of the non-denominational rabbinical program at Hebrew College in Boston, where he still teaches. RSVPs are required at www.kolrinahstl.org/event/judaisms-10-best-ideas.html.

Couples’ Israel trip open house

At 4 p.m. Aish welcomes couples in the community to learn about a couple’s trip to Israel being planned for May 19-29, 2024 (tentative dates). The trip will be led by Rabbi Yosef and Mimi David and Israel tour guide David Sussman. The open house will be held in a private home call Rabbi Yosef David at 314920-9270 to RSVP and to get the address.

TUESDAY | JULY 25

Mirowitz Center talk on food waste and recycling

From 1 to 2 p.m., join the St. Louis County Department of Public Health’s Waste Diversion Program for a discussion of “Who Knows What Lurks in the Back of the Fridge?” This free, in-person talk will offer a fun and interactive look at ways to make better use of food as well as offer a brief update about recycling in St. Louis County. Guests will leave as a recycling expert with new ideas, handouts and prizes. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

THURSDAY | JULY 27

‘Fighting Bigotry & Hatred: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’

From 2 to 3 p.m., the Mirowitz Center offers a free, online discussion led by Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. He will talk about obstacles players of color faced, what they did to overcome the challenges of prejudice and social injustice, and how their talent, passion and perseverance changed Major League Baseball and America. This program – part of Mirowitz Center’s continuing “Fighting Bigotry & Hatred” series – is co-sponsored by ADL Heartland. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

STARTING | AUG. 3

10-session Melton course on Jewish Mysticism planned

See related news brief on page 7.

ONGOING

NHBZ youth programs now on Shabbat mornings

NHBZ invites kids of all ages to join the fun every Saturday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Children enjoy age-appropriate learning and games that are divided into the following age groups: ages 3-6; ages 7-12;

and ages 13 and older. Babysitting is always available for children ages 3 and under. These programs are free of charge and NHBZ membership is not necessary for families to participate. RSVPs are not needed. For more information, call 314-991-2100.

Movies at the Mirowitz Center

On Fridays at 1 p.m., enjoy movies on the Mirowitz Center’s 14-foot screen. Call the Movies at Mirowitz Hotline (314-733-9812) for the film title and description each week. Free and open to the community. Upcoming films include “Get Low” (2009) on July 14 and “Spencer” (2021) on July 21.

Mirowitz Center exercise classes

Join the Mirowitz Center for a variety of exercise classes, ($5 fee/class and in person) Mondays through Fridays, from 11:15 a.m. to noon. All techniques and combinations will be demonstrated both sitting and standing. Mondays: Fitness with an Edge with instructor Lucy Fox; Tuesdays: Music, Movement and Dance with instructor Rachel Gross, RPI; Wednesdays: Strength and Conditioning with instructor Rachel Gross, RPI; Thursdays: Tai Chi with instructor Scott Uselmann, RPI; Fridays: Chair Yoga with instructor Maxine Mirowitz. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Mirowitz Center Community Singers

Professional musician Robert Denison will lead Mirowitz Center Community Singers from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. No experience is necessary. Learn from CDs (no printed music). Performance opportunities will be offered. Free and open to the community; register online at http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter or call 314-733-9813.

Get your game on at the Mirowitz Center

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Mirowitz Center welcomes guests to play Mahjong, bridge, poker or Mexican Train dominoes – whatever games you like. The Mirowitz Center will provide complimentary coffee, tea and water (guests can bring their own snacks to enjoy and share). No RSVPs are necessary for these weekly games, held in the multipurpose room, but plan to coordinate your group’s schedule and any needed substitutions. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter, call 314-733-9813, or email skemppainen@mirowitzcenter.org.

Tech Tutor at Mirowitz Center

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

Calling all vocalists! Musician Robert Denison leads the Mirowitz Center Community Singers every Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. Free and open to the community

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MIROWITZ CENTER

BIRTHS ENGAGEMENTS WEDDINGS MITZVOT

1ST BIRTHDAY: SUSANNAH & LYUBOV BELOGORODSKIY

On June 17, 2023, Marla and Pavel Belogorodskiy of Ellisville celebrated the first birthday of their twin daughters Susannah and Lyubov Belogorodskiy.

Susannah and Lyubov are the granddaughters of Alla and Leonid Belogorodskiy of Ellisville, and Andy and the late Susie Zimmerman. They are great-granddaughters of the late Oleg and Lyubov Chauskina, the late Nate and Dolores Preston and the late Harriet and Monroe Zimmerman.

Zoe Wolkowitz and Liam Brannon were married May 28, 2023 in St. Louis at Hilton at the Ballpark, where the Honorable Matthew T. Schelp officiated.

Zoe is the daughter of Jenny and Rich Wolkowitz of Creve Coeur, and the granddaughter of Myra and the late Abe Ribak of San Antonio, Texas; Patti Wolkowitz of St. Louis; and Herb Wolkowitz of St. Louis.

Liam is the son of Christine Brannon of Chicago. He is the grandson of Judy and the late Robert “Bob” Brannon of Chicago.

Members of the wedding party included the bride’s sisters, Talia and Phoebe Wolkowitz, as maids of honor, as well as the groom’s brother, Conall Brannon, as best man.

Zoe and Liam took a honeymoon trip to Italy. The couple resides in Clayton. Zoe and Liam met in Chicago on their first day of law school. Friendship and colleagues first, their relationship blossomed into a beautiful love story. Liam proposed to Zoe on July 1, 2022 in Forest Park.

2023 GRADUATES

Parents: Melanie & Jonathan Marks

Grandparents: Karen and Gary Epstein, and Floryne and The Late Murry Marks

Congregation: United Hebrew

Special message: Madison graduated Summa Cum Laude from P.C.H.S. She will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in the fall to pursue her life long dream of studying fashion design.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: ISAAC CARLSON LANGE

Nora Greiman and James Lange of Lincoln, Neb., would like to announce the birth of their son, Isaac Carlson Lange, on June 20, 2023, weighing 5 pounds and 6 ounces.

Isaac is the grandson of Gerry Greiman and the late Susan Carlson of St. Louis; Robert Lange of Lincoln, Neb.; and Judy Roots of Omaha.

BALK-KNOX ENGAGEMENT

Tyler Balk and Kendall Knox have announced their engagement.

Tyler is the son of Holly and Brad Balk of St. Louis, and the grandson of Frala and Aaron Osherow of Clayton, the late Rueben and Fritzi Balk, and the late Arnold Brown.

SHERI SHERMAN

“Congratulations on your nomination into the U City Hall of Fame”

- St. Louis Jewish Light Board & Staff -

Kendall is the daughter of Kellie and Russell Knox of Batavia, Ill., and the granddaughter of Earl and Earlene Knox of Estes Park, Colo.; Ginger and Dennis French of Paris, Tenn.; and Billie Kampenga of Lisle, Ill.

Tyler and Kendall met in college at Murray State University as sophomores. Now residents of Kansas City, Tyler is a music teacher and Kendall is a first-grade teacher.

A June 2024 wedding is planned.

MADISON FAY MARKS Parkway Central High School

PHOTO: CHOSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

WOLKOWITZ-BRANNON WEDDING

OBITUARIES

MARILYN FADEM, 78, 50 year resident of San Francisco, California, died there on April 5, 2023 of lung cancer.

She was preceded in death by her late husband Robert Willden in 2018 and is survived by her sister Linda Fadem of Phoenix, Arizona. Marilyn was born and raised in University City, Missouri and was taken to live in Phoenix, Arizona in 1960 and later moved to San Francisco, California where she spent the remainder of her life.

Marilyn was a talented artist who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. She was a painter of watercolors and a writer who wrote occasional food articles for the San Francisco newspapers.

She also took an avid interest in health and nutrition issues which became a consuming avocation and used her deep knowledge of these issues for the great and lasting benefit of her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Contributions can be made to:

Lighthouse for the Blind

1155 Market Street, 10th Floor San Francisco, California 94103

HENDRIK “HANK” GEERLOF, June 23, 2023

Beloved husband of the late Norma L. Geerlof for 60 years.  Dear father of the late Andrew (late Nancy) Geerlof and Maida (Ilan) GeerlofVidavsky.  Loving grandfather of Michael Geerlof, Joshua (Barbara), Deborah Spinner Tucker and Esther Spinner. Loving great-grandfather of Logan Tucker. Dear cousin and friend.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, June 27 at United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road.  Family burial services were planned in New Jersey.

Contributions in Hank’s memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or to Folds of Honor – St. Louis, 16105 Swingley Ridge Road, Suite 726, Chesterfield, MO, 63006. A Rindskopf-Roth Service

MILTON H. HIEKEN, July 4, 2023

Beloved husband of Barbara Barenholtz; dear father of Steven Hieken, Elaine Karaffa (Dustin), Andy Hieken (Carolyn) and Bob Barenholtz (Judy), Betsy Rudolph (David), Bill Barenholtz, and Barbie Barenholtz Present (Ron); dear grandfather of Jack, Drew, Zach and Lindsey, Elizabeth, Katy, Alex, Andrew, Abby, the late Jake, Megan and Adam; dear brother of the late Harvey Hieken (late Terry), the late Charles Hieken (late Donna) and

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

Sue Cohan (Paul); dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

A graveside service was held Friday, July 7 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 7550 Olive Boulevard. Memorial contributions preferred to the charity of your choice. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

SUSAN KIRCHNER HOCHMAN, Susie, 74 of St. Louis, MO passed away peacefully at her home in Clayton on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Susie was born in 1949 to Marguerite Shaub Kirchner and Bernard Cletus Kirchner in Lancaster, PA. After moving to New Jersey and then to Geneva, Illinois during her childhood, she went to college at St. Louis University where she met the love of her life, Jeffrey Hochman. The two lived in St. Louis, surrounded by loving family and friends, for the entirety of their 54 year marriage.

Susie was passionate, enthusiastic, and effervescent. A lover of design, art, and craft, she was creative and curious. She never shied away from a challenge and threw her whole self into everything she did. When she worked in vintage clothing, she studied Japanese to better communicate with clients. She prepared assiduously for her beloved book club. She always looked impossibly chic whether in blue jeans, a Halloween costume, or a cocktail dress. In Susie’s presence, everyone felt seen and heard. She was generous with her sparkling smile and her joy was contagious. Susie loved to celebrate with family and friends. She was also a great listener and compassionate and present friend, mother, grandparent, sister, and wife. Her table was the most welcoming place to share a meal, stories, laughter, and empathy.

Susie is survived by her husband and constant companion, Jeffrey Louis Hochman; her children Jessica Lee and Jules B. and his wife Erica Wood Hochman; her grandchildren Ella Leigh Hochman, Hadley Ryan Hochman, Mirabelle Rose Threadgold, Evy Rose Hochman, and S. Brooks Hochman; her sister Marcia Anne Kirchner, and her siblings by marriage Jere Irving Hochman and his wife Josette Del Priore Hochman, and Janet Hochman Ness and her husband Christopher Ness.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, June 28 at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Blvd. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can

OBITUARIES INDEX

Fadem, Marilyn

Geerlof, Hendrik “Hank”

Hieken, Milton H. Hochman, Susan Kirchner

Kerman, Arleen

Koenig, Dr. Marvin I. Koshner, Evelyn Lois

Lucas, Jules Martin Pultman, Andrew Sol Schuff, Ronald Schwartz, Lisa Seslen, Jerome “Jerry”

Simon, Dr. Nathan Max

be made to National Jewish Hospital or Barnes Jewish Hospital Hospice, whose compassionate care made such a difference to Susie and her family. Berger Memorial Service

ARLEEN KERMAN, June 27, 2023

Wife of the late Jack Kerman for 45 years; Mother of Byron Kerman and Rebecca Kerman Alon; Daughter of the late Philip Kalmes and the late Blanche Kalmes; Sister of Beverly Rappaport (Elliot) and the late Elliot Kalmes (late Marcy); dear aunt, cousin and friend.

Arleen began her career as a bookkeeper for the Siteman Organization.

She later served as the Business Manager at Center of Creative Arts (COCA).

She had a special touch with plants and was a plant propagator for African Violets for many years.

Arleen’s absolute favorite hobby was cooking. She was known for multi-course Pesach and Rosh Hashanah dinners, where people were crammed in wall-to-wall and we could barely open the door for Elijah! Her banana bread was legendary, and her recipe even won a First Prize at the Hartke Nursery Baking Competition.

Arleen loved volunteering and at holidays and events at Shaare Zedek Synagogue and helped organize fundraisers.

During her retirement, she enjoyed growing vegetables and herbs in her garden in recent years and working part-time at Kakao Chocolate to stay busy. Arleen doted on her Australian Shepherd dog Rusty, who provided much love and joy to her, especially after Jack passed away in 2014.

A graveside service was held Thursday, June 29 at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery, 1601 North and South Rd. 63130. Memorial Contributions preferred to Jewish Federation of St. Louis (www.jfedstl.org) and the Center of Creative Arts (https://www. cocastl.org/).

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

Obituaries continue on opposite page

American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.

MARVIN I. KOENIG, MD, June 28, 2023

Age 89 in Boca Raton, FL

Beloved husband of Barbara Koenig; dear father of Stephen Koenig (Angela), Gary Koenig, MD (Betsy), and Deborah Chervitz (Gary); dear grandfather of Adrya Rose Koenig, Amanda Koenig Fischer (Douglas), Matthew Gilbert Koenig (Alexandra), Madeline Rebecca Kojs (Kevin), and Lindsey Samantha Chervitz; dear great-grandfather of Maxwell and Russell Fischer and Mason Rose Koenig; dear brother of the late Dorothy Simon (Edward) and Susan Berry (the late Allan); dear brother-in-law of Albert Ross (Beverly), Phillip Ross (Sharon) and Andrew Ross (Melanie); dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

Marvin was born in Passaic, New Jersey in 1933. He met Barbara at Camp Blueberry in upstate New York when he was eighteen years old. Truly his b’sheret, they celebrated their 66th anniversary on December 29, 2022. Marvin was blessed by the birth of his first son Stephen 1958, followed by a second son Gary in 1959 and beautiful daughter Deborah in 1962. Marvin was a proud grandfather of five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

After three years at Purdue University, Marvin attended St. Louis University medical school, interned at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and returned to St. Louis for his residency in ophthalmology. Marvin made St. Louis his home and entered private practice. In 1966 he was drafted to the US. Air Force as Captain, stationed in Fort Worth, Texas. After two years service he returned to private practice in St. Louis.

In 1981, Marvin  built The Eye Center, on a prominent hill in Florissant, MO and pioneered St. Louis’ first stand-alone eye surgery center connected to a medical practice. Marvin and his long-time practice partner, John P. Goltschman, MD, known to all as Koenig & Goltschman performed thousands of cataract surgeries and were loved by their patients. Dr. Koenig was an early adopter of minimal incision foldable lenses, radial keratotomy, and surgery practice promotion on television.

Dr. Koenig  practiced 36 years and retired to Boca Raton, Florida with Barbara. He loved golf (three holes-in-one), playing gin, bridge, solitaire and traveling.

A Funeral Service was held Monday, July 3 at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Boulevard. Interment immediately followed at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hillel International, or the Humane Society of Missouri. Please visit bergermemorialchapel. com for Live Stream and other information.

Berger Memorial Service

EVELYN LOIS KOSHNER, daughter of Minnie Poslosky and Charles Kohn and sister of Diane Joyce Gorovsky died on July 2, 2023 at age 91 in Sarasota, Florida. She grew up in St. Louis and married Gene Koshner in 1951. They had two children

Karen Koshner (Mark Starr) and Andy Koshner (Ruth Asher).

She was blessed with 6 grandchildren Sarah Starr, Tali Koshner Margulis (Akiva Margulis), Michal Koshner, Aaron Koshner, Elan Koshner, and Shim Koshner.

She was loved and cherished by her family and friends and will be deeply missed.

Funeral services were held Wednesday July 5 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd., followed by burial at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery on Ladue Rd. Donations to a charity of your choice is greatly appreciated.

Berger Memorial Service

JULES MARTIN LUCAS, June 24, 1929 - June 16, 2023, passed away at the age of 93.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Shirley (Rosen) Lucas. He is survived by his children Mark (Margie), Bruce (Geralyn), and Debbi (Howard) Cohen; 5 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Steven) Levy, David (Carolyn) Cohen, Jacob (Amanda) Lucas, Carly, and Alexa (Cameron) Carlsted; and 5 great-grandchildren, Grant and Alana Levy, Myer and Arielle Cohen, and Nathan Lucas; and former daughter-in-law Rebecca (Stan) Levy.

Jules was an Optician by trade in the family business and enjoyed many hobbies, Boating, fishing, golfing, bowling, building models of all types, and restoring a classic car to name a few. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

ANDREW SOL PULTMAN, July 2, 2023

Beloved father of Caleb and Chase Pultman; former husband of Mimi Pultman; dear son of the late Raymond and the late Jacqueline Pultman; dear brother and brother-in-law of Paula Kessler and Brian Pultman (Mindy); dear nephew, cousin and friend.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, July 5 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Jewish Family Services, 10950 Schuetz Road, 63146; Lift for Life Academy, 1920 S. 7th Street, 63104; or the charity of your choice.

Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

RONALD SCHUFF, July 4, 2023

Beloved husband of Lenore Schuff; dear father and father-in-law of Lori Buss (Bradley) and Abby Kilgore (Eric); dear grandfather of Erin and Rebecca Buss and Ian and Emma Kilgore; dear brother of the late Monte Alan Schuff (Kay); dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

A graveside service was held Sunday, July 9 at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service

LISA SCHWARTZ, age 71, of Clayton, MO passed away peacefully on July 8th, 2023.

She was the daughter of the late Anne and Malcolm Brodsky. She was the beloved mother of Stephen Eric Schwartz, mother-in-law of Rosana Schwartz and beloved grandmother of Olivia Schwartz and Ethan Schwartz. She was also sister to Diane (and the late Ron) Greenspan, Donna Brodsky, and the late Mark (Mary) Brodsky.

Funeral Service

Friday July 14, 10:30

AM at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. 63132. Visitation from 10:00 am to the time of the service. Interment following at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Rd. 63017. Memorial contributions preferred to the American Heart Association. Visit www. bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.

Berger Memorial Chapel

JEROME “JERRY” SESLEN, June 19, 2023

Jerome “Jerry” Seslen, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 19th at the age of 87, after a short but intense battle with cancer. He was a remarkable man whose warm heart and kind spirit touched the lives of many. Jerry will be deeply missed and forever remembered for his love, compassion, and zest for life.

Born to the late Mary and David Seslen and survived by his sister Elaine (Donald) Potashnick, Jerry grew up in a loving home that nurtured his values of family, friendship, and hard work. He cherished his family dearly and was a devoted husband of 50 years to his beloved wife, Francine Seslen (nee Nathanson).  He was also the proud father of Tracey Seslen and father-in-law of Mark Westerfield. Jerry’s greatest joy in his later years came from his role as a grandfather to Sasha, Amy, and Michael Westerfield. He delighted in

their accomplishments and cherished the precious moments spent together.

Jerry was the consummate CPA.  Up until he became sick, he was rarely to be found without his adding machine, yellow ledger, and 1980s-vintage IBM Selectric typewriter.  Nobody approached tax season with more excitement than him.  He was also a lover of all things St. Louis.  The radio was always tuned to KMOX to listen to Jack, and later, Joe Buck, broadcasting the games.  He held season tickets for the entire 27-year tenure of the football Cardinals in St. Louis, missing only one game ever – the day of his wedding to Francine in 1972.  He loved attending the Muny and the Repertory Theater and never declined a trip to Ted Drewes.

An eager international traveler, Jerry embarked on numerous adventures alongside his daughter, exploring new cultures and experiencing the beauty of the world.  He never knew quite how Tracey always seemed to get them where they needed to go, amidst language barriers and occasional transportation snafus, but they always had a fun time and never felt guilty for surviving on steak and gelato for an entire week in Buenos Aires.

A Graveside Service was held Friday, June 23 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to Evelyn’s House Hospice or a charity of the donor’s choosing.  Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service DR NATHAN MAX SIMON, psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, professor, and a recognized public health researcher, died on July 4, 2023, at the age of 97.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware on March 27, 1926, Dr. Simon treated patients and taught medical students in St. Louis over 60 years. He attended the University of Delaware before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1943 at 17. Following his honorable discharge as a Sergeant, he entered Yale University and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science, and in 1950 with a Master of Public Health. He then attended the Washington University Medical School, graduating in 1955. After medical school, he interned at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis and was a resident in

psychiatry at Yale University for three successive years. Dr. Simon received his psychoanalytic training at the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago.

He worked at and was affiliated with the Barnes-Jewish Hospital of St. Louis for 35 years, rising to the position of Clinical Director of the Department of Psychiatry. He eventually established a private practice at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Simon was a longtime educator in St. Louis medical schools. He was the Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Emeritus) at St. Louis University Medical School for more than twenty years. He also was an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Emeritus) at Washington University School of Medicine for more than 20 years. At the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, he was a Training and Supervisory Analyst on the faculty where he taught for more than 30 years.

Dr. Simon led ground-breaking studies in public health on abortion, heart attack, smoking, and stress on ICU nurses. Dr. Simon also was active in many local and national organizations, including the ACLU, the St. Louis Heart Association, the Jewish Children’s Home of St. Louis, and the American Psychoanalytic Association. Dr. Simon was an avid backpacker, bicyclist, fly fisherman and a published author.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Barbara Simon, sons and their spouses - Benjamin (Edie Brashares), Charles (Melissa), Philip (Christy Hoffman), and David (Ann), sister Naomi Sales, and eight grandchildren, Charles, Ellie, Jake, Jenna, Jeremy, Julia, Katie, and Sophia. For more information, visit the website www. thedorfmanchapel.com. Donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, or charity of your choice.

JEWISH LITE

JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE

By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: Due to a production error, the June 21 edition’s crossword puzzle included an incorrect puzzle grid. The correct puzzle and grid are included here.

Across

1. Two Presidents

6. Jonathan Pollard, once

9. Make challah, e.g.

13. “American Pie” destination

14. Romantically pursue

15. Neglect to mention

16. Insurance com -

pany with a very well known jingle by

18. Bad points

capable

hit

28. Former Swedish cars

30. Possible class for native Swedish speakers, for short 32. Common can material

35. Apt #1 hit for 47-

39. Either of two books of the Apocrypha: Abbr.

40. Forensic focused TV show

41. Repeal a levy

42. Amtrak listing, briefly

44. Dominate, to gamers

46. Frankfurt freezer cubes

47. Singer born June 17, 1943 (with the last name Pincus)

50. Spoof of 20-Across, as sung by Homer Simpson

52. ___ Steve (spelling instruction, three

words)

53. “The Time Machine” people

54. Where 47-Across might celebrate his birthday?

58. Chess word

59. It can be behind the eightball

60. More secure

61. What the words “dungeon” and “crustacean” have, when spelled correctly

62. Stat. for Mahomes

63. The Ari’s city

Down

1. Michaels and Roker

2. Lions or Tigers, on scoreboards

3. Classics star Gardner

4. It can be precious or heavy

5. Furthest from posh

6. Organized bartering occasions

7. Haifa and Eilat, e.g.

8. Start of many Israeli holidays

9. Southern home of many (former) Jewish New Yorkers

10. “A Stranger ___ Us” (Lumet film)

11. Protein bar brand

12. Crafts site

17. It’s the path to the Dark Side

20. What a cancelled name often becomes

LETTERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

21. “Now, where ___?”

22. How the Israelites were left after the Torah was given

23. Makeup artists?

24. He played Batman

29. Says “Shalom”, in Western Europe

31. Kirk and Spock, e.g., on the Enterprise

33. Chip-making giant

34. New Zealand mys -

been killed in the violence.” Since there was no explanation as to the circumstances of the deaths, readers might mistakenly conclude that all of them were innocent victims.

In fact, while the Israeli casualties were innocent victims of terrorist attacks, the vast majority of the Palestinian Arab fatalities were terrorists. The remainder of the Arab casualties were bystanders who were caught in crossfires initiated by the terrorists. Thus, it is the terrorists, not the Israelis, who bear responsibility for the deaths on the Arab side.

Body counts alone tell us nothing about guilt or innocence. Many more Germans and Japanese died in World War II than Americans, but that did not make the Axis and the Allies moral equivalents. Likewise, there is no moral equivalency between Palestinian Arab terrorists and their Israeli victims.

Stephen M. Flatow, President-elect, Religious Zionists of America New York, N.Y.

Regarding “Longtime Crown Center director plans to retire by year’s end” ( Jewish Light, June 21) Allow me to pay the highest compliment and express my admiration to the Executive Director of the Gladys and Henry Crown Center for Senior Living, Nikki Goldstein, who is retiring from her position at year’s

tery writer Marsh

36. Plug-in vehicle, briefly

37. Least cloudy

38. Major Austin, TX festival

43. Stab

45. Start a Shabbos meal, perhaps

47. G major’s middle

48. An “Evolution of Jewish Music” singer

end after 23 years.

49. Ancient Americans

50. Bit of office correspondence

51. Israeli hero Ramon

54. Pretend to be someone else

55. Like one not hitting shots

56. It may be split at a restaurant

57. Works at a museum?

If I sound prejudiced, it’s because I am, as Nikki is my cousin.

Nikki is a born leader and has been a paragon for excellence in everything she’s ever done, as witness her unparalleled accomplishments at Crown Center. As a young woman growing up, Nikki had a fierce desire to succeed due to her zealous ambition and determination.

I credit her parents — my aunt and uncle-for feeding that desire, and she never disappointed. She never lost track of what she wanted to do in life-help others-and her passion was instrumental in helping her achieve that goal.

On behalf of her family, friends, and colleagues, I want to congratulate her on mission accomplished, and wish her the very best in her future endeavors, not only from the Jewish community, but also from the overall St. Louis community, as well.

Gene Carton Clayton

School oversight

The recent report by The New York Times of the secular educational deficiencies of multiple Hasidic Schools in New York should be a call to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis to ensure that local Orthodox schools are providing a quality education.

Norman Pressman Clayton

Rabbi

Rabbi Hersh’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

Temple Emanuel marked the 10th anniversary of the Senior Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh with a June 4 celebration at Westwood Country Club. Read a full account of the evening by John Lewington on the Light’s website: stljewishlight.org/hersh-milestone

members of the Event Committee and Program Committee

FRONT ROW: pictured from left to right: Suzanne Burack, Jane Feibel, Sharon Minoff, Barbara Lewington, Harriet Turner, Rabbi Elizabeth B. Hersh, Stephanie Alport, Sandy Levy, Tiffany Jarvis, Melissa Merlin, Christine Schulze, John Lewington

BACK

from left to right: Barbie Freund, Warren Davis, Bob Feibel, Michael Freund, Val Turner, Robert Kleinlehrer, Richard Alport, Steve Green, Mona Green, Steven Jarvis

SP TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

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

VIEW MORE ONLINE: stljewishlight.org/multimedia

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

temple emanuel

Temple Emanuel’s indispensable staff:  Executive Director Andrew Goldfeder, Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh and Rabbi Educator Janine Schloss.

Hersh (center) with

ROW: pictured

Noah Kleinlehrer, Rabbi Hersh’s son, toasting his mother after giving a heart-warming tribute

Rabbi Hersh appreciating the many kind tributes for her 10 years of immeasurable service to Temple Emanuel.

Temple President Warren Davis sharing words of gratitude to both Rabbi Hersh for her dedication to the temple and the committee for planning a wonderful event.

Robert Kleinlehrer being greeted by his wife, Rabbi Hersh, after sharing words of love and gratitude.

John Lewington (left), the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, with Rabbi Hersh’s mentor and dear friend, Rabbi Emeritus Howard Kaplansky, addressing the crowd of over 150 attendees at Westwood Country Club.

THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH LIGHT NEEDS YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR FUTURE SHINING BRIGHT.

YOUR DONATION ENABLES US TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY. DURING THIS TIME OF RISING COSTS YOUR SUPPORT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.

YOUR GIFT TODAY MEANS A MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY TOMORROW.