Note to readers: The next printed edition of the Jewish Light will be Sept. 11 — three weeks after this one. In the meantime, you can keep up to date on St. Louis Jewish news by visiting us at stljewishlight.org and by signing up for the Morning Light email newsletter (Mon.-Fri.) at stljewishlight.org/newsletters
Upcoming magazine, Nov. 20 event will spotlight these nine individuals, one couple
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Nine individuals and one married couple will be recognized as the 2024 Jewish Light Unsung Heroes on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. This year’s 15th annual event will take place at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum Unsung Heroes, which began in 2010, shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer or go above and beyond to help the St. Louis Jewish community, and Jewish
St. Louisans who volunteer, either within the local Jewish community and/or the community at large. Since its inception, more than 130 St. Louisans have been honored.
What follows is a brief snapshot into the volunteerism of the Class of 2024 Unsung Heroes. For a more in-depth profile about each, be sure to check out the Light’s Unsung Heroes magazine, which will be published and distributed in the printed newspaper on Nov. 20 and appear online in the days that follow. This year’s Heroes are:
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Ram Lakshmanan, an active member of his local Hindu Temple, who serves as a core member of the Newmark Institute’s Interfaith Breakfast Dialogue group and has been very involved with the planning of the Aurelia Konrad Community Seder. An active, enthusias-
tic and engaging partner of the Jewish Community Relation Council’s interfaith work, he has earned the nickname “Rabbi Ram” through his constant and unwavering presence within Jewish communal spaces. He has continued to be a bridge-builder across communities and is a dedicated volunteer, ready to serve wherever he is needed most.
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Sharon Weissman, who wears multiple hats in service to her Judaism and Congregation Shaare Emeth. Weissman has led numerous “wise aging” training groups for adults 55-plus wanting spiritual resources and Jewish mindfulness as they navigate senior adulthood. At Shaare Emeth, she is a longtime member of the shiva committee, provides ride and meals for congregants and founded a mishpo-
See UNSUNG HEROES on page 11
BY MEGAN RUBENSTEIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Growing up the son of a conservative rabbi in New Jersey, Rabbi Eliezer Finkelstein always saw rabbinical work in his future. Now, he’s joining the Bais Abraham team as the synagogue celebrates its 130th year.
“I come from a rabbinic family,” he said. “I grew up in that world, so I always knew I wanted to be a rabbi.”
After finding himself at home within the Orthodox community while studying at Columbia University, he chose to attend Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York.
“They were authentic in their Judaism and cared about me both as a person and as someone who could be a good rabbi for people,” Finkelstein said.
After graduating from rabbinical school in 2021, he took a job in Baltimore as the assistant rabbi at Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Hebrew Congregation. During his time in Baltimore, he and his wife, Danya, welcomed two baby boys.
His rabbinical school put him in touch with Bais Abraham, and after learning more about the job opportunity, he felt it could be a perfect fit.
“The main thing I prioritize when looking at a shul is what kind of community they have,” Finkelstein said. “Other things can change, but how friendly people are and how people care about each other, that’s the foundation of the shul. They have so much history, and that made it a place where I wanted to continue the legacy.”
Dan Vianello, president of the Bais
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UPCOMING PUBLICATION DATES FOR 2024
The Jewish Light will publish print editions twice a month in 2024, on the following dates:
• Sept. 11
• Sept. 25
• Oct. 9
• Oct. 23
• Nov. 6
• Nov. 20
• Dec. 4
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Please note there will be three weeks between the Light’s Aug. 21 and Sept. 11 editions.
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Michael Staenberg, President
Bethe Growe, Immediate Past President
Kara Newmark, Vice President
Ryan Rich, Vice President
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DIRECTORS
Caroline Goldenberg, Mia Kweskin, Debbie Lefton, Steve Rosenzweig and Adam Schneider
JEWISH LIGHT PAST PRESIDENTS
Bernard Fischlowitz*, Milton I. Goldstein*, Morris Pearlmutter* (founder), Morris Moscowitz*, Melvin Newmark*, Rabbi
Alvan D. Rubin*, Vivian Zwick*, Joseph Edlin*, Michael Newmark, Richard Stein, Yusef Hakimian*, Sanford Weiss*, Philip Isserman*, Linda Kraus, Richard Flom, Marvin Schneider, Barbara Langsam
Shuman, Terry Bloomberg, John Greenberg, David Grebler*, Milton Movitz*, Gianna Jacobson, Jenny Wolkowitz, Gary Kodner, Jane Tzinberg Rubin, Steve Gallant, Laura K. Silver, Bethe Growe
* Of Blessed Memory
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EDITORIAL
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BUSINESS & ENGAGEMENT
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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GRAPHIC DESIGN
Candice Evers
The Jewish Light is a community partner of Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
Shabbat begins Friday, Aug. 23: 7:26 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday, Aug. 24: 8:24 p.m.
Torah reading: Eikev
Shabbat begins Friday, Aug. 30: 7:16 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday, Aug. 31: 8:13 p.m.
Torah reading: Re’eh
Shabbat begins Friday, Sept. 6: 7:05 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday, Sept 7: 8:01 p.m.
Torah reading: Shoftim
BY JORDAN PALMER & ELLEN FUTTERMAN CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Overwhelming support from the St. Louis Jewish community turned out to be critical to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s victory on Aug. 6 over incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, a two-term progressive and outspoken critic of Israel.
The primary race for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District drew national attention because of Political Action Committees such as AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) investing over $9 million to oppose Bush, who was one of the first to urge a ceasefire in Gaza following the attack by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7 and also sought to cut aid to Israel.
Locally, however, some credit Bell’s victory to grassroots efforts that unified St. Louis Jews across all denominations and political preferences.
The Jewish Light is a member of the American Jewish Press Association
Stacey Newman, who served as a Democratic state representative in Missouri for nine years, joined Bell’s campaign as his Jewish vote coalition director. She worked closely with Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham of Congregation B’nai Amoona and Lisa Baron, a retired attorney and nonprofit director who belongs to Young Israel, to construct a campaign strategy that would fully engage the entire local Jewish community.
“What we all experienced as a result of Oct. 7 changed our world,” said Newman. “I don’t know that anyone had gone after the Jewish vote. We have never been a constituency important to the outcome of an election. We had no roadmap.”
Together, they secured support for Bell from more than 35 St. Louis area rabbis from all levels of Jewish denominations.
“Three weeks after our community was devastated and in pain by the news of Hamas’ horrific massacre in Israel, Prosecuting Attorney Bell announced he was running to represent Missouri District 1 in Washington, D.C.,” wrote the group “St. Louis Rabbis & Cantors for Wesley Bell for Congress” in a letter to the Jewish Light in June. “This district represents a
large segment, but not the entirety of the St. Louis metropolitan area and has an impact beyond its boundaries.”
The letter, along with efforts by the local group “St. Louis Votes” to maximize Jewish voter turnout, sparked an unprecedented wave of unity among the Jewish community in St. Louis, with individuals and groups coming together like never before.
Cheryl Adelstein of St. Louis Votes, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) focused on empowering Jewish St. Louisans, highlighted the impact of their efforts. She noted that according to the St. Louis County Turnout Dashboard, voter turnout in University City, Olivette and a small part of Creve Coeur – each with a relatively large Jewish population -- ranged from 40% to 50%.
“As average turnout for a primary is around 20%, we feel that our efforts had a positive impact in mobilizing the Jewish community to get out and vote,” added Adelstein.
“We came together, united across various denominations, recognizing the need to remove an antisemitic individual from Congress,” said Abraham, referring to Bush. “We were able to unite and be part of a greater cause, ensuring that we are represented by someone who genuinely cares about us and wants to understand our issues.”
Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, chairman of Coalition for Jewish Values Missouri and an Orthodox rabbi, said that in his more than three decades in St. Louis, he couldn’t remember an event, excluding an attack on Israel -- that brought such disparate segments of the Jewish community together for a common cause.
“Thirty-six rabbis and clergy representing the broadest gamut—from Reform to Orthodox—signed a letter in support of Wesley Bell,” he said. “That was an astounding demonstration of how, when the situation calls for it, we can and should put aside our strongly held legitimate differences to do what’s best for the Jewish people and our community.”
Newman also emphasized the impor-
See PRIMARY on page 21
BILL MOTCHAN
TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Nate’s Kosher Deli officially opened on Aug. 8, operating out of the former Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli building, 10405 Old Olive Street Road. The business is working under the kosher supervision of the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis.
Chicken, beef, and lamb are cut to order and available pre-packaged. On Aug. 13, Nate’s added deli take-out. A Shabbat menu is also being planned. The take-out menu is limited to eight items, according to owner-operator Avi Rosenberg.
“I’ll have four hot items and four cold items,” Rosenberg said. “The hot items will include the killer pastrami sandwich, a Reuben sandwich, a brisket sandwich and a corned beef sandwich.”
The pastrami, which will be prepared using the original Kohn’s recipe, is a labor-intensive dish, as is corned beef.
“There’s more time that goes into making those because there’s pickling,” Rosenberg said. “You have to let it marinate and there are other things hat go into it. And then, it tastes amazing.”
The Shabbat takeout menu is still a work in progress, Rosenberg said. He will begin by offering a menu similar to Kohn’s, but using some of his own recipes.
“I have a chef coming in, too, and hopefully after the summer, I’m going to change things up a little bit,” he said.
In addition, Giti Fredman, of Just Bake It, will move her challah production into Nate’s parve bakery where she will offer her baked goods in time for Shabbat each week. On the menu will be challah, chal-
lah rolls, chocolate babka, cinnamon buns, cookies and potato kugel.
Rosenberg said he enjoys the food industry and restaurant business, despite its long hours and stress. He’s happy to provide an important asset for the St. Louis Jewish community.
“I think people are positive about it,” he said. “I will be solving an issue, and my goal is to be a gourmet butcher shop that’s still reasonably priced, and eventually a
nice place that you can sit down and take a client to eat. I want to provide good quality and good food. That’s my focus.”
In addition to being in charge of the kitchen and butchery, Rosenberg will be the counterman and face of Nate’s Kosher Deli. He will be assisted by his wife, St. Louis native and social media fashion expert Esther Santer. The deli is named for Santer and Rosenberg’s three-year-old son Nate.
Avi Rosenberg is the owner of Nate’s Kosher Deli, which is located at the former Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli building, at 10405 Old Olive Street Road. Rosenberg said the location is temporary, until he finds a permanent space for the buisness.
The business is temporarily operating out of the former Kohn’s building. Eventually, Rosenberg plans to relocate after he identifies a suitable space with a commercial kitchen. Nate’s will not have a dry-goods section or bakery, so a sizable portion of the Kohn’s building will be unused.
Nate’s hours of operation will be: Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER
Get ready, St. Louis. The much-anticipated Sababa Jewish Arts & Culture Festival is back, bringing its unique blend of art, music and food to a new location. After previous celebrations on the campus of Washington University in 2018 and 2022, Sababa 2024 will now take place at the Staenberg Family Complex near Creve Coeur on Sept. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Jewish Community Center, in collaboration with the St. Louis Jewish Federation, promises a day filled with rich cultural experiences, headlined by four musical acts and amazing Jewish-style food and art.
Music lovers are in for a treat with an eclectic lineup of performances that capture the essence of Jewish and global music traditions:
• Gili Yalo: Hailing from Israel, Yalo blends Ethiopian roots with a modern mix
Jewish Arts Festival moves from WashU
to
the J’s Staenberg Family Complex. Here’s your guide.
of soul, funk, psychedelic, and jazz.
• Joe Buchanan: This Texas-born artist brings Southern charm and soul to Jewish music, offering heartfelt country tunes steeped in Torah and the trials of the human spirit.
• Charlie Kramer, Lucy Greenbaum & Greta Rosenstock: These local St. Louis favorites and Jewish song leaders join forces for a one-day-only performance, perfect for families attending after Sunday School.
• Klezundheit!: Missouri’s only klezmer big band, Klezundheit!, is set to deliver a high-energy, danceable performance that is sure to get everyone on their feet.
No festival would be complete without great music and incredible food, and Sababa 2024 is no exception. This year, plan to eat well as the festival is being catered by Zelda’s, one of the leading kosher catering companies in the Midwest. Known for their fresh, scratch-made dishes, Zelda’s will be serving up a menu that includes meat and pareve options, all pre-
pared with proprietary recipes that have been perfected over the years.
The menu from Zelda’s will include classic festival food like beef hot dogs and brats, hamburgers (and a quinoa and black bean burger), as well as Jewish favorites like a braised brisket sandwich, schnitzel, corned beef, shawarma, knishes, babka, chocolate chip mandel breit, Israeli salad and more.
In 2024, Sababa organizers prioritized works by artists creating Jewish-themed art or with a connection to the Jewish community. Here are all the artists and their respective mediums:
• Cindy Larimore: Painting and mixed media
• Tsila Schwartz: Calligraphy and illumination
• David Alper: Glass, flameworking
• Sallie Volotzky: Glass
• Ilanit Michelson: Ceramic
• Isaac Baran: Wood, metal, electronics
• Angie Spain: French beaded flowers
Sababa Jewish Arts & Cultural Festival
WHEN: Sept. 29, 10:30 to 4 p.m.
WHERE: The Jewish Community Center’s The Staenberg Family Complex near Creve Coeur
MORE INFO: Visit sababastl.com
• Bar Rodin: Jewelry
• Elaine Unell: Ceramics
• Margo Tzadok: Acrylic
• David Coblitz: Photography
• Sam Zitin: Wood (or wood/resin)
• Jessie Cargas: Steel sculptures
• Deborah Weinstein: Ceramics
• Lizz Caplan: Acrylic
• Fay Balk: Glass — Jewelry, Judaica and homewares
• Elianna Dryer: Papercutting, watercolor, oil and prints
• Stephanie & Scott Rhea: Metal
• Aura Kavadlo: Jewelry
• Teresa Reeves: Glass
• Susanne “Gaucha” Paykowski “Berlin”: Photography
• Hana Solomon: Painting
At this critical juncture in American history, rife with partisanship and discord, our guests expertly demonstrate how even people with sharply differing political, religious, and ideological views can engage in respectful and constructive debate
• Contemporary issues & public policy remedies
• Bipartisanship
• Perspectives on abortion, affirmative action, climate change, antisemitism, & more
• Insights from Jewish history, tradition, & values
Mark your calendar fashionistas. The National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis (NCJWSTL) will hold its annual Couturier sale Sept. 25-28 at The Resale Shop, 295 N. Lindbergh Blvd. This year, the celebration promises to be even more festive as Couturier marks its 60th anniversary.
Items sold during this event are the highest quality designer brands which have been collected, curated and procured from thousands of donations received throughout the year. The Couturier event will include clothing for women and men, plus accessories and unique home décor. The Resale Shop will offer brands such as Burberry, Kate Spade, St. John, Lululemon, Gucci, Ferragamo, Eileen Fisher, Michael Kors and more.
The Resale Shop bustles with business year-round, but the atmosphere turns festive during Couturier, according to Jessica Duneman, director of retail operations
“The merchandise is high-end and in excellent condition,” she said. “What sets our resale store apart is the quality of donations received from our incredible donors. We are excited to have collected more than 25,000 items for this year’s event.”
Couturier kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 25, with VIP Preview Events, where purchasing a special VIP ticket allows shoppers to be among the first to shop for all the unique designer items. The event continues with no entry fee Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27, followed by a storewide sale on Saturday, Sept. 28. The
Above, in this file photo of a past Couturier sale, shoppers arrive to shop designer resale items at NCJWSTL’s The Resale Shop.
60th Annual Couturier is held in partnership with Freeman’s | Hindman and STL Jewish Light
Couturier schedule:
• Sept. 25 | 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | $100
VIP Preview
• Sept. 25 | 1-4 p.m. | $60 VIP Preview
• Sept. 25 | 4–8 p.m. | $10 Preview Night
Celebrating 38 Years!
Celebrating 38 Years!
• Sept. 26 | 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. | Open to the public
• Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. | Open to the public
• Sept. 28 | 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. | 25% off storewide
For more information visit https://bit.ly/ Couturier2024 or call Yolonda Curtin, Marketing Manager, at 314-993-5181.
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6364 Delmar Blvd In the Loop 314 -727-0704
212 N. Kingshighway in the CWE (Inside The Chase Park Plaza Hotel) 314-633-6910
212 N. Kingshighway in the CWE (Inside The Chase Park Plaza Hotel) 314-633-6910
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Two years ago, Emeritus Rabbi Mark L. Shook began an unprecedented program of Bible study that centered on the New Testament.
“If knowledge is power, then Jewish ignorance of the New Testament makes Jews vulnerable, and the New Testament is an important resource for studying Judaism under the Roman Empire,” he said. “The destruction of the Temple in the year 70 CE, during the Jewish revolt against Rome, set in motion the ideas, spiritual values, and conflicts of both Judaism and Christianity today.”
In continuation of this important study, this year’s class will open with the New Testament book, “The Acts of the Apostles.”
Classes are led by Shook, held Saturdays, Sept. 7 through April, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel and via Zoom
The recommended course text is “The Jewish Annotated New Testament,” second edition, edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler.
Previous attendance, knowledge or experience with the New Testament is not necessary. The course is open to the community.
Pre-registration is required for all who wish to attend at: www.ti-stl.org/ BibleStudy
The Mirowitz Center is launching two new support groups, supported by a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged. The groups are:
• “Grief & Bereavement Support Group”: This free, in-person monthly group started Aug. 14 and takes place once a month, from 10 to 11 a.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Led by social worker Nikki Adams, a trained facilitator with Provident Behavioral Health, this monthly group is a compassionate and supportive space for older adults to navigate the journey of grief by sharing experiences, finding comfort and building connections with others.
• “Caregiver Connections” starts Tuesday, Sept. 10 (2 to 3:30 p.m.). This free, in-person group will be led by Joan M. Hirst and Sarah Z. Levinson of Jewish Family Services St. Louis. Are you caring for a loved one? Caregiving can be a joyful and rewarding experience. It can also be stressful, frustrating and overwhelming. In this new caregiver support group, participants will have a safe space to share personal experiences, access resources and learn strategies to promote health, strength and resilience. To register for either group’s sessions, visit http://bit.ly/Mirowitz-registration, call 314-733-9813 or email program@ mirowitzcenter.org.
BY MOLLY LEVINE JEWISH LIGHT SUMMER INTERN
A year ago, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation banning gender-affirming care for kids. LGBTQIA+ activist Chelsea Freels was one of many young St. Louisans impacted by the legislation.
Freels, 18, a recent graduate of Clayton High School and member of Central Reform Congregation, came out as transgender in June of 2021. Since then, she has been actively involved in LGBTQIA+ activism.
“[The] Missouri State Legislature…decided a year or two ago that their top priority was transgender kids,” Freels said. “I was a transgender kid at the time who they were targeting by trying to take away my health care.”
In January 2022, Freels traveled to Jefferson City to share her testimony with the state legislature for the first time. Freels has continued to do so for the past three legislative seasons.
Freels’ activism has not gone unnoticed. Last school year, she received the Margaret Dagen Social Justice Award for her dedication to advocacy for social justice. Freels was also selected as a 2024 Courage Scholar by the Missouri Courage Scholarship, an LGBTQ scholarship organization that recognizes students for displaying courage and taking a stand for social justice.
“I feel like I’m being recognized,” Freels said. “I feel like my accomplishments are being noted, which is good. It’s a great feeling.”
While advocating for transgender rights at the state capital, Freels was accompanied by her parents. She also interacted with many other activists, including congregants from CRC.
“Everybody at the Jefferson City hearings was very welcoming,” Freels said. “I was treated with kindness and respect.”
After connecting with CRC congregants at the state capital, Freels started exploring Judaism. She began studying Torah and other Jewish texts.
“I really love the Jewish way of interrogating texts,” she said. “[One of my favorite lines from the Mishnah is], ‘The world stands upon three things, upon truth, upon justice and upon peace.’ I like it because… it’s the ideals of what we’re supposed to be looking on.”
In addition to embracing Jewish learning, Freels found ways to become involved in the Jewish community. She began helping with audio/visual production at CRC while also attending synagogue services.
“I wanted to see the people that were willing to help me out,” Freels said.
After careful consideration, Freels converted to Judaism this past year. Throughout the process, Freels was supported by the Jewish community as well as her parents.
“[My parents] are supportive and very accepting,” Freels said. “They want to be a part of my life, and I appreciate that.”
From attending their daughter’s mikvah to celebrating Hanukkah together, Rene and Kyle Freels actively supported their Chelsea’s choice to convert to Judaism.
“[CRC has] lifted Chelsea up, and they’ve provided a space for her,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to CRC for doing that. That just means so much.”
Freels will attend the University of North Carolina Asheville in the fall. There, she plans to continue advocating for transgender rights while practicing Judaism.
Superb hospitality. Exceptional amenities. Vibrant personalities.
Clarendale Clayton has it all in a unique location unlike anything you’d expect from typical senior living options.
Urban excitement lives on every floor of our high-rise building, all the way up to the penthouse and private apartment balconies with views of the city, gourmet restaurant dining, modern wellness programming, social gatherings, and everything you need to live with ease and enjoyment.
Starting in September, as part of the Jewish Women’s Circle, Chabad of Chesterfield will offer a “Bat Mitzvah Milestone” course for adults. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings, meeting monthly, through May. The course will culminate with a special ceremony to celebrate this milestone and accomplishment together with family and friends.
Throughout the yearlong course, the topics and discussions will cover the basic tenets of Judaism and the special role that Jewish women play throughout history as well as today. Participants will have the opportunity to uncover the essential
change that occurs on the day they become a bat mitzvah and understand how it impacts them each and every day of their lives, going forward.
The course will be led and instructed by Chanala Rubenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Chesterfield.
The cost for the yearly course is $360. Due to the nature of the course, spaces will be limited, on a first come- first served basis.
For more information, course dates and to register please visit: bit.ly/batmitzvahmilestone. Applications are currently being accepted.
Nearly 40 members of the Jewish community gathered at United Hebrew Congregation on Aug. 7 in a show of solidarity and support for Israel and the hostages still held captive by Hamas. The date marked the 10th month since the Hamas attack. Led by Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham, senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Amoona and Mike Minoff, the group marched from UH to the corner of 141 and Conway Road where the Ribbon of Hope displays photos of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza.
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum has launched its new corporate membership program, Corporations of Conscience. This initiative offers local businesses an exclusive opportunity to engage with the Museum’s mission while enjoying a range of benefits designed to enrich their corporate culture and community involvement.
Corporate members will receive many exclusive benefits, including individual employee gift memberships, professional development workshops, invitations to exclusive receptions and more. These benefits are crafted to provide meaningful engagement and foster a deeper connection with the Museum’s mission of promoting understanding and rejecting hatred through Holocaust education.
“We are thrilled to offer corporations a unique way to engage with our mission,” said Chaney Jewell, the museum’s director of development. “By becoming a Corporation of Conscience, businesses can directly support our efforts to educate and inspire future generations. This program is not just about membership; it’s about creating a community of leaders committed to fostering understanding and standing against hate.”
The Corporations of Conscience membership levels begin at $10,000, offering various tiers to accommodate the unique needs and capacities of different organizations. For more details on membership benefits and how to join, visit stlholocaustmuseum.org/corporate-support.
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.
Assistance League of St. Louis elected Sandy Thal as its president for the 20242025 fiscal year. She is a member of United Hebrew Congregation.
Daniel Polinsky has joined IFG Advisors LLC as a financial planner. Currently a candidate for CFP certification, he provides financial planning in the areas of investments, taxes, retirement, estate, insurance and debt management.
Allie Chervitz is a new registered behavior technician at Autism Learning Collaborative (ALC). She implements individualized behavior plan, records and tracks data on learning and behavior targets, and enhances social and communication skills for her clients. ALC provides personalized ABA therapy for children with autism between the ages of 10 months to 16 years old. Chervitz is also an inclusion specialist at Congregation Shaare Emeth, where she is a member.
Former St. Louisan Jeffrey Zuckerman was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) at a recent ceremony held in New York City. The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was established by the French Minister of Culture in 1957 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to furthering the arts, literature and culture in France and beyond. Zuckerman, who is deaf, was recognized for his achievements as a translator of French literature. He currently resides in New York City, where he works is an editor, writer and translator. Zuckerman’s latest translated work is “Jellyfish Have No
Ears” by Adèle Rosenfeld, an autobiographical novel of a woman who is losing her hearing. He will be in St. Louis on Sept. 19 for a book signing at Left Bank Books.
Rabbi Scott Slarskey is the new director of Jewish Life at Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C. He was the former director of Jewish Life at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School
Rabbi Tracy Nathan, former educator on the Judaic faculty at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, is the new director of Lifelong Learning at Tifereth Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.
Leslie and Barry Yoffie were honored as Parents of the Year by Chabad at Washington University, Rohr Center for Jewish Life. Their unwavering commitment and steadfast support over the past decade have been instrumental in enriching the community. The Yoffies’ generosity and dedication continue to inspire and support the growth and vitality of the Jewish life on campus. They are members
of United Hebrew Congregation.
The HNW Group (Huffman Noakes Weber) of Morgan Stanley was recognized on the 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list in Missouri. Based in Clayton, the six-person team, including Art Stone, who is associate vice president and financial advisor. He is a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth.
Ali Sigel and her husband, David Kerins, opened Forty Elephants, in downtown Kirkwood, The consignment shop will offer women’s/femme clothing and accessories from 30 different vendors on a rotating basis, resulting in an eclectic mix of vintage and modern name brands, as well as niche sellers who deal in specific items, like denim or cashmere.
Correction:
Due to a production error, the photograph of Chelsea Freels on the Aug. 7 Newsmakers page was incorrectly identified in the accompanying photo caption. This week’s edition includes a story about Freels on page 7.
RIGHT: Ali
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
cha (family) group. Weissman also was trained by Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) to be a para-rabbinic, to gain more knowledge in matters of Torah study, Jewish ritual and communal leadership.
vvv
Linda Sandmel, who like Weisman is a Shaare Emeth congregant and has launched multiple projects there, formed the synagogue’s shiva committee in 1998. She has trained volunteers to lead shiva minyans and also went through HUC-JIR’s para-rabbinic training. Sandmel has led Kabbalat Shabbat services at a wide variety of area senior homes and organized many of the women’s retreats at Shaare Emeth. She has been an active participant in Shabbat morning Torah study there and formed a Rosh Chodesh group that is still meeting after 25 years. vvv
Hillary Friedman, who is a longtime volunteer at the National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis, where she has co-chaired the annual Couturier event and will do so again this year. The many projects she has begun and the committees she has served on at NCJWSTL include its child abuse prevention program (with Jewish Family Services), its leadership training program and its advisory council. She also is very involved in the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. vvv
Married couple Barb and Rich Kramer, who seem to have a limitless supply of energy for volunteerism. Barb has served on boards of organizations ensuring seniors and those with disabilities get transportation to and from
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work, doctor’s appointments and more; has volunteered with NCJWSTL’s Community Closet for Kids; chaired the Jewish Book Festival and since 2020, has made over 200 lasagnas as part of Lasagna Love, which helps address food insecurity. Rich, in addition to driving Barb as they bring food to the greater St. Louis community, volunteers with the USO, has fundraised for the March of Dimes and its Bikers for Babies events, and has served on various Shaare Emeth boards and committees. vvv
Wendy Flusser, who is another example of an uber volunteer, especially in the area of social justice. She has volunteered as a tutor with Oasis, a lifelong learning program for aging adults; packed books in warehouses for Ready Readers; served on multiple committees for the JCRC, Shaare Emeth and NCJWSTL; worked on racial justice and Medicaid expansion issues; volunteered at Oak Hill Elementary School in the city and Shirlee Green Preschool at Shaare Emeth and more.
vvv
Ellen Schapiro, who has spent more than 15 years advocating for women’s rights and abortion access. She is also a board member of Spirit of St. Louis, a women’s philanthropy group that works to support non-profits and a volunteer and past board member of Nishmah, a women’s support and empowerment group at the Jewish Community Center. Currently, she serves on the board of the J. vvv
Rachel Sanger, who has been a volunteer for Burns Recovered for 15 years, first as a counselor, then as camp nurse and currently, medical director. Most of the children come from a lower socioeconomic background and
have never been to a camp. Sanger has created several very successful fundraisers to raise money for these campers, including one called the Summit for Seventy Campaign, which involved her mastering difficult physical feats that garnered more than $80,000. vvv
Ken Weintraub, a licensed social worker, for his volunteer work over the past nine years with The Kaufman Fund, serving veterans and their families in need. Weintraub’s efforts on behalf of the organization include writing the grant to secure Missouri NAP tax credits to provide dental health care for 200 veterans’ families; recruiting more than 115 lawyers to volunteer their time on behalf of the veterans and securing the assistance of 13 therapists to work with veterans, most of whom are dealing with significant levels of PTSD.
Peggy (Margaret) Cohen Voss, who has positively impacted numerous local non-profits with her volunteer efforts, including Cultural Leadership, HateBrakers and NCJWSTL, where she continues on its board. She has been particularly active in NCJWSTL’s Jean Stein Bloch “Wife, Widow and Woman” program as a volunteer leader and coordinator of special events. At Temple Emanuel, she has helped helm the twice monthly preparation and delivery of homemade pasta and cookies for the refugee and homeless clients of Little Angels Foundation, which strives to alleviate food insecurity in the region. She has also represented TE as part of the JCRC’s Jewish Coalition for Racial Equality and Jewish Coalition for New Americans.
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 ABOUT THE
RABBI JAMES STONE GOODMAN CENTRAL REFORM CONGREGATION
Ekev also signifies “heel.” Every generation is a heel generation, in the sense that everything previous has contributed to everything we do, all previous actsrest on the heel of the present, and so every act, every word, every gesture, every mitzvah, every one of us commits now is contributing in some inscrutable, dimly discerned, non-obvious way to the future, to redemption, to repair, just as we are a heel generation on us too everything rests. Everything rests on the heel.
Ekev is a curious word, it also sets up a conditional situation: If you do such and such, such and such will happen. Because if you do or if you say such and such, it will come to pass.
It’s a conditional, the word sometimes classified as a conjunction.
A conjunction is a holy part of speech. To be a part of something, as in that sacred word: And. Something a preposition might admire.
Be a conjunction for a while, be a preposition, be an article. Ooh an article, like a or an. Better: Be a diacritical point. We have many of those in our sacred language.
Every single word, every dot, every gesture is necessary.
Conditional: You know the laws that I gave you to protect? Do them and I’ll keep the covenant and the kindnesses. You know the ones that you didn’t keep? The ones that you walked on? The ones that were thrown under your heel?
For that too I will keep the faith. It all rests on the heel of your generation maybe on you yourself. Everything contributes. Try that on.
Big small good bad beautiful lowly lofty intentions mistakes — all of it.
Also in this portion: “So G-d afflicted you and made you hungry, and had you eat the manna which you had not known
Rabbi James Stone Goodman serves Central Reform Congregation and is a Past President of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.
enough, you can’t love enough to satisfy a hunger that isn’t physical. My soul thirsts for G-d, the living G-d, this from Psalm 42:3. That’s the remedy, the enduring rem-
Every word, every conjunction, every preposition, every mitzvah light and/or heavy—counts, contributes. Everything.” “
and which your ancestors had not known, in order to make you know that not by bread alone do human beings live, but by everything that issues from the mouth of G-d do human beings live” (Deut. 8:3).
Drugs won’t do it, booze won’t do it, sex won’t do it, money won’t do it, food won’t do it, only the living G-d, only HaKol, Everything. Not the Dow, the Tao.
You can’t eat enough, you can’t drink
edy, the perennial wisdom. Now be Nothing again, a diacritical point. Try that on again. Then — be something. Become bittel (diminished) in our language, then become yesh (something). Every word, every conjunction, every preposition, every mitzvah light and/or heavy — counts, contributes. Everything. Everything matters. Every single thing.
Email news@stljewishlight.org
An appreciation of rabbi’s recent commentary
I can’t tell you how inspired I was by Rabbi (Yonason) Goldson’s article
“Reject choice between ethics and competence-you can’t have one without the other,” in your Aug. 7 issue.
There is so much in this commentary that I had to read it three or four times to get its full meaning.
I emerged with a fuller understanding as to why we don’t always get the leaders we deserve in society today.
One key remedy I can think of is to emphasize the study of government and civics to a much greater extent in our schools today.
Rabbi Goldson’s discussion of the writings of medieval philosopher Omar Khayyam and also his telling of the biblical story of Jotham and Abimelech had pinpoint relevance to his main points in the article.
Harry Toder University City
BY RABBI ELIZABETH HERSH TEMPLE EMANUEL
Author Elie Wiesel tells the story of the one righteous man of Sodom, who walked the streets protesting the injustices of his city. People made fun of him, derided him. Finally, a young person asked:
“Why do you continue your protest against evil; can’t you see no one is paying attention to you?”
He answered, “I’ll tell you why I continue. In the beginning, I thought I would change people. Today, I know I cannot. Yet, if I continue my protest, at least I will prevent others from changing me.”
This week’s Torah portion opens with the well-known statement, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” The verse in its entirety reads, “Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may strive and occupy the land that the Eternal your God is giving you.”
The entire Tanach occupies itself with the concept of justice. The prophets shouted out for justice when they witnessed perversions of God’s word. Amos declared in the name of God, “Let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
Isaiah shouted, “Seek justice, relieve the oppressed.”
In Proverbs we read, “Speak up for the rights of all the unfortunate. Speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.” (31:8-9)
It is not enough to simply set up or have justice. Rather, we are commanded to actively pursue justice. In the middle of the first century, the president of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court, advised his community, “Do not ridicule or scorn the doing of justice, for it is one of the foundations of the world. For the world is balanced on three things: on justice, on truth and on peace.”
The rabbis connected the concept of justice with peace and truth, as we read in Pirke Avot: “Where justice is done, peace and truth prevail.”
Hence, justice equates to tranquility. Our sages stressed that having a just court system that metes out justice between humans is more important than all the sacrifices made at the Temple. While sacrifices are limiting, justice is always pertinent to the healthy functioning of a community.
Rashi commented that justice meant not accepting bribes and never showing preferential treatment to rich or poor. The repetition of the word “justice,” some suggest, is for emphasis.
Another explanation reflects the notion of communal responsibility. “Justice, justice” means that it is not only the responsibility of judges and government to activate justice, but it is a universal commandment for all members of society. It is wrong to assume that someone else will correct a wrong. We know only too well what happens when individuals remain silent in the midst of injustice and wrongdoing.
The following teaching brings light to this:
“Though a person may be a scholar of Torah and a teacher of great renown, careful in observing all the ritual commandments, if such a person is able to protest a wrongdoing and neglects to do so, he is considered cursed. Similarly, if a person observes no ritual commandments but stands up to protest evil, such a person is called a blessing.”
In the third century, commentator Simeon ben Lakish suggested that the repetition of the word justice is there to remind us to be careful to “review and examine the evidence by listening carefully to what is said by seeking out deception.” In other words, judges should take their time and not rush to make a judgment.
Moses Maimonides declared that the additional word teaches us that individuals
Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh is senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel and a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the d’var Torah for the Jewish Light.
and judges should not make decisions solely on their impressions. There must be a process of consultation. Not only should they keep their minds and eyes open, but judges as well as people should go out of their way to collect facts. No short cuts allowed!
Go! Go and pursue justice for the sake of justice and of peace. The world cannot exist solely on justice, nor can it exist only with mercy. We function with justice, mercy and lovingkindness. The result is a world filled with love of humanity. It is within our grasp.
Editor’s note: Shoftim is the parashah for Shabbat on Sept. 6 and 7. The Light is publishing this d’var Torah early because its next print edition publishes Sept. 11.
BY STACEY NEWMAN
The office has been cleaned out, campaign photos and signs stripped from the walls, and goodbye hugs given to college interns and staff. Just a few weeks ago, St. Louis Democratic primary voters chose a new candidate, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, to represent the 1st Congressional District in Washington. It was far from a “normal” primary campaign.
Oct. 7 changed the world in ways we never saw coming.
We awoke to the worst murder of Jews since the Holocaust and, in our collective shock, never expected the world to turn on us so fast. At least, I didn’t. I was in no way prepared for the level of hate that exploded all around us, seeping onto our college campuses as Israel became the hot topic of congressional campaigns in a presidential year.
Days after the horrid news, our St. Louis Jewish community showed up, pouring into a gym for an emotional vigil — Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Jews — all of us. I was struck by the charged communal spirit and saw differences melt away. We felt the potent need to stand closely together, for the outside hate toward Jews had already begun, the hate that was perhaps always bubbling under the surface.
We desperately needed an ally in Congress, one who didn’t call us names and would stand with us, not with the terrorists.
Fast forward months later and 36 St. Louis rabbis, in their personal capacities, made history by endorsing Wesley Bell for Congress. Nowhere in the country had this been done before, and certainly not by a collection of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis who rarely agree on much. But they did, because of the growing hate against Jews in our own backyard and because, courageously, they knew they must.
In my 22-plus years of campaigns, including several bruisers of my own, I had never been part of one in which my safety and that of volunteers and staff was a daily concern.
I had never had protestors bang on office windows, threaten and scream just because some of us inside were Jewish. But we didn’t flinch, as eight of those rabbis stood arm in arm on a Sunday afternoon, making history, in a jam-packed office. Or rather, they didn’t flinch. My heart was in my throat, knowing the office was one block from a shul, potentially a target for violence. I knew what one thrown rock could lead to.
The protests outside Bell’s campaign
Stacey Newman, a retired Missouri state representative, was the Jewish Vote Coalition director for Wesley Bell for Congress.
office continued until the election. Instead of chasing away volunteers, they came in numbers and with passion. A synagogue in Skokie, Ill., volunteered to make calls to our voters every Tuesday morning, and a group of Orthodox friends in Los Angeles organized a huge phone bank. By July, more than 140 Jewish volunteers in numerous states, whom I didn’t know and would never meet, were phoning for us every day, because Bell’s promise to stand with Jews resonated with them as well.
In traditional campaigns, candidates routinely differ on policy and on message, but they don’t spread and incite fear. At least not before Oct. 7, they didn’t.
But the world changed, campaigns changed, and it took one candidate who was not Jewish, willing to stand, as he often said, “for right versus wrong.”
BY STEVE TURNER
The building’s architecture is outdated.
At best, it should be torn down and reconstructed.
At the least, it could use some modern touches and a few coats of paint.
Tucked away among the grandiose mansions in Mizzou’s Greek town, stands the home of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
Built in the mid-1960s, the 110-yard two story building is made of dark brick and grey stone. It presents as a structure whose time has long past.
Yet, to many, it stands proudly as an edifice of achievement; some hardship, much friendship, and most of all brotherhood.
Though the building’s years number 55, the memories created inside reach into the thousands.
High achieving professionals have resided within its domain.
Many became accountants, attorneys, dentists, journalists, surgeons and business owners. One even the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys football team.
Some found their soul mates. Many marriages followed.
In January 1970, after high school graduation and a six-month stint in the Coast Guard reserves, I passed through its doorway for the first time.
Wary and nervous I searched around. After a few minutes I saw some familiar faces.
A handful of friends from my high school alma mater, Ladue, had joined the fraternity and were already living there. They rushed up and greeted me.
Soon 75 others would engulf me. One by one they introduced themselves.
Their names flashed by like short bursts of light against a dark sky.
Most were from cities other than St.
Louis. They hailed from Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, New York and more.
Digesting their names and hometowns was like trying to eat a seven-course meal in five minutes, remembering everything you ate, what sauces and preparations were included, and who made each serving.
It would take time to remember them all and as I would soon learn, I would be required to do so.
I joined the fall freshmen as part of a pledge class. Pledges were not yet full brothers. They had to undergo a variety of
mental and physical “tests” before they were accepted.
The pledges had virtually no authority. They were ruled by their pledge master and other initiated brothers. Rules had to be followed. Commands had to be obeyed.
AEPi was at capacity then and freshman slept four to a room. You were assigned to a bed by the pledge master.
The pledge class had to fulfill many tasks. Some were rituals that been passed on from one class to another. Others were more focused centered on community building.
Through it all, the Jewish community grew stronger, tougher and became a family, regardless of how we observe our faith. I sat side-by-side with Orthodox, Reform and non-Jewish volunteers, giving hours and hours of their time. I routinely met with Orthodox rabbis who somehow trusted my campaign expertise, and whom I now regard as friends. Our differences did not matter.
I often stopped to take it all in, tearing up as an 87-year-old volunteer phoned Jewish voters with a hearty greeting of, “Shalom Aleichem.” More tears, as a volunteer texted with her daughter at an outdoor wedding in the Golan Heights that very minute, sending photos of flashes and explosions above the Iron Dome — above the chuppah. And even more tears, as women I didn’t know in Chicago, begged me for more addresses for them to write postcards to voters they didn’t know.
The campaign office now sits empty, full of memories of hard work, nerves, antisemitic slurs, precious gifts of challah for sustenance, and lots and lots of hugs.
Bell’s candidacy was the catalyst that brought us together, inspired us to stand as one community against the hate.
Now it’s up to us to make sure that we continue to do just that.
Steve Turner is a Principal of Solomon Turner PR in St. Louis, a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia (Bachelor of Journalism, 1973) and alumnus of AEPi fraternity. He is also a journalist specializing in the writing of memoirs, nonfiction and feature articles. He can be contacted at sturner@solomonturner.com.
The main one was the construction of a campus wide party to be held in the front yard and inside the fraternity called Jungle Party.
Shown in front of the AEPi House at Mizzou are fraternity brothers Dan Arkush, Barry Gubin and Steve Turner.
Trees were secured from a forest and brought to the house. Freshmen would dig into the ground and erect them. Swinging bridges and other jungle-like décor were created.
The party took several months to create. Hundreds came from various parts of the campus to drink, dance and revel in the exotic atmosphere.
Yet the pledges could not enjoy the party for long. They were required to drop off their dates and return to the fraternity no later than midnight. It was then that the tear-down would begin.
Trees and decorations had to be dug up and removed.
It took to the wee hours of the morning. Eventually the front yard returned to near normalcy.
The next day the members of the fall freshman class were initiated as full brothers.
Since I had only recently joined, I was not included. It left me as a pledge class of one.
The pledge master really didn’t know what to do with me. He gave me a few chores and a few minor things to do.
Months later, as the winter semester neared its close, I was initiated as well.
BY J. MARTIN ROCHESTER
When thinking of the possibility of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, something that invites skepticism among many Jews and others, I am reminded of an old saying: “On the eve of most revolutions, they are thought to be unimaginable; on the morning after, they are thought to have been inevitable.”
I hardly think of a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as inevitable, but I have seen stranger things in my lifetime — for example, the Cold War ending in 1989 without a shot being fired.
Still, there is nothing inevitable about an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The reason why few things in life are inevitable is that there are too many “what if” moments we all experience that can change our lives. We can talk all we want about beshert, that something is foreordained or destined to happen. But aside from the fact that we all have some capacity for free will, there is always an element of chance that can dictate our future.
Let me offer just three examples from my own experience.
Samuel Doe was a Liberian politician who served as president of Liberia from 1986 to 1990. As a master sergeant in the Liberian army, he led a coup in 1980 that
brought him to power after the murder of President William Tolbert and a violent succession struggle. In 1990, his presidency ended when he was assassinated in a bloody rebellion.
I mention this because I came very close to being tortured and hanged alongside Doe. The president’s personal emissary came to the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1989 to extend an invitation to me and my colleague Fred Pearson to visit Liberia as his special guests. Fred and I had just coauthored an international relations textbook. We were told that Doe was reading it in his graduate course at the University of Liberia and that he found it very stimulating. Fred and I decided to forego a visit to Liberia, a fortuitous choice because, had we been there when Doe was captured, we may well, as his “mentors,” have met his same fate.
A second “what if” example involves my mentor, Professor William Coplin of Syracuse University. As I was graduating from college, I was faced with having to decide on my next step in life. For me, the choice was law school or graduate school in political science. I chose the latter, although that still left open the question of which graduate school to attend. I was admitted to my first choice, the University of Chicago, but they did not offer me any
J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on international and American politics.
financial support. I ultimately chose Syracuse, whose Maxwell School of Citizenship (which this year celebrated its 100th anniversary) was ranked as the No. 1 public-affairs program in the country.
Coplin was a rising young international relations scholar who in 1969 had just arrived on the faculty at Syracuse. His field of specialization was international law. I was assigned to him as his teaching assistant. And so I found myself accidentally having to focus on the study of international law, something I heretofore had no particular interest in. Thanks to Bill Coplin, I ended up enjoying a very successful 50-year academic career that included publication of many scholarly works in international law and related fields.
About my book “The New Warfare” (2016), Michael Glennon, chief counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1977 to 1980, wrote: “This is an important study of the deterioration of rules that govern the use of force. It should be read and pondered by international lawyers, international relations theorists and policymakers.”
Had I been assigned as a teaching assistant to another professor, I might well have ended up a student of state and local government or American national politics, trying to figure out how the electorate ended up with two presidential choices like Donald J. Trump and Kamala Harris. A third “what if” example involves my son Stephen, who since he became a Lubavitch Jew has called himself Shaya. Upon graduating from Clayton High School in 1993, he applied to a dozen or so schools, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, University of Virginia and
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Exceptional People. Exceptional Living.
other elite colleges. Accepted into most of them, he chose to attend Yale. This proved to be a life-changing decision.
It was at Yale that he met a charismatic young Lubavitch rabbi named Schmully Hecht, who converted my son, a Reform Jew, into an ultra-Orthodox, Hasidic Lubbavitcher, black hat, beard and all. Schmully and Shaya, along with a few other Yalies — including Cory Booker, who was attending Yale Law School and would become a U.S. senator — founded a new organization on campus called the Chai Society, which became a center of Jewish life that would rival Hillel. Shaya became a successful bankruptcy lawyer but, more importantly, a deeply observant follower of the Rebbe — the late Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, who even after his death in 1994 continued to inspire hundreds of young men (including my grandson Mendy) to become schlichim, emissaries establishing Chabad houses of worship all over the planet. (As the joke goes, “How do we know there is no life on Mars? Because there is no Chabad there.”) Would Shaya’s life have taken the turn it did had he not chosen Yale and attended some other university? Would he have still ended up living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with seven children? It is highly doubtful, to say the least.
What about the initial question I raised about Israel? The Rebbe believed that everything, including the founding and development of the state of Israel, was based on Divine Providence. There remains much to be done to produce peace in the Middle East.
In his July 24 speech before the U.S. Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for “demilitarization and deradicalization” of Gaza along with “a civilian administration” governing the territory. But he never said his vision ultimately called for a Palestinian state. I think the latter remains a sine qua non condition for a long-term peace, possibly achievable through an international, PanArab interim governance regime that would help rebuild Gaza.
There is nothing beshert about this, but it would seem within the realm of possibility if we wish to see security and prosperity for all the people of the region.
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It would take time to remember them all and as I would soon learn, I would be required to do so.
I joined the fall freshmen as part of a pledge class. Pledges were not yet full brothers. They had to undergo a variety of mental and physical “tests” before they were accepted.
The pledges had virtually no authority. They were ruled by their pledge master and other initiated brothers. Rules had to be followed. Commands had to be obeyed.
AEPi was at capacity then and freshman slept four to a room. You were assigned to a bed by the pledge master.
The pledge class had to fulfill many tasks. Some were rituals that been passed on from one class to another. Others were more focused centered on community building.
The main one was the construction of a campus wide party to be held in the front yard and inside the fraternity called Jungle Party.
Trees were secured from a forest and
brought to the house. Freshmen would dig into the ground and erect them. Swinging bridges and other jungle-like décor were created.
The party took several months to create. Hundreds came from various parts of the campus to drink, dance and revel in the exotic atmosphere.
Yet the pledges could not enjoy the party for long. They were required to drop off their dates and return to the fraternity no later than midnight. It was then that the tear-down would begin.
Trees and decorations had to be dug up and removed.
It took to the wee hours of the morning. Eventually the front yard returned to near normalcy.
The next day the members of the fall freshman class were initiated as full brothers.
Since I had only recently joined, I was not included. It left me as a pledge class of one.
The pledge master really didn’t know what to do with me. He gave me a few chores and a few minor things to do.
Months later, as the winter semester neared its close, I was initiated as well.
FUNDED BY & ADMINISTERED BY
$62,500 in grant funding is being awarded to the following Jewish organizations in St. Louis. Organizations are responsible for matching the grant award amount thereby doubling the impact to our community.
Bais Abraham Congregation
Central Reform Congregation
Congregation Shaare Emeth
Crown Center for Senior Living
Esther Miller Bais Yaakov
Hillel at Washington University of St. Louis
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
Jewish Family Services of St. Louis
Kol Rinah
to the Staenberg Family Foundation and Jewish Federation of St. Louis for providing this funding opportunity to the Jewish community.
MaTovu
Nusach Hari B'nai Zion
Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School
Sha'arei Chesed Shul dba UCity Shul
St. Louis Kollel
Traditional Congregation
United Hebrew Congregation
Young Israel of St. Louis
Stacy Abeles
Sam Gallup
Ben Kraus
Erin Schneider
Matt Specter
Danielle Wallis
For more information visit JFedSTL.org/staenberg-family-foundation Questions? Contact Lori Kabrun-Berry at LKabrun-Berry@JFedSTL.org.
BY CATE MARQUIS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Jason Schwartzman plays a cantor in upstate New York who has lost his voice, his wife and maybe even his faith but whose life is changed after reconnecting with his grade-school music teacher, played by Carol Kane, who inspired him to become a cantor, in Nathan Silver’s quirky, witty, yet strangely sweet comedy “Between the Temples.”
After his wife’s sudden death, Ben Gottlieb (Schwartzman) has lost his voice, his enjoyment of life and even, maybe, his faith. Unable to bear living in the house he shared with his late wife, Ben now lives with his doting mother Meira (Caroline Aaron) and her overeager wife Judith Gottlieb (Dolly de Leon) in the basement of their big home. Ben’s rabbi, Rabbi Bruce (Robert Smigel), still keeps his old position as cantor at Temple Sinai open for him. But after a year of mourning, his rabbi, his mother and his stepmother are all ready for Ben to move on and rejoin community life.
Hoping to help, Rabbi Bruce pushes Ben to resume his position as cantor, arranging for him to sing during Shabbat service, while his stepmother encourages him to begin dating — with dates already waiting just out of sight as soon as he concedes it might be a good idea. But the cantor isn’t ready and can’t handle either.
Taking refuge in a bar, he has a chance encounter with a quirky older woman, whom the cantor soon recognizes as his
grade school vocal teacher Mrs. O’Connor (Kane), the person who inspired him to become a cantor. The two seem to connect immediately, the first ray of light in Ben’s dark world in a long time.
The retired music teacher turns up the next day at Ben’s temple, where he is teaching his bar/bat mitzvah class, the only thing he has managed to continue doing for the synagogue. Mrs. O’Connor reveals that, despite her Irish married name, her
See FILM REVIEW on opposite page
PHOTOS: SEAN PRICE WILLIAMS, COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
BY AMY FENSTER BROWN
In my last column I mentioned an advice book I wanted to write for my older son, Davis, titled, “Quantity Over Quality: The College Years.”
It’s a guide to navigating your years in higher education, featuring practical advice about dating, partying and spending. It’s time to have new experiences, and lots of them. Who cares if it doesn’t work out? We’re here to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Overindulge! You’re young, your liver can take it.
That’s just one of the many book ideas in my head that I’ve half-written. Let me half tell you about some more.
‘The Wide-Awake Diaries’
This collection of personal essays from insomniacs chronicles what goes through their overtired minds while the rest of their family are sawing logs.
Favorite short stories include “Maybe I’ll Take Another Gummy,” “Is My College Ex-Boyfriend’s Wife Fat Yet?” and “Is That a Leg Cramp or Do I Have Cancer?”
‘Don’t
In this self-help workbook we explore ways to end our frustration when our actions, and the actions of others, don’t produce the results we want. Hitch a ride on the self-discovery express and find out how to no longer go the extra mile, above and beyond, and out of your way.
‘Let’s Get Physical’
Real-life stories from siblings teach us about testing limits with the person your parents once called your built-in best friend. Learn to effectively calculate the level to which you can taunt each other without physical violence.
This book features top tips on what it
Columnist Amy Fenster Brown is married to Jeff and has two teenage sons, Davis and Leo. She volunteers for several Jewish not-for-profit groups. Fenster Brown is an Emmy Award-winning TV news writer and counts time with family and friends, talking and eating peanut butter among her hobbies.
takes to annoy someone until they backhand you across the face, usually while on a road trip.
‘The Quarter Page Kid With the Full Page Mom’
Join our hero, Leo, as he tries to figure out a way to get his mom to stop calling attention to his successes.
Will the mild-mannered Leo figure out a way to quiet his over-the-top braggy mother’s impulse to tell everyone with ears that he’s the greatest shmoopy-boy alive?
You’ll be on the edge of your seat until you find out whether Leo’s attempt at getting his mom to put a less flashy congratulatory ad in his senior year yearbook works out in his favor. Spoiler alert: Leo’s mom has a lot to brag about.
‘I Poured the Milk’
This is a cookbook by my mother-in-law, Zelda. Learn some of her famous classic recipes, including a bowl of cereal, turkey a la Mrs. Dierberg’s deli case and reservations at the best restaurants in town.
Be sure to check out the mouthwatering, can’t-miss dessert section in which Grammy Z teaches us how to load even the smallest clutch purse with enough
candy choices to worry a dentist.
‘I’ve Got One Nerve Left (Don’t Drive Over It)’
This memoir is a painstakingly detailed story of the times I’ve taken my elderly mother to Costco.
Take a virtual ride-along on Marge’s electric scooter shopping cart as she nearly takes out other shoppers by accelerating too hard, stops at each sample station to ask employees, “What’s all in this?” and announces “this amount could feed a football team” in every aisle.
Come along to the clothing section as she makes me hold up every single women’s item in both small and medium sizes “just to see.”
And my own autobiography — title TBD
I’m toying with writing an autobiography, too. I’ve narrowed it down to three titles:
“My Cups Runneth Over”
“I Wasn’t Done Talking”
“My Thighs Rub Together, and Other Fun Stories”
BY NATE BLOOM
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
It’s no accident that a new Peacock series, co-starring Golden State Warriors basketball sensation, Steph Curry, in his acting debut, premiered on Aug. 8. This six-episode comedic “mockumentary” series is entitled “Mr. Throwback.” Here’s the premise according to NBC: “A down-on-his luck memorabilia dealer [ADAM PALLY, 42] looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate [Curry].
The official trailer offers more detail: Danny Grossman (Pally) was the basketball team star when he and Curry were in middle school. He was also the coolest kid in the school and something of a mentor to Steph. But things go south for Danny. The trailer referred to Danny, as an adult, as “a trainwreck.” I gathered, from the trailer, that a documentary is being made about Curry, but he insists that Danny, his old friend, be a major character in this documentary.
Of course, Danny Grossman is a very Jewish name, but I don’t know if he’s identified as Jewish in the series. I can say that the guys “behind the curtain” are Jewish.
The series was created and written by Pally, DAVID CASPE, 45, MATTHEW LIBMAN, 45ish, and his brother, DANIEL LIBMAN, also 45ish. All six episodes were directed by DAVID WAIN, 54.
vvv
“Borderlands” is a sci-fi action, comedy film that opened in theaters on Aug. 9. It was directed and co-written by ELI ROTH, 52. (The film’s script is based on a video game series of the same name.) Roth is best known for his hit horror films (“Cabin Fever” and “Hostel” are the most famous).
Cate Blanchett plays Lily, an infamous outlaw who forms an unexpected alliance with a team of misfits to find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe. Her “crew” includes Claptrap, a robot (voiced by JACK BLACK, 54); Dr. Patricia Tannis (JAMIE LEE CURTIS, 65); and Mad Moxxi (GINA GERSHON, 61).
vvv
“It Ends with Us” opened in theaters on Aug. 9. It’s based on a best-selling 2016 novel of the same name. As the film opens, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) has just moved to Boston to open a florist shop. Just before her move, her mother tells Lily that Lily’s late father secretly physically abused her.
In Boston, Lily meets Ryle, a handsome neurosurgeon. By coincidence, Allysa (JENNY SLATE, 42), Ryle’s sister, goes to work for Lily and they become best friends.
Long story short: Ryle turns out to be a wife abuser, too. Lily forgives him the first time he gets physical with her and ultimately marries and has a child with him. I won’t disclose how things go after they marry. I will reveal that Allysa supports Lily throughout her problems with Ryle.
vvv
“The Instigators” opened in a few theaters on Aug. 2 and then began streaming on Apple+ on Aug. 9. It’s a comedy crime heist flick. Premise: a botched robbery
causes two thieves (Matt Damon and Casey Affleck) to go on the run, dragging along one of their therapists in the process.
MICHAEL STUHLBARG, 55, and RON PERLMAN, 74, have large supporting roles. DOUG LIMAN, 58, directed. His hits include “Swingers,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “The Bourne Identity.”
vvv
“One Fast Move” is an original Amazon film that began streaming on Aug. 8. The lead character is Wes Miller, a dishonorably discharged soldier who reconnects with his estranged father in pursuit of his dream to become a pro motorcycle racer. Along the way, he meets two important people: a small-town singer who becomes his love interest and emotional support, and a motorcycle shop owner who mentors Wes in life and racing.
KJ Apa, 27, plays Wes. This New Zealander is the son of a Samon father and a European mother. ERIC DANE, 51, co-stars as Dean Miller, Wes’s father. His many credits include playing Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy” and Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria.” Dane’s mother is Jewish. He was raised Jewish and had a bar mitzvah. vvv
“Blink Twice,” a thriller action film, opens in theaters on Aug. 23. Capsule plot: A cocktail waitress (Naomi Ackie) becomes infatuated with a tech mogul (Channing Tatum), and travels with him to his private island, where things begin to go wrong. SIMON REX, 49, has a big supporting role.
The film was directed by, and co-written by ZOE KRAVITZ (“Blink” is the first film she has directed). She is the daughter of rock star Lenny Kravitz and actress LISA BONET, 56. She is engaged to Channing Tatum.
Lenny’s late father was Jewish and his mother was black and not Jewish. Bonet’s father was black and her mother was Jewish. As an adult, Lenny opted to identify as a Christian. Bonet’s beliefs are “murky.” Zoe, 35, defines herself as a “secular Jew.”
CONTINUED FROM OPPOSITE PAGE
maiden name was Carla Kessler and she’s Jewish. Now that she is a widow, Carla longs to have the bat mitzvah she never had as a girl, explaining she never had one because her parents were communists, making her a “red diaper baby.” Although pleased to reconnect with his childhood music teacher, Ben doesn’t want to take her on as a bat mitzvah student and tells her it is “too late” for her. Angered at being told she’s too old, she persists, and when Rabbi Bruce intervenes, Ben gives in. Ben starts coaching Carla for her bat mitzvah one-on-one in his office, instead of with his class of young students. The two begin to share memories of the past, and eventually the lessons move to her nearby home, and Carla also starts to coach Ben in breathing exercises to recover his singing voice. They trade off the role of teacher, and each gives the other support neither gets elsewhere. Ben needs someone to help him, and she becomes his encouraging teacher again, as well as a kind of mother figure and a best friend who truly gets him.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Bruce wants to introduce Ben to his daughter Gabby, who has recently gone through a broken engagement.
“Between the Temples” debuted at Sundance to strong reviews. Director/ co-writer Silver’s films are known as much for their emotion and heart as for
their sharp, witty humor. That humor is present here in abundance, but the film also has a sweetness in the scenes between Schwartzman and Kane. Those scenes are the real moments of magic, with a charm and appealing quirk reminiscent of “Harold and Maude.” The film also has good doses of screwball comedy, particularly in the scenes with family, as well as some serious things to say, behind it all. Things may look conventional on the surface, but little is underneath. Kane and Schwartzman have wonderful chemistry together as they form an island of simplicity in the churning sea of complexity from both their families. Kane is a delight in this role, giving a winning performance. Schwartzman plays against his usual handsome leading man type in Wes Anderson films, by portraying a man who is a bit gone to seed, with little purpose in life. It is the kind of role we expect from Steve Carell, but Schwartzman pulls it off very well. All the supporting players are wonderful as well, delivering lines with deadpan humor.
“Between the Temples” is an offbeat comedy about Jewish identity that takes some odd turns but offers a surprising sweetness in the scenes between the two main characters, along with a strange yet somehow satisfying ending.
“Between the Temples” will open Aug. 23 or 30 at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinema (TBD as of press time) and Aug. 30 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.
Editor’s note: All Mirowitz Center events are free unless otherwise noted. To register for a Mirowitz Center event, visit http://bit.ly/ Mirowitz-registration, call 314-733-9813 or email info@mirowitzcenter.org.
Mindful management of pain
Caroline Hoff will lead a Jewish Mindfulness Center of St. Louis class on “Mindful Approaches to Managing Pain,” from 9-10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 and 30, and Sept. 6 and 13. The Jewish Mindfulness Center is located at Congregation Shaare Emeth. Free, but registration is required. Contact Stacy at sjespersen@sestl.org or call 314569-0010 for more information.
St. Charles Jewish Festival
The annual St. Charles Jewish Festival, a celebration of Jewish life and culture, returns this month in a new location and will include an open-air market patterned after an Israeli shuk. The festival runs from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Lewis & Clark Boat House parking lot located at 1050 S. Riverside Drive in St. Charles, near the south end of Frontier Park. Musical artists will include Chasidic rock duo Rogers Park Band, the Caravan Quartet and recording artist Tali Yess. Kosher food provided by Chicago-based Zelda’s Catering will be available for purchase. A variety of children’s activities are planned, including bubble machines and giant wands, crafts and a petting zoo. Free but registration required at jewishstcharles.org/Festival.
The J to host Used Book Sale
The St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s biannual Used Book Sale returns to the Staenberg Family Complex Arts & Education Building from Sunday, Aug. 25 to Thursday, Aug. 29. Sunday, Aug. 25: VIP Early Access 8 a.m.–10 a.m. with $100 admission; followed by General Public Preview Day from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ($20 admission). Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 26-28 (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) guests can enter for free. Thursday, Aug. 29 is Bag Day (10 a.m.-8 p.m., free entry and guestss can fill a bag for $10. For updated information visit https://jccstl.com/ programs/used-book-sale/.
TUESDAY
MindMatters
A safe, welcoming space Led by Provident Behavioral Health facilitator and licensed social worker Nicole (Nikki) Adams, this monthly group (every fourth Tuesday) meets from 10-11 a.m. at the Mirowitz Center to share experiences, feelings and thoughts with other adults experiencing the challenges of aging. Free, but RSVP required.
WEDNESDAY | AUG. 28
Crafty Needles
Want to enhance your knitting or crocheting skills or help teach others? Work on group projects, on your own or just socialize with others. Instructors Sandi Rich and Beth Van Horn make learning easy, accessible and fun. Beginner to advanced members are welcome to join at the Mirowitz Center from
Local Jewish organizations and congregations can submit calendar items to news@ stljewishlight.org. Items must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday prior to publication to be considered for inclusion (see a list of remaining 2024 publication dates on page 2). AUG
1-2 p.m. every Wednesday. Some supplies are available. If you have patterns, yarn, or needles, please bring them. No cost to register, but RSVP required.
The Rabbi is IN!
On the fourth Wednesday of every month, join Rabbi Neal Rose from 3-4 p.m. for an online discussion with a Jewish theme. No cost to register for this Mirowitz program, but RSVP required.
THURSDAY | AUG. 29
Understanding Mecca: A Tour of the Most Holy Site in Islam
Explore Mecca from 11 a.m.-noon at the Mirowitz Center with Dr. Ghazala Hayat as your guide. Learn about the historical and religious significance of key architectural sites, plus Mecca’s unique role in Islamic tradition. Part 4 of 4 – No cost to register, but RSVP required. Attend one or all sessions; prior attendance not necessary. Co-sponsored by JCRC.
Senior Planet from AARP: Intro to Selling Online
Online marketplaces make it easy to sell almost anything – from unique collectibles and vintage fashion to handmade craft.
From 1:30-2:30 p.m., Mirowitz Center Trainer Jim Salih will introduce you to different online platforms for selling all kinds of items, plus cover some tips and best practices for avoiding scams. No cost to register, but RSVP required.
FRIDAY | AUG. 30
Potluck Shabbat for young adults
The young adult chapter of SPARKS MATCH! is hosting another potluck Shabbat dinner at 6 p.m. Bring something vegetarian to share and celebrate Shabbat together and meet new people. RSVP to Daphne at daphnekoalabear@gmail.com.
WEDNESDAY | SEPT. 4
Lynnie’s Light for Life at the J “Lynnie’s Light for Life,” dedicated to making a difference in the lives of cancer patients, educating those at risk for developing hereditary cancer and empowering Jewish women, will take place at the Jewish Community Center near Creve Coeur at 7 p.m. This fundraiser is focused on providing support to The Hamsa Wellness Communi-
ty, the J’s cancer support program and Nishmah, the St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project.
STARTING | SEPT. 5
Oasis Class: Thrive at 65 led by instructor Polly Lemire
This three-session class (Sept. 5, 12, and 10) at 11 a.m. at Crown Center, 8350 Delcrest Drive, is for anyone tired of grappling with outdated beliefs about aging that are imposed on us by society. Based on the latest discoveries in neuroscience, we will use the Tiny Habits TM method to prove that it’s easier than you think to create new behaviors and a more positive mindset.
FRIDAY | SEPT. 6
Circle Talk at Mirowitz Center
This five-week, facilitated discussion group series from 10-11 a.m. at the Mirowitz Center led by Holly Mathis, a nurse practitioner and adjunct professor of nursing at Maryville University, works to make connections. Free, but RSVP required. Supported by a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged.
Comedy with David Graham
Whether you’re a comedy enthusiast or just looking for some good, clean fun, join comedian David Graham from 1-2 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center for an afternoon of laughs. Free, but RSVP required.
STARTING | SEPT. 7
Saturday Morning Bible Study at Temple Israel
See related news brief on page 6.
TUESDAY | SEPT. 10
Oasis Class: Greyfriars Kirk Cemetery
Learn about Edinburgh’s most interesting graveyard from instructor Juliet Claire Simone at 10 a.m. at Crown Center (in the Wellness Center in Staenberg Commons). Opened in 1620, Greyfriars Kirk has been inspiring famous writers for some of our most beloved stories for generations.
The Week in Review
Moderated by Harvey Gerstein and Marilyn Alton from 10-11 a.m., this is a forum for thoughtful discussion about the most press-
ing stories of the week. No cost to register, but RSVP required. Program is provided with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), the Mirowitz Center men’s organization.
The ABCs of Judaism
Judaism has its own “ABCs” – teachings to guide your life. Join the engaging and inspiring Rabbi Ze’ev Smason at his monthly in-person Mirowitz Center program from noon-1 p.m. Free, but RSVP required. Topic: A New Year: How to begin again.
Caregiver Connections support group at Mirowitz Center
See related news brief on page 6.
WEDNESDAY | SEPT. 11
Bereavement Support Group
See related news brief on page 6.
AARP program: Intro to AI
Curious about AI? Want to know more about Chat GPT? Trainer Daniel Landsbaum will introduce some of the basic ideas around artificial intelligence from noon-1 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center. Free, but RSVP required.
THURSDAY | SEPT. 12
Theatre Class with NJT director
Whether you’re new to improvisation or have some experience, this group from 2-3 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center offers a supportive and playful environment with the New Jewish Theatre’s Rebekah Scallet. Free, but RSVP required.
SUNDAY | SEPT. 15
B’nai Amoona gallery reception
There will be an artist reception at B’nai Amoona from 2-4 p.m. featuring the fine art photography of Ann Aurback, Karen Kotner, Rick Rovak and Scott Rovak and the ceramics of Ilanit Michelson. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will continue through Nov. 30. The reception and exhibit are open to all.
Jewish War Veterans meeting
Jewish War Veterans Post 644 will meet in the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum at 10 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month (unless otherwise indicated). A Zoom option will be available for those not able to attend in person. For more information and the Zoom link contact Post 644 Commander Ellis Frohman at 636-519-7512 (leave a message if no one answers).
Crown Center weekly classes
Crown Center offers a variety of classes, which are open to the community. Classes/ events include:
• Crown Center Friday Movie Club on Fridays at 2 p.m. in the community room in Staenberg Commons
• Crown Center Forever Fitness Exercise Class on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. in the fitness center in Staenberg Commons
• Chair Yoga Class led by Dina Fachin on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in the community room in Staenberg Commons
For more information or to RSVP, call 314991-2055.
BIRTHS ENGAGEMENTS WEDDINGS MITZVOT
SUBMIT YOUR SIMCHA ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FREE!
Marc and Nancy celebrated their 60th anniversary on Aug. 13, 2024, on a cruise to Mexico. They met at the University of Miami when they were 19 years old and have had a 60+ year love affair.
They have two children: Michael, an attorney in St. Louis, and Kimberly Sokolik Gellman, who is president of the family meat business in Los Angeles. They have four wonderful grandchildren.
The Sokoliks moved to a retirement community in Laguna Woods, Calif., seven years ago, where Marc is an avid golfer, and Nancy is still his cheerleader.
Kaitlin and Matthew Hirschfeld of Wilmette, Ill., would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Caroline Helene Hirschfeld on May 29, 2024.
Caroline is the granddaughter of Linda and Tom McKeague of Tinley Park, Ill. and Adrienne and Mark Hirschfeld of St. Louis.
Elizabeth Solomon and Andrew Jones of St. Louis would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Stella Maeve Jones, on May 22, 2024.
Stella is the granddaughter of Ed and Nancy Solomon, and Mark and Cyndie Jones, all of St. Louis. She is the great-granddaughter of Robert and Susan Levin of St. Louis; Dave (z’l) and Marion (z’l) Solomon of Birmingham, Ala.; Lloyd and Diane Packard of Dacula, Ga.; the late Esther and Marc Hudson, Jr., of Williamsport, Pa.; the late Gerald and Laverne Jones of Maryland Heights, Mo.
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
American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.
OBITUARIES
Berger, Evelyn
Elbein, Lorraine K.
Greenberg, Frank
Heligman, Jack M.
Kline, Marilyn
(“Lynn”) Loket
Permuter, Sylvia Prelutsky, Lenore Rosen, Skip Weil, Barbara Ann
EVELYN BERGER, August 4, 2024
Beloved wife of the late Harry Berger. Dear mother of Norman (Andrea) Berger of Tucson, AZ, Corey (Faith) Berger, Edward Berger of Phoenix, AZ and Marc (Connie) Berger. Loving grandmother of Joslyn (Ari) Stein, Alex (Sheila) Berger, Jordan Berger, Amanda (Zachary) Pollack, and Sophie, Emily and Natalie Berger. Beloved great-grandmother of seven. Our dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend.
LORRAINE K. ELBEIN , 11/30/1930 –08/05/2024
Lorrained K. Elbein passed away on August 5, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Melvin Elbein; loving mother and mother-in-law of Adam (Jan) Elbein, Tracey Elbein, Dana (Kevin) McMurtry and Brooke (Jeffrey) Koenig; devoted grandmother of Reid and Evan Elbein, Nathan Litz, Zack McMurtry and Chloe Koenig; dear sister of the late Leslie Kaldor; dear aunt of Connie Kaldor.
A graveside service was held Thursday, August 8 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Tenth Life Cat Rescue. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Chapel
FRANK GREENBERG, 93, St. Louis, MO, passed away on August 14, 2024.
Dear father of Debbie Frazin and grandfather of Justin and Erik Frazin. He was the grandfather of Bengey and Sasha, our beloved pups. He is preceded in death by his parents, Sophia and Morris Greenberg and his wife of 57 years, Florence, who recently passed away on April 4, 2024.
MARILYN (“LYNN”) LOKET KLINE, 89, was born on April 29, 1935, in Memphis, TN to the late Harry S. Loket and late Minnie Samuels Loket and died on August 6, 2024.
Lynn, wife of the late Robert P. Kline, M.D., is survived by her children, Lee (Liane) Kline, Alan (Nancy) Kline and Cathy Kline Poulin (late Jon Poulin), six grandchildren, Benjamin (Ashley) Kline, Emily (Eddie) Cherry, Alexandra (David) Lockhart, Jennifer (Andrew) Epstein, Aaron (Lindsay) Poulin and Evan Kline, eight greatgrandchildren, Brody and Leo Lockhart, Jack and Charlotte Cherry, Jordyn and Hannah Poulin and Charlie and Margo Epstein, her sister Evelyn Snyder (late Martin Snyder), cousins, nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, August 7 at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery, 1601 North & South Road. Contributions in Evelyn’s memory may be made to Camp Sabra Alumni Canteen Fund, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 or to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, 10950 Schuetz Road, St. Louis, MO 63146. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
YOSEPH FREDMAN, August 18, 2024
Beloved husband of the late Freyda Fredman. Dear father of Rena Fredman (Marty Friedlander), Zev Fredman (Mindee), Giela Fredman and Tamar Fredman. Dear grandfather of Zvi (Hallel), Neil and Etai Friedlander; Chaya (Maayan) Teper; Daniel, Eitan and Nadav Fredman. Dear great-grandfather of Ruth, Bezalel and Shlomit Friedlander and Alma Teper. Dear brother, brother-in-law, cousin and friend.
A Graveside Service was held Tuesday, August 20 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Young Israel of St. Louis, Friends of the IDF (FIDF) or Boys Town Jerusalem. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
We’re proud to serve the friends and families of our Jewish community with personal, compassionate care. You can rely on us to help you create a meaningful memorial that truly honors the life it represents.
Frank graduated from Soldan High School. He then joined the United States Army and was deployed to Korea. After discharge from the Army, Frank went to technical school for audio/ visual technical arts and worked for the Special School District for 30 years. Beyond retirement, Frank was the shining star volunteer at Mercy for 23 years. He was the first volunteer to ever work in the engineering department.
A Celebration of Life to honor Frank and Florence, will be held on Tuesday, August 27 at 4pm at the Center for Spiritual Living, 12875 Fee Fee Road, St. Louis, MO, 63146. Reception to follow til 7pm.
Burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society, Jewish Food Pantry, or the Center for Spiritual Living.
JACK M. HELIGMAN, August 15, 2024
Jack Mitchell Heligman sadly passed away on August 15, 2024. Jack married the love of his life, the late Marsha Sue Paster, in 1962, with whom he remained until her passing over 61 years later. He leaves behind children Jodi Flieger, Jamee Heligman, and Mark Heligman; daughter-in-law Kimberlie Heligman; and grandchildren Sophia, Grace, and Will, all of whom loved and respected him immensely.
Jack was born on December 23, 1938, to the late Nathan Heligman and the late Anna Schevack. His older brother, the late Martin Heligman, and older sister, the late Florine Kay, doted over Little Jackie. After Jack graduated from University City High School in 1956, he continued his education earning an engineering degree from Washington University. He went on to serve two years in the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State.
After spending 40 years in the machine tool industry, Jack retired in 2005 to spend time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, who brought him his greatest joy. The close-knit family relished their dinners together and vacationing in Florida and other tropical destinations. He will be forever missed!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred to the National Ataxia Foundation, P.O. Box 27986, Golden Valley, MN 55427.
Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
Lynn, a long-time office manager at her husband’s medical practice, was active in many community organizations, including past President of Temple Israel Sisterhood, board member of the National Council of Jewish Women and a Lifetime Member of Hadassah. Her boundless energy and her love and devotion to her family, especially as ‘Grandma”, will be greatly missed.
Services were held Thursday August 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM in Levy Cooper Chapel with burial to follow in Temple Israel Cemetery.
Donations to Temple Israel Sisterhood, Church Health Center or a charity of your choice.
SYLVIA PERMUTER, August 5, 2024; Born December 24, 1922, in Brighton Beach, NY. Beloved wife of the late Robert Permuter (1997) for 55 years. Dear mother of Lawrence (Darlene) Permuter, David (Ruthie) Permuter and Leslie (Mark) Brownstein. Loving grandmother of Rachel (Jay) Closson, Michael Brownstein, Sara (Jason) Brownstein, Laura Permuter and Daniel Permuter. Proud greatgrandmother to Grace, Gavin, Asher, Sylvia and Ruby Closson, Alex Nguyen and Rocco Salvatierra. Dear sister of the late Mel Cotlar. Beloved daughter of the late Solomon and Sonia Cotlar. Dear aunt, cousin and friend to many.
Sylvia’s family moved to St. Louis when she was 11 years old. In her younger years, she was very active in volunteer work with Na’amat and she enjoyed participating in activities at her congregation, Shaare Emeth. She had a deep love for animals, and always gave what she could to the Humane Society.
Sylvia had a vigor and zest for life. She believed resting was a waste of time. She was always on the move, and a fast walker! Sylvia also took great pride in her wardrobe and many pieces of costume jewelry. She was one of a kind. Sylvia was always interested in current events and politics. She loved popcorn and grapes in bed, Chinese food, true crime, travel, knitting and mahjong. You would always catch her with a book in hand, participating in book club, right up to her end of life.
Obituaries continue on opposite page
Sylvia loved nothing more than when the whole family was together. She adored and spoiled her grandkids, and her greatgrandchildren brought her much joy and purpose in her later years. Although most frugal with herself, Sylvia was the most generous giver of time, love, and money, and a wonderful listener. We will miss her so much.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, August 7, 10:00am at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Contributions in Sylvia’s memory may be made to Na’amat USA, 6505 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 635, Los Angeles, CA 90048 or to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
A Rindskopf-Roth Service
LENORE PRELUTSKY, August 12, 2024
Beloved wife of the late Sanford Prelutsky; dear mother and mother-in-law of Steven (Melinda) Prelutsky and Alan (Stacey) Prelutsky; dear grandmother of Zachary, Bryce, Noah and Brady Prelutsky. She leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. Our hearts are broken, we will miss her immeasurably. She is finally at rest with her husband, family and friends making everything “Fabulous.”
A funeral service was held Thursday August 15 at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd. 63132. Interment followed at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Rd. 63124. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions preferred to American Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice. Visit www. bergermemorialchapel.com for more information.
Berger Memorial Service
SKIP ROSEN, August 11, 2024
Boulevard. Interment followed at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Memorial contributions preferred to Young Israel of St. Louis, 8101 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63130, Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath (BCMH), 5145 S Morgan Street, Seattle, WA 98118, or The Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118.
Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream and Shiva information. Berger Memorial Service
Barbara was a long-time volunteer, involved with many organizations that ranged from serving as one of the first organizers of the Japanese Festival through National Council of Jewish Women, to leading sewing activities as a Girl Scout volunteer, to serving as President of the Sisterhood at Temple Israel.
Beloved husband of Elizabeth Rosen; dear father of Jacob Rosen (Laura) and Joseph Rosen (Chloe Williams); loving grandfather of Layla and Ruby; dear son of the late Milton and the late Evelyn Rosen; dear brother of Steve Rosen (Denise), Rick Rosen (Paula), and Marilyn Jaffe (David); dear brother-inlaw of Moshe Bush (Ariella) and Chana Staiman (Jeremy); dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, August 14 at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive
BARBARA ANN WEIL, 1/8/1936 – 8/12/2024
Barbara Weil was born to Sylvia and Albert Podell in Chicago, Illinois on January 8th, 1936. She passed away peacefully at home on August 12th, 2024.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Paul Weil, daughters Cynthia Connolly and Leslie (Stephen) Masaki, and grandchildren Alyce, Julia, and Jack Connolly, and Hale and Sela Masaki. Barbara was predeceased by her brother Donald Podell.
Barbara attended Washington University St. Louis for Art & Design. She then worked as a dress designer. She was widely known for her chic fashion sense, crafting every outfit as a unique piece of art. Barbara and Paul loved the performing arts, attending more than 400 grand operas in the United States and Europe. Barbara created murals for her grandchildren, took her family to art museums, and fostered a shared sense of curiosity and creativity.
Called “Baba” by her grandchildren, Barbara was also known for her sharp wit. She was funny until her last days, joking and laughing with her grandchildren until the very end.
A funeral service was held Thursday, August 15th at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Blvd. Private family interment. Memorial contributions preferred to Congregation Shaare Emeth or Congregation Temple Israel. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream information. Berger Memorial Service
I resided in the house for four years. I served in various executive capacities, including rush chairman, assistant master and master (president) of the house.
As rush chairman, my charge was to recruit high school students for the next group of pledges.
This included inviting interested 12th graders to attend our fraternity parties. Many would travel from Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. I had to ensure they had a good time and helped them secure dates with unexpecting college co-eds.
I felt sorry for the girls who had to endure an evening with a slightly less than mature high schooler.
The job also required meeting with parents of prospective students. Perhaps the
funniest question was, “Does he need to bring his own toothbrush, or will one be provided for him?”
I emphasized this was not summer camp. And their son would need to bring clothing, toiletries, books and recreational material, basically everything he would need to survive a semester in college.
During my years dozens of brothers passed through the fraternity. Many were highly ranked scholars. Some left due to family issues or were unable to survive the studying and rigors of a college education. All members of the fraternity had a nickname. Many were best known by their pseudonym.
Mention Kush, Gut, Gooby, Old Man (who looked 20 years older than he actually was), Young Man (Old Man’s brother), Goose, Hawk, Purse, Pouch, Peanutman,
Yenta and his brother Little Yenta, Kono, Katz, Shaky and Weezer, everyone knew to whom you were referring.
Through the years, though seldom seen, many had remained in touch.
Four years ago, some of the Chicagobased fraternity brothers had a meeting. They wanted to have a reunion.
They volunteered to make calls and send emails to connect with former classmates.
A date and location were decided. Invitations sent out. And some 40 of us, many with spouses, gathered for a weekend in St. Louis.
They came from as far away as New York and Miami.
The event was successful, so another was held the following year in Kansas City.
Then in 2023 it was time to meet again. Columbia was selected and many of the activities focused inside the AEPi house. Around 30 attended. We mingled with many of the current students. Fifty years had passed but there we were sitting on a couch inside a room at the fraternity. It felt as if time had never passed.
While there we learned the street housing AEPi had undergone a name change from Maryland to Tiger Avenue.
The university had upgraded surrounding facilities, redesigned other buildings and now even changed the street name. I realized that one thing they will never change though is the soul of the brotherhood that was and is Alpha Epsilon Pi. All contained within the walls of that old building we call The House.
tance of this unity, saying, “Rabbi Smason and I agree on very little policy—he knows my record as a liberal reform activist—but we were able to stand together and work together for a more urgent, necessary cause. His testimony means a lot to me, and that we could work together respectfully without acrimony or mistrust. He understood the assignment and so did I. I saw this same unity throughout the Jewish community and hope we can continue this sense of mutual cooperation because we know there’s more ahead of us.”
Newman also highlighted the extensive national support Bell’s campaign received.
“In addition to overseeing Jewish outreach in St. Louis, I managed close to 200 Jewish volunteers across the country who were campaigning for Bell by making calls to voters in St. Louis. There was a modern Orthodox synagogue in Los Angeles that did a big phone event for Bell,” she said. “A synagogue in Skokie, Ill.
made calls every Tuesday morning. We had a lady in Cincinnati that made calls almost every day.”
Despite the concerted efforts to rally Jewish voters behind Bell, not all community members were convinced that he was the right choice for St. Louis
Michael Berg, a member of Progressive Jews of St. Louis, an organization that supported Bush, said many area rabbis and mainstream Jewish groups falsely accused her of being antisemitic because of her “unwavering commitment to human lives, including Palestinian lives.” He harshly criticized the influx of AIPAC and other lobbyist monies for “the purpose of smearing Cori Bush’s name and removing this beloved Black congresswoman from
office. This has created rifts that will not easily heal.”
Rabbi Michael Rovinsky, director of the Jewish Student Union and an Orthodox rabbi, sees the situation very differently. He says Bell’s campaign truly galvanized the local Jewish community in ways it never came together before.
“It’s sad that it takes a Cori Bush to unite us, but we learned that we are capable of uniting, and now we have to learn to unite without a negative such as Bush’s influence,” he said.
By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com
| ‘Down Time’ Difficulty: Manageable
Find answers to this puzzle online at stljewishlight.org/0821-crossword
35. Longhorn’s lament?
36. CREF’s partner
37. Words with shake or break
39. Engaging in a cyberchat, informally
School with the
___ Adumim
17. *Animal that’s cute, furry, chubby, and treif
19. Former Buc Tom
20. Talented Ma
21. “Her ways ___ ways of pleasantness” (Prov. 3:17)
22. Accumulate, as wealth
26. *There’s one for Rabin in Tel Aviv
31. *Leah and Rachel
34. Baseball rally killers, briefly
41. Down time?...or another title for this puzzle
44. Bad vibration?
46. Common laborer
47. Recipe abbreviations
50. PC bookmark
51. Word from a heckler
53. *They’re certainly not rabbis
55. *Yoni Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, e.g.
58. “Me too”
59. Subway scurrier
60. Abba of Israel
63. Pale violet
66. *Stone or marathon
71. Speak from the pulpit
72. Hara proceeder
73. One way to run
74. *It always proceeds a bris
75. Funny Friend known for his impressions
76. What many Jews do at the conclusion of 41-Across
1. Some might eat one on Tu B’Shvat
2. “Seinfeld” co-creator nickname
3. It begins 1 Enero
4. Sch. with a campus in Atlanta
5. Sport where Israel often excels
6. Post-marathon feeling
7. “The Producers” role
8. Downward bend
9. Food for Zeus
10. Way less common
11. Cousin of 35-Across
12. Like jokes you’ve heard
13. Luke (sorta) trained her
18. Org. at 11 Wall St.
21. It pumps up the volume
22. 3 oz., e.g.
23. First person in France?
24. How the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands
25. Top Iranians, once
27. “___ Tomorrow” (Tom Cruise flick)
28. “My aim was off”
29. Get an ___ (ace)
30. Cabin material
32. Showed fear, in a way
33. Like loafers
38. Tel Aviv to Tiberias Dir.
40. Legendary tales
42. Warm greeter
43. FBI sample
44. 4x4, frequently
45. Earlier, in a poem
48. Career athlete
49. Govt. funds for the disabled
52. It’s in the feedbag
54. Gets less white
56. Inspiration for poets
57. “Peace out”
61. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, for one
62. Michal, to Mephiboshet
63. 39-Across chuckle
64. Part of a pension plan, briefly
65. Place to examine 43-Down
66. Clog
67. 1980s sitcom with a furry lead
68. Letters on Anaheim scoreboards
69. Sci-fi creatures
70. Pete Alonso, for one
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Abraham board, said what struck him about Finkelstein is his devotion to the role.
“His commitment to learning, compassion, rabbinic lineage, and devotion to the life and calling of being a rabbi attracted us to him,” Vianello said. “He comes across as very authentic and compassionate, and it was evident right as he started.
He really wants to make sure he’s taking the time to learn the community so he can do right by the community and lead us into the next chapter.”
Finkelstein is excited to bring his passions to the new job. Along with his enthusiasm for Jewish history, his many fellowship and internship experiences allowed him to learn from other rabbis and discover the kind of rabbi he wanted to become. His time as a JOIN for Justice Seminary
Leadership Fellow helped him to discover his passion for community organizing.
“It centered not just on being a rabbi doing the typical things, but on how we can help a community grow bigger and stronger,” he said. “It really opened my eyes to the work a rabbi can do and how we can help communities in ways I hadn’t realized before.”
As Finkelstein and his family continue to adjust to St. Louis and as he begins his
work, he hopes to connect with as many people as he can.
“My main plans are to just get to know people and learn what people are looking for from our shul,” he said. “I want to first understand my community.”
If you see Finkelstein and his family around town, make sure to say hello. At 6 feet 6 inches tall, you can’t miss him.
On July 7, Traditional Congregation held a dual program — the completion and dedication of a new Sefer Torah, and a visit with an IDF Lone Soldier. The Torah was dedicated by Noémi Neidorff and Peter Neidorff in memory of husband/father Michael Neidorff and daughter/sister Monica Neidorff. The “missing” letters were completed by Rabbi Avi Bloch. Above center, the Neidorff family is pictured in the front row (from right, Noémi, Peter and [Michael’s sister] Susan Reinglass). At far right, Rabbi Seth D Gordon and Mark Weinstein looking on as Rabbi Bloch completes the letters.
Following the Torah dedication, the congregation hosted a conversation with Matthew Levy (top left), who is currently serving as a Lone Soldier in the IDF and son of Traditional members Dr. Ari Levy and Dr. Stephanie Cogan. He gave an overview of his experience in the IDF and what has been happening since Oct. 7.
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