20
BY CATE MARQUIS
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
It’s all about the books and authors at the 46th annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, Nov. 2-17. The festival, nationally recognized event and one of the largest in the country, brings in Jewish authors and features books with Jewish interest and themes, offering a wide variety to inform, delight, amuse and enlighten readers.
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
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Rachel Sanger
Ellen Schapiro
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Peggy Cohen Voss
night authors indicate the range at this year’s festival, opening with Mickey Bergman, a former Israel Defense Forces paratrooper who has negotiated the release of American hostages around the world, and closing with Daniel Handler, aka “Lemony Snicket,” the author of the wildly popular, darkly humorous kids’ books.
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
at the J in April and real ly hit the ground run ning and made it easy for us to organize this year’s festival,” Raznick said. “And we have such an incredible, hard-working committee who work on every aspect of the festival and pitch in to get everything done.”
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
Some offerings are light, with humor, cooking and fiction, while others are deep, with current events, culture and history, and spanning from big topics like antisemitism to intimate ones like family connections.
$54/
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
The JBF co-chairs this year are Barb Raznick and Madelon Scallet. Madelon is new as co-chair this year, as is The J’s Director of Literary Arts, Jessica Fischoff.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
The festival’s opening and closing
$54/ TICKET
“Madelon Scallet and I were so fortunate to welcome Jessica Fischoff, the new literary arts director, who came to St. Louis and joined the staff
Once again, this year’s JBF has an exciting schedule of authors and events. “There truly is an event for everyone,” said Scallet. “We have it all: history, romance, current events, memoirs, children’s books, sports, musical
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community. $54/
LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
See BOOK FESTIVAL on page
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY)
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY) INCLUDES EVENT ENTRY, DESSERT RECEPTION + 1 COPY OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES MAGAZINE.
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY) INCLUDES EVENT ENTRY, DESSERT RECEPTION + 1 COPY OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES MAGAZINE. All funds raised from this event will directly support the St. Louis Jewish Light - a nonprofit, independent news source with a mission to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.
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TO THE Jewish women from St. Louis trek to KC for Taylor, Travis and football glory
BY KEVIN DEUTSCH
KANSAS CITY — Move over, Taylor Swift. A band of die-hard, Jewish fans of the Kansas City Chiefs are bringing a little yiddishkeit — and lots of girl power — to Chiefs Kingdom.
Across St. Louis County on game days, these Jewish women of all ages embark on a pilgrimage they hope will end in gridiron triumph: a 240-plus mile drive to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where they don their favorite jerseys, chow down on tailgate party staples and cheer their hearts out for the Kansas City Chiefs.
fans from St. Louis told the Jewish Light that their Jewish identity spices up the multicultural melting pot at Arrowhead, where they’ve befriended fans from varying faiths and backgrounds, as well as other Jews.
“Being a Chiefs fan gives me a feeling of community, of feeling good about our love of the team and being united around one cause,” said Traci Goldstein Holdener, 51, a season ticket holder from Chesterfield. “I feel like I’m part of something.”
A working mom and pro-Israel activist, Goldstein Holdener said she “fell in love with the Chiefs” on Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, a 39-degree afternoon with the wind whipping at Arrowhead and John Elway’s Denver Broncos on the opposing sideline. Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono ran for a key touchdown and sent about 75,000 fans at Arrowhead into a frenzy. The Chiefs won 20-17 and turned Goldstein Holdener, who previously cared little for football, into a hardcore fan.
She wears her Star of David pendant to games and said she’s been welcomed by Chiefs die-hards from numerous cultures, including a family that brings kosher hot dogs to her at tailgate parties.
“My life is so full of things that are political — I love two things, Israel and the Chiefs — and sometimes it feels great to check out from all that and just enjoy the game,” Goldstein Holdener said. “People
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PRODUCTION
Shabbat begins Friday, Oct. 25: 5:51 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday, Oct. 26: 6:48 p.m.
Torah reading: Bereishit
The ST. LOUIS JEWISH LIGHT (ISSN 00362964) is published bimonthly by the St. Louis Jewish Light, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, 7201 Delmar Blvd. Suite 201, St. Louis, MO 63130. Periodical postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Copyright 2024. Postmaster: Send address changes to the St. Louis Jewish Light: 7201 Delmar Blvd. #201, St. Louis, MO 63130.
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The Light will publish print editions twice a month in 2024, on these dates:
Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Dec. 18 PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT
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
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Shabbat begins Friday, Nov. 1: 5:42 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday, Nov. 2: 6:40 p.m.
Torah reading: Noach
• The Guide to Jewish Life magazine’s entry for Temple Emanuel include an incorrect name for the congregation’s president. Temple Emanuel’s current president is Barbara D. Lewington. Warren W. Davis is Temple Emanuel’s immediate past president.
• A photo caption accompanying the Guide to Jewish Life entry for Congregation Temple Israel did not reflect the updated title of Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Michael Alper.
BY BILL MOTCHAN
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Anxiety, anger, stress and sleepless nights.
They are all common behaviors experienced by military veterans, particularly those engaged in combat. These soldiers have experienced trauma. That is especially true for Israel Defense Forces soldiers tasked with rooting out Hamas in Gaza’s dangerous, compressed urban environment.
Earlier this year, an innovative program offered a respite to a group of Israeli soldiers. Known as Healing in Nature (HiN), the initiative combines technology and a remote wilderness location as therapeutic tools. The setting is northern Montana, but its origin can be traced to St. Louis 16 years ago. That was when Adam Wallis heard Rabbi Nir Barkin speak at Temple Israel. Barkin is member of the clergy in Yozma, Israel, a sister congregation to TI.
“I really connected with him and we became really good friends,” said Wallis, who was a TI board member at the time. “He started staying with us when he came into town.”
Barkin said. “It really healed my soul. Being up there with the horses, the wilderness, you’re completely disconnected from Wi-Fi, with no reception. I felt much better after everything I went through in my military service. And I wanted to share that experience with my buddies.”
That epiphany led Barkin to develop HiN. In the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, he arranged for 15 IDF soldiers to spent one week at the ranch to have the same experience. In order to qualify, the soldiers were screened through an initial psychological evaluation. The weeklong session in June 2024 also brought four therapists to assist in the therapy.
In 2001, Wallis first visited the K Bar L Ranch, located 120 miles south of the Canadian border. His father, the late Bill Wallis, founder of the Wallis Companies, discovered the ranch when he was invited there by ExxonMobil.
Adam and his wife, Emily, now run the ranch. It is truly remote, seven miles from the nearest road and accessible only by foot or horseback. The scenery is also breathtaking. Fresh mountain air and whistling winds proved the perfect anti-
dote a young IDF soldier who had just completed his military service during Operation Protective Edge. The soldier was Omri Barkin (Rabbi Barkin’s son).
Barkin flew to the K Bar L Ranch to decompress. He quickly learned essential skills, including how to pack a mule and saddle a horse.
“It was just an amazing experience,”
“I knew they were going to need some help with their mental health,” Barkin said. “When you are working with people who have gone through trauma, there are two options. You can either grow from it or go to a darker place. We’re just trying to help them kind of process everything and grow from whatever they went through.”
During the HiN week at the ranch, the soldiers began each day at 6:30 a.m. with a cold plunge. Exposure to cold temperatures helped teach the participants controlled breathing. That was followed by a
See HEALING on page 6
Students at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School placed stones near the Israeli flag pole to remember the souls lost, and gathered for a ceremony with meaningful poems, songs and prayers.
At top left, Shinshinim (Roni, Roni, Gaya and Ziv) lead Mirowitz in ‘Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael,’ a prayer for the redemption of the remaining hostages.
At top right, Mirowitz students, staff and families gather for the ceremony. At left, Student Sabine Hotter lays a rock next to the Israeli flag pole.
At right, Morah Val Toskin, interim director of Jewish life, leads the ceremony.
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum recently announced the opening of the fall funding cycle for the Rubin and Gloria Feldman Family Educational Institute. Interested individuals and organizations can apply for funds of up to $5,000 on the Institute’s online portal. The application cycle closes on Oct. 29, and award winners will be notified later in the year.
The institute is especially, but not exclusively, interested in projects that benefit Missouri and the Midwest region. Institute funds will be dispersed to nonprofits and educational institutions. Individual educators may apply, but funds will be dispersed to the educational institute with which they
are affiliated.
The institute funds programs of educational and artistic merit that do one or more of the following: explore the history and legacy of the Holocaust; use the lessons of the Holocaust to examine subjects of ethical, social, and political importance; facilitate dialogue between people of different ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds; combat antisemitism, racism, and discrimination based on disability, sex, religion, sexual-orientation or age.
The Institute does not fund capital improvements or operating expenses. To apply, visit STLHolocaustMuseum. org/Feldman-Institute.
Nov 9–10 Sat 7:30pm, Sun 3:00pm
Stifel Theatre
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Joélle Harvey, soprano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Josh Lovell, tenor
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
St. Louis Symphony Chorus
The sorrow and beauty of Mozart’s unfinished Requiem speaks across centuries. Acclaimed bass-baritone Dashon Burton sings an arrangement of Brahms’ Four Serious Songs.
Kelley O’Connor’s performance is supported by the Sarah Bryan Miller Fund
Nov 15–16 Fri 7:30pm, Sat 7:30pm
Touhill at UMSL
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Mozart is on the move. In London and Paris, he dashes off fizzing symphonies. In Italy, the fun-loving Mitridate, rè di Ponto. In Vienna, the Piano Concerto No. 20, performed by Behzod Abduraimov.
BY KATHLEEN LEES
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
On Oct. 27 at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Eric Marcus will highlight the hidden history of LGBTQ+ Holocaust victims.
Marcus, the founder and host of the award-winning podcast “Making Gay History,” will illuminate these voices through the special program “Making Gay History Time Travel.” He will provide a sneak preview of his podcast’s upcoming 10-episode series, which highlights the lived-experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the rise of the Nazi regime and throughout the Holocaust. Through extensive research and archival interviews, he will share a glimpse into this often-concealed past.
“It’s really groundbreaking research, and it brings attention to lesser-known groups of people who were targeted during the Holocaust,” said Helen Turner, director of education at the museum. “I
really hope that this serves as a bridge to widen the circle at the museum and get more people involved in the mission and seeing themselves in the conversation.”
The event at the Holocaust Museum will begin at 3 p.m. in the museum’s auditorium. General admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased online. For more information, visit stlholocaustmuseum. org/programs/upcoming-events.
Program
in high school; deadline to apply is Nov. 3
Jewish Chesterfield, a community organization dedicated to empowering youth, has launched a new Solomon Leadership Program chapter in Chesterfield. This initiative aims to cultivate leadership skills, foster community involvement, and inspire the next generation of leaders. Successful participants earn three college credits.
The Solomon Leadership Program provides driven teens the opportunity to engage in leadership training, community engagement, and mentorship programs. Participants will gain valuable foundations in decision-making, values-driven leadership and public speaking, equipping them with the skills neces-
sary to make a positive impact in their communities.
Through an exclusive curriculum, high-profile local guest speakers, and knowledgeable community mentors, teens experience accelerated growth and transformational learning.
The program is open to teens in their junior and senior years of high school, and applications are now open until Nov. 3. Solomon accepts driven and committed teens who are excited to be part of the program. Interested individuals can learn more and apply by visiting www.solomonprogram.org or contacting Rabbi Avi Rubenfeld at rabbiavi@gmail.com.
when he first made the trip to Montana.
“We understand that a week in Montana, while it’s amazing, it’s not enough, so we have an alumni community
Sharon Greenberg, Darcy & Dan Glidewell, Stefanie & Tod Greenberg*
Debbie & Mike Le on*
Barbie Barenholtz-Present & Ron Present
Marilyn & Dick Brickson*
Lorraine Allen & Rita Mae Allen
Family Foundation
Michael Karasick, Director Sue Matlof*
Pam & Ron Rubin*
Marilyn Steinback, Susie & Jonathan Sachs, Bob Steinback*
The Staenberg Group & Michael Staenberg
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Michele & David Bernstein
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Merle Fox & Je Bikshorn*
Brenda & Joe Pereles*
Kathy Zigler*
Vicky Fraser & Steve Miller*
Joy & Jay Liss*
Bill Livingston, Jr.*
Helene Siegfried & Michael Barzo *
Alvin Siteman*
Staenberg Family Foundation
Jody & Mickey Waldman*
Sue Wallach*
Armanino LLP • Berger Memorial Chapel • Michael Bobro * • Collaborative Strategies • Betsy & Ron Cytron* • Danna McKitrick, PC • Judy & Larry Deutsch*
Madeleine Elkins & Harvey Wallace* • Deena & David Goran* • Nancy & Randy Green* • Phylis Kahn* • Diane & John Kalishman • Gerry Kowarsky* Ma er Family O ce • Cindy & Danny Solomon • Karen Suro & Oscar Schwartz • Rabbi Je rey & Dr. Arlene Sti man • Mona & Larry Swedroe*
Rabbi Rachel Bearman • Rabbi Jim & Amy Benne • Sharon & Richard Cohen • Dianna & Dick Fine • Kim & Steven Goldenberg
Rabbi Andrea & Bre Goldstein • Judy Schwartz Ja e & Guy Ja e • Jarrell Mechanical Contractors • Jewish Federation of St. Louis
THANK YOU TO ALL
* Denotes Emet Society Member
Cindy, Brad, & Je Le on • Rabbi Lori Levine & Joe Ferris • Lodging Hospitality Management • Amy & Craig Neuman • Leanne & Harvey Schneider
Andy & Stan Shanker • Renee & Sam Silverstein • Bonnie & Norman Solomon • Jill & Todd Solomon • Cantor Seth & Shayna Warner Gold
theater. Whatever your readers’ interests are, they will be there.”
Fischoff said opening night (Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.) Bergman, the former IDF paratrooper and executive director of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, was chosen.
“Mickey has this stunning way of putting a human face on international diplomacy, and his book, ‘In The Shadows: True Stories of High-Stakes Negotiations to Free Americans Captured Abroad,’ gives personal insight to his behind-the-scenes crucial role in the release of Gilad Shalit, and more recently, Americans held abroad such Otto Warmbier and Britney Griner.”
“We are so lucky to have Mickey Bergman as our headliner,” Scallet added. “We selected this author because ‘In the Shadows’ will help us understand international negotiations, and perhaps, why it has been so hard to get our hostages home from Gaza.”
Closing night (Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.) will feature Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, who will be interviewed by Fischoff about his memoir “And Then? And Then? What Else?” at the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch. His program is appropriate for adults as well as grade school and up age children (children may attend for free).
Handler’s new memoir “is a deep dive into the cultural analysis of what helped frame and inspire his work and career,” Fischoff said. “But more importantly, Daniel is a truly entertaining speaker, and I have complete confidence that this is going to be a night of enjoyment for the whole family. He’s smart, he’s quick, and his cultural criticism is really an elevated and thought-provoking exploration into what contributes to our own creative processes.” In between those opening and closing night is a whole lot of wonderful book festival.
• Julia Quinn, author of the wildly popular “Bridgerton” historical fiction series. She will headline Women’s Night “A Romantic Affair,” joined by Felicia Grossman and her “Once Upon the East End: Wake Me Most Wickedly,” on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. (with a reception at 6:30 p.m.), at J’s the Staenberg Family Complex Edison Gymnasium. The discussion will be moderated by Ellen Futterman, editor-
in-chief of the Jewish Light
• Renowned cookbook author Joan Nathan will discuss her new memoir “My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories” on “Cookbook Night” (Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.).
• Adam Nimoy talks about his book (and his famous father), “The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy,” on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
• Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr.’s “50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of An American Television Classic,” (Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.) with stories and video outtakes with the writers of this classic TV series.
• Benjamin Ginsberg will discuss a very timely concern with his “The New American Anti-Semitism: The Left, the Right, and the Jews” (Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum).
“A Night of Theater” features Eddie Shapiro and his book “Here’s to the Ladies: Conversations with More of the Great Women of Musical Theater” plus special performances by New Jewish Theatre (Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.).
• The annual Kristallnacht remembrance will feature Karen Kirsten’s “Irena’s Gift: An Epic World War II Memoir of Sisters, Secrets, And Survival” (Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.)
• A Veteran’s Day program will include Stuart E. Eizenstat, author of “The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World” (Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.).
• An overview of the baseball film genre with Noah Gittell (“Baseball: The Movie,” Sports Night, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.). Gittell offers a multimedia presentation, joined by Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Hochman.
• How to kick your clutter habit with
WHEN: Nov. 2-17
WHERE: Most events are held at the Jewish Community Center’s Mirowitz Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, with a few events held elsewhere at The J’s Staenberg Family Complex or in the community. Visit full schedule online for information about specific events.
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices vary. The festival’s All-Access Pass, which also allows access to more than 25 JBF author events all year round, cost just over $210.
MORE INFO: Visit stljewishbookfestival. org for author information and full schedule of events. The festival box office is open MondayFriday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (call 314-442-3299).
Andrew J. Mellen (“Unstuff Your Life!” Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.).
Missouri’s Own and other panel discussions:
The Missouri’s Own panel (Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.) includes a favorite of Scallet.
“My favorite book this year is ‘Harry Gets Wise’ by Michael Vines. This book is about Michael’s grandfather trying to run a store here, in downtown St. Louis, and all the gangsters he had to deal with to keep his business running. Reading this book reminded me of my own father’s store downtown. He had many of the same problems and dealt with some of them in the same ways. Michael describes St. Louis so artfully throughout this book. It was a very fast read for me, and now I need a signed copy — or three — so I can pass it down to my children.”
Other panels include:
• “The Old Jewish Men’s Guide to Eating, Sleeping and Futzing Around” with Noah Rinsky, along with Reuven Fenton’s “Goyhood.” (Humor in Literature panel, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.).
• Historical Fiction (Nov. 8 at
When asked if they thought one program was a must-see, both co-chairs mentioned the same one: Ilan Evyatar, author of “Target Tehran: How Mossad is Using Sabotage, Cyberware, Assassination/and Secret Diplomacy to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Realign the New Middle East” (Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County).
“I believe this presentation will help all of us to better understand current events in the Middle East, which of course can be helpful for so many of us at this time,” Scallet said.
Raznick mentioned two programs: The Evyatar event, as well as the event with R. Derek Black, godson of KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, and author of “The Klansman’s Son” (Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.). Raznick said the book chronicles the author’s “journey from hate to understanding. It should be an extremely powerful evening.”
The festival will include an in-house bookstore, staffed by festival committee members, to give attendees a chance to buy books from any of the events.
Fischoff said the 2024 St. Louis Jewish Book Festival offers a literary banquet for readers.
“This festival is an opportunity not simply for us to amplify Jewish writers or writers on Jewish themes, it’s a chance to support them, to celebrate them, to engage with them, and to help continue on the legacy that is Jewish literature,” Fischoff said.
Once elected, he will:
Support Israel's right to defend itself and eliminate Hamas
Demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages
Support fully funding security assistance for Israel without additional conditions
Work to expand the historic Abraham Accords
Ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon
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.
Shelley Dean is the new social media director for Aish HaTorah in St. Louis She is responsible for elevating their community’s visibility through creative and engaging social media content. Dean is a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) has appointed J. David Levy as the new board chair for the Michael and Barbara Newmark Institute for Human Relations. The institute is committed to the concept of a pluralistic society where diverse religious, racial, and ethnic groups live and work together and their differences enhance the community. Levy is retired from Angelica Uniform as vice president of corporate planning and is a member of Temple Emanuel.
On National Philanthropy Day, Steve Lowy received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the St. Louis Regional Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. A major donor of Washington University’s Lowy Scholarship for the past 40 years, he has sponsored endowed and annual scholarships that have supported more than 100 engineering students. Lowy currently serves as chairman for IT consulting and staffing firm Envision and is a member of Temple Emanuel.
The Honorable Ellen Levy of Missouri’s 21st Judicial Court, was named one of nine 2024 Leaders of Distinction. She will be celebrated at the YWCA Leaders Lunch on Dec. 13 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand. Levy is a member of Congregation Temple Israel.
The Art Gallery at Chesterfield City Hall will feature 14 paintings of Mark Koritz The art exhibit is currently running through Dec. 31, with an artist reception on Oct. 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. All proceeds from the sale of his work goes to The St. Louis Men’s Group Against
Cancer. Koritz attends Congregation Shaare Emeth.
David Levy has joined Mercy’s Center for Performance Medicine as a certified hand therapist and occupational therapist. He treats conditions that range from hand and upper extremity arthritis to complex injuries resulting from trauma, helping people return to their full and regular activities. Levy is a member of Central Reform Congregation.
In his new book, “Jewish Communal Leadership: Lessons Learned from
Leading Practitioners,” educator, organizational innovator and former St. Louisan Dr. Ron Wolfson gives us the lessons learned from intensive interviews with outstanding Jewish leaders who share their insights and experiences leading a variety of Jewish institutions. The book is designed as an interactive volume for leadership teams to read and use together, including discussion questions at the end of each chapter to focus attention on practical application of the content. Wolfson is the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University.
Jamie Krakover recently published “Authority,” her second book in the Tracker Sequence. The book is about a futuristic St. Louis where everyone has brain-interfacing tracking chips, and a 16-year-old has to navigate the intersection of Judaism and the technology threatening to take control of everyone she cares about. A member of Congregation Temple Israel, Krakover is an engineering senior manager for The Boeing Company.
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.
The one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel served as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis, but this awareness must not fade. To keep the stories of the hostages and the impact of terrorism at the forefront, the St. Louis Jewish community is invited to gather at the Jewish Community Center – Staenberg Family Complex on Oct. 27 for a special event aimed at fostering solidarity and understanding.
Organized in partnership with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, this in-person event will feature a live Zoom conversation with a family member of a hostage, sharing their personal story and perspective. While the specific family participating is still being determined, this direct connection aims to bring our community closer to those enduring unimaginable hardships. To fully engage, attendees must be present at The J, as the Zoom session will only be accessible to those in the room.
“We hope our community can learn about the personal impact of these events and the importance of solidarity and support,” said Naomi Elbaz, Israeli engagement coordinator at The J. “By creating a platform for dialogue and understanding, we hope to foster compassion and encourage proactive responses to violence and hate.”
Attendees will also experience a virtual tour of Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, visually linking our community to the events unfolding in Israel.
“The event also invites attendees to engage further by participating in advocacy efforts, contributing to fundraising initiatives for affected families, and educating themselves and others about the broader context of violence and trauma,” said Elbaz.
To join this vital conversation and show your support, register online at https://formstack.io/ A127F.
Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, located at 9125 Ladue Road, is nearing completion of significant upgrades to enhance the visitor experience and preserve the cemetery’s historic grounds. The improvements include a new office and garage, updated walkways, newly paved roads and a restructured parking lot. Visitors will also notice changes to many of the burial sites in this cemetery, one of the oldest in the St. Louis Jewish community.
The cemetery’s board of directors authorized the updates after careful deliberation. Key changes include leveling mounds and removing existing ground cover and wooden boxes surrounding graves. Eventually, all grave sites will be uniformly covered with grass to create a more cohesive and serene environment.
“The cemetery’s board and staff are dedicated to ensuring the grounds reflect the care and respect we have for the
Jewish community we serve,” said Roberta Gutwein, president of the Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery Association. She noted that the ivy and sedum ground cover, which has been removed, held no religious significance but had become difficult to maintain.
Executive Director Cindy Becker echoed these sentiments, explaining the operational challenges posed by the previous landscape. “The upkeep and personnel demands made it nearly impossible to maintain the current ground cover. We want visitors to find the grounds attractive year-round, and these changes will help achieve that goal.”
The board’s goal is to ensure the cemetery remains a place of beauty and calm for families and visitors, while also simplifying long-term maintenance.
will ask me questions when they see [the Star of David], and it’s another way of teaching people about Judaism.”
Mauri Tedder, 26, takes her Jewish pride a step further at Chiefs games, wearing a gold necklace and chai charm large enough to rival an NFL star’s jewelry. She also sports a chai tattoo on her neck, fusing personal style with faith while rooting for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company.
“I wear my chai every day, I’ve got tattoos that are visible that represent my Judaism, and I’ve always felt at home here,” Tedder, who lives near Creve Couer, said while tailgating at Arrowhead in September. “I feel like I can be me while being a Chiefs fan.”
Tedder’s fandom is a family affair. Her mother, Yvonne Tedder, 58, holds season tickets in Section 123 along the 5-yard line. Before driving to home games, she loads her RAV4 with a grill, tent, chairs, tote packs filled with eating supplies, and that perennial tailgating MVP: a portable toilet.
Like most longtime Chiefs fans, Tedder has rituals that make game days all the more fun. One is cheering on her favorite player, defensive tackle and fellow Florida State University alumnus Derrick Nnadi.
Another is snacking on crinkle-cut Crabfries she orders from Chickie’s & Pete’s at Arrowhead at halftime.
“It’s an incredible atmosphere on game day and really fosters a sense of community,” Yvonne Tedder said. “Everybody is one big, happy Chiefs family.”
Rooting for NFL teams has not always been easy for Jewish women, several of whom said aspects of the sport can at times conflict with their values. The
game’s impact on player’s brains and bodies, plus allegations of sexism, racism and gender discrimination that permeate the league, can make fandom a tough sell for some.
Still, a 2021 SSRS Sports Poll found that 46% of NFL fans were female, the highest of any professional U.S. sports league.
And that was before Taylor Swift started rocking Chiefs gear.
The music superstar’s high profile romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce added a “Swift factor” that has sparked massive growth among the team’s female fan base, Jewish women included, superfan Amy Spetner Doughty said.
“I’m not a Swiftie who became a football fan. I’m a football fan who’s also a Swiftie,” said Spetner Doughty, 52, of Olivette. “I doubled down when my two loves came together, and it’s been unbelievable.”
The Jewish mother of three, a school nurse in Clayton, came to the Chiefs with a broken heart. The Rams’ departure from St. Louis after the 2015 season left her “devastated, angry and hurt.”
“I was crying,” she said. “I just didn’t want to root for anything.”
When Mahomes began his string of spectacular seasons in 2018, Spetner Doughty’s love of the game reawakened.
“I was just all in for the Chiefs from then on,” she said. “And now the Swift factor has brought daddies and their little girls together again.”
Like Spetner Doughty, Chiefs fan Marni Frischer, 24, inherited her love of the Chiefs from her father, Phil Frischer. A fan from the time she could walk, she attended her first game at age 4 with her dad and grew into a fervent football aficionado.
“We’d make a family trip from St. Louis and come in the night before, get barbecue
(at Arthur Bryant’s) and then go to the game,” she said.
Frischer sees similarities between her love of Jewish family traditions and her passion for Chiefs football, minus the religion.
“I feel like the aspect of tradition in Judaism is kind of replicated through football, bringing people together, making the game the biggest priority of the day for our family,” she said.
Like many female Chiefs fans, Frischer can reel off player factoids with ease. For instance, she recently schooled a reporter on the 2016 reality dating show “Catching Kelce,” in which 50 women from 50 states competed to win the heart of the star, who has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl nine times.
Travis and Taylor’s relationship is good for the game, she said.
“There’s been a kind of stigma around women and football, this idea that it’s more for men and that women might shy away from the game, feeling like they can’t ask questions (about the sport),” Frischer said. “I think the Taylor effect has been great because it’s gotten more people involved and interested”
Beth Higdon, 51, is among longtime fans stepping up their team spirit amid the Swift-Kelce craze. She’ll be attending her first Chiefs game at Arrowhead on Nov. 10 against the Broncos.
The Jewish Chesterfield resident said she’s long loved watching Chiefs games on television but is excited to experience the excitement of live football.
She hopes to bring the back-to-back Super Bowl champs a little luck, too.
“If they’re on a winning streak, we make sure that we’re wearing the same clothes (as the previous week),” said Higdon, whose go-to Sunday apparel is a red Kelce jersey. “I just love this team.”
If re-elected, she’ll continue to:
Support Israel's right to defend itself and eliminate Hamas
Demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages
Support fully funding security assistance for Israel without additional conditions
Work to expand the historic Abraham Accords
Ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon
VOTE FOR
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
BY RABBI RACHEL BEARMAN
CONGREGATION SHAARE EMETH
Every year, as we study this week’s Torah portion, Bereshit, I find myself thinking of two remarkable rabbis.
The first rabbi I associate with Parashat Bereshit is Rabbi Sally J. Priesand. In 1972, Rabbi Priesand was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and became the first female rabbi in North America. In the more than 50 years since she was ordained, Rabbi Priesand has served the Jewish people tirelessly and has taken every opportunity to, as she describes it, “hold the door open,” for the rabbis of all genders and especially the female rabbis- who have followed in her footsteps.
Several years ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rabbi Priesand, and I asked her who her favorite biblical figure was. She replied that she loved, “Eve because she chose knowledge and wisdom over life in the Garden of Eden.”
I was so struck by her answer. For thousands of years- since the time of the Torah itself- Eve’s choice to eat from the tree of knowledge has been denounced, and, yet, in one sentence, Rabbi Priesand had upended all of the assumptions that are behind that denunciation. The more that I thought about her answer, the more it made sense. Of course, Rabbi Priesand admires Eve. Rabbi Priesand is a pioneer
who chose to seek her rabbinical education even when many of her professors and classmates denounced her goals. It makes perfect sense that she finds such meaning in the story of another woman who could have lived comfortably within the boundaries she was given but who decided to pursue an unprecedented path to knowledge and wisdom instead.
The second rabbi that I associate with Bereshit is Rabbi Regina Jonas, the first female rabbi. Rabbi Jonas received her rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Max Dienemann in a private ceremony on Dec. 27, 1935. Her ordination certificate was signed by Rabbi Dienemann, the then president of the General Assembly of Rabbis in Germany, and Rabbi Dienemann’s signature was attested to by Rabbi Leo Baeck. For years after her ordination, Rabbi Jonas worked selflessly and courageously for the Jewish people of Germany, even as the Nazis continued to gain more power.
In 1942, Rabbi Jonas and her mother were deported to Terezin where she continued to teach and serve the Jewish people until October of 1944 when she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz and then murdered.
Rabbi Leo Baek, Victor Frankel (author of “Man’s Search for Meaning”), and other survivors of Terezin knew Rabbi Jonas, and, yet, after the war, none of them ever again mentioned her by name in any public
respond to Oct. 7 reflection
I thought that the views of 12 people that were included in the Jewish Light article (Oct. 9, St. Louisans reflect on personal changes sparked by Oct. 7) were representative of a majority of Jewish people and validated many of the emotions and thoughts that I have had and continue to experience. However, I was really distressed by the comments made by Michael Berg, which I considered much more extreme and irrational than the comments most St. Louis Jews who don’t support Israel might express.
Berg’s comments were hard to empathize with, unsubstantiated second-hand or third-hand accounts, or simply a rehash of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian propaganda statements.
Sadly, in war there is “collateral damage” to civilians and to buildings in order to neutralize terrorist enemies and to destroy enemy weapons and equipment. Hamas’s barbarians have continuously used non-combatant adults and children,
and even the Israeli and foreign hostages of Oct. 7 as “human shields.”
Such loss of life is unfortunate but unavoidable, even when the Israeli army sends warning for civilians to leave an area in order to avoid injury or death. In my opinion, Israel’s IDF is as careful, or more careful, to avoid collateral damage than most other military forces. I think that Michael Berg is a “useful idiot” puppet of anti-Israel terrorist propagandists and is doing a great job in promoting hate and antisemitism. I don’t know him personally but do feel sorry for him.
I feel that his statement is unbalanced and untrue. Maybe the publication of Michael Berg’s statement gives Jewish Light readers a bitter taste of the hate speech that he and other Jewish and non-Jewish anti-Israel and antisemites promote, but would prefer not to read this kind of misinformation in my local Jewish newspaper.
Morris Finkelstein, M.D., Ph.D. Clayton
I have always considered the Jewish Light a safe space in our community, a
writings. Her life, rabbinate, and legacy faded almost completely into obscurity until a researcher discovered a small collection of her surviving writings in 1991. This previously unknown collection included a photo of Rabbi Jonas in rabbinical robes, a few newspaper clippings about her work as a rabbi in various German communities, a copy of her rabbinical thesis, and her ordination certificate (source: “The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate,” pages 46-48.
Over the last several decades, scholars have used this small, personal archive to fill in Rabbi Jonas’s story and to craft a portrait of a woman defined by her deep commitment to education and by the resiliency and steadfastness that she showed as she encountered and overcame all obstacles in her years-long pursuit of the rabbinate.
In one of the pieces discovered in Rabbi Jonas’s small archive, we find her reflections on her desire to be a rabbi, “If I confess what motivated me, a woman, to become a rabbi, two things come to mind. My belief in God’s calling and my love of humans. God planted in our heart skills and a vocation without asking about gender. Therefore, it is the duty of men and women alike to work and create according to the skills given by God.” — Regina Jonas, C.-V.-Zeitung, June 23, 1938 (source: Jewish Women’s Archive, jwa.org).
We do not know for certain the exact day that Rabbi Jonas and her mother were
publication that promotes a variety of viewpoints and respects all opinions, however the published reply of Michael Berg to the Oct. 7 tragedy crossed a hard line for me (“St. Louisans reflect on personal changes sparked by Oct. 7”). How can our exclusive Jewish community publication give this individual a forum of which to spew misinformation, ignorance and propaganda? It was extremely disappointing and sad to see that he was provided the opportunity to be published among many of our distinguished St. Louis community leaders who already provided a variety of opinions across the spectrum on this matter.
His prime concern on Oct. 7 was that Israel would now make “life a living hell for every man, woman and child in Gaza.” He then mentions Israeli “atrocities” and “genocide” without a word about the Hamas atrocities committed to innocent Israeli civilians sleeping in their homes or celebrating at a peaceful music festival or specifically of men, women, children, babies that were barbarically slaughtered, raped, burned, murdered or taken as hostages that day. It was not mentioned that Israel did not choose this war or that it has the right to defend itself to make Israel a safe community for all of its citizens — Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze or that many of the Israeli victims were peace
the Jewish Light.
killed, but based on the timing of their deportation from Terezin and their arrival in Auschwitz, Shabbat Bereshit has been designated as their yahrzeit (their anniversary of passing).
In honor of these two remarkable rabbis, these two pioneers who devoted their rabbinates to serving the Jewish people, I hope that we will all approach the familiar stories of Bereshit with open minds and hearts. I hope that we will honor these rabbis’ commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, even and especially when our pursuit leads us into previously unexplored spaces. I hope that we will allow ourselves to listen to the small voice within our hearts, the same voice that Eve heard within her heart, the voice that asks, “What will happen if we trade comfort for truth? What can we become if we choose knowledge over contentment? What lies beyond the boundaries that we have been told that we must exist within?”
What I have learned from Rabbi Priesand and Rabbi Jonas is that if we are brave enough, determined enough, visionary enough, we can choose knowledge and can become the pioneers on whose shoulders future generations will gratefully stand.
activists who worked alongside Palestinians to help provide employment or transport their children from the border to Israeli hospitals and other kind acts. It is vital that we acknowledge the full context of the situation, rather than allowing radical viewpoints that promote hate speech to overshadow the facts. I urge the Jewish Light to continue its important work by offering space for diverse perspectives while ensuring that it does not inadvertently promote harmful narratives. We already face an abundance of misinformation within our community, on our college campuses and beyond. I hope that future editions will strive for a more balanced representation of the complexities we face.
Sherri Hyken-Sadon Creve Coeur
In 1945, would a Jewish newspaper print a story where a Jewish reader expressed support for Nazis and great concern for the damage that may be caused to the concentration camps by the allied military forces. In 1967, would a Jewish publication post a comment from a Jewish reader who was concerned that Israel destroyed Egyptian and Syrian airplanes. That could never happen, right? Well in 2024, the Jewish Light included a reflection on Oct.
BY MARTY ROCHESTER
As the presidential election approaches, I wanted to write about which candidate I thought was worth voting for but could not do so since endorsing or rejecting political nominees in a column published by a nonprofit such as the Jewish Light would not be kosher.
Hence, I decided to write on a lighter subject that is far less important, except one that has deep meaning for me. It so happens I am nearing octogenarian status, which leads me to reflect back on my lifetime, both ups and downs. As I note below, I have experienced far more ups than downs.
My first blessing was to be born a couple months after World War II had ended, into a solidly middle-class family with warm, caring parents. (I have never taken that for granted.) My father was a pharmacist, my mother a schoolteacher. I was joined by a twin brother, Stuart, who became my oldest and closest friend. We were raised as Conservative Jews, taught strong values, including the importance of education.
My parents sent me and my brother to Baltimore public schools. Both the elementary and junior high schools I attended took their name from nearby Pimlico Racetrack, which was only about 15 minutes from my house if I walked with a fast gait. In contrast, Baltimore City College High School, my next stop, was located several miles across town. I relied on public transportation, which meant my spend-
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7 by a Jewish reader who was upset about the rapes, torture, kidnapping and murders not because he values Jewish lives, but instead because he feared for the people living in Gaza.
The reader refers to the buildings that Hamas hides weapons in as schools, hospitals and bakeries and refers to Hamas terrorists as doctors, journalists and aid workers. When a school hides weapons, it is no longer a school, and when a doctor kidnaps innocent Israelis, they are no longer a doctor.
The kicker was the reader ended his interview saying that Israel cannot bomb its way to peace and security, and then pushes for a Palestinian state. The writer seems to think that terrorism should be rewarded.
I am still in great shock and anger that any Jewish organization would offer space to any anti-Israel, pro-terrorist viewpoint, but especially in the Oct. 7, 2024 special reflecting back to one year ago that day. Mike Minoff Olivette
As Missouri approaches a pivotal general election, one measure stands out on the ballot: Amendment 3. This amendment seeks to repeal the state’s extreme abortion ban, which currently prohibits abortion even in cases of rape and incest. The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is dedicated to championing reproductive justice, ensuring that every individual has the right to make personal, faith-informed decisions about their body, health and family without undue governmental interference.
Our Jewish tradition teaches us that reproductive freedom is inherently linked
ing an hour each way, transferring daily from one bus to another. This “busing” was the price one had to pay for the quality of the education “City” had to offer. For those of us enrolled in the special college preparatory program, the venerable institution — it is the third oldest public high school in America and had graduated the likes of Leon Uris and Stuart Symington — rewarded our long commute with a dedication to academic excellence.
My brother and I then attended Loyola College, where I gained an early appreciation for diversity, being among no more than a dozen Jews in our class at a Jesuit school. I learned to eat steamed crabs and crab cakes, drink beer and made lots of lifelong friends. I was required to take ROTC and learn to shoot an M1 rifle, although I was spared going to Vietnam, missing the most traumatic challenge of my generation due to a deferment for graduate school. I have never quite shaken my sense of guilt over that.
My brother and I went our separate ways after college. He got his Ph.D. in history at the University of Virginia and eventually became the chief historian in the U.S. Department of Defense. I received my Ph.D. in Political Science in 1972 from Syracuse University and spent almost the next 50 years at the University of MissouriSt.Louis before retiring in 2019 as Curators Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science. (Stuart died of melanoma in 2009, one of the lowest points in my life,
to our religious liberty. By voting YES on Amendment 3, we can dismantle Missouri’s restrictive abortion ban, empowering women to make informed choices about their pregnancy and healthcare with support from their families, medical professionals, and clergy—all while preserving our religious freedoms. NCJWSTL calls on all Missourians to stand against government overreach and reclaim the autonomy to make their own healthcare decisions. Please vote YES on Amendment 3 this November 5th.
Marlene Hammerman, MSW Past President, National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Chair, Amendment 3 Campaign
Like you, I receive many calls from candidates on November’s ballot. As a resident of Missouri Senate District 15 (Chesterfield, Town and Country, Ballwin), I was particularly interested in Joe Pereles, who is running to represent me. His campaign materials indicate that he has been involved in many community organizations, including the Jewish Federation. I was quite surprised when told that Mr. Pereles is also actively engaged in the St. Louis chapter of J Street. The national J Street website notes that “Joe co-founded the St. Louis J Street Chapter, [and] is the chapter’s advocacy chair.” He is also listed as a member of J Street’s National Board of Directors. Why would Mr. Pereles omit this longstanding commitment to J Street from his campaign materials?
For many of us with a strong commitment to the survival of Israel, J Street’s policies – such as supporting the Iran nuclear deal – are, at best, naïve, and at worst, downright dangerous. Its 2024 Congressional endorsements are telling: Colin Allred, who supports withholding
but not before showing me how one dies with the utmost courage and dignity.)
My professional life was primarily spent teaching and writing about international relations. Among my writings is a book on the United Nations calling for improved global institution-building. I was recognized in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the U.N., by the St. Louis chapter of the United Nations Association of America as one of 50 local “people who have devoted their lives personally and professionally to the values of peace and justice within their own communities and throughout the world.”
As suggested by my scholarly interest in the U.N., I have spent much of my adult life as a liberal — participating in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, delighting in the Republican downfall over Watergate in the ’70s, speaking out against some of Ronald Reagan’s Cold War policies in the ’80s, taking on a Big Brother role with a troubled St Louis inner city kid in the 2000s and so on. All the while, however, I sensed that, as I was aging, I was becoming more and more alienated from the left.
This was mainly a reaction to what I witnessed in K-12 and higher education, where a growing misplaced obsession with “equity and diversity” on the part of “progressive” educators translated into a collapse of standards.
It was not that I had abandoned liberalism; rather, liberalism had abandoned me. We hear today how the GOP is unrecognizable. Well, the same can be said about
aid to Israel to pressure it into a deal with Hamas; Pramila Jayapal, who has labeled Israel a racist state; Squad member Summer Lee; 28 of 37 Democrats who voted against last April’s Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act; Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, to name a few. I wrote Mr. Pereles to request “that in the name of transparency, you make known this [J Street] affiliation to voters in District 15…it is the right thing to do.”
I am still awaiting a response.
Susan Feigenbaum, Ph.D. Town and Country
As a candidate for the Missouri State Senate, I am eager to respond to the comments made by those questioning my support for Israel.
While state senators don’t have much sway on our nation’s foreign policy, they do have an impact on reproductive health care, public safety, education and so many other issues that matter to everyday Missourians.
I am an active and proud member of our local Jewish community, serving on the board of the Jewish Federation, which raised over $7 million for our Israel Emergency campaign. I am a past chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, a past president of Congregation Shaare Emeth and a co-founder of Be The Narrative, the organization expanding the highly successful Student to Student program nationwide. And yes, I am also involved in J Street — a pro-Israel, propeace, pro-democracy organization.
When it comes to my pro-Israel politics and work with J Street, it is critical to make clear that my beliefs are representative of the vast majority of American Jews who want security for Israel, peace between Israel and her neighbors and a
J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on international and American politics.
the other side — the Democratic Party, with its condemnation of the merit principle, the elevation of the group over the individual, the violation of the rule of law at the border, and perversion of other liberal values, is also unrecognizable.
Notwithstanding the awful current state of our politics, I have been blessed to live in the greatest country on Earth. I have also been blessed with two wonderful sons –one of whom is a Reform Jew and the other a Lubavitch Jew but who do not allow these differences to create barriers between them — and nine beautiful grandchildren. Thank God, they are all healthy, as I am. Sadly, two years ago I lost my wife Ruth, who I enjoyed a wonderful marriage with for over 50 years. Retirement was an existential moment for me, Ruth’s death even more so.
I continue to try to cope as best I can, thankfully surrounded by lots of family and friends. I have written over 200 op-eds in the Jewish Light, Post-Dispatch, Education Week, USA Today and other publications. I hope I still have something left to contribute. In any event, it truly has been a wonderful life with few regrets.
sustainable future for all in the region. Voters in Senate District 15 have two choices for our next state senator—I have vowed to protect a woman’s right to choose. David Gregory, my opponent has proudly sponsored and voted in favor of the most restrictive abortion ban in the country with no exceptions for rape or incest. To me, the choice is clear.
I’m running for the Missouri State Senate to fight for you. I will fight for Missouri, for our rights and against antisemitism and extremism at home and around the state.
Joe Pereles Chesterfield
It is quite obvious that Mr. Norman Pressman holds a deep disdain of what he calls the “ultra-Orthodox.” It is also quite obvious that Mr. Pressman is missing the point. More Americans across the board are turning away from religion in general. In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2018 and 2019, the religiously unaffiliated share of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009.
The movement away from religion is even more extreme among young women than young men when it comes to religion: A 2024 survey by the Survey Center on American Life reported that 54% of Gen Z (those born 1997 to 2012) adults who left their religion were women; 46% were men. Rabbi means teacher. Perhaps Mr. Pressman would do well to ask himself what he can do to help our Jewish youth to return to Judaism in an engaged and committed Jewish lifestyle.
James Pollock Town and Country
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Oct. 25, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis kicks off its Steve Woolf Studio Series with the dark comedy, “The Roommate” by Jen Silverman, a two-character play starring Nancy Bell as Robyn, and Kelley Weber as Sharon. In “The Roommate,” middle-aged Sharon, recently divorced and seeking a sensible roommate, opens her home to Robyn, a mysterious woman with a murky past.
The 90-minute play strives to take audiences on a humorous adventure “of self-discovery, secrets and revelations that challenge societal norms, embrace the unexpected and revel in the reinvention that only true friendship can create,” according to press materials.
“The Roommate,” is being directed by Rebekah Scallet, artistic director of New Jewish Theatre. In a wide-ranging Q&A,
the Jewish Light spoke to Scallet about the play, which also happens to be on Broadway starring Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow (the play’s small scale and St. Louis’ distance away from New York, allow the Rep to stage this production), and directing on a stage away from the Jewish Community Center campus and the Wool Theatre, her “regular” home.
How do you interpret the central themes of “The Roommate,” and what
unique perspectives are you bringing to this production?
“The Roommate” is about unlocking your hidden potential no matter how old you are, and recognizing that it’s never too late to make a real change in your life. The women at the center of this story are both stuck in the ways they’ve been living their lives to this point, and desperate to make changes. And through their interac-
See ROOMMATE on page 21
The Roommate
WHEN: Now through Nov. 17
WHERE: The Emerson Studio at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road
HOW MUCH: $60
MORE INFO: Purchase tickets online at Repstl.org, by phone at 314-968-4925 or The Rep Box Office at the Loretto-Hilton Center
Michael Rapaport Comedy Tour
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30p.m.
WHERE: Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Ave.
BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER
Before Oct. 7, actor and comedian Michael Rapaport referred to himself as a “lox and bagels Jew” — proud of his heritage, though not very involved. But after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel last year, Rapaport — best known for his roles on the TV series “Boston Public,” “Prison Break,” “Friends” and “The War at Home” — has emerged as an unflinching voice in support of Israel and the hostages still held in Gaza and against antisemitism.
Rapaport will visit St. Louis Saturday, Nov. 9 for a performance at the Sheldon Concert Hall (see below for full event details).
“I’ve heard great things about The Sheldon,” Rapaport shared during a recent phone interview. “It’s an intimate space, and I love that vibe. It feels like you’re performing directly to the audience.”
Rapaport said he weaves together his personal experiences, humor and current events into his performance, offering a mix of levity and insight.
Rapaport’s current tour reflects his deepening connection to his Jewish identity, intensified by his recent trips to Israel amid the ongoing conflicts.
“I’ve been there four times in the past year. The trips are emotional—demoralizing, inspiring, all of it. What’s happening there is unimaginable,” he shared. His shows relate these experiences, combin-
ing humor with the sobering realities of what he saw firsthand.
Balancing humor with heavy topics is no easy feat, but it’s something Rapaport
HOW MUCH: $42-62
MORE INFO: Purchase tickets online at metrotix.com
believes is crucial.
“I give it the reality, the respect, the
Columnist seeks out trendy teen slang to decode for parents, grandparents
BY AMY FENSTER BROWN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Kids, these days. No one knows what they’re talking about! It’s probably the same stuff we talked about when we were young but with new words.
Remember being young, when you didn’t have back pain and went out for the evening at 10 p.m.? Those days are long gone.
For those of us with kids or grandkids in their teens, we often hear words we don’t understand — that is, when they actually speak to us. One generation’s “groovy” is another generation’s “sick.” And when a Jewish mother hears the word sick, she panics.
As in years past, I am going to help you decode the trendy lingo modern day teens use to communicate.
Motion — Things are moving in a positive direction when you’ve got motion. Money, romantic interests, life is really going your way.
“With college acceptances and scholarships rolling in, Leo has got motion!”
Aura — An old term with a refreshed definition. These days, aura is more specific to your level of cool. If you have aura, the energy of the room changes just by you walking into it. Aura is fluid so, if you do something cool, it boosts your aura points. And if you do something embarrassing your aura points are down the toilet.
“Dressed head to toe in Banana Republic, Jeff’s aura was off the charts high when he walked into work surrounded by engineers in white socks and black shoes.”
Pape — Short for paper but, in this case, the recycled trees refer to money. Dollars. Bills. Did you just get paid? Then you have pape!
“Anyone can have the kind of money that jingles, but if you have the kind that folds, you’ve got pape.”
Mewing — This is like a fitness regimen for your jawline so you look strong and attractive without Kardashian level contour makeup. In the exercise of mewing, you press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to get the look. This allegedly works on the spot for photos. Repeat mewing is a workout for a more defined jawline.
“Every time the cat mews, I remember to do my own mewing to shape my jawline, even though nobody will actually ever notice it.”
Mogging — This is when you’re better than others at something, although one could argue that if you have to obnoxiously announce it, you likely have low self-es-
teem and need to compensate by bragging — or mogging.
Of course, you could simply be confident in your achievement and can actually back up your mogging. You don’t just walk the walk, you mog the talk.
“Leo’s friend Ephraim is the height mogger, but Leo is the grade point average mogger.”
Opp — An opp is a shady character, the enemy, a person who is your opposition. For example, Cardinals fans know that Cubs fans are opps, and they are not to be trusted.
“When Jeff grounded Davis from going out, Davis declared Jeff was an opp holding him back from opportunity.”
Sigma — You know how the
person in charge is called the alpha? Well sigma is even better. When you are a sigma, you are at the height of the chain, the one with top billing, the person who is, well, better than everyone else.
“Gassing up the rental car, Jeff knew which side the tank was on because he looked for the little arrow on the dashboard pointing it out. Such a sigma move.”
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.
Crash out — This one has nothing to do with falling asleep at 8:30 p.m. If you are triggered and go bonkers, yelling at everyone and throwing a tantrum, you are soooo crashing out.
“The customer isn’t always right, as proven by the one who crashed out at customer service screaming that the checkout line was too long and she had somewhere important to be because her time is more valuable than everyone else’s.”
Next time you talk to a teen, your aura points will go through the roof, since you’ll be making a sigma move knowing all the trendy slang. They’ll know you’re not an opp based on your motion. Snap a pic to prove your mewing is mogging theirs. Be sure to flash some pape and someone in the room will crash out in no time.
BIRTHS ENGAGEMENTS WEDDINGS MITZVOT
Helena Cooper and Max Bruch have announced their engagement.
Helena is the daughter of Eva Guez Cooper of Paris, France, and Michael Cooper of Orlando, Fla. She is the granddaughter of Yael and Jacob Guez (z’’l) of Mainvilliers, France, and Diane and Charlie Cooper of Clayton.
Max is the son of Laura Balent and Bill Bruch (z’’l) of Bellevue, Wash. and the grandson of Andrew Balent of North Carolina.
Helena is the director of youth engagement at Congregation Shaare Emeth. Max is the associate director of sustainability and auxiliary programs at The College School.
Helena spent the year as an intern at The College School, where Max teaches, in their Equity and Inclusion department. Her “desk” was outside of his office and they quickly became friends. Fast forward to a year later, their friendship turned romantic. Max proposed at Lafayette Square Park on an evening walk (one of Helena’s favorite activities). Lafayette Square Park is beloved by Max because he spent a lot of time there when he first moved to St. Louis.
A 2026 wedding is planned.
BAR
Joshua Isaac Rosen, son of Diane and David Rosen of St. Louis, will become a bar mitzvah on Nov. 9, 2024 at Congregation B’nai Amoona.
Josh is the grandson of Joyce Raskin of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Ray Raskin and Rosary Morelli of Brooklyn; Helene and John Graham of Brighton, Mich.; and Charles Rosen of Farmington Hills, Mich. He has one sibling, Marni Rosen, who is 14.
Josh is a seventh-grade student at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. His favorite subject is math, although his favorite school period is lunch, where he gets to hang out with Chef Anya.
In the summer, Joshua enjoys splitting his time between Ramot Amoona and Camp Sabra, the Jewish Community Center’s overnight camp in Lake of the Ozarks. Josh began acting during summer plays at Camp Sabra — this sparked a love of musical theater. This past year Josh starred as Bruce in Shooting Star’s production of “Matilda” and went on to star as Donkey in the Camp Sabra production of “Shrek” this past summer.
For his mitzvah project Josh assisted Liessa Alperin, director of congregational life and engagement at B’nai Amoona, in several activities. His favorite was making challah and matzah ball soup for members of our community.
Greyson Daniel Meyers, son of Morgan and Matthew Meyers of St. Louis, will become a bar mitzvah on Oct. 26 at Congregation Temple Israel.
Greyson is the grandson of Judy and Mark Meyers of Chesterfield, and Peggy and Bob Wynne of Pellegrue, France. He has two siblings: Lila, who is 16, and Jack Robert, who is 9.
A seventh-grade student at Ladue Middle, Greyson loves soccer and has played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Club since he was 7.
Cleaning up our special local rivers is what Greyson chose to work on for his mitzvah project and he participated in a huge Missouri River cleanup last month with Missouri River Relief. Greyson also enjoys basketball, baseball, hanging out with his family, sleepovers and gaming with his friends.
LEAH A. KABAKERIS, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
Beloved life friend of Michael G. McCluskey. Dear daughter of the late Leon and Ruth (nee Johnson) Kabakeris. Cherished cousin of the late Fay (nee Kabakeris) (the late Dr. Israel I.) Berwald. Dearest cousin to all of the following: Dorothy Kabakeris, Dr. David (Gayle) Berwald, the late Sonya (John) Scharf, Dr. Rose Ann (George Chism) Berwald, Dr. Bruce (Laurie) Berwald, Julie (Keith Fern) Berwald, Lynne (Brad) Stein, Samuel and Daniel Scharf, and Erin and Rebecca Chism. Our dear cousin, colleague and friend.
Leah was an avid lover of all things Cardinal Baseball, suffering in their losses, and jubilant in their victories. She loved her work as a chemist and the years she spent with Sigma Chemical. She also loved softball and served a stint as a coach for an inner-city league. Leah also loved all four legged domestic pets. Along with her life partner, Michael, a stray cat who wandered into their home one spring day in 2006 was adopted and resided in peace and comfort until his own passing in January 2024. He was simply known as Minnie Me. In similar manner that he is dearly missed, so shall Leah be for all the times of those who loved Leah and called her friend.
A graveside service was held Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 650 White Road. Chesterfield, MO 63017. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
A Rindskopf-Roth Service
LIVIA KESSLER, October 19, 2024
Beloved wife of the late Dr. Sheldon Kessler; loving mother and mother-in-law of Diane Sanchez (Juan) and Dr. Beth Levy (Dr. Joseph); devoted grandmother of Stephanie Levy, David Levy (Katie), Dr. Deborah Levy (Dr. Ryan Brennan) and Sarah Levy; devoted great grandmother of Joey Levy, Maya Levy, Adam Brennan and Lilly Brennan; dear sister and sister-in-law of Dr. Ted Reich (Ida); dear aunt of Dr. David Reich (Dvora) and Jonathan Reich (Judith); great-aunt, cousin and friend.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, October 22 at 10 AM at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol, 9125 Ladue Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions are preferred to Kol Rinah Synagogue or the Alzheimer’s Association. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
ALICE RUTH (PLATTNER) LEVY was born April 29, 1927, to immigrant parents in Collinsville, Illinois, and transcended her circumstance to live a life that far surpassed anything she could have dreamed of at that time. Rooted in a magnificent 66 year marriage, it was a life filled with deep and everlasting love, adventure, travel and above all, family.
Alice was a strong and independent woman. She was a high school valedictorian, (before women really did that type of thing) college graduate, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a world class cook, as well as a writer, amateur actress, golfer, and fitness buff, and she continued to grow and learn and impact the world around her until her death on October 15, 2024.
She was predeceased by her husband, Marvin Levy, and is survived by her three sons, Steven (Joanna), Rick (Lynn) and Brad (Jennifer), 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, and a network of family and friends that stretches from St. Louis, to Florida, to Texas, and beyond. May her memory, and her recipe book, forever be as a blessing.
Per Alice’s request, In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Doctors Without Borders in her honor. DoctorsWithoutBorders.org
SUE ORENSTEIN, October 3, 2024
Beloved wife of the late Herbert S. Orenstein; daughter of Melvin and Sylvia Corn; loving mother of Richard Essman (Vicki), Barbara Essman and Janet Franz (Paul); devoted grandmother of Elizabeth, Natalie, Adam and Zac; dear sister of Ruth Satz and Eugene Corn (Dale) & many beloved nephews and nieces. Sue was a graduate of Soldan H.S., Washington University and HarrisStowe Teachers college. She was an elementary schoolteacher and co-owner of Herbert’s Fine Gifts.
A Graveside Service was held Tuesday, October 15 at 1 PM at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery 650 White Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions are preferred to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Association and/or Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community, shirhadashstl.info. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
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
MARSHALL E. POLSKY, October 9, 2024
Beloved son of the late Charles and Alyne Brasch Polsky. Dear brother of Johanna Polsky and the late Brian Polsky. Dear cousin and friend.
A graveside service was held Friday, October 11, 10:00am at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Avenue. Live stream available at www.rindskopfroth.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Animal Protective Association (APA) of Missouri, 1705 S. Hanley Road, Brentwood, MO 63144.
A Rindskopf-Roth Service
SONYA “ SUNNY ” RUDY (nee Furfine), December 6, 1932 – October 15, 2024
Beloved wife for more than 54 years of the late Milton Rudy; dear mother and mother-in-law of Harvey Rudy (Sharon) of Atlanta, Deborah “Debbie” Vo (Thanh) of Ellicott City, MD and Michael Rudy of Los Angeles; dear grandmother of Lauren Rudy, Olivia Vo (Matt) and Emma Vo (Julio); dear sister of the late Allen Furfine (the late Lee) and Charles “Chuck” Furfine (Carolyn); dear sister-in-law of the late Frances “Frankie” Siegel (the late Allan.) Dear aunt, cousin, and friend.
Sunny lived much of her life teaching, mentoring and encouraging children of all ages. Until her retirement in December, 1992, her career spanned more than 30 years, beginning as a teacher of the deaf at the Central Institute for the Deaf and later in the Special School District. Her dedication to her students was unwavering and she found immense joy in seeing them learn, grow and thrive.
Kabakeris, Leah A. Kessler, Livia Levy, Alice Ruth Orenstein, Sue Polsky, Marshall E. Rudy, Sonya “Sunny” Schulein, Lenore Harris Scissors, Robert Seligman, Lester A. Small, Marilyn Sorkin, Jerry Stone, Harvey Trochtenberg, Roberta
LENORE HARRIS SCHULEIN, October 14, 2024
Beloved wife of the late Benjamin M. Schulein, Jr; dear step-mother of Bonnie Gertz, Penny Feldman (Jeff) and Cathy Goldstein (late Dr. Barry); dear step-grandmother of Joshua Gertz (Jamie) and Eva Lee Gertz (Jarod Lawson), Derek Feldman and Dana Crews (Mike), Alissa Polucha (Steve) and Brent Goldstein (Ali); dear step great-grandmother of Lily Feldman, Bryce and Blake Polucha; dear sister of the late William I. and the late Robert P. Harris; dear aunt of Maurice Harris, Anne Piccoli, Jennifer Grau Doubrava and the late Jill Harris; dear cousin and friend.
Lenore took Ballet lessons at age 6 from Victoria Cassan. She danced and choreographed during her four years at Northwestern University. She danced in New York, toured in Gentlemen Prefer Blonds with Marie Wilson, and taught for June Taylor. She received her Masters in dance therapy in 1975 and had her own practice for over 35 years. Lenore “loved helping others have more energy and be a strong expressive person they were meant to be”.
Perhaps her greatest joy in life was her family. Holidays, birthdays and other special occasions were often made all the more memorable with Sunny’s baked goods along with special crafts she would personally make for all. Surpassing all that, however, was the love and pride she had for her husband, children and grandchildren. Her demonstrated love was boundless and she cherished every moment she spent with them.
Sunny was a member of the United Hebrew Congregation where she and her late husband attended for most of their married lives together.
A graveside service was held Sunday, October 20 at 12:30 PM at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road, 63124. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Central Institute for the Deaf (cid.edu) -St. Louis. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
A graveside service was held Sunday, October 20th, 10:00 AM at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 8430 Gravois.
Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
ROBERT SCISSORS, October 15, 2024
Beloved husband of the late Saundra Librach Scissors; dear father and father-in-law of Patti (Joshua) Katz and Bruce Scissors; grandfather of Declan and Gibson Katz and Avery and Logan Scissors; brother-in-law of Susan (Stanley) Heller, Caroline (the late Joel) Weissman and the late Lawrence (Jane) Librach.
Bob was born July 12, 1933 in St. Louis. He married the love of his life, Sandy, in 1957. Bob had a long and successful insurance career. He enjoyed the great outdoors and being with his family.
A graveside service was held Sunday October 20, 4:00 PM at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 650 White Rd. 63017.
Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
Obituaries continue on opposite page
LESTER A. SELIGMAN, October 21, 2024
Cemetery, 650 White Rd. 63017.
Beloved husband of the late Ann R. Seligman. Dear father of Rhonda Seligman and Robert (Donna) Seligman. Loving grandfather of Stephanie (John) Sutherland, Angela (Randy Krogstad) Seligman and Chad Seligman. Beloved brother of the late Norman (the late Elaine) Seligman. Dear uncle, cousin and friend. Graveside service Wednesday, October 23, 1:30pm at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery, 1601 North and South Road. Contributions in his memory may be made to the JCC Senior Olympic Fund, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
MARILYN SMALL, June 14, 2024
Marilyn passed away peacefully at home after fighting a long battle with lung cancer. In true Marilyn form, she surpassed every doctor’s expectation and fought her illness with strength and grace from beginning to end. Marilyn was a loving and adored wife, mother, step-mother, Grammy and friend. She is survived by her husband Les, and children Brad (Mary) Hohenberg, Jennifer (Paul Goessling) Hohenberg, Jeff (Abbey) Small, Michael (Lisa)
Small as well as grandchildren Eleanor, Luke and Finn Hohenberg, Riley, William and Harper Small and Sabrina and Sadie Small. She is preceded in death by her parents Betty and Ben Berger. Marilyn was born on October 24, 1945 and raised in University City before attending the University of Iowa. She moved back to St. Louis after college to raise her children and reconnected with the love of her life at their 20th high school reunion. Marilyn and Les were together for over 40 years and shared a love of traveling, the mountains and champagne. Marilyn loved dancing, hiking, and spending time at the beach or in the mountains. She was always up for an adventure. Her energy, zest for life and love for her family will be missed.
JERRY SORKIN, September 12, 2024
Jerry Michael Sorkin passed away in Philadelphia, PA on September 12, 2024 at the age of 71. Father of Joseph Sorkin; brother and brother-in-law of Chuck (Pam) Sorkin of Austin, TX and the late Murray Sorkin; dear son of the late Bea and late Burton Sorkin; Uncle and friend to many.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, September 17 at Chesed Shel Emeth
Memorial contributions preferred to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.
Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
HARVEY STONE, October 16, 2024
Beloved husband of the late Diane Stone; dear father of Jeffrey Stone and the late Beth Stone; grandfather of Jacob Stone, Joshua Stone and Abigail Stone; dear brother and brother-in-law of Linda (Michael) Wolfson; brother-in-law of Linda (Tom) Jones; fatherin-law for many years of Amy Stone; dear friend to many.
Harvey grew in University City, Missouri and married the love of his life Diane in 1960. They had two wonderful children. He joined his father in the family business at Stone Carlie for many years and became close to many employees and clients to this day.
A graveside service was held Monday October 21, 1 PM at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave. University City, MO. 63130.
Memorial contributions preferred to the Amyloidosis Foundation (www.amyloidosis.org)
7151 N. Main St. Suite 2, Clarkston, Michigan. 48346. Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
ROBERTA TROCHTENBERG, October 9, 2024
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tions with each other, they both are able to spread their wings and make new discoveries about who they truly are.
In directing the play, it was very important to me to find the reality in the characters. It’s easy to sort of jump to familiar archetypes — Sharon is the traditional Betty Crocker housewife, Robyn is the rebel cool girl. And while some of those characteristics are definitely present, we have been working to go deeper and find all the nuance and intricacies of what drives each of them.
Can you share your approach to directing the character dynamics between the two roommates? How do you plan to highlight their differences and similarities?
The script has really done most of that work for me. (Writer) Jen Silverman has created two fascinating women, both in their 50s, and both mothers of grown children, but that’s about where their similarities end. Sharon has never had a career, and her entire identity has been wrapped up in being a wife and mother. And now that she’s divorced with her son far away, she’s no longer sure of her own identity.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
drama, but also the humor. It’s of the utmost importance to laugh all the time, no matter what, and to breathe all the time, no matter what,” he explained. This approach allows him to integrate these significant issues while still bringing levity to the stage.
Unlike other stand-up comics, Rapaport has the unique ability to balance the heavy with the humorous. He integrates personal anecdotes, commentary on current events
Robyn has definitely had, well, I suppose you could call it a career. And though she has also been married and been a mom, she never let those roles define her. Sharon has never ventured far from her Iowa City home (though she takes pains to point out that she’s originally from Illinois), while Robyn has traveled and lived all over the place, most recently the Bronx, which terrifies Sharon. One way we’ve worked to emphasize those differences is through costumes — my designer Lou Bird and I decided that Sharon probably just goes to Dillard’s and buys what she seses on the mannequin in the women’s section, while Robyn cultivates her own unique sense of style. This supports the work of the actors finding ways to distinguish these women from each other.
I understand the set is crucial to the production. What influenced your decisions regarding the set design and overall aesthetic of the production?
From the very beginning, I felt like this big old Iowa City farmhouse was almost like the third character in the play. Rob Morgan, who I’ve been working with as a scenic designer, did a phenomenal job of finding research images, both of real actual Iowa City kitchens by way of online real estate listings, as well as more abstract art that captured the feeling of the world. In
and the realities he’s witnessed on the ground in Israel.
“It’s not the whole show, but it’s a chunk. And I think it’s respectful while still being funny. You have to find that balance,” said Rapaport.
For Rapaport, performing isn’t just about making people laugh; it’s about creating a connection.
“I look at stand-up as a performance. It’s not just jokes; it’s about the ebb and flow of the show and the energy I bring. For me, it’s about creating that connection with the audience every single time.”
particular, both of us were drawn to the paintings of Andrew Wyeth, and the way he captured an idyllic, but lonely sense of country life.
As a Jewish director, do you see any parallels between the characters’ journeys and your own experiences or values? How might that influence your direction?
This is a tough question. Religion itself isn’t much of a topic of the play. However, morality certainly is. And I suppose my sense of morality is strongly directed by my faith. Some of Sharon and Robyn’s actions could certainly be considered amoral, but the play is so brilliant, we find ourselves rooting for them to be “bad,” because those actions also do them so much good. The play doesn’t really show us the people who might get hurt, so it’s easy to lose yourself in the fun of “breaking bad.” But at the end, the play also reminds us that those actions have a cost — and Sharon and Robyn each must decide if they’re willing to pay it. So lots of moral questions to wrestle with, which is very Jewish indeed.
Given that “The Roommate” is also playing on Broadway with Patti Lupone and Mia Farrow, how do you plan to differentiate this production for the St. Louis audience?
The St. Louis audience can expect everything from stories about marriage, parenting and divorce to his unfiltered takes on pop culture and politics.
“I try to bring a lot of energy, and it’s all about connecting with the audience,” he said. This approach allows him to maintain the authenticity he’s known for, whether he’s on stage or speaking to millions on social media.
His social media presence has become a significant platform for his advocacy.
“I never imagined I’d become a voice
Beloved wife of the late Lawrence Trochtenberg; dear mother of Dr. David Scott Trochtenberg (Randi) and Mark Trochtenberg (Erin McGlothlin, PhD); grandmother of Dr. Alyssa Trochtenberg (Dr. Josh Infantine), Seth, Ben (Samantha) and Dylan (Carly) Trochtenberg; dear great-grandmother of Delilah and Blake Trochtenberg; sister and sister in law of Jerry Axelbaum (Shirley) and Sidney Axelbaum (Fran); dear friend to so very many.
A graveside service was held Friday, October 11, 10:30 AM at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the charity of your choice.
Visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.
Well, obviously, we don’t have Patti and Mia! I didn’t see the Broadway production myself, but I would imagine that when you have two amazing megastar actors like that, their star power has the potential to overwhelm the script. Can you really forget that Patti LuPone is Patti LuPone when you’re watching her on stage? Our fantastic local actors Kelley Weber and Nancy Bell have the ability to disappear and transform themselves into these roles, hopefully keeping our focus on the story. The two of them have amazing chemistry and are bringing so much love and care to the play. In fact, our entire design and artistic team on “The Roommate” is also St. Louis based, which has led to us crafting a production that is going to be really special for St. Louis audiences.
What do you hope the audience takes away from this production, particularly regarding its emotional and social themes?
I hope they have a great time and leave with a sense of hope for themselves and the world, knowing it’s never too late to start a new adventure.
giving inspiration or strength. It’s incredibly humbling. I feel lucky to have a platform and to articulate my thoughts. It’s not something I take for granted,” he reflected. As he prepares to perform in St. Louis, Rapaport is looking forward to more than just the laughs.
“I’m excited to be in St. Louis, have some great barbecue and deliver a show that’s real, honest and, above all, funny. I’ve been told Pappy’s is the spot for barbecue. I’m a meat guy, and I’m looking forward to trying it—if anyone has other recommendations, let me know.”
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.
Beyond Pink at the J
This free special day of exercise, wellness and education is a great way to become knowledgeable on all of the different types of hereditary cancers and commit to being the healthiest version of you, whether you have a cancer diagnosis or not. Join us at the J’s Fitness Center for Zumba+, Tai Chi, Yoga for Cancer, a family-friendly class (children aged 6-12 and parents), Intro to Strength Over Cancer (a new fitness class geared toward those impacted by cancer), and more. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Staenberg Family Complex/Creve Coeur.
WEDNESDAY
Senior Planet from AARP: What’s Congress up to?
From noon to 1:30 p.m. Mirowitz Center Trainer Daniel Landsbaum will lead a class on the GovTrack.us website and its main features: identifying elected representatives, seeing how they vote and learning about bills. Free, but RSVP required.
STARTING | NOV. 1
Oasis Class@Crown Center
Ed Koslin will lead a three-part class on “Living in the End-of-Life: Coming Back a Short Distance Correctly” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Fridays, Nov. 1, 8 and 15. Despite our awareness of the end of life, a considerable amount of living can occur during this phase. Embark on a transformative journey to dive deeper into conversations about life’s last phase. Engage in thought-provoking discussions so you can deliberately live your best life now. For more information and to register, visit: stloasis.org or call 314-862-4859, ext. 24.
Guiding
Join the Mirowitz Center for a six-part series on writing an autobiography. The series will be taught by Maxine Mirowitz, leader of the Storywriter’s Guild, and sessions take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays, Nov. 1 and 8, and Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 17. Get six weeks of guidance and inspiration as
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). OCT
you write your personal narrative. Program supported by a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged.
STARTING | NOV. 2
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
See related story on page 1.
Bais Abraham hosts event for young families
The Saul Brodsky Educational Resource Fund and Bais Abraham Congregation invite the community to a Parshat Noach Petting Zoo and Mesiba from 10 a.m. to noon at Bais Abraham, 6910 Delmar Blvd. This new program targeting young families corresponds with the reading of Parshat Noach (the Torah portion of Noah) in synagogue and features a petting zoo, teaching by Bais Abe’s new rabbi and a sing-along, as well as refreshments and the opportunity for families to connect. There will be a chesed/service project where participants will make items to donate to the local APA shelter, and an opportunity to give tzedakah to an organization benefitting animals in Israel. This event is free, but RSVPs required at www. baisabe.com/event/PettingZoo.
Temple Israel hosts ‘The REAL Story of Hanukkah’
Temple Israel Senior Rabbis Amy Feder and Michael Alper will lead a class from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. on “The REAL Story of Hanukkah.” The event description notes, “Did you know that the REAL story of Hanukah includes not a single miracle, not a drop of oil, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with Christmas? The story of Hanukah does however include many Jewish people with lots of chutzpah and a will to prevail. Join the Rabbis to hear the true story of why we celebrate this holiday.” Free for TI members; $18 for non-members. RSVP at www.ti-stl.org/ AdultEducation.
THURSDAY, NOV. 7
Presidential legacies: ‘The Reagan Years’
From 11 a.m. to noon, learn more about President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan from Leslie Flynn of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum at this online Mirowitz Center program.
Veterans Day Salute: Jumping Fleas Ukulele Quartet
From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Mirowitz Center, the ever-popular Jumping Fleas Ukulele Quartet are back – just in time to help
celebrate Veterans Day and salute those who have lived a life of service on behalf of our country. Come hear old-time classics, plus special songs like “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” No cost to register, but RSVP required.
FRIDAY | NOV. 8
Potluck Shabbat for young adults
The young adult chapter of Sparks Match! is hosting a potluck Shabbat dinner for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s at 6:30 p.m. Bring something vegetarian to share and celebrate Shabbat together and meet new people. RSVP to Daphne at daphnekoalabear@gmail.com.
SUNDAY | NOV. 10
Antisemitism, social media and our Kids
From 9:15-10:15 a.m. Kol Rinah is hosting a workshop open to all KoREH parents and the Kol Rinah community run by Helen Turner, director of education at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. She will share insight on the complexities of current antisemitism in social media and good practices to follow. No RSVP needed.
Oasis chair yoga class at Crown Center
Crown Center hosts an Oasis Chair Yoga Class on Thursdays at 11 a.m. Discover the benefits of gentle yoga designed for older adults, incorporating modified poses that can be performed while seated in a chair or using the chair for support. Whether you are new to yoga or looking to maintain your flexibility, strength, and balance, this class offers a safe and enjoyable way to enhance your well-being. For more information and to register, visit: stloasis.org or call 314-8624859, ext. 24.
Movies at the Mirowitz Center
On Fridays at 1 p.m., enjoy movies on the Mirowitz Center’s 14-foot screen. Call the Movies at Mirowitz Hotline (314-733-9812) for the film title and description each week. Free and open to the community.
To advertise in the Light, call 314-743-3672 or email advertising@stljewishlight.org
PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS
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JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
NOURISH: A Party for the Pantry was a tremendous success thanks to an outpouring of generosity from the community. The event took place on Sunday, Sept. 15 to support the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry.
More than 200 guests packed The Hall at Olive + Oak in Webster Groves to celebrate the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry and to honor Earl Kessler and Al Siwak, the founders of Pallet Partners, who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 25 years to benefit children, families and seniors who have experienced food insecurity.
Kessler and Siwak, both 90, have been friends since childhood. Both were successful in the business community, as Kessler ran the family business, Artistic Furniture Co., while Siwak headed up Paramount Headwear Co. Kessler and Siwak were presented with a unique plaque engraved on a pallet that will be permanently displayed at the food pantry in their honor.
“We are grateful for the support Al and Earl have shown over the years for the Harvey Kornblum
Food Pantry,” said JFS CEO Miriam Seidenfeld. “They are a part of the community that is dedicated to the fight against food insecurity, which is what tonight is all about.”
ALL PHOTOS: GARA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY
larendale Clayton has brought a new, elevated perspective to retirement life – figuratively and literally. We had a tall vision for the future of this senior living community, and it’s shaped up to be something even more spectacular than what we envisioned.
Located at the corner of Clayton and Hanley roads, active seniors benefit from upscale residences, exceptional amenities, and invigorating wellness programming. Clarendale Clayton is currently Clayton’s only high-rise community featuring modern design and offering independent living, assisted living and memory care.
This is truly a level up in senior living. And did we mention the view from the 12th-floor Signature Room? With the rooftop terrace, polished penthouse, and private balconies, residents overlook the stunning sights of the city and feel like they truly have it all.
Executive Director and St. Louis native Ted Fronczak is honored to work with a team of industry professionals who selflessly serve seniors and are enthusiastic about what each day offers residents. Alongside Ted is Maggie Mundwiller, Director of Sales and Marketing and also a St. Louis native. Their team’s goal is to create a culture that’s rich with fulfilling experiences and opportunities to thrive.
Residences in our high-rise building are anything but limited. Independent living, assisted living and memory care floor plans are designed not only for beauty and modernity but for accessibility and convenience as well. Here’s what you can expect to discover in your new home:
• One-, two- or three-bedroom/ one- or two-bathroom independent living apartments, some featuring dens Studio, one- or two-bedroom/one- or two-bathroom assisted living apartments
• Shared companion suite or studio/one-bathroom memory care apartments
• Stainless steel kitchen appliances and in-unit washer and dryer included in all independent living apartments
Seniors looking for luxury living with the reassurance of future care are met with personalized services, exceptional dining, trendy fitness classes, live entertainment, art exhibits, excursions in and beyond the city, and more enriching opportunities. Clarendale Clayton resident John Drew says, “I have a new lease on life that I wasn’t even looking for – truly a pleasant surprise.”
John and his neighbors also benefit from these five-star features:
Coach transportation service
A charming salon and spa
• Proximity to the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Muny, Powell Symphony Hall, Fox Theatre, Washington University, Forest Park, and the Missouri Botanical Garden
• A partnership with Oasis Institute, promoting lifelong learning and wellness
• Heartfelt Connections – A Memory Care Program® – A proven approach to dementia and Alzheimer’s that nurtures dignity and improves quality of life
It’s where you want to be. It was our motto before we opened our doors, and now residents live it and breathe a sigh of relief knowing everything they’ve ever wanted out of their futures is here.
Discover a retirement lifestyle at the height of sophistication.
Discover a retirement lifestyle at the height of sophistication.
Discover a retirement lifestyle at the height of sophistication.
Discover a retirement lifestyle at the height of sophistication.
Superb hospitality. Exceptional amenities. Vibrant personalities.
Superb hospitality. Exceptional amenities. Vibrant personalities.
Superb hospitality. Exceptional amenities. Vibrant personalities.
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.
Clarendale Clayton has it all in a unique location unlike anything you’d expect from typical senior living options.
Clarendale Clayton has it all in a unique location unlike anything you’d expect from typical senior living options.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CALL 314-789-8173 TO SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR AND EXPERIENCE FIVE-STAR LIVING FIRSTHAND.
CALL 314-789-8173 TO SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR AND EXPERIENCE FIVE-STAR LIVING FIRSTHAND.
CALL 314-789-8173 TO SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR AND EXPERIENCE FIVE-STAR LIVING FIRSTHAND.
CALL 314-789-8173 TO SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR AND EXPERIENCE FIVE-STAR LIVING FIRSTHAND.
Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care
Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care
Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care
Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care
Clarendale Clayton ■ 7651 Clayton Road ■ Clayton, MO 63117 ClarendaleClayton.com ■ ClarendaleClaytonLIFE@ClarendaleClayton.com
Clarendale Clayton ■ 7651 Clayton Road ■ Clayton, MO 63117 ClarendaleClayton.com
Clarendale Clayton ■ 7651 Clayton Road ■ Clayton, MO 63117 ClarendaleClayton.com ■ ClarendaleClaytonLIFE@ClarendaleClayton.com
Clarendale Clayton ■ 7651 Clayton Road ■ Clayton, MO 63117 ClarendaleClayton.com ■ ClarendaleClaytonLIFE@ClarendaleClayton.com
■ ClarendaleClaytonLIFE@ClarendaleClayton.com
BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER
In May 2019, Temple B’nai Sholom in Quincy, Ill., held its final service, closing its doors after more than 150 years. The once-thriving congregation, which had counted 500 Jewish residents at its peak, had dwindled to fewer than 30.
“We never had enough families move in to replace those that left,” said longtime congregant Carla Gordon to the Jewish Light in 2019. Like many small Jewish communities along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, Quincy’s Jewish history now risks fading into memory, as records, artifacts and personal stories scatter with time.
This is a narrative familiar to small towns across the region, such as Louisiana, Mo., where Jewish immigrants established a vibrant community in the 19th century.
As detailed in a Sept. 23 Jewish Light article, Jewish settlers in Louisiana thrived for decades, leaving behind lasting legacies like a secluded Jewish cemetery that still holds the graves of many of the town’s Jewish residents.
This is where the Riverlands Jewish Archive (RJA) comes in—a new, fully digital project dedicated to preserving the rich Jewish history of river towns like Quincy and ensuring that these legacies remain accessible for future generations. Spearheaded by Timothy R. Riggio Quevillon, the Jewish Heritage Fund visiting professor at Western Kentucky University, the archive seeks to gather and digitize materials from Jewish communities spanning from Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Terre Haute, Ind.
Unlike traditional archives housed in physical buildings, the RJA embraces a digital approach. It allows local communities to access their histories online while enabling individuals and families to retain their original materials.
“We’re hoping to create a digital space for scholars and communities alike,” Quevillon said. “What makes this project special is that it not only preserves the documents but ensures that families and local communities remain connected to their own history.”
The RJA focuses on both large and small Jewish communities that have played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural identity of the region. Towns such as Cape Girardeau and Alton, Ill. are key areas of interest. While many of these communities have dwindled or disappeared over time, their stories remain vital to the region’s broader narrative.
“One of our greatest challenges is locating materials from communities that no longer exist,” Quevillon noted. “For example, we’re actively working to recover records from Cape Girardeau and Alton. Fortunately, scholars across the region— from Missouri State, Southeast Missouri, and the Midwest Jewish Studies Association—are helping us trace where these valuable records might have ended up.”
Another small town that is a key focus
for the RJA is Terre Haute. In collaboration with the Indiana Jewish Historical Society, the archive has acquired an extensive collection of documents chronicling more than 150 years of Jewish life in Terre Haute. These materials include synagogue records from Congregation Zion (1858–1889) and Temple Israel (1858–2000), cemetery records dating back to 1882, and personal papers from community members.
“We’re thrilled to preserve Terre Haute’s rich Jewish history,” Quevillon said. “This generous donation of records will be a key part of our initial launch this fall.”
Community engagement is central to the RJA’s mission. From Missouri to Southern Illinois and beyond, local leaders have played a vital role in uncovering forgotten resources and gathering oral histories from Jewish families. Organizations like the Southern Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky Federation (SiMoKy) have been instrumental in these efforts.
“Connecting with local rabbis, congregational leaders and Federation presidents in places like St. Louis has been critical to our success,” Quevillon said. “St. Louis, with its long history as a hub of Jewish life
along the Mississippi, remains a focal point for us.”
The archive is also developing rotating digital exhibits, such as a project about Evansville, Ind., synagogues and a collection of Jewish newspaper ads from the High Holidays and Passover. These exhibits will offer new perspectives on the region’s Jewish heritage and contribute to a broader understanding of its historical significance.
Set to launch on Nov. 1, the RJA will showcase an evolving collection of digitized resources, oral histories and curated exhibits. As the archive grows, it is actively seeking contributions from individuals and organizations who may have historical materials to share. Quevillon is also working closely with the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum and the Brodsky Library in St. Louis to expand the archive’s reach.
For Quevillon, this project is deeply personal. A Kansas City native with strong ties to the Midwest, he sees the RJA as an opportunity to honor the region’s Jewish heritage and ensure its stories are preserved for generations to come.
“Having grown up with family scattered across the Midwest, I understand how important these small communities are,” he said. “This archive is our way of making sure their histories are not forgotten.”
As the RJA prepares for its official launch, it continues to seek contributions from across the region. Anyone with historical records, photographs or documents is encouraged to contact Quevillon directly to ensure their stories become part of this growing digital archive.
Do you have historical records, photographs, or stories to contribute to the Riverlands Jewish Archive? Reach out to Timothy Quevillon at timothy.quevillon@ wku.edu, or visit the archive’s website at www.Riverlandsjewisharchive.org when it launches in November.
BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER
For many of us, the place and time where we grew up holds a special spot in our hearts, representing an iconic way of life filled with a deep sense of belonging and love. We’ve all likely felt that our story was one worth telling, though life often has a way of keeping those stories untold. But not for Linda Fine Hunt. She wrote her story down, in her book, “Particular Place and People.”
“I have been writing this book in my head most of my life. Even when walking home from grade school, I was writing this book,” said Fine Hunt from her home in Whitefish, Mont.
Fine Hunt grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in University City during the 1950s and ‘60s, a time she describes as a “golden age.” For her, University City wasn’t just a backdrop but a vibrant character in her life’s story, one that nourished her Jewish identity and instilled a deep sense of pride. The safety and support she felt in this community permeate the pages of her book.
“We knew only safety. I did not have to
defend my religion and culture until I moved away from University City,” said Fine Hunt. “I wanted to write about how great it was to be a Jewish child growing up with all this love and support.”
The inspirations for “Particular Place and People” stem from a mix of personal history and an insatiable curiosity.
“I was fascinated by a mansion I could see from my front lawn and often explored, even though it was private property,” remembered Fine Hunt. “My curiosity led me to research its history, spending hours poring over newspapers to learn about the land, the mansion, and the people who lived there. My detective work even connected me with the last living relative who grew up in the mansion, and we had many enlightening conversations. You can see a picture of this home on the last page of the book.”
Her Jewish life was filled with rich experiences, from attending Sunday school at Shaare Zedek Synagogue to savoring Jewish delicacies from local delis.
“My dad would pick me up, and we would go to Alan’s Delicatessen on Olive Street Road and Midland Blvd. My favorite choices were the onion rolls, rye bread and
Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield 636-532-0150
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anything with poppy seeds. I did not eat meat. My dad would add smoked whitefish and kosher pickles for me. He bought corned beef for the rest of the family,” she said.
Fine Hunt’s motivations for writing the book are deeply personal. She wanted to portray a positive narrative of Jewish life, moving away from the usual focus on the hardships of Jewish history, like the Holocaust, and instead celebrating the community she grew up in.
“Growing up in University City gave me the skills to be Jewish. When I left, I was confronted with antisemitism for the first time. My strong Jewish upbringing taught me to tell people I did not know that I am Jewish. I hoped that informing people of my culture would prevent traditional ethnic jokes and antisemitic comments. I usually got the response, ‘You don’t look
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Jewish,’” said Fine Hunt.
In the book, Fine Hunt changes the names of most of the people in the story but not all.
“I wrote about Jimmy Reina and used his real name because it is a great name, and he was unique in our neighborhood,” said Fine Hunt. “He was my first crush at age 4. I was upset because he was Catholic. I assumed I could not marry a Catholic. My mother told me otherwise.”
Fine Hunt said she welcomes her old neighbors and the entire community to try her book and discover the world where a mansion, a neighborhood and a young girl’s dreams converge to tell a story that is as universal as it is personal.
“Particular Place and People” is available online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
Chesterfield Villas 636-532-9296
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Services 636-733-7100
Hospice & Palliative Care 636-733-7399 Specialized Wound Management 636-536-0183 Corum Health Services Pharmacy 636-733-7300
For 60 years, Royal Banks of Missouri has proudly served as your local community bank.
Locally owned and operated, we operate convenient locations in the St. Louis, St. Charles, Granite City, Jerseyville and Northeast Missouri areas.
We also offer monthly, in-facility banking support to residents of Covenant Place at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center and Gladys & Henry Crown Center.
Royal Banks of Missouri provides a full range of products and services designed to meet your personal and professional banking needs. Call (314) 212-1500 or visit royalbanksofmo.com to discover how we can assist you in your financial journey today. (314) 212-1500 • www.royalbanksofmo.com
Assisted Living & Memory Care
Setting the standard in assisted living and memory care for over 30 years. Our vibrant community is ideal for senior adults who still wish to live independently but may benefit from a little help to enjoy full, active lives. We offer the amenities and services you want, along with true, all-inclusive rates that are simple, predictable and worry-free. Our community features large suites and single bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, as well as beautifully landscaped gardens, outdoor spaces and walking paths.
Please call for more information or to schedule a tour.
3 McKnight Place • St. Louis, MO 63124 314-993-3333 • mcknightplace.com
When you make your final arrangements in advance, you can plan a memorial that truly reflects your faith and passions. Whether planning for yourself or a loved one, rely on us to help you design a funeral that honors the customs and rituals you cherish. > Personal Planning Guide > The Compassion Helpline® > Veterans
Discover why The Gatesworth has been redefining independent senior living in St. Louis since 1988, offering 'Senior Living Your Way.' Here, residents thrive in a welcoming community with plenty of choices to explore. Enjoy modern apartments that can be customized to fit your style, without the pressure of buying. A dedicated move-in coordinator makes settling in easy. Plus, with amenities like a theater, fitness center, spa, and a beautiful lakeside courtyard, it’s easy to see why The Gatesworth was voted Best Independent Senior Living in the 2024 STL Headliner Awards by readers of STLtoday and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Come experience exceptional senior living at The Gatesworth. Call 314-993-0111 or visit TheGatesworth.com. 314-993-0111 • thegatesworth.com
Emily Stein MacDonald is a fifth-generation funeral director who joined her father, Richard W. Stein, at Berger Memorial Chapel in 2009. As a funeral director, Emily provides compassionate, caring guidance and support to families in their time of need. Alana Shapiro specializes in providing sensitive, personalized counseling to individuals seeking information about preplanning funeral services in her role as Advance Planning Director at Berger Memorial Chapel.
Richard, Emily, Alana and the staff of Berger Memorial Chapel are honored to provide thoughtful, professional service to the St. Louis Jewish Community.
Conveniently located in Olivette, Berger Memorial Chapel is a locally-managed and locally-operated funeral home that has been serving our Jewish community since 1896.
9340 Olive Boulevard • St. Louis, MO 63132 314-361-0622 • www.bergermemorialchapel.com
AccuCare Home Health Care of St. Louis was founded in 1994 by Jacque Phillips, RN, BSN, and is locally, family RN-owned and RN-managed, and is dedicated to providing seniors with the finest private, in-home health care. Treating clients as they would care for their own family is the driving force that allows AccuCare to provide exceptional care, delivered with compassion, integrity, and dedication. AccuCare provides a custom care plan for each client with 24/7 RN Oversight. In addition, our caregivers can assist with essential everyday needs, transport clients to appointments, perform light housekeeping, meal preparation, provide respite care to families, and more.
1185 N. Price Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63123 314-692-0020 • accucare.com
BY JORDAN PALMER CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER
Sadly, this year I attended the funeral of the beloved husband of a former colleague. I’ve been to many funerals in the past, but none like this one. The words spoken by this man’s family and friends painted a picture so vivid, I could imagine myself inserted into every scene of life they so eloquently described. It was a collection of eulogies like none I have ever heard before. This experience made me think—how would I write a meaningful eulogy? How would anyone?
To help me answer this question and to help teach us more about the role of the eulogy, I turned to Rabbi James Bennett, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth for guidance.
What is the importance of a eulogy in a Jewish funeral service?
I have always believed that the hesped, or eulogy, is one of the most important parts of the process of grieving, mourning and of the funeral service itself. Mourners often experience the process of planning for and then listening to a eulogy as one of the most cathartic parts of the first few days after the death of a loved one. Jewish
tradition encourages one who is delivering a eulogy to describe the life of the deceased, to highlight their merits and accomplishments, to describe their relationships and family connections, and to help the mourners to remember stories of the very best of their loved ones’ lives.
How do you guide family members in preparing a meaningful eulogy?
I am a firm believer that mourners should not feel obligated to speak at the funeral of their loved ones, although many people in our contemporary culture choose to do so. Traditionally, one of the most honored roles for the clergy is to serve as the “mouthpiece” of the mourners and to deliver the eulogy on their behalf. To this end, I spend as much time as possible sitting with the immediate family and sometimes the clos-
est friends of the deceased and invite them to tell me the story of their loved one’s life. I often interview them to help guide the discussion, asking leading questions that will help them to reflect on the details of their lives. I also encourage the family to share memories, stories and reflections that illuminate the blessings they cherish and remember most.
What advice do you give to those who feel overwhelmed or unsure about what to say?
Do not feel obligated to say anything. Our tradition honors silence in the
presence of grief. In the Torah, for example, when two of Aaron’s sons died, “Aaron was silent.” All too often we fill that empty space with words, but the truth is that our silence can express as much as our efforts to find words. I also strive to help relieve people of that social pressure to “speak at the funeral” just because others did so at the funeral of their loved ones. In many ways, it is much harder for a mourner to “perform” at a funeral than to simply be a mourner. I encourage people to give themselves permission to let me or the other
See EULOGIES on page 34
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Chesed Shel Emeth Burial Society & Beth Shalom Cemetery serve the St. Louis Jewish community and fulfill a sacred trust to honor the memories of those who rest within our cemetery grounds. We are committed to maintaining, restoring and enhancing our cemetery grounds and facilities and to provide a safe, secure, serene setting for prayer and reflection. We contribute to community efforts to ensure that the indigent are provided with a proper Jewish burial. We further preserve our sites, graves, monuments and archives for the benefit of future generations and to facilitate educational, historical, and genealogical opportunities and inquiries.
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Now accepting the blended family.
Next Day Access offers a wide variety of mobility and accessibility products including wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, grab bars, vehicle lifts and other home accessibility products that are delivered and professionally installed. We serve the entire St. Louis metropolitan area including the Metro East. Brian Liberman was motivated to start this franchise business based on personal experience as his mother was confined to a wheelchair the last few years of her life. In many instances, evaluations can happen the same day we are called and installations can occur the next day!
BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Call Brian Liberman: 314-710-2158
Contact
A golf trip to Bandon Dunes in Oregon or The Belfry in England means booking tee times many months in advance, making travel plans and a hefty budget. Or you could play those two golf courses virtually for the cost of a dozen Titleist Pro V1 balls. That’s a new option at the Jewish Community Center.
The golf simulator in the fitness center of the Staenberg Family Complex recently opened. It’s one of the new features that came courtesy of funds raised by the J Associates. The virtual golf setup offers a driving range for practice and a choice of many courses. The technology behind the system even analyzes a golfer’s swing, according to Mat DeWinters, the J’s director of sports, recreation and day camps.
“It tells you the launch angle, distance and backspin,” DeWinters said. “It will also tell you the side spin, and how much you are off from the target. It will also tell you the optimum range you should be hitting each club.”
The heart of the system is SkyTracker, a small device that trains a laser beam on
the spot where the ball is teed up. A photometric camera produces four images and uses artificial intelligence to measure the golfer’s club speed, ball speed and descent angle.
Much of the data can also be stored for golfers via the E6 Connect smartphone app.
“The nice thing with E6 is you can create a free account, then come here and log in,” DeWinters said. “It already has your profile in the system. So when you play golf, you log in to your account.”
In addition to virtual courses and a virtual driving range for practice, the simulator offers special skill competitions like closest-to-the-pin. The new simulator will also be used for the longest drive competition in the 2024 Senior Olympics. The indoor facility should also be a popular feature in winter months and on rainy days.
Pricing for the J’s golf simulator is $36 per hour for members and $50 per hour for non-members. It is currently available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Reservations can be made online by visiting jccstl.com/programs/ indoor-golf-simlulator.
allowing you to live the retirement you for which you planned. We offer specialty services for aging adults including physical therapy, fitness classes, and in-home visits. We help people with arthritis, balance issues, chronic pain, dizziness, loss of independence, neuropathy, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s. We look forward to partnering with you on your aging journey. Schedule a Free Consultation to get started (314) 939-1377.
314-939-1377 • www.housefitstl.com
Parc Provence — a licensed skilled nursing community — proudly serves the St. Louis region. Our community offers its residents and their families exceptional care for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through dedicated, person-centered support. As a community of well-being, Parc Provence empowers senior adults by promoting individual physical and cognitive abilities. Our staff is led by an experienced team of medically-trained professionals. From an administrator who has over 30 years of nursing experience to medical directors who serve as leading authorities on gerontology and dementia at Washington University, our staff provides unrivaled care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please call for more information or to schedule a tour.
605 Coeur de Ville Drive • Creve Coeur, MO 63141 314-542-2500 • parcprovence.com
Founded in 1965, Delmar Gardens provides healthcare services to over 4,000 seniors in Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Nebraska, Illinois and Nevada; featuring skilled nursing, retirement, assisted living, home health, hospice, medical equipment, and pharmacy. Since 1993, Gabe Grossberg has served as Delmar Gardens President and CEO. Nationally known and respected as a longterm care executive, Gabe Grossberg has over 40 years of experience in the senior healthcare and development arena. Read more at www.delmargardens.com.
The Delmar Gardens Family 636-733-7000 • www.DelmarGardens.com
For over 135 years, Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel has been dedicated to providing dignified funeral services to the St. Louis Jewish Community. We offer a variety of funeral services ranging from traditional funerals in accordance with Jewish Law to memorial services and cremation. We also offer funeral pre-planning. Owned and operated by the Roth Family, our caring family staff members are committed to providing the utmost personal guidance and compassion while tailoring services to the wishes of the families we serve.
5216 Delmar Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63108-1093 (314) 367-0438 • www.rindskopfroth.com
A village of expert memory care clinicians. A village of highlyskilled nurses and staff for every stage of dementia—from assisted-living to skilled-nursing care. What’s more, we’ve designed Parc Provence to function as a village—with five levels of care provided in a household setting. Plus a greenhouse, ice cream parlor, library, art gallery, chapel and more, all nestled amongst private pathways and gardens exclusively for residents and their visitors. Putourvillagetoworkforyourfamily.
AccuCare Home Health Care is St. Louis's only private in-home healthcare company which is female, family, RN-Owned and RN-Managed with 24/7 medical oversight. Because we understand each person has unique needs, our award-winning caregivers and clinical team of RN Case Managers develop custom care plans and provide 24/7 oversight, giving you and your loved one peace of mind. Our Heart. Your Home.
“A Beautiful Noise,” which celebrates the life and career of Neil Diamond, details the Jewish musician’s journey from his early days as a struggling singer-songwriter to becoming a worldwide sensation.
The show explores themes of love, fame and personal battles, using his music to convey key moments in his life, including his relationships and the challenges he faced. It aims to capture not just his achievements but also the emotional depth behind his songwriting and features classic songs such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Song Sung Blue,” providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
To test your knowledge of the life and times of this living legend, we offer 10 trivia questions to see how you fare. And we apologize in advance if the music and lyrics to “Sweet Caroline” are stuck in your head all day. Answers are below.
1: What year was Neil Diamond born?
2: What was Neil Diamond’s first major hit single, released in 1966?
3: Which Neil Diamond song was
WHEN: Oct. 29-Nov. 10
WHERE: The Fox Theatre, 524 N. Grand Ave.
HOW MUCH: $37-$135
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famously covered by UB40 in 1983?
4: In what year was Neil Diamond inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
5: Neil Diamond wrote the song “I’m a Believer” for which band, which became a massive hit in 1966?
6: What is the title of Neil Diamond’s 1971 album that features the hit song “Cracklin’ Rosie”?
7: Which Neil Diamond song is often associated with the 1980 film “The Jazz Singer”?
8: What is the name of Neil Diamond’s biography, released in 2004?
9: How many Top 10 hits did Neil Diamond have on Billboard’s Top 100?
10: What is Neil Diamond’s “real” name?
ANSWERS 1: 1941; 2: “Solitary Man”; 3: “Red Red Wine”; 4: 2011; 5: The Monkees; 6: “Tap Root -Man uscript”; 7: “Hello Again”; 8: “Neil Diamond: The Biography”; 9: 13; 10: Neil Leslie Diamond.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
clergy present speak on their behalf. What elements make a eulogy truly memorable and impactful?
I think the best funeral eulogies are simple, honest descriptions of the best qualities of the person who is being mourned and the story of their life. Eulogies should not be a time for homilies, teaching, moralizing or otherwise. What makes a eulogy memorable and impactful is when the words are an honest and truthful story of the life of a human being that has now ended.
Are there specific themes or components that should always be included?
I think that a good eulogy summarizes the facts of a life but focuses on the story of the life — who this person truly was, what kind of a difference they made to the people they touched during their lifetime and how they will be remembered.
Can you share any memorable eulogies you have heard that stood out to you?
I have heard many eulogies and delivered many more — well over 1,000 or more. I have often been deeply moved by the words of eulogy I have heard others deliver, and I have often been moved to tears by the words that mourners have shared with me and asked me to craft into a eulogy as well.
What made them particularly moving or impactful?
What makes eulogies impactful to me is when they are about the deceased, not about the speaker. When people, even well-intentioned, turn a eulogy into a comedy routine, or a story about themselves, or about a show, I think it detracts from the profound power and opportunity for sacred memory that is implicit in the act of remembering.
What role does personal storytelling play in a eulogy, and how can it enhance the tribute?
I think that storytelling is essential to the delivery of a eulogy, but only when the stories are about the deceased and not about the person delivering the eulogy.
How do personal anecdotes and memories contribute to honoring the deceased?
While we can honor a person’s memory by sharing memories, when we turn a eulogy into an abundance of stories about ourselves, it ceases to honor them, and instead becomes about us. Often, well-intentioned people choose to handle the grief of others by deflecting and making it about themselves — how close I was to the deceased, how well I knew them, how funny I can be in telling the story of their life. While this may be entertaining to the people gathered for the funeral, I believe such extended reflections are better for other settings and for memories later on. The funeral should primarily be for helping those who are mourning begin their journey to healing.
The right approach to providing comprehensive care. The right location for your family. The right amenities all around you, from dining to activities to entertainment. The right environment to rediscover your old self and become your next self. Come learn what makes locally-owned McKnight Place The Right Place for both our residents and their families. Ask about our all-inclusive pricing.
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CROWN CENTER FOR SENIOR LIVING
Guests at Crown Center’s recent grand reopening celebrated the new Crown Center Phase 1 Apartment Building and Staenberg Commons. Executive Director Andy Thorp welcomed attendees and introduced board president Mark Rubin, board member Michelle Schwerin and resident Rise Gilliom, who each spoke about their connection to Crown Center.
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
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Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of
Unsung Heroes shines a light on individuals of any background or faith who generously volunteer within our community.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
$54/
ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM
ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00PM
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY)
FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATORY RECEPTION | CERTIFIED KOSHER EVENT
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY)
INCLUDES EVENT ENTRY, DESSERT RECEPTION + 1 COPY OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES MAGAZINE.
(LIMITED AVAILABILITY. TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO DAY OF EVENT TO ENSURE ENTRY)
INCLUDES EVENT ENTRY, DESSERT RECEPTION + 1 COPY OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES MAGAZINE. All funds raised from this event will directly support the St. Louis Jewish Light - a nonprofit, independent news source with a mission to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.
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