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A N O N P R O F I T, I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S S O U R C E TO I N F O R M , I N S P I R E , E D U C AT E A N D C O N N E C T T H E S T. LO U I S J E W I S H C O M M U N I T Y.
S T L J E W I S H L I G H T.O R G
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INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE
A light in the dark
A Hungarian Hanukkah
Hanukkah Gift Guide
Mimi David of Aish St. Louis offers a commentary on the “girl power” themes that connect Shabbat and Hanukkah and the powerful role women play in “finding light in the darkness.” PAGE 13A
Food columnist Margi Lenga Kahn introduces us to delicious Jewish Hungarian Hanukkah dishes she wishes she discovered sooner: the sweet kokosh and savory shlishkas. PAGE 1B
Ellen Futterman finds gift ideas with St. Louis connections — and fascinating back-stories in her annual News & Schmooze Hanukkah Gift Guide. PAGE 3B - 6B
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November 17, 2021
STL
JEWISH LIGHT
stljewishlight.org
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S STL JEWISH LIGHT INDEX
The Newspaper of the Jewish Community of Greater St. Louis — Founded 1963
ChaiLights.............................................. 12B
Local News......................................... 3A-8A
CONNECT WITH US
OUR BOARD AND STAFF
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Obituaries........................................14A-15A
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Address for payments (for general correspondence, see address below): P.O. Box 78369, St. Louis, Mo. 63178-8369
OFFICERS Bethe Growe, President Laura K. Silver, Immediate Past President Ben Weiss, Vice President Laurie Chod, Vice President Alice Handelman, Vice President Justin Krachmalnick, Treasurer Stacy Wolff Smart, Secretary
Gift Guide............................................3B-7B
Simchas.................................................. 13B
Jewish Lite.............................................. 14B
Spotlight Photos.....................................15B
Healthwatch............................................. 9B
World News..................................... 9A-11A
Address for general correspondence: PO Box 411487 Creve Coeur, Mo. 63141 PHONE 314-743-3600 EMAIL news@stljewishlight.org
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TRUSTEES Dan Bindler, Jerry Ehrlich, Richard Flom, Judy Kaplan, Debra Klevens, Mia Kweskin, Beth Manlin, Lauren Murov, Ryan Rich, Steve Rosenzweig, Jenn Sagett, Angela Sandler, Bruce Sandweiss, Adam Schneider, Helene Sherman, Joan Silber, Alan Spector, Dan Winograd ADVISORY COMMITTEE Terry Bloomberg, Nanci Bobrow, Ph.D., Charles C. Eisenkramer, Dodie Frey, Diane Gallant, Steve Gallant, John Greenberg, Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, Gianna Jacobson, Gary Kodner, Linda Kraus, Sanford Lebman, Dr. Ken Ludmerer, Lynn Lyss, Donald Mitchell, Michael N. Newmark, Adinah Raskas, Jane Tzinberg Rubin, Marvin J. Schneider, Richard W. Stein, Barbara Langsam Shuman, Sanford Weiss, Jenny Wolkowitz, Vivian W. Zwick
CANDLE LIGHTING
STAFF EXECUTIVE Betsy Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
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EDITORIAL Robert A. Cohn, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Mike Sherwin, Managing Editor BUSINESS AND ENGAGEMENT Jordan Palmer, Director of Digital Communications Alec Baris, Digital Engagement Associate Amy Worth, Office Manager SALES Shane Blatt, Senior Account Executive Kelly Morris, Account Executive Elaine Wernick, Account Executive
SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Shabbat begins Friday, Nov. 19: 4:27 p.m. Shabbat ends Saturday, Nov. 20: 5:27 p.m. Torah reading: Vayishlach
PRODUCTION Erin Eason, Creative Lead CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Baugher, Burton Boxerman, Margaret Gillerman, Repps Hudson, Barry Gilbert, Cate Marquis, Dale Singer, Margi Lenga Kahn, Cathleen Kronemer, Bill Motchan
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Shabbat begins Friday, Nov. 26: 4:24 p.m. Shabbat ends Saturday, Nov. 27: 5:24 p.m. Torah reading: Vayeishev
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The ST. LOUIS JEWISH LIGHT (ISSN 0036-2964) is published biweekly by the St. Louis Jewish Light, Inc., a notfor-profit corporation, PO Box 411487, St. Louis, MO 63141-9998. Periodical postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Copyright 2021. Postmaster: Send address changes to the St. Louis Jewish Light, PO Box 411487, St. Louis, MO 63141-9998.
TRIBUTES THANK YOU
TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT AND HONORED THE 2021 UNSUNG HEROES WITH PERSONAL MESSAGES! THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE A DONATION IN SUPPORT OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES BARBARA BARNHOLTZ BARBARA BINDLER ALAN HABER JANET HABER SUSAN KATZMAN PAULA KESSLER SUSAN MELTZ BILL MOTCHAN GALIA MOVITZ TZVI NOVACK RABBI CARNIE ROSE MIRIAM SEIDENFELD SYDELL SHAYER SUSAN WITTE JUDY ZAFFT
ARLEN CHALEFF
CAROLYN SATZ
“Arlen, congratulations on this well deserved award.” - Batya Abramson-Goldstein -
“Mazel tov Carolyn!” Love, - Laurie and Ed Chod -
ARLEN CHALEFF, GINNY WEISS, NANCY KEYSER
LAURA GOLDMEIER & GINNY WEISS
“Mazel tov!” - Barbara Bianco -
CAROLYN SATZ
“Mazel Tov on this well deserved recognition. Your Volunteer efforts are very uplifting to say the least. Knowing the effort you gave is the “the real deal”. Congratulations” - Stanley and Rochelle Ferdman -
LAURA GOLDMEIER
“Mazel Tov on being honored as one of the unsung heros.” - Enid Weiseberg-Frank & Bruce Frank -
CAROLYN SATZ
“You are the unsung hero!” - Hillary Friedman -
“Congrats Carolyn I’m so proud of you. Love, Aunt Laurie” - Laura Chazen -
continued on page 10A
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NEWS LOCAL
WORLD
November 17, 2021
JEWISH LIGHT
NEWS & SCHMOOZE
Page 3A
SUBMIT YOUR NEWS Send story tips, news releases, calendar items and photos of recent Jewish community events to news@stljewishlight.org. For more information, call 314-743-3665.
Jewish and Christian supporters of Israel come together to hear from Israeli soldiers BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Israeli citizens living along the Gaza border are always in a state of preparation from attack. That was the sobering message delivered by two Israel first responders who patrol the area in an around Eshkol. The report came during “14 Days Living in Eshkol, Israel,” an event at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion on Monday night. The audience included three groups of Israel supporters: The Gentile Ministry, Shaving Israel and St. Louis Friends of Israel (SLFI). As the host for the event, NHBZ Rabbi Ze’ev Smason introduced Irl Solomon, representing SLFI, and Dr. Bryan Sharp, founder of Gentile Ministry. Sharp offered a short history of Israel and its precarious geographic position, surrounded by millions of people who deny the country’s right to exist. Gentile Ministry provides support for Israel soldiers, as does Shaving Israel and SLFI. A report from the front line of the Gaza border was provided by two Israeli soldiers, Lt. Colonel Keith Isaacson, head of security for the Eshkol Region, and Captain Dani Gohar, a Ravshatz (watchman on the wall) special ops officer. Gentile Ministry, which is based in the St. Louis area, organized a speaking tour with Isaacson and Gohar, visiting several Baptist churches in the eastern U.S., concluding with the event at NHBZ. At NHBZ, Gohar explained that even a seemingly innocent item like a colorful balloon can mask a deadly bomb, so children in Eshkol understand the dangers that exist everywhere. “Some of the balloons cause fire, some have hand grenades,” Gohar said. “So we have to explain to our kids that a balloon is a bad thing. You think of a balloon for a good thing, like a birthday party. But we teach kids not to touch a balloon because it can explode. Instead call a security officer.” Isaacson said even when no mortars or deadly balloons fly across the border, he worries. “If it’s quiet, I don’t like that,” he said. “That means they are training across the border for an escalation, so we do the same thing—train for an attack.” He also pointed to major Israel defense projects that help protect the Eshkol region. “First, we build home shelters for every
Above: From left, Dr. Bryan Sharp, Irl Solomon, Captain Dani Gohar, Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, Lieutenant Colonel Keith Isaacson, Caleb Edwards Left: The audience included three groups of Israel supporters: The Gentile Ministry, Shaving Israel and St. Louis Friends of Israel (SLFI) PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN
civilian near the border,” he said. “Shelter equals resilience. We also put up thousands of mobile shelters. Second is a 65-kilometer concrete wall that extends
below the ground and is armed with sensors.” Isaacson explained that even with advances in technology and security,
Israelis along the Gaza border must always be vigilant because when an attack comes, there’s little time to prepare—often only 15 seconds to seek shelter.
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November 17, 2021
LOCAL NEWS
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JEWISH LIGHT
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St. Louis Jewish and interfaith communities express support after synagogue threat BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN & JORDAN PALMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
Jewish Federation of St. Louis, as well as several Jewish and interfaith organizations, reacted with promises to combat hate and antisemitism in the wake of the news that a St. Louis man threatened to blow up Central Reform Congregation. According to a report first published on STLToday.com, the website of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cody Steven Rush, 29, made three calls directly to the FBI last Friday night stating his intention to blow up the synagogue. Now, he is in custody awaiting trial on a federal charge that he threatened to blow up CRC. The charging documents also state that Rush claimed to hear voices, and suffers from schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression and social anxiety disorder. In regards to Jews, Rush told the FBI, “I hate them with rage.” On Thursday, CRC sent a note to its congregants explaining that on Friday, Nov. 5, the synagogue was made aware of an incident by Jewish Federation Director of Community Security Scott Biondo. “The incident is being investigated and Federation Community Security continues to monitor and communicate with CRC administration and clergy,” CRC said in its statement. “Since Friday’s incident there has been no continuing threat.” CRC staff and clergy also noted that they were asked not to comment further about an ongoing investigation, though Thursday night, the five CRC rabbis issued a letter to congregants reassuring them that all was done by the FBI, the St. Louis Police and Biondo to keep CRC congregants, staff and the building safe. “Though the individual who made the threat was quickly brought into custody — and we were able to safely hold services in our building over Shabbat — we know how scary this news is for so many in our extended CRC family,” the rabbis’ letter said. “Antisemitism and threats of antisemitic violence have become all too familiar in 21st-century America. And yet we are gratified and comforted by the countless interfaith clergy and community members who have reached out to us with messages of love and solidarity.” The rabbis also offered to meet with anyone who wanted to “talk or process”
Central Reform Congregation. PHOTO BY BILL MOTCHAN what had happened as they described CRC as “a beacon of hope for so many, standing up for the voiceless and living out the mitzvah — the commandment — to bring repair to our broken world.” According to the charging documents, Rush had told a St. Louis police officer last Friday that he wanted to be arrested and that he would not act until the next morning when he knew that people would be in the building. Police arrested Rush as he sat on the steps of a home on Waterman Boulevard, near CRC. In a statement issued Thursday, Federation also noted the rise of antisemitism incidents across the country and explained how local Jewish groups are working together to gather the community to stand up to hate. “In recent weeks, the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Hillel International and Louis D. Brandeis Center of Human Rights Under Law have all reported data documenting an omi-
nous increase in hate and that such incidents are disproportionately targeted at Jews. The arrest of Cody Steven Rush is just one more example,” said Richard Jackoway, marketing manager at Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “Fortunately, during Hanukkah, our Jewish community will be coming together to literally shine a light on such hatred. The Jewish Community Relations Council, ADL Heartland, AJC St. Louis, National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis and Jewish Federation of St. Louis are co-sponsoring the effort to Shine A Light on Antisemitism in all its forms.” Details about the event will be forthcoming and the Jewish Light will publicize them as soon as they are available. Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the JCRC, said in an email that her organization had received many phone calls, emails and texts Thursday from local interfaith and intergroup partners asking what they can do to support the St. Louis
Cody Rush Jewish community. “It is heartening to see so much support amidst a scary time,” she said. Rev. Jim Poinsett of Interfaith Partnership STL wrote: “I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the report of the person plotting to blow up Central Reform Congregation and threatening to kill Jewish people. It is difficult for me to imagine the anxiety and distress this must cause for CRC and St. Louis’s Jewish community. “I wanted to write to make sure you knew that the Jewish community has the support and friendship of Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis. Please let me know if there is anything the Cabinet, IPSTL, or I personally can do to support CRC or help the Jewish community to feel safer in the wake of this troubling, hateful incident.”
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November 17, 2021
JEWISH LIGHT
For our community – now and in the future
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YEAR ANNIVERSARY
What you don’t see… Have you seen pictures like this on social media? Happy faces! What you don’t see are the real challenges of this family and so many of us. But they are there. Joblessness, depression, hunger, loneliness… With your donation to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, we change lives by investing in our many partners so that those needs that lie under the surface are addressed. In the spirit of Tikkun Olam, please help us repair the world by giving today!
Donate online at: JFedSTL.org/nov Scan our QR code Mail a check to PO Box 790436 St. Louis, MO 63179-9826 Or call 314-442-3831 to make a pledge FUNDER. COMMUNICATOR. CONVENER.
Follow us on Facebook. Get connected through JBuzzSTL.com.
Page 6A
LOCAL NEWS
November 17, 2021
STL
JEWISH LIGHT
stljewishlight.org
Camp Sabra names Terri Grossman as executive director Kim Holtzman Sloan named as camp director Camp Sabra has named Terri Grossman as its new executive director and Kim Holtzman Sloan as new camp director. In these new roles, Grossman and Holtzman Sloan continue to lead the strategic, ideological and logistical efforts of Camp Sabra. “The J is extremely fortunate that, after 26 years at Camp, Terri Grossman still has the passion for and commitment to Sabra to accept the Executive Director position,” said Lynn Wittels, president and CEO of the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. “Terri has developed such a strong team that Kim Holtzman Sloan rising as our new Camp Director ensures a seamless transition in leadership. We are thrilled to share this news with our camp family.” This new leadership structure begins a formal focus on the future of Camp Sabra and on securing its legacy for future generations. As executive director, Grossman will oversee expanding alumni relations, fundraising and facility development, as well as lend her experience as past camp director as a resource to help guide operations at Camp Sabra. “I am so excited to be a part of this next step in helping to ensure Camp Sabra’s future. I hope that by reconnecting alumni and creating a robust alumni association, we can reignite that passion for Sabra in all the people who have been lucky enough to spend a summer at our camp,” said Grossman. Grossman and Holtzman Sloan have served at Camp Sabra in many capacities and with multiple tenures as teammates, including as assistant director (Grossman) and unit head (Holtzman
LAND | LITWACK
& A S S O C I AT E S
From left: Kim Holtzman Sloan, Terri Grossman and Lisa Deutsch of Camp Sabra. Sloan) from 1995-1996. Most recently, as director and assistant director, this pair oversaw major growth in camper enrollment and retention. Since 2014 camper enrollment has grown 47% and hit alltime record highs. Holtzman Sloan, as the director of Camp Sabra, will work with families and staff to ensure each summer at the Staenberg Peninsula provides the best experience for our camp community. The
camp director leads community stewardship and daily operations, and oversees camper recruitment, all administration staff, camper housing, camper family communications and camp operations, including the health center and security. “Working closely with Terri for the past eight years has taught me so much. Most importantly, I learned that families want to send their children to a place where they respect and have confidence in the
Director at camp,” said Holtzman Sloan. “Terri has been that Director for our families and such a role model to me. I hope to continue to hold the respect and confidence of the families as they send their children to camp this and future summers. I feel honored to follow in her footsteps.” Camp Sabra is currently enrolling for the 2022 camp sessions, with many units already on waitlists. For more information, visit campsabra.com.
MATTHEW LITWACK matthewlitwack@yahoo.com c: 314-374-8832 | 0: 314-872-6739
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JEWISH LIGHT
LOCAL NEWS
November 17, 2021
Page 7A
Chabad of Chesterfield purchases property, plans to build 15,000 square foot building After searching for a permanent location for the past 3 ½ years, Chabad of Chesterfield has purchased a one-and-ahalf-acre piece of property thanks to the generosity of the Feigenbaum-Pepose family. The property sits at the corner of Conway Road and Chesterfield Parkway Chabad plans to construct a 15,000 square foot building on the property in the next one to two years. The project plans to break ground in April of 2022. “The community is invested in the vision and excited to make this happen,” said Rabbi Avi Rubenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Chesterfield, explaining that Chabad looks forward to using the space for a synagogue, an educational wing and ample room for exciting and innovative programming. “This new location is a big deal for us because it will allow us to expand the education, community and programming of our organization. We want this to be a community space where people feel warm, welcome and comfortable, all while having a rabbi on hand; no appointments necessary.” “Jay and I are delighted to provide resources for the creation of a Chabad Center in Chesterfield, a city that has shown incredible hospitality to Pepose Vision Institute for almost 25 years,’’ Susan Feigenbaum said in a statement. “Through Chabad’s educational programs and insights, we have become better peo-
JProStL seeks award nominations; due by Dec. 6 JProStL, the association dedicated to supporting professionals working at Jewish organizations throughout St. Louis, is now accepting nominations for the Annual JProStL Peer Recognition Awards and the Annual JProStL Partnership Award. Nominations are due by Monday, Dec. 6, and can be submitted by any staff person currently working at a congregation, school, or nonprofit organization throughout the St. Louis Jewish community. The awards will be presented at the Annual JProStL Recognition Event, which will take place in-person at the J and online, on Thursday, March 3, from 3 to 4:30 pm. JProStL, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, is supported by Mont and Karen Levy and the LubinGreen Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and the Barry Rosenberg Fund for Professional Excellence. The JProStL peer awards honor those who exemplify professional excellence and dedication to their position, organization, and the St. Louis Jewish community. Categories include Visionary, Emerging Leader, Career Achievement, Mentor, Pillar, Jewish Educator, Chesed/Kindness, and Dedication. The JProStL Partnership Award honors a lay leader who best represents the lay-staff partnership. Nominations can be submitted online for both awards at JFedSTL.org/ JProRecognition. For more information on the awards process and sponsorship opportunities, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-4423810 or MEisen@JFedSTL.org.
At left, Rabbi Avi and Chanala Rubenfeld at home with their children Benny and Dovi in a 2020 photo. PHOTO: BILL MOTCHAN
ple, more engaged family members and dedicated community partners. We look forward to continuing this personal growth and to extending this opportunity
to others through the Chesterfield Chabad Center.” “Congratulations to Chabad of Chesterfield on their recent purchase of
property overlooking I-64 at the corner of Chesterfield Parkway and Conway Road,” said Bob Nation, mayor of Chesterfield, in a statement. “I appreciate the benefit brought to our community by Chabad.” “We couldn’t think of a better place to build our new center. The city is growing,” added Chanala Rubenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Chesterfield. “And we’re looking forward to growing as well, to being able to do more and bring more meaningful experiences and community connections to our wonderful City of Chesterfield.” Chabad of Chesterfield, under the auspices of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, has been serving the Chesterfield, Ballwin and Wildwood areas for the past 17 years as a local center of the worldwide Chabad Lubavitch movement. To learn more about Chabad visit www. jewishchesterfield.com or call 636-7784000.
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November 17, 2021
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UNSUNG HEROES TRIBUTES CONTINUED VISIT STLJEWISHLIGHT.ORG/UNSUNG-HEROES TO WATCH OUR VIRTUAL EVENT AND READ THEIR STORIES
GET TECH TUTORS
CAROLYN SATZ
TECH TUTOR VOLUNTEERS
ARLEN CHALEFF
“We’ve always known you as an unsung hero, and we’re so glad you’re finally being properly honored for it.” Love, Susie, Gary, Adam, & Annie -Susie Kopp -
“So proud of the Tech Tutors who have volunteered their time, talent and patience to help older adults connect with others! Kol Hakavod!” - Joan Denison-
“Congratulations Carolyn on this well deserved honor. I’m so proud to call you my friend!” - Betsy Garland -
CAROLYN SATZ
JEFF GOLDEN
“Mazel Tov!” - Kate Golden -
“ARLEN CHALEFF
ALL THE 2021 UNSUNG HEROES
“Congratulations to all of the UNSUNG HEROS of 2021” - Betsy Mehlman -
CAROLYN SATZ
Congratulations. Very well deserved.” - Barb & Stuart Meyer -
CAROLN SATZ
“Carolyn, Mazel Tov! A tribute well deserved.” - Marilen Pitler -
We are so proud of you for your ceaseless dedication to making life better for others. Well done!” - Susan Fadem & Richard Andersen -
ARLEN CHALEFF
Congratulations , Arlen! Well Deserved!” - Ann Fendelman -
JEFF GOLDEN
“Every time I see your name I think about Wiggins Ozark Camp.” - Carol Rederer Achtman -
- Anonymous -
GINNY ARLEN CHALEFF & TECH TUTORS
CAROLYN SATZ
- Steve and Judy Gorin -
GINNY WEISS
“Congratulations on this wonderful honor. We are both very proud of you. Love, Kenny & Micah” - Kenneth Schwartz -
TECH TUTOR VOLUNTEERS & JFF GOLDEN
ARLEN CHALEFF, CAROLYN SATZ, & NANCY KEYSER
JEFF GOLDEN
TECH TUTOR VOLUNTEERS RYAN & KATIE SILVER
- Anonymous -
GET TECH TUTORS - Anonymous -
ARLEN CHALEFF
- Anonymous -
JEFF GOLDEN
-Marcy Cornfeld-
“Congratulations! This is such a fabulous honor!! Fondly, Eileen & Larry” - Eileen Schechter -
NANCY KEYSER
“Mazel tov, Mom! Love, Caroline and Michael” -Caroline Keyser-
ARLEN CHALEFF
- Myron Weinbach -
“Mazel Tov! - Shana Schundler -
“Congratulations, Jeff, on a well deserved honor! You have left the Light in much better shape than you found it!” - Laura and Michael Silver -
- Anonymous -
CAROLYN SATZ
“Carolyn, Congratulations on a well deserved honor!” - Joy & Marty Satz -
“Mazel Tov Alex Slen! We are so proud of your work as a Tech Tutor!! Love, mom, dad, and Ivy” - Robyn & Benjamin Slen -
“Congratulations, Ryan and Katie Silver, for being Unsung Heroes volunteers for Tech Tutors! You made seniors feel less isolated during a difficult time, and we are so proud of you for your selflessness! Love, Mom and Dad” - Laura and Michael Silver -
GINNY WEISS
“We’re so proud of you! Marlita and family” - Marlita Weiss -
ARLEN CHALEFF
GINNY WEISS
GET TECH TUTORS
“Congratulations on receiving the Unsung Heroes award! - Linda Saltman-
JEFF GOLDEN
“Mazel Tov. With love, Eve” - Eve Golden -
TECH TUTOR VOLUNTEERS
ARLEN CHALEFF
“To all the Get Tech Volunteers: Mazel Tov. A very special Mazel Tov to Mary Chapman.” -Marilen Pitle -
“Very well deserved for all the joy you have brought to all.” - Enid Tennenbaum -
ARLEN CHALEFF - Patti Teper -
GINNY WEISS
“Congratulations for being named an Unsung Hero. It’s well deserved!” - Judy and Steve Wasserman”
“Arlen, Congratulations on receiving this so very deserved honor as an Unsung Hero.” - Howard and Joan Wittner -
ARLEN CHALEFF
- Frances Sisson -
stljewishlight.org
STL
November 17, 2021
JEWISH LIGHT
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Free holiday kits available to college students in advance of Hanukkah With the approach of Hanukkah, Chabad on Campus is offering every student in St. Louis a free Hanukkah kit full of holiday goodies, including a small tin menorah, candles, a dreidel, along with a guide and chocolate gelt coins. Students are requested to post a picture of themselves using the kit on their social media feeds. The kits must be requested in advance at www.chabadwashu.org/freegift. Students from SLU, Webster, STLCC or anywhere else are invited to participate in this giveaway. Register now, supplies are limited. The kits are sponsored by a friend of Chabad.
JCA Charitable Foundation seeks applications for grant program The JCA Charitable Foundation is seeking applications to award grants up to $25,000 for new and creative community programs and activities that support the needy Jewish elderly in the metropolitan St. Louis area. It looks to focus efforts on educational and health care programming and services that would be of benefit to this vulnerable population. Because the JCA Charitable Foundation mission includes the support of nutritional, religious, social and cultural programs related to Judaism as well as projects which address the financial and emotional needs of older adults, applications related to these activities are welcome. The Grant will support new initiatives dedicated specifically to providing a positive and material difference in the lives of seniors in the Jewish community. To receive a Grant Application, please e-mail a request to mangej@msn.com. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 10.
Jewish Federation, Holocaust Museum plan European Heritage Experience visiting iconic sites Next summer, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum will present a memorable 12-day European Heritage Experience with stops in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna and Prague. The trip will take place June 27-July 10. Join chairs Debbie and Kent Hirschfelder as they tour iconic spots across Europe such as the sites of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Oscar Schindler’s Factory, the Krakow Cultural Jewish Festival, AuschwitzBirkenau, Prague’s Old Town, and much more. Go to JFedSTL.org/EuropeanExperience to learn more. Questions? Contact Karen Rader at 314-442-3756 or Krader@JFedSTL.org.
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WORLD NEWS
Jewish historian refuses award from Polish government history institute, saying it suppresses Holocaust research BY KATARZYNA MARKUSZ JTA
WARSAW — Jewish American historian Eliyana Adler refused to accept an award worth $19,000 from the Polish government’s Pilecki Institute, arguing that it suppresses work by “historians who strive to show the complex and indeed tragic aspects of Poland’s wartime past.” Adler, an associate professor at Penn State University, was given a newly inaugurated award for scholarship on 20th-century Poland, the Pilecki Institute’s specialty, for her 2020 book “Survival on the Margins: Polish Jewish Refugees in the Wartime Soviet Union.” The honor was to be co-awarded by the Auschwitz memorial museum. “The Pilecki Institute, while very generous in supporting some historical scholarship on the Second World War, has also been involved in suppressing the work of historians who strive to show
the complex and indeed tragic aspects of Poland’s wartime past,” Adler wrote in a letter dated Nov. 4 to the institute. It was published online on Friday. Polish governmental institutions have been accused by historians of whitewashing the country’s treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. The country passed a widely criticized law in 2019 that makes it illegal to blame the Polish nation for Nazi crimes. A recent high-profile court case pitted historians Jan Grabowski and Barbara Engelking against Poland’s government, which ruled that the pair had to apologize for their book unearthing alleged atrocities by a Polish mayor. An appeals court overturned the ruling in August. “War and occupation push humans and societies to their limits. The situation during World War II was horrific for all Poles, albeit not in equal measure. Some non-Jewish Poles, as profiled on the institute’s website, lost their lives protecting their Jewish compatriots. Others, as
we know from the scholarship of Professors Jan T. Gross, Jan Grabowski, and Barbara Engelking among others, profited in a variety of ways from the murder of their neighbors,” Adler wrote in her letter. According to the book’s press description, Adler’s work focuses on Between 1940 and 1946, “about 200,000 Jewish refugees from Poland” who from 1940 to 1946 “lived and toiled in the harsh Soviet interior.” “They endured hard labor, bitter cold, and extreme deprivation. But out of reach of the Nazis, they escaped the fate of millions of their coreligionists in the Holocaust,” the description reads. The Pilecki Institute is named after Witold Pilecki, a general who helped found the Secret Polish Army, a major resistance movement against the Nazis during World War II. Pilecki faked his identity to enter Auschwitz, where he helped organize an uprising and gathered reporting on Nazi atrocities.
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Rabbis Becca Walker (left) and Ariella Rosen became the first same-sex rabbinical couple to be married in the Conservative movement. At their egalitarian ceremony, each bride broke a glass. PHOTO: KELLY PRIZEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Their same-sex rabbinical wedding was a historic first for the Conservative movement BY ALIX WALL JTA
You could call it bashert: 15 years after a landmark decision in Judaism’s Conservative movement that paved the way for gay and lesbian students to enter its rabbinical schools and for rabbis to perform same-sex weddings, it would seem like destiny that two Conservative rabbis would wed. Of course, it happened at Camp Ramah. Rabbi Ariella Rosen and Rabbi Becca Walker tied the knot at the Conservative movement’s camp in Palmer, Massachusetts, last month, with yet another queer woman rabbi, Megan GoldMarche, officiating. Rosen’s father, Rabbi Jim Rosen, also played a role. “It feels like we shouldn’t be groundbreaking,” Walker told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. And yet she and Rosen made history as the first-ever samesex marriage between two Conservative rabbis, according to Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg, the chief operating officer of the movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, who said the organization was not aware of any others.
The Conservative movement adopted legal rulings designed to make gay and lesbian Jews “feel accepted and welcomed” in its synagogues and communities. The next year, its two U.S. rabbinical schools admitted their first gay students. And in 2012, the movement issued guidelines for the first time for same-sex weddings, although many rabbis had been performing them already. Now, openly gay Conservative rabbis work in a variety of settings — and while many have married, including to others who work in the Jewish world, none so far have paired off as Rosen and Walker did. Until recently, Walker, 33, was the assistant rabbi at Toronto’s Beth David congregation; Rosen, 35, is senior Jewish educator at Hillel Ontario. They met at a Rabbinical Assembly retreat in May 2018 for early-career women rabbis at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut. They first clicked as conversational partners in a workshop. On a hike, they ended up only speaking to each other. Then, they stayed up late talking at a campfire, long after everyone else went to sleep. Both women grew up in New England,
and knew of each other while undergraduates in the joint Jewish Studies program between List College and Columbia University. Rosen was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York in 2015 (she is one of four people in her imediate family to have attended JTS). Walker was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles in 2016. GoldMarche, who married them, said she saw it coming that night at the campfire before they did. While Rosen thought she had made it clear she was queer, Walker says she hadn’t; Walker spent much of the retreat wondering if they were connecting as friends or something more. Walker came out her senior year of college, while Rosen did a year after ordination. Rosen was living in Philadelphia then, and Walker in East Lansing, Michigan. In August 2018, Rosen went to visit Walker; she was the first woman Rosen ever dated. Their relationship began long-distance, with them either visiting each other or meeting elsewhere. In July 2019, Walker
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moved to Toronto. Meanwhile, Rosen had left Philadelphia for New York, planning to join Walker in the summer of 2020; that was, until the pandemic hit. Instead, they moved in with Rosen’s family in West Hartford, Connecticut. “We made a major transition from long distance, to never not being together,” Walker said. “But seeing the ease of us doing life together, even with everything so hard around us, we felt that we can do this.” They enjoy learning Torah together, or teaching a class together … sometimes. “We don’t ‘rabbi’ each other,” Rosen said. “Since we’re both rabbis, it’s really important to be able to turn off that piece.” They knew they wanted a proper wedding when it was safe to gather. But they also learned that Rosen could join Walker in Canada only if they were legally married. So in May of 2020, their friend Julie Finkelstein, senior director of program strategy and innovation at the Foundation for Jewish Camp, performed a civil ceremony on a Brooklyn rooftop (Rosen was still a New York resident). They deliberately chose not to have a rabbi officiate, and, though they were legally married at that point, they refer to that ceremony as their “engagement.” In July 2020, they both moved to Toronto. On Oct. 24, they had their Jewish wedding in the spot where Rosen attended Shabbat services as a Ramah camper. It was an egalitarian ceremony in which some blessings were changed to say “bride and bride,” and each woman broke a glass. There were around 100 guests, including – they estimate – 19 rabbis, one cantor and one rabbinical student. They changed the traditional ring exchange language to what the Conservative movement calls a “brit ahuvot,” or covenant of love. “It was a privilege that we carry, that others before us had already done the important work of creating a framework that felt meaningful for us, and viable for who we are,” said Rosen. While most if not all of the guests were vaccinated, the ceremony, reception and dancing were all held outside, and apple cobbler was served in lieu of cake. The brides both wore Dr. Martens combat boots with their wedding dresses. Speaking of the optics of a queer woman rabbi marrying two of her queer women colleagues, Walker said, “I’m happy to have more people see this, as it makes people feel there’s a place for them, too.”
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WORLD NEWS BRIEFS FROM JTA
FBI charges suspect in Austin synagogue arson The FBI has charged a suspect already arrested on local charges relating to a fire set at a synagogue in Austin, Texas. Franklin Barrett Sechriest, 18, was transferred to federal custody on Monday, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Investigators with the Austin fire department arrested him last week on an arson charge related to a fire at Congregation Beth Israel on Oct. 31. The federal charge document cites alleged entries in Sechriest’s handwritten journal, including one, on the day of the attack, that said, “Scout out a target,” and another that said, after the attack, “I set a synagogue on fire.” The journal, according to the charge sheet, includes antisemitic and racist entries and images, as well as a to-do list that includes laundry, meditation and checking out Tinder, the dating app. According to a donation page on the synagogue’s website, the fire destroyed the synagogue’s carved wooden doors, damaged the building’s stained glass windows and caused smoke damage throughout the sanctuary.
Jewish journalist jailed in Myanmar, is released days after being handed prison sentence Danny Fenster, a Jewish American journalist who has been imprisoned in Myanmar since May and was sentenced to 11 years in prison Friday, has been released just days later, according to reports. Former New Mexico governor and former diplomat Bill Richardson, who was in
Van Gogh watercolor stolen from Rothschild by Nazis sells for over $35 million
“Wheatstacks,” a Van Gogh watercolor stolen by the Nazis, was sold at auction by Christie’s in New York Thursday for $35.9 million. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIE’S the country on a humanitarian visit, told reporters Monday that Fenster would travel back to the United States “through Qatar, over the next day and a half,” CNN reported. Fenster’s brother Bryan celebrated the news in a tweet Monday morning. “We are overjoyed that Danny has been released and is on his way home – we cannot wait to hold him in our arms,” he wrote. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for Myanmar’s military, told CNN that Fenster “has been released and deported. We will release details why he was released later.” Fenster, who had lived and worked in Myanmar since 2019 as a managing editor
at the magazine Frontier Myanmar, had been detained at the airport while trying to leave the country to visit the United States in May. Fenster had been held without bail on various charges by Myanmar’s military, all having to do with his journalism. Fenster’s imprisonment had become a rallying cry in his hometown of Detroit, where many lawns display “Free Fenster” signs on their front lawns, and his family has organized rallies attended by local Congressman Andy Levin. A recent post in a “Bring Danny Home” Facebook group, which has more than 6,000 members, reads, “We wish more than anything that Danny would be brought home to this community that loves him so.”
A watercolor painting by Vincent Van Gogh that was stolen by the Nazis from its Jewish owner during the Holocaust was sold at auction for $35,855,000 on Nov. 11, breaking the record for the largest sum ever paid for a Van Gogh painting on paper at auction. The painting, called “Meules de blé” in French of “Wheatstacks” in English, was completed by Van Gogh in 1888 and features a colorful wheat harvest scene. It had been purchased by Max Meirowsky, a German Jewish art collector, in 1913. When Meirowsky left Germany for Amsterdam in the face of growing antisemitism in 1938, he left the painting with an art dealer who sold it to Alexandrine de Rothschild of the famed banking family. When Rothschild left Germany for Switzerland, her art collection was seized by the Nazis. The painting’s whereabouts between the end of World War II and the 1970s are unknown, but in 1979, American businessman Ed Cox purchased the painting at a gallery in New York. The proceeds from Thursday’s sale are set to be split between Cox’s estate and the descendants of Meirowsky and Rothschild, according to the terms of a negotiation facilitated by the Christie’s auction house. “The settlement agreement resolves the dispute over ownership of the work and title will pass to the successful bidder,” Christie’s said in its listing of the painting. — JTA
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OPINIONS
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ABOUT THE OPINIONS SECTION Viewpoints expressed in letters, commentaries, cartoons and other opinion pieces reflect those of the writer or artist, and not those of the Light. We welcome submissions of letters and commentaries to: news@stljewishlight.org.
Shaare Emeth is focus of siblings’ journey back to each other BY RABBI JEFFREY STIFFMAN
The brother
The sister In the 1970s, my wife, Arlene, and I were friends with Max and Beulah Rachlin, active temple members. Yes, she was the superb teacher in our religious school whom Stephen remembered. Max was a well-known ophthalmologist. He and Beulah adopted a baby daughter from the Children’s Home Society of Missouri, learning only that she had been named Laurel. The Rachlins shortened her name to Lara, and she thrived as their daughter. She knew nothing of her birth parents but was told that she was named after a grandmother. I knew her as a wonderful and enthusiastic student. Lara especially remembers her religious school class taught by the Bob Cohn, editor-in-chief emeritus of the Jewish Light. She was musically talented, and I asked her to accompany the religious school ser-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Please email letters to news@stljewishlight.org
Documentary brings back memories
Sometimes, real life is more amazing and inspiring than fiction. This true story is about a girl and boy from different families who attended religious school at Shaare Emeth in the early 1970s. They probably saw each other, although she was six years older. About five decades later, they learned that they were brother and sister. I have the privilege of sharing their joy and telling their story.
My first involvement in this story was preparing a student for his bar mitzvah in 1972. Stephen Stein was the son of German-Jewish immigrants. He loved coming to synagogue, especially listening to the music of Cantor Edward Fogel, organist Edward Wallace and the choir. Music became his passion, specifically nurtured by his uncle John Stein. He was told that his grandmother, Lore Stein, was a noted pianist in Germany before the World War II. Much to his chagrin, Stephen’s family left the congregation soon after he became a bar mitzvah. He remembered learning from his Shaare Emeth teachers, including a favorite named Beulah Rachlin. We lost contact for many years. Stephen went on to study music and become a symphony conductor; his final conducting job was in Houston. His love of Judaism became more intense when he was in his 30s. Sitting in a bible study class in a Houston synagogue, he met Charlene and Norman Meltzer, active members of Shaare Emeth visiting from St. Louis. He asked whether they knew of Shaare Emeth, Fogel or Stiffman. The Meltzers put us in touch with each other almost immediately. Stephen and I renewed our friendship and formed a new bond. Stephen enrolled in the Hebrew Union College to become a rabbi. While he was a student, he preached an impressive sermon at Shaare Emeth. Stephen was ordained in 2003 and went on to serve congregations in Terre Haute, Los Angeles, Chicago and Central Florida before retiring. He and his husband Steven live in Orlando, Fla., where Steven was on the faculty of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida. Stephen Julius Stein had always wished for a sibling. His desire was soon to come true.
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Pictured from left are Rabbi Stephen Stein; Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman and Lara Rachlin Steinel. vices on the organ, which she did with grace. She was a serious student, full of life. I officiated at her wedding in 1973 to Dan Steinel. Her mother died too young, and her father moved out-of-town to be with family. We lost contact for many years. After her father’s death, she found her adoption papers with the names of her birth parents. She made many attempts to find them but was unsuccessful. (They both died young.) She and her husband Dan moved to various cities. She worked many years for USA Today and then The Washington Post and he was an engineer with Sprint. In recent years, after moving back to the Kansas City area, she became director of music and cantorial soloist at Congregation Kol Ami. In addition, she sang in several choirs and was well known in musical circles. One day, she related her story to a friend who was very skilled in restoration research and had access to software that allowed her to search microfilm and microfiche. Jeffrey Stiffman is There she found the Rabbi Emeritus at death notices for both Congregation Shaare birth parents, along Emeth with the information that they were survived by a son, Stephen Julius Stein, and an uncle John Stein. After two weeks of searching, Lara found the names Stephen Julius Stein and Steven Chicurel posted on a wedding site. On Feb. 5, 2018, Lara wrote a cautious note to Steven Chicurel Stein stating that she thought she was a relative of his husband. She offered him the opportunity to tear it up if he felt it would upset Stephen Julius. Steven Chicurel gave the note to Stephen Julius who immediately burst out in joy. It might be possible that he indeed had a sister.
The reunions Lara wrote: “Just nine days later, on Valentine’s Day, I heard from my brother, who told me that no one in the family had ever mentioned a sibling given up for adoption. I sent him the court paperwork so he could see that the people named in it had identical names to his parents and that they had named me ‘Laurel.’ I told him what the Children’s Home Society of Missouri told my folks: that my natural parents had married out
of high school, were not prepared to care for a baby and that I had been named ‘Laurel’ in honor of someone in the family who was a pianist of note.” Stephen said that it all added up: “(She) was named for our grandmother, Lore, who had a career as a pianist in Germany before she, our grandfather, father and uncle left in 1938 to escape the Nazis.” Stephen’s response was: “We are siblings!” Lara and Dan flew to meet Stephen and Steven in Orlando. She shared her story with her rabbi in Kansas City, who invited her newly found rabbi brother to preach one of the High Holy Day sermons at her temple. The siblings’ spouses were very supportive and suggested that brother and sister take some time to be together and learn about each other. A few months later, brother and sister traveled to Santa Fe to enjoy the famous opera company there. During that trip they shared their love of music, their family stories and their special joy. They have found many similar personal likes and dislikes and share a similar philosophy of music. Lara even met her Uncle John Stein before his death at an advanced age.
The ark and Powell Hall Lara and Stephen had very special memories of the doors of the ark on the bimah at Shaare Emeth, which are now found in our chapel. On Nov. 3, we stood together in front of those doors reminiscing and praying. I had tears in my eyes as I offered a blessing for their reunion in the congregation they still love. All of this history came together on the evening of Nov. 6 in Powell Symphony Hall. On the screen above the proscenium, a slide appeared announcing that the St. Louis Symphony concert was being sponsored by Stephen Julius Stein and Lara Steinel in memory of their Uncle John Stein, a devoted patron of the symphony. I was very moved as I thought of our years together, first as rabbi and students, now as dear friends. I was touched by the love brother and sister expressed for each other, the unity of their spouses and the love of music that tied them together. I felt so grateful for being part of this story, one of the greatest rewards of my rabbinate. As we parted at the end of the concert, they both said: “We will be back often. We’ve been away too long.” May that come to be.
The documentary film review by Dan Buffa “ ‘Welcome to Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort’ wistfully evokes famous upstate New York country club” (published on the Light’s website Oct. 30) struck a chord for me. I actually had that job of a lifetime: the lifeguard at the resort’s pool. I was entering my sophomore year at Cornell that summer. It was 1967 and the popularity of the Borscht Belt was waning. Nevertheless I enjoyed the resort’s amenities. We stayed in a dormitory style residence which was basic but we were fed the same food. There was a great social atmosphere and the Kutsher family was good to their staff. The other nostalgic anecdote involved a car that one of the lifeguards sold to me at the end of the summer for $55. It was a ’56 Chrysler that we drove to Ithaca as an extra car for my fraternity brothers. I created a lot of good will. The best part of the summer is looking back at the feeling of well being in the Borscht Belt. It also enhanced my schmoozing skills as a natural tummler. Steven A. Ludsin East Hampton, N.Y.
Funds needed to boost global vaccination efforts As we approach colder weather and a season of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah gatherings, I’m heartened by news of so many children getting the COVID-19 vaccine now that kids 5-11 years old are eligible. Vaccinating kids is the best way for us to protect them and their grandparents, so we can exchange hugs in person instead of Zoom greetings. I feel so fortunate that my family has such easy access to immunizations for COVID-19 and other life-threatening diseases that Americans hardly ever think about. Around the world, one in five children around the world still lack access to basic vaccines for child killers like measles, polio, rotavirus and pneumococcal virus. Sadly, that results in 1.5 million children still dying each year of vaccine-preventable diseases. I remind Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley — along with Representatives Ann Wagner and Cori Bush — not to forget about children around the world without the care we have in the U.S. I urge them to fully fund global childhood immunization programs in our federal budget. Expanding vaccine access is not only beneficial to country economies, national security, and global stability — it’s also the morally right thing to do. Cynthia Changyit Levin Town and Country
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Shabbos candles, Hanukkah flames, and the illuminating light of a Jewish woman BY MIMI DAVID
In Hebrew there is a saying that “M’at min ha’ohr docheh harbay min ha’choshech,” a small bit of light dispels a great deal of darkness. Anyone who has experienced a blackout in the middle of night knows this is true: The light of one small candle makes a big difference when it is completely dark. On an emotional level this idea is true is well. A little bit of light, a flash of brightness, can bring a great deal of clarity in the darkest of times. Every Friday, 52 weeks a year, women around the world welcome in the Shabbat with a little bit of light. A flame is kindled, candles are lit, a blessing and prayer are whispered, and suddenly it is no longer Friday. It is now Shabbat, a day of connecting with oneself, with family, and with G-d. Using light to welcome in the Shabbat actually makes a whole lot of sense. All week we are busy running and doing. We spend so much time taking care of physical needs. Shabbat’s job is to remind us why we are here. What is the purpose of all this busyness? What is the purpose of my existence? All week we are human doings; on Shabbat we can be human beings. Shabbat is welcomed with light because Shabbat is the day that gives clarity to the rest of our week. The flames of Shabbat illuminate our neshamas, souls, and remind us of the purpose of it all. Hanukkahh is also welcomed in with light. For eight nights we celebrate by lighting the menorah, adding more light
each additional night. Just like Shabbat candles, the light of the menorah also brings clarity. The times of the Hanukkah miracle were very dark for Jews. Basic mitzvah observance was outlawed and there was a pervasive spiritual low. When the miracle of the menorah occurred in the Temple the Jews were filled with clarity that things would turn around and be okay again. To this day we celebrate that clarity on Hanukkah with light, recognizing that although Jews are spread all over the world, and we are missing the connection and spirituality we had as a unified
nation, no matter what a Jew is still connected to the light of the Torah and of G-d. We all know how women are connected to Shabbat candles. The custom for thousands of years has been for the woman of the home to light the flames that bring in Shabbat. What is less known is the connection that women have to the lights of the menorah. The Torah tells us that for the first half hour that the menorah is lit, women should not do work. Sit down on the couch, play a game of dreidel, relax and let someone else serve dinner. Enjoy the light of the menorah for a few minutes.
And here’s my favorite part: after telling women not to work for the first half hour, the next words in the Torah are, “v’ein l’hakel” — take this seriously! Don’t pretend you’re too busy! This is your time! Clearly, Shabbat and Hanukkah have some kind of “girl power ” related theme. There must be a connection Mimi David is between the two that Director of Women’s makes them both Education at Aish special moments for St. Louis and she a woman. Here’s my has been a longtime take on it: both occa- teacher at Esther sions are celebrating Miller Bais Yaakov of finding light in the St. Louis. darkness. Shabbat and Hanukkah both represent illuminating the dark times. I believe that women are exceptionally good at doing this. We are wired in our DNA from thousands of years ago to naturally uncover the glow underneath the mundane. We are clarity experts, finding the rays of sunshine that are getting stuck behind the clouds of confusion. This Hanukkah is a chance for Jewish women all over to light up the world with candles and with clarity. It is an opportunity to connect with each other and with millennia of feminine Jewish energy that illuminated the world in dark times. Grab that moment! “V’ein l’hakel!” Take this seriously! This is your time!
MARTY ROCHESTER
The five biggest problems facing the U.S. today ing and other vital infrastructure. 2. Nuclear war. Although this is highly I recently was at dinner with a friend, unlikely, it is the most potentially apocaand the conversation turned to politics. lyptic threat. The “nuclear club” consists of “Racism is the single biggest problem nine countries: the United States, Russia, facing America today,” she said. China, United Kingdom, France, India, I conceded that racism remains a prob- Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. The lem but argued that it is hardly No. 1. United States and Russia have 90% of the What would you say are the five biggest present nuclear stockpile of approximately problems facing the United States today? 14,000 nuclear warheads. Israel has not By problems, I do not mean merely issues officially acknowledged being a member or concerns, but threats to the well-being of the club but is thought to have from 75 of Americans. to 400 warheads. More worrisome, China I would list the following in order of has an estimated 350 warheads, and North importance: Korea 30 to 40 with a growing capacity to 1. Terrorism. This is my worst worry. I target the United States. am referring here not so much to domestic There is ongoing concern about a nucleterrorism, but to international terrorism. ar-armed Pakistan with ties to terrorist Although we are told by President Joe groups in neighboring Afghanistan. Note Biden’s administration that domestic ter- the recent death of its chief nuclear scienrorists, including parents who protest tist, A.Q. Khan, who is rumored to have loudly at school board meetings, are the considered selling nuclear technology to main threat, I would disagree. al-Qaida and did transfer the technology In the wake of our withdrawal from to North Korea. Afghanistan, that country has become a There is concern as well regarding safe-haven sanctuary for al-Qaida, ISIS and North Korea’s unstable leadership, along other radical Muslim groups that have with worries about possible escalation in expressed an ongoing desire to attack the U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan. United States. Other such jihadist groups 3. COVID and other pandemics. There operate in the Middle East and elsewhere. have been more than 700,000 COVIDWhile we have been fortunate in not experi- related deaths thus far in the United encing another 9/11, it would seem fairly States. Thanks mainly to vaccinations, the easy to wreak havoc by destroying part of number of cases, hospitalizations and the New York City subway and bridge or deaths are now declining nationally, tunnel system, our electronic grid, the although tens of thousands of Americans Capitol are still getting sick every day. buildAccording to the CDC, 81% of U.S. adults and 95% of those 65 and up J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ have received at least one dose of a Distinguished Teaching Professor COVID-19 vaccine. However, a of Political Science Emeritus at recent Israeli study found the effecthe University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on tiveness of the Pfizer vaccine waning after six months, thus requiring international and American boosters. Even if vaccines reduce the politics. Rochester has severity of the illness, there is conwritten a monthly Jewish Light column since 2014. cern about the ongoing spread of one variant after another, as well as BY MARTY ROCHESTER
new pandemics that may arise. Amid masking and lockdowns, it remains uncertain when our economy and life in general might return to “normal.” 4. Border control. We are witnessing the complete erosion of our southern border, with more than 100,000 migrants attempting to enter the United States each month. More than 1.6 million arrests were made at the border last year, the highest on record (CNN, Oct. 22). Although immigrants bring many benefits to the United States, this unauthorized entry is a disaster that threatens our sovereignty and makes a mockery of the rule of law. Altogether, it is estimated there are more than 10 million illegal aliens (undocumented noncitizens or whatever you wish to call them) in the United States, many of whom are using our welfare system courtesy of U.S. taxpayers. Most recently, tens of thousands of Haitian migrants flooded the border with Mexico, overwhelming the capacity of Border Control agents to apprehend them and process their claims to asylum. An additional 20,000 Haitians supposedly are massing in Central America, preparing to make the crossing into the United States. They are fleeing Haiti mainly due to lack of economic opportunity. As much as one might sympathize, economic deprivation has never been an adequate basis for requesting asylum. The bottom line is that the United States cannot allow whole nations to empty into our country due to their economic problems. The United Nations has listed about 50 countries as “least developed countries,” with billions of impoverished people conceivably claiming a right to enter the United States. The survival and identity of our country could not possibly withstand this. 5. The dysfunctionality of our political system. If our political institutions were better at governing, we might be able to cope with all the above problems in a more
effective manner. However, it is obvious that our political system, particularly at the federal level, suffers from severe dysfunction. The two major political parties seem unable to cooperate in passing necessary legislation and framing wise public policies. Although it is easy to blame this on the growing polarization of the American public and our coarse political culture, the fact is that a majority of Americans indicate in public opinion polls that they are supportive of moderate positions on most issues, including abortion, gay rights, immigration, law enforcement and others. What is lacking is leadership that reflects majority opinion but has yet to be mobilized. On one side we have a Republican Party that is still trying to recover from the erratic governance of Donald Trump. On the other side, we have a Biden administration that promised to bring the country together and govern from the middle but has caved to the far left of the Democratic Party in promoting a radical social welfare state agenda closer to socialist Bernie Sanders and a woke agenda beholden to “the Squad.” There are other problems one might cite, such as climate change, crime, health care affordability, drug addiction, education and —yes — racism. But I submit these are not at the top of my list. Regarding racism, in particular, I find it hard to declare it a paramount concern when we have recently elected a Black president and vice president, when approval of Black/white interracial marriage rose from 4% among whites in 1958 to close to 90% by 2020, and “a number of empirically minded social scientists have pointed out that racism seems by any objective standard to be declining” (Wilfred Reilly, “Testing the Tests for Racism,” Academic Questions, Fall 2021). As always, feel free to disagree. One problem we do not have, at least not yet (although there are some stirrings of suppression of thought), is the freedom to dissent.
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RICHARD ALAN BOHM, 57, passed away in Palmetto, Florida on November 7, 2021, after a long and hard-fought battle with esophageal cancer. Beloved husband of Marissa (Albano) Bohm, loving son of Robert and Nancy (Kaminer) Bohm; son-in-law of Manolo and the late Alejandra Albano and brother and brother-in-law of Michael Bohm and Julie (Scott) Cohn. He loved his role as Uncle Rich to Adam, Jeremy, and Ellie Cohn. Our dear nephew, cousin, and friend. Rich was born on June 3, 1964, in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Parkway Central High School and earned his undergraduate degrees in Economics and French from Grinnell College and his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. He spent his career in the defense industry at McDonnellDouglas, Boeing, American Ordnance, and General Dynamics. An avid and curious traveler, Rich visited many corners of the world and spent time working in France and Saudi Arabia. Rich rescued several dogs, to which he devoted much love and care. A funeral service was planned for Wednesday, November 17 at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Siteman Cancer Center, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105, the Humane Society of Manatee County, Florida, 2515 14th Street W., Bradenton, FL 34205, or the charity of your choice. A Rindskopf-Roth Service American Flag symbol denotes a United States military veteran.
IRVING “IRV” CASSEL, November 13, 2021. Beloved husband for over 71 years of the late Josephine “Jo” (Fishkop) Cassel; dear father and father-in-law of Merle (Norman) von Wettberg, Douglas M. (Joyce) Cassel and Randee L. (Seth Chernick) Cassel; loving son of the late Paul and the late Bertha (Steinberg) Cassel and son-inlaw of the late Harry and the late Fraudel Fishkop; dear brother-in-law of the late Lorraine (the late Harry) Stein and the late Joseph (the late Anita) Cassel; survived by 6 grandchildren, 4 great children and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and former business associates. A special acknowledgment and thank you to Neverette B. who cared for Irv with unmatched love and devotion as well as Irv’s other long time caregivers Melba, Diane, Karen, Nita, and Tina and those at Brookdale Creve Coeur and Pathways Hospice. Irv was born in 1925 and raised during the Depression on Hamilton Avenue in his beloved St. Louis where he lived and worked his entire life. Irv met Jo when they were 14 and 16 while riding the same streetcar each day to Soldan High School. Upon graduating from Soldan (where he enjoyed singing baritone in the chorus), Irv enlisted in the Navy and was accepted into the prestigious V-12 officer’s training program. He spent the remaining two years of the war attending college at Iowa State and USC and his summers serving as a signalman and a helmsmen on a sub-chaser off the coast of San Diego. After the war ended he returned to St. Louis, married Jo, completed his studies at St. Louis U, and began a successful
career in business - by the 1980s ultimately building one of the largest independent family owned ladies ready to wear companies in the country. He retired at 59 and enjoyed many years of retirement and travel, including time with family all over the US. Graveside service at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 7500 Olive Blvd. Memorial contributions preferred to the ADL, Bnai Brith, or Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road, 63141. Visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service JACQUELINE MERLE CHELIST passed away peacefully at her Options Services group home in Olathe, Kansas on November 7th, 2021, her 71st birthday, with her sister, Sandra Chelist and brother-in-law Philip Waters of Evergreen, Colorado; sister-in-law Christine Chelist of Corrales, New Mexico and nephew Daniel Chelist of Denver, Colorado at her bedside. Jackie’s surviving family also includes niece, Leah Chelist Malone and her husband Kyle; great nephew, Callan Malone; great niece, Solene Malone and Daniel Chelist’s wife, Hui Li, all of Denver, Colorado. Jackie is predeceased by her brother, Edward Chelist of Corrales, New Mexico; parents, Aaron and Frances Chelist of St. Louis, Missouri and her devoted Aunts: Dorothy, Della and Sarah Chelist, also of St. Louis, Missouri. She is lovingly survived by her Options staff of Olathe, Kansas, her friends at her Options retirement group, the staff of ArCare, Inc of Overland Park, Kansas and her many friends and staff of Johnson County Developmental
OBITUARIES INDEX Bohm, Richard Alan Cassel, Irving “Irv” Chelist, Jacqueline Merle Denlow, Patricia M. “Pat” Handelman, Maurita
Koslow, Jack Everett Palmer, Tanya Frances Portman, Ellen and Eugene
Supports. Jackie was born on November 7, 1950, in St. Louis Missouri. She attended Ladue High School in Ladue, Missouri, where she graduated in 1970. Jackie moved to Leawood, Kansas in 1973. Jackie loved watching her television shows, spending time with her many friends and staff at her workshop and retirement group. Word Search puzzles were one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed painting and crafting. Jackie loved food and eating out. She always looked forward to lunches with her dear friend, Janice Godsey. Shopping for new clothes, shoes and jewelry was her passion. Thanksgiving was Jackie’s favorite holiday when she looked forward to traveling to her brother’s home to celebrate with family and the friends in Corrales, New Mexico. Our beloved sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend will be dearly missed. A private family graveside was held in St. Louis, MO. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.louismemorialchapel.com (Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211).
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We join you in this festival marking the first recorded battle for religious liberty, and the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees.
May freedom’s light kindle the spark of hope in all mankind.
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PATRICIA M. “PAT” DENLOW, November 7, 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Beloved wife of Bob Denlow. Devoted mother of Chelsea (Jonathan Davis) Denlow and David Denlow. Loving grandmother of Zoe Davis. Dear sister of Terri Knize and Tom Knize. Beloved daughter of the late Edward and Mildred Knize. Dear aunt, cousin and friend. Smart, insightful, and beautiful, Pat anchored the family, ran a successful fitness business, and was a valued adviser to friends and family members. Memorial service Sunday, November 21, 1:00 p.m. at Central Reform Congregation (CRC), 5020 Waterman Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For those wishing to attend in person, please be prepared to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask. The service will also be available via livestream on the CRC website at https://www.facebook.com/ centralreform. Contributions in Pat’s memory may be made to American Parkinson’s Disease Association-Greater St. Louis Chapter, 1415 Elbridge Payne Rd., Suite 150, Chesterfield, MO 63017 or to Central Reform Congregation. A Rindskopf-Roth Service MAURITA HANDELMAN, November 2, 2021 Beloved daughter of the late Albert and Annabel Schneider Handelman. Sister of Barry (Patricia) Handelman and the late Millisand (Jerome) Singer. Beloved pet mother of her dog, Bobbi. Dear aunt, cousin and friend of many. Maurita had a long and varied work history. In the 1970’s she worked at St. Joseph Hospital as a clerical and registration assistant; and beginning in 1980, she joined Community Federal Savings and Loan as an administrative assistant, responsible for handling foreign and domestic collections and audits of general ledgers. After her career at Community Federal, she worked at Dick’s Sporting Goods handling retail sales. Maurita liked to keep busy, and besides her work career, she enjoyed knitting beautiful sweaters, playing games on her computer, buying the latest gadgets, and going out to dinner. At Maurita’s request no services will be held. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110 or to the animal related charity of the donor’s choice. A Rindskopf-Roth Service
JACK EVERETT KOSLOW, St. Louis Park, MN, passed peacefully on November 11, 2021. His 90 years of life were filled with kindness and good thoughts and he served as an example of integrity for all who were fortunate to know him. Born on January 31, 1931, to Mary and Joseph Koslow in St. Louis, MO, he married Debby Turken on October 23, 1952. He is survived by his sister, Jill Schwartz; his daughter, Sherrie Klikus and her children, Ty Klikus (Melody), Kelsi Yazzie (Coye); and his son, Steve Koslow (Candace), and their children, Cameron (Lorena); Colleen Jessessky (Matt); Nykoli; and Andrew. Jack was preceded in death by Debby, who passed on May 23, 1993. On August 4, 1996 Jack married Sue Ehrenreich and became part of a new family in Phoenix AZ. Jack is also survived by Jim Ehrenreich (Julie) and their children, Brandon and Adam (Julie); Robert Ehrenreich (Mona, z“l), and their children, Matthew and Andie; Joan Lipson (Robert) and their children, Jacob, Gabrielle, Ethan and Stella; Lynn Running (Clifford), and their son, Max. Jack was also preceded in death by Sue, who passed on February 5, 2018. In his youth, Jack enjoyed serving as an usher at the Muny Opera and working at the ice rink. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, then serving two years in the Navy as a Lieutenant. Afterward, he obtained his Law Degree at Washington University. He practiced law in St. Louis for many years and served as the City Magistrate Judge in Creve Coeur, MO. When Sherrie and Steve were young he was the announcer at swim meets and a regular teacher of comparative religions at Temple B’nai El. He helped build and run Debby’s Swim School, one of the first of its kind in St. Louis. He traveled often, learning Spanish to enjoy his many trips to Mexico. He and Sue also traveled to annual reunions of former Navy vets who also served on the U.S.S. James C. Owens. While living in Cave Creek, AZ, he often volunteered at the local library. Jack could often be found enjoying his daily cigar, reading the paper, completing crossword puzzles, and savoring his favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies. A private family service was held at Sholom West on Friday, November 12, 2021. In lieu of, or in addition to, any charitable donations, our
father and grandfather would be honored if you simply reached out a hand of kindness and understanding to those whose lives you have the great fortune to touch every day. TANYA FRANCES (MILLSTEIN) PALMER passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021, surrounded by her immediate family including her husband of 55 years, Stanley Palmer. Tanya was the mother of Karen (Jeffrey) Bland and Laurel (Harold) Miller and grandmother (“Tanny”) to the group she referred to as the “great eight” - Kyle, Claudia, Kirby, Charlie, Rory, Sawyer, Georgia, and Coco. Tanya was born on July 19, 1938, and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She was the loving daughter to the late Sam and Florence Millstein, dear sister of the late Maxine (the late Joe) Harris, Perrye (the late Julian) Lewis, and the late Sam (Connie) Millstein. She loved her role as Aunt Tanya to their kids: Anne Dee, Jack, Maury, Randy, Pam, Alan, Todd, Martin, Chris, Sara, Lou Anne, Amanda, and Joshua. Tanya graduated from the University of Alabama in 1960 and landed a job in the Macy’s training program in New York where she met Stanley. They married in 1966 and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where they put down strong roots in Clayton. Tanya built a freelance career in P.R. and advertising, working with dozens of local companies and nonprofits. But her true passion was family and fun. She was always the one to plan the annual river float trip and grab a group to attend a big-name concert or event. She held season tickets to the St. Louis Rams and Cardinals and was a true lover of all sporting events. However, her biggest joy by far was her family – from planning and hosting great family reunions to regular girls New York trips to seeing the world with her beloved Stan to supporting her grandkids all of whom she loved so very much. She was a treasured friend and will forever remain in the hearts of those whose lives she touched. She will be forever missed, forever
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loved, and forever cherished by all who knew her. May her memory be a blessing to all of us. A private funeral service was held followed by a Shiva Wednesday, November 10 through Saturday, November 13. Contributions in her memory may be made to Autism Speaks or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Please visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service ELLEN AND EUGENE PORTMAN Ellen Lickhalter Portman passed away on October 28, 2021. Her beloved husband, Eugene Portman, passed away on November 3, 2021. Ellen and Eugene are survived by their sons, Andrew Portman (Deborah Done) and Jason Portman; grandchildren Justin Portman (Olivia), Austin Portman, Samantha Williford, Nick Norman (Erin) and Joshua Portman; greatgrandchildren Hunter and Jack Portman and Robbie and Brady Williford; former daughter-inlaw Kathleen Portman; Ellen’s brother, Charles Lickhalter (Louanne); and Eugene’s sister-in-law, Carol Portman. Eugene is predeceased by his siblings, Geraldine Portman, Ruth Rosecan Steele, and Darwin Portman. Ellen and Eugene share many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. A graveside service for Eugene was held on Friday, November 5 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110. Please visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. Berger Memorial Service
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and your Dignity Memorial® professionals Berger Memorial remain dedicated to the families we serve. Chapel has been the premier funeral provider Rely on us to help you create a personal, for the St. Louis Jewish community. Our each of the Menorah,meaningful we remember the true memorial that truly honors the central Olivette With location is lighting a larger, brighter, meaning of Hanukkah: the triumph of faith and courage over heritage of the Jewish faith. more convenient place to honor special lives, With each lighting of the Menorah, we remember the true FOR FIVE GENERATIONS,
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all adversity. As you celebrate the miracles thecourage season with meaning of Hanukkah: the triumph of faithofand over
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With each lighting of the Menorah, we remember the true meaning of Hanukkah: the triumph of faith and courage over all adversity. As you celebrate the miracles of the season with family and friends, may peace and fulfillment find you during this Festival of Lights and all year long.
during this Festival Lights all year long. family and friends, mayof peace andand fulfillment find you family and friends, may peace and fulfillment find you during this Festival of Lights and all year long. during this Festival of Lights and all year long.
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Wishing your family peace and light this holiday season. #ShineALight
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LIFESTYLES
Jewish Hungarian Hanukkah treats are worth a spin Two dishes—one sweet, one savory— perfect for your holiday celebration BY MARGI LENGA KAHN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
Move over latkes and sufganiyot—make room for shlishkas and kokosh. Not familiar with these Hungarian Hanukkah treats? Neither was I. As I continue my research of our rich Jewish food heritage, I am constantly impressed by the culinary skills of our Eastern European forebears. Those humble families in the shtetls not only learned to make do with what they had, but in the process created innovative and delicious dishes that were affordable. For example, cholent, the rich and filling Shabbat stew made from potatoes, onions, beans, a few eggs, and a small piece of meat or chicken, or the variety of kugels made from noodles or potatoes and eggs. The recipes for many of these traditional dishes have been passed down to younger generations and made their way into our Jewish American cuisine. There are many others, however, like shlishkas and kokosh, that are not familiar. Shlishkas could be classified as potato dumplings. Similar to Polish pelushki and made like Italian
gnocchi, these dumplings are coated in crispy oiled breadcrumbs just before serving. (Hmm- perhaps they, too, accidently fell into a bowl of crisp SEE THE breadcrumbs just like our RECIPES town’s unique own toasted ravioli!) The potatoes are View Margi’s first boiled or roasted, then recipes for peeled and grated or riced, Hungarian Choc- and finally formed into a olate and Poppy- dough with the addition of seed Kokosh an egg and a small amount and Shlishkas of flour. The resulting dough is then kneaded, — Page 8B rolled into long ropes, and cut into 2-3-inch pieces. The pieces are boiled in salted water just like gnocchi, and, finally, tossed in a pan of crisp oily breadcrumbs. The Jews of Hungry created Shlishkas,
Hungarian Chocolate and Poppyseed Kokosh PHOTO: MICHAEL KAHN
which are made from many of the same ingredients as the more familiar Hanukkah treat, potato latkes. This is not surprising as potatoes were a mainstay in the diets of our Eastern European ancestors. They were abundant, affordable and could be easily stored during the bitter cold winters. They formed the backbone of hearty soups and stews and on special Margi Lenga Kahn is the mother of five occasions were served with a slice of bread and grandmother of eight. A cooking and pickled herring. instructor at the Kitchen Conservatory, Our dear family friend Eddie Jacobs, she is working on a project to preserve the who grew up in the rural farm community stories and recipes of heritage cooks. She of Dobra near the Hungarian border, welcomes your comments and suggesrecalls his mother making latkes all yeartions at margikahn@gmail.com. round and shlishkas on Hanukkah. “They were delicious,” Eddie told me. “We had
PASSIONATE PALATE
Heading for the Big Top
them for dinner alongside roasted meat.” And kokosh? Think of it as babka’s first cousin. The Jews of Hungary can also take credit for the invention of this rich and delicious dessert. In Hungarian, makosh means poppyseeds, which was the most frequent filling for this cake. Though chocolate would have been a great alternative, it was too expensive for an everyday dessert. But on holidays, it would not have been unusual to combine chocolate and poppyseeds. Kokosh is made from a yeast dough much like a babka and similarly filled. However, there are two key differences. See RECIPES on page 8B
Five questions with Brothers Lazaroff on Hanukkah Hullabaloo’s 11th year A scene from the 2019 Hanukkah Hullabaloo. This year, the event is set for Dec. 4 at The Big Top in Grand Center.
ELLEN FUTTERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
We caught up with David and Jeff Lazaroff in advance of the 11th annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at The Big Top, 3401 Washington Blvd., in Grand Center. Their band, Brothers Lazaroff, will perform with Rabbi James Stone Goodman and the Eight Night’s Orchestra, Anita Jackson, DJ Boogieman and Dave Grelle. And yes, there will be latke frying onstage. For tickets go to https://bit.ly/2021-Hullabaloo.
PHOTO: PHILLIP HAMER
This is the 11th annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo — any big surprises this year? Each year there are all kinds of surprises in how the show comes together, but if we told you any of the surprises then they might get printed in the Light and wouldn’t be surprises! We are excited to be performing in a circus tent in the semi-round, so will be adjusting some of the music to suit the unique mysteriousness of the setting. We also picked The Big Top, which is part of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, because the tent allows for more air circulation and having a COVID safe event is really the most important thing for us this year.
How has the event changed and/or grown throughout the years? Well, the Hullabaloo started as a very small after-party following a Kinky Friedman show and seems to evolve each year in a new way that we didn’t expect. We’ve held it at venues of all different sizes and in different parts of town. While it started as a loosely affiliated group of performers it has grown into a family of sorts that meets once a year to
put on this event. It’s a nourishing thing to work on with everyone each year. It had to go virtual last year, which ended up expanding the audience for what we are doing and connected us with some of our heroes who we asked to participate “remotely.” A weird COVID-times miracle.
What’s the best and worst part of performing with your brother? The best is sharing the joys and effort it takes to run a band and perform. The worst is part of why it is so great: Your siblings know your strengths and weaknesses well
— there is no faking it.
What’s the best Hanukkah gift you’ve ever received? As brothers, the best Hanukkah gift we got was probably the Atari 2600 we got back in the 80s.
Who makes better latkes, Jeff and his wife Julie or David and his wife Gayle? Not touching that one with a 10-foot spatula!
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ANNUAL NEWS & SCHMOOZE
W
e will have barely cleared the dishes from Thanksgiving, when Hanukkah shows up a few days later — in November, no less. If like me, you’re behind in your Hanukkah shopping — or haven’t even started! — perhaps some things in the Light’s News & Schmooze Annual Gift Guide will strike you as the perfect present for a friend or relatives. All of this year’s eight selections (one for each day) have
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local Jewish tie-ins, so there’s that. The amount of artistic talent in the St. Louis Jewish community is truly astounding, and while space here precludes all of it from being reflected in this gift guide, stay tuned for upcoming stories in the Light about local Jewish creative types. So, sit back, see what strikes your fancy, and hope that should you decide to have your gifts shipped, delivery makes it to your home by the time Hanukkah ends Dec. 6.
Bobbing and weaving
Artist Jeane Vogel, a member of Central Reform Congregation, may be best-known for her award-winning photography, but her fiber artwork is equally as compelling. Using organic cotton or a mix of cotton and bamboo, Vogel weaves scarves, belts, guitar and camera straps, dog leashes and more that make for great one-of-a-kind gifts. Scarves range in price from $65 to $110 while guitar straps go for $69. Vogel said she has been weaving since she was a kid, but has been doing it seriously the last five or six years. “I do a lot of tapestry weaving, mostly for exhibits and galleries, but it’s one of those things that as you get older, it’s something I wanted to be serious about,” Vogel said. “I have the time and the energy and ability to do it.” You can check out Vogel’s work Thanksgiving weekend at the St. Louis Arts Chamber Commerce Show at the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, or anytime on her website: www.vogelfiberart.com.
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Laying our cards on the table
Jim and Barbara Winnerman, who have been married for 53 years and belong to Congregation Shaare Emeth, make handsome note cards that have been quite popular at various farmer’s markets and craft fairs around town. Barbara is a professional calligrapher and artist who has been hand-painting note cards for 20 years. She can personalize them with a name if the buyer so desires. Each card is hand-painted separately and there is no printing involved. She also hand-paints on the envelope. A pack of five cards without a name is $20 plus $1.25 postage (per pack). For a name to be added to each card, the pack is $25, plus $1.25. You can check out her five Cards by Barbara (above) and Jim (below) styles at https://itsawinnermancard.weeWinnerman. bly.com/. After Jim retired, he started drawing — something he always thought he could do but never had the time. His cards all depict hand-drawn animals, with clever captions. “The captions are more difficult to come up with than the art, actually,” he said. Any four cards are $13, plus $1.25 for mailing for each set of four cards. Check out his offerings at https://itsawinnerman.weebly.com.
NEWS & SCHMOOZE News and Schmooze is a weekly column by Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman. Email Ellen at: efutterman@ stljewishlight.org
Above: Woven camera strap and belts by artist Jeane Vogel.
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Not dead yet
If you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a great title for a book,” then you’d be right, though someone already claimed it. Actually, two people claimed it, co-authors Barbara Ballinger and Margaret “Meg” Crane. Ballinger lived in St. Louis for more than a decade and was a colleague of mine at the Post-Dispatch. She belonged to Temple Emanuel and later attended United Hebrew Congregation. Crane worked as a senior writer for Federation (and previously for the Jewish Light) before retiring in 2013. She belonged to Congregation Shaare Emeth. Today, both women live in New York — Ballinger in the Hudson River Valley and Crane in New York City. Nevertheless, they continue to write books together, including this latest one (“Not Dead Yet: Rebooting Your Life After 50,” Rowman & Littlefield, $32). The book tackles subjects such as maintaining a close circle of friends, dating and romance, coping with physical and emotional challenges and much more in ways that are sometimes humorous but mostly extremely helpful. A variety of experts weigh in on many topics with easy-to-decipher information on estate and endof-life planning, downsizing, moving and discarding possessions thoughtfully and dealing with an increasing number of health ailments. And the authors include plenty of anecdotes from real-life people discussing how they have navigated growing older. (One of my favorite chapters, “Do You Really Want an Old Geezer,” points out that shivas, wakes and funerals might be a better alternative to dating apps among the 60-plus set.) This is a great book for aging boomers getting close to retirement because it offers all kinds of ideas on using that extra time productively, instead of squandering it. And for those already in the thick of their golden years, Ballinger and Crane provide insights into overcoming challenges that can impede folks from fully embracing this new stage of life. “Not Dead Yet” is available at local area bookstores and amazon.
JEWISH LIGHT
A honey of a children’s store
Honeycomb, owned by native St. Louisans Angela Giancola and Zoe Kaemmerer, might just be the perfect paradise to shop for unique children’s clothing, toys and books in an atmosphere that defines the notion of “chill.” Should your children or grandchildren be tagging along, there’s an area of the store designed for interactive play so that kids can easily entertain themselves while grownups shop. And believe me, shop is what you want to do here because the merchandise is so inviting. The owners have curated pretty much everything from sustainably made clothing that is buttery soft to books, games and toys that embrace a child’s curiosity and creativity — and are just fun to play with. This is the kind of store where grandmas — OK, I’m projecting here — can get lost for hours. Among Honeycomb’s many treasures are “Hats of Faith,” ($9.99) a children’s book that explains how religious people of various faiths wear different head coverings to show their love of God; a quartet of spinning tops with different size bases ($12), which can help ready Above, Zoe Kaemmerer and Angela Giancola at their shop, Honeycomb, toddlers for the dreidel game; and Slumberkins ($48), a series of plush located in the Botanical Heights neighborhood. animals and companion board located across the street. The store, at 1641 Tower books designed by therapists and educators to build Grove Ave. (online at www.ihearthoneycomb.com), is children’s confidence, resilience and emotional health also a few doors down from Union Studio, another while promoting bonding with their caregivers. locally owned shop featuring the work of over 130 St. Giancola, by the way, is married to Israeli native Louis artists. Ben Poremba, whose restaurants Elaia and Olio are
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as decorative hearts and coasters, among other pieces. Several of her pieces are available at Artisans in the Loop, 6511 Delmar Blvd., as well as on her website, www.artbyclari.com. She also will be selling her pieces at John Burroughs’s Unique Boutique Sunday, Nov. 21, and at the St. Louis Arts Chamber Commerce Show at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center Thanksgiving weekend.
Etcetra
Abstract painters Mark Witzling and Cindy Larimore are amazing artists whose works are available at Green Door Gallery in Webster Groves and Artisans in the Loop, respectively. Looks for more in-depth stories about each of them and their work in the upcoming months in the Light. Witzling also is the executive director of Craft Alliance, which is a one-stop shop for Hanukkah gifts should you be shopping for jewelry, ceramics, glass, textiles, home décor, wooden designs and more. It moved last year from University City to St. Louis, at 5080 Delmar Blvd. “We have 150 artists represented in our shop. There’s some unique menorahs there — and all sorts of items that would make wonderful Hanukkah gifts,” said Witzling. “The price range is from inexpensive to very nice gifts and wonderful jewelry, with an amazing variety. We look for the best quality work but want to make sure there is a mix of local artists as well as the best nationally.” Witzling, who grew up in St. Louis and belongs to United Hebrew — he served as a board member there — is a con-
PHOTO: SARAJANE HERMANN PHOTOGRAPHY
Above, menorahs on display at Craft Alliance. Below left, work by artist Cindy Larimore. At right, a painting by Mark Witzling. temporary abstract oil painter whose medium is oil and cold wax — think of it as cake frosting that he blends into his paint. His work ranges in price from $300 to $7,000, though his larger, more expensive works tend to be commissions. Self-taught artist Larimore creates colorful abstract artwork starting with plexiglass and glass as a canvas. She then utilizes reverse painting, which involves applying layers of paint to the back of a transparent material so the artwork can be viewed through the unpainted front side. The technique starts with the details completed first and then the background is layered, creating a finished piece of art that is viewed through the glass. “I love colorful, happy art, and that’s the goal of what I am doing — bringing color and joy to people’s world,” said Larimore. In addition to decorative wall art, Larimore paints tabletops, which run about $300, smaller Judaica pieces, as well
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She’s got game Earlier this month in an online story, we introduced you to Molly Zeff, a native St. Louisan — a Clayton High grad who grew up attending BSKI — whose Boston-based company, Flying Leap Games, developed Jewish Card Revoked ($19.99), a card game where players vote on their answers to subjective, multiple choice questions about Jewish culture and Judaism. In 45 seconds or less, players take turns defending why their answer is best. Majority rules, and the player or team with the most agreed-upon answers wins. As cool as this game is, Zeff and Flying Leap offer several other quirky card-based games, including The Million Dollar Doodle ($30), which has been described as a cross
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A mother’s love
Anya Corson explains that her business, Anya’s Apothekere, was built out of a maternal desire to help her daughter who suffered with food allergies. She wanted a way to improve her daughter’s gut health as well as help her to get more vegetables into her diet. She had read about fermented honey that had been flavored and decided to experiment. From that was born a line of Anya’s own fermented honey — with garlic, red onion and jalapeno. Each 9-ounce jar, which sells for $9.99, contains only organic vegetables, honey and apple vinegar for preservation. All of the fermented honey is kosher certified as well as gluten, fat and sodium free. “The jalapeno honey is especially good drizzled over pizza,” said Corson, who lives in Olivette and grew up attending Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel. In addition, Corson offers recipes on her website for how to cook with fermented honey, including recipes for jalapeno honey margaritas and
between “ ‘Shark Tank’ meets Telestrations,” as one article stated, and “Wing It” ($30), a story-telling party game. “You and your friends pit your imaginations against each other as you dream up ways to overcome unlikely challenges (e.g. you are being chased by a pack of rare carnivorous rabbits...) with an even unlikelier set of resources (...and all you have is an ice axe, 10 coconuts, a set of snow tires, one pound of leg hair, and a complete collection of Hitchcock films),” according to the company’s website, flyingleapgames.com. All of the games are family-friendly, though they are suggested for ages 12 and up.
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Emotional rescue
honey glazed turkey. Corson also makes a line of “healthy bone soak” ($6.99) and “botanikals bone soak,” ($9.99), bath elixirs designed to help you “detox and relax” while relieving aching muscle, joint pain and inflammation. You can find Corson’s products at the Mind, Body and Spirit in University City, the Annex in Webster Groves, Schnucks supermarkets and her website, anyasapothekere. com. Above, examples of Stephanie Fisher’s work. PHOTO: METAL + MOXIE FACEBOOK PAGE
Give the Gift of Membership Share the Art Museum with loved ones. A membership to the Saint Louis Art Museum is a distinctive gift for creating memorable experiences. Memberships include free exhibition tickets and exclusive events, plus discounts on dining, shopping and parking. Membership levels start at $65. Visit slam.org/GiftMembership or call 314.655.5335 to purchase. Anya Corson (above), owner of Anya’s Apothekere.
Stephanie Fisher used to make jewelry until, as she explains, “I lost my inspiration.” She very much wanted to be a mother but at age 42, having moved back to St. Louis from Oakland, Calif, to help take care of her grandmother, Fisher just didn’t think her dream was going to come true. “Dating in St. Louis in your forties and wanting a child is very comical,” said Fisher, whose grandfather, Geoffrey Fisher, was the first editor of the Jewish Light. Fisher’s mother, who volunteers as a children’s advocate with a social service agency here, suggested her daughter become a foster parent. At first, Fisher said no, but changed her mind when she realized if she was going to raise a child on her own, she better see if she could do it. On Aug. 3, 2017, a 10-day old baby girl from the neonatal intensive care unit was placed with Fisher. She says it was love at first sight. She wound up adopting Arie Leona – she chose Leona because it’s her grandmother’s name – and the adoption became final on May 15, 2019. “I fell in love with her instantly and I actually became a foster parent to adopt,” said Fisher, now 47, who has had eight foster children in her care since she first begun taking children in. “It is really rare that you get a newborn and are able to adopt your very first placement. I feel very lucky.” Fisher, who is hoping to adopt a second foster child, works as a hairstylist but has resurrected her jewelry business because “my daughter changed everything. She inspires me.” Under the name MetAL + Moxie – the capital AL for her daughter’s first and middle names – Fisher sells handmade leather and metal earrings, necklaces and bracelets, ranging in price from $20 to $40. You can view her work at www.facebook.com/metalmoxie and contact her through Facebook.
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St. Louis woman’s specialty: Giving your gifts extra flair BY JORDAN PALMER
Duffy Hofer (at left) created “Disguise The Surprise,” to give a new twist to wrapping gifts. Below, an example of her Hanukkah countdown boxes (inset below).
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You have eight nights of gifts to give, which means eight gifts to wrap, but are you just going to use a regular piece of wrapping paper? If you’re looking to expand your wrapping horizons this Hanukkah, we have a new idea for you. The idea comes from St. Louisan Duffy Hofer. “I made this product out of frustration every year around the holidays. I have two boys (now 13 and 15). As they started getting older, the gifts they want come in very recognizable shaped boxes (cell phone, video game, wireless headphones). I spent too much time trying to come up with ways to disguise the box to make it more fun,” said Hofer. Out of this frustration and need, Hofer designed Disguise The Surprise to solve this problem for all of us. It’s a set of dividers that you arrange around your one special item in a shirt box to disguise or use the dividers to make your own multiitem gift box. “If a parent is giving their child a special gift (cell phone, AirPods, video game, jewelry box), they can use the Disguise The Surprise dividers to disguise the item in a shirt box,” said Hofer. “Kids are looking for small rectangular or square-shaped boxes, not a shirt box, so when they lift the lid and see something way cooler (something they really wanted) that is where the excitement comes in.”
Feel free to get creative and make your own “8 Days of Hanukkah” box. Hofer sells small two-inch boxes on her website in packs of eight. You can pick from white or silver colors, which would be good for Hanukkah. Make small labels to number each box 1-8. Fill the boxes with small items and each night kids can open one of the boxes, leading to the final 8th night. “One example would be if you were giv-
ing a girl a charm bracelet for the holiday,” said Hofer. “Put the actual bracelet in box No. 1. Then put a different charm in each of the other boxes. So, each night she gets to open-up a new charm to add to her special bracelet. You could use tissue paper or cotton to raise the charm to the top of the box. For boys, you could fill with Lego characters, football Teenymates…any small fun items relating to their favorite
things!” “This is a new concept, and I am super excited to share it,” said Hofer. “The dividers are an eco-friendly gift-wrapping solution. Gift bags only get a few uses and then have to be thrown away. You can use these dividers over and over again with the durability of the material. Every little bit helps.”
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Recipes: Jewish Hungarian Hanukkah treats for a delicious holiday CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Shlishkas
First, kokosh dough is not given time to rise like babka dough, and second, it is not braided the way babkas are. Once the kokosh dough is made, it is immediately rolled very thin, spread with a filling, and then rolled up like a jellyroll. It is brushed with an egg wash and put in the oven to bake right away. When this delicious cake is finished, it’s sliced on an angle into strips to show off its beautifully coiled filling. Kokosh is both crispier and gooier than its babka cousin—decadent, and perfect with a cup of coffee or tea, or, for me, a glass of milk! Below are recipes for both Hungarian Hanukkah treats. I encourage you to give them a try. I liked the onions in the shlishkas recipe. It really adds to the flavor of this dish. However, feel free to omit them. Also, I am a fan of both poppyseed paste and chocolate and the two together make a spectacular kokosh. You could opt to use one or the other, or simply fill your kokosh with a hazelnut chocolate spread like Nutella topped with a heaping handful of mini chocolate chips. Wishing you all a joyful Hanukkah celebration!
(Recipe adapted from Jewish Home Cooking, by Arthur Schwartz)
INSIDE SPORTS by Skip Erwin
Skip Erwin wrote & broadcast sports shows for KMOX for 25 years. Member JCC & UMSL Sports Hall of Fame. Bobby Orr was the greatest player to ever play the game. The 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman from Perrytown, Ontario (now 72 years old) had blazing speed and unstoppable moves. Lynn Patrick, the St. Louis Blues first coach and a Hall of Fame legend, saw Bobby play when he was 12 and felt even at that age he was ready for the NHL. Two years later, in 1962, Orr began Junior-A competition playing four years in Oshawa, Canada. In 1966, Orr joined the Boston Bruins at age 18. He was a killer with his shy grin and schoolboy haircut. According to Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Pat Quinn, “Bobby Orr pound-for-pound might have been the most feared person in the game.” Orr didn’t hold and throw like a lot of players. He could go with both hands like a prizefighter. In the 1969-70 season, Orr became the only player to sweep the league’s top awards – MVP, playoffs MVP and scoring title. He capped it off by scor-ing the Stanley Cupwinning goal against the Blues (Boston beat St. Louis in four straight games). His last good season, 1974-75, Orr scored 46 goals, and gave away six more with easy assists to teammates. The fol-lowing season, Boston scored 124 goals, shorthanded, and at even strength with Bobby on the ice. It was his most memorable career moment, even more than Wayne Gretzky, who scored 100 goals. Orr did it all — blocked shots, dealt out punishing blows, but also took sweeping hits from players desperately trying to stop him. A lot of those blows were intentional. His knees were operated on several times, with injuries so severe that Bobby retired at age 30. His last hurrah, the 1976 Canada Cup series was bittersweet. Orr, in so much pain that he couldn’t practice, beat the Russians on one leg, outplayed the Czechs single-handedly and was paid a tribute by the captain of Team Canada, Hall of Fame Philadelphia Flyer center Bobby Clarke, who said, “Bobby Orr, the most courageous I’ve ever seen as a hockey player.” Orr’s Boston coach, Harry Sinden, called Bobby “The Godfather,” and his teammates, not to his face, called him “God.” When my son Lee was 7, we were at the St. Louis Arena for a Blues-Bruins game, when Bobby Orr, right in front of our seats, was streaking past us headed for the Blues goal. That’s when Lee described him perfectly, saying, “Here comes Mister Speedman!”
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INGREDIENTS:
Dumplings: 2 lbs. russet potatoes, skin on (about 4 medium, washed and punctured with the tip of a knife) 1 large egg, lightly beaten ½ tsp. coarse kosher salt + 1 tbsp. for boiling water ½ c. all-purpose flour, plus 3-4 tbsp. for kneading 6 tablespoons olive oil, butter, or schmaltz 1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs For serving: 6-8 tbsp. unsalted butter, schmaltz, or canola oil 2 medium onions, finely diced 1 c. plain dry breadcrumbs DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place potatoes on the oven rack and roast until fork tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skin. Use a grater, a food mill, or a ricer to process potatoes into a large bowl; do not mash or put them into a food processor! 2. Sprinkle potatoes with ½ c. flour and the salt. Add the beaten egg and mix gently to thoroughly incorporate. 3. Sprinkle 3 tbsp. flour on the counter and add potato mixture. Quickly knead the dough,
Shlishkas PHOTOS: MICHAEL KAHN
incorporating the flour on the counter until everything sticks together. The dough should be soft but not sticky. You may need to sprinkle the dough with up to an additional tablespoon of flour to smooth it out and make it more cohesive and less sticky. 4. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly dust one of them with flour, and lightly oil the other one; set aside. 5. Cut the dough into 6 pieces and roll each piece into a ½” thick rope. Cut each rope into 2 ½” inch pieces and place the pieces onto the baking sheet lightly dusted with flour. Repeat with remaining ropes. 6. Add 1 tbsp. salt to a large pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add half of
the shlishkas to the boiling water. Once they have risen to the top of the pot and the water has resumed boiling, cook the shlishkas for 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shlishkas to oiled baking sheet. Repeat with remaining shlishkas; reserve. 7. In a large skillet with oil, butter, or schmaltz over medium heat, sauté the minced onions until they are translucent and beginning to brown. Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat with oil and onions until they begin to crisp. Add the reserved shlishkas to the pan and toss until they are heated and evenly coated with the onion mixture; serve. Makes 6-8 side dish servings.
Hungarian Chocolate and Poppyseed Kokosh (Adapted from The Jewish Cookbook, by Leah Koenig) Note: It is not unusual for some of the filling to ooze out of the kokosh while baking. There will be plenty of filling left inside, and you will be delighted by the candy-like “oozes!” INGREDIENTS:
Filling: 3/4 c. poppy seeds ½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 c. granulated sugar ½ c. whole milk ½ tsp. instant espresso powder Pinch of coarse kosher salt 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 tbsp. fresh squeezed orange juice Dough: 2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast (or 1 packet) ¼ c. + 1 tsp. granulated sugar ¼ c. warm water, approximately 110 degrees 3 c. (approximately) unbleached flour 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt 1 tsp. finely grated orange zest 1/3 c. fresh squeezed orange juice 2 large eggs +1 egg yolk* ½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 tsp. canola oil, for brushing on dough Egg Wash for Finishing: 1 large egg whisked with 1 tsp. mil or water
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DIRECTIONS:
1. Working in batches, grind poppyseeds in a spice or coffee grinder until powdery, 10-20 seconds. Transfer poppyseeds to a small saucepan and add cocoa powder sugar, milk, coffee powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir and bring mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and continue stirring until mixture thickens, 8-10 minutes. Add vanilla extract and continue cooking and stirring an additional 2 minutes.. 2. Remove pan from heat and immediately stir in orange juice. Transfer filling to a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (The filling can be made 3 days in advance. 3. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a largerimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. 4. In a small bowl, stir together yeast, 1 tsp. sugar, and warm water. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy; reserve. 5. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add 3 c. of the flour, remaining ¼ c. sugar, salt, orange zest and juice, 2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk , and all the butter. Add reserved yeast mixture and mix on medium-low until everything is evenly incorporated. Switch to the dough hook and let the machine knead on medium for 3 minutes. 6. Remove filling from the refrigerator and set aside. To make the egg wash, in a small bowl, lightly whisk remaining egg and a tsp. of milk to break up the egg; reserve. Set a tiny bowl of water, and a separate tiny bowl of oil and pastry brush nearby on your counter. 7. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter and cut it in half. Place 1 half of the dough back into the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Roll remaining dough into a rectangle 1/8” thick, about 8x10”. 8. Leaving a ½- inch border on every side, brush dough with 1 tsp. oil. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the reserved filling over the oil, leaving a ½-inch border at every edge. Use your finger to lightly moisten the bare edges of dough with water.
Hungarian Chocolate and Poppyseed Kokosh 9. Beginning at long edge closest to you, roll dough toward the top, until the seam is at the bottom. Carefully lift the filled roll, seam-sidedown, onto one side of the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling and place second roll a few inches from the first one on the baking sheet. Press down lightly on each roll to slightly flatten. 10. Brush the tops of each roll with the egg wash and use a small fork to prick the tops about 10 times along the length of each roll. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Rotate pan continue to bake until the top is golden brown, another 15-20 minutes. 11. Place pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes then, using parchment paper to help you, carefully slide rolls from pan onto a cutting board; let cool for at least 15 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut rolls on the diagonal into 1 ½-2” slices. Transfer slices to a serving platter. 12. Leftover kokosh, once completely cooled, can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature. To freshen, slices can be toasted or slightly heated in a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes. You can also freeze the uncut baked roll by storing it in 2, zip-lock freezer bags for 1 month. Makes 16-20 slices. * Note: Don’t discard the extra egg white. They freeze beautifully in a zip lock bag for at least 6 months and are perfect for your next Angel Food Cake or meringue. You can add more whites to the frozen whites at any time. Just remember to keep tabs on the number of whites in the bag!
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HEALTHWATCH
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BROUGHT TO YOU THIS MONTH BY:
Healthwatch is a monthly feature focusing on a health- or fitness-related topic with a Jewish angle. The feature is published the second edition of each month. Have a suggestion for a potential Healthwatch subject? Email news@stljewishlight.org.
At the Center of It All
Israel’s interfaith clergy unite in call to vaccinate BY NAAMA BARAK ISRAEL21C.ORG
Leaders of Israel’s religious communities gathered at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem to issue an interfaith call for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. President Isaac Herzog was joined by Israel’s Jewish chief rabbis, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch, the president of the Muslim Shari’a Court of Appeals, the Druze community leader and the Secretary-General of the Bahá’í Movement in Israel, as well as the health minister and the government’s COVID coordinator. “The sanctity of life is a supreme value for religions and the saving of the life of any human being — all created in the image of God – is the greatest religious obligation of all,” the religious leaders declared. “Together with prayers to the Almighty, we call on everyone to be vaccinated as soon as possible. The licensed vaccines that have been approved by the most important professional regulatory bodies in the world are highly effective and safe, proven by the notable number of over 3 billion vaccinated people worldwide, and have led to a drastic reduction of COVID-19 infections.” This historic summit was convened in collaboration with the Jerusalem Impact Vaccination Initiative, founded to foster professional and interfaith collaborations in Israel and elsewhere. Public health expert Inon Schenker, founder of the initiative, said: “President Isaac Herzog is the first head of state in the
Rising 13 floors at the corner of Clayton and Hanley, Clarendale Clayton is quite simply the place to see and be seen. Home of unforgettable moments and starting point for each day’s adventures in the heart of Clayton. Coming Summer 2021.
world to underscore the role of religious leaders in collaboration with public health experts and authorities to combat COVID19. Today’s declaration and seminar emphasize Jerusalem’s experience in vaccinations, which countries and organizaI N F O RMAT I O N C E N T E R N OW O P E N ! tions around the world will now enjoy.” Herzog added, “Interfaith cooperation is CALL 314-789-8173. hugely powerful. I think that the fact that this fantastic call is coming out of the Holy Land truly sets an example and serves as a model.” Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care This week, the Israeli government decidInformation Center ed to begin making the COVID-19 vacci- Community President Isaac Herzog, left, greets Israel’s religious leaders during an interfaith call for COVID ClarendaleClaytonLIFE@ClarendaleClayton.com Clayton Road 7700 Clayton Road #103 nation available to children ages five to 11. 7651 PHOTO: KOBY ClarendaleClayton.com GIDEON/GPO vaccination at his residence in Jerusalem. Clayton, MO 63117 Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Where you want to be.
Israel to buy tens of thousands of doses of Pfizer’s anti-COVID pill Israel’s government reached an agreement to buy tens of thousands of doses of Pfizer’s experimental new antiviral pill to fight COVID-19. The pharmaceutical company says the pill slashes the risk of hospitalization or death from the virus by 89%. The news was first reported on Saturday by Israel’s Channel 12 news station. President Biden has said the U.S. has also secured millions of doses of the Pfizer pill, along with over $1 billion in doses of a pill manufactured by the drug company Merck. The pills are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration but could be before the end of 2021. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is in talks with 90 countries about the drug. “If the drug is approved for use it will be another significant tool in managing the pandemic, together with vaccines for everyone and accessible tests for everyone, all the time,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a cabinet meeting Nov. 7, The Times of Israel reported. Pfizer’s pill, called Paxlovid, and Merck’s pill, called Molnupiravir, both work to stop the COVID-19 virus from replicating throughout the body. The announcement comes days after Israel approved Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Inoculations for children are expected to begin in the next several days. Israel was among the first countries to purchase Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine late last year. — JTA
At the Center of It All Rising 13 floors at the corner of Clayton and Hanley, Clarendale Clayton is quite simply the place to see and be seen. Home of unforgettable moments and starting point for each day’s adventures in the heart of Clayton. Coming Summer 2021.
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2021-2022 Ohr Chadash Teen Page Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Eisen Staff members: Idan Lerner Molly Levine Poppy Orchard Noah Sentnor Daniel Shanker Katie Silver Ryan Silver Avital Vorobeychik Advisor: Caroline Goldenberg
Student activism ramps up in wake of school graffiti scandal BY IDAN LERNER PARKWAY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR
On Sept. 22, an unidentified student at Parkway Central High School wrote racist graffiti on the walls of a school bathroom. The following day, students organized a walkout in protest. The walkout started with about 1,000 students and lasted for four hours. A few days later, a rumor spread that someone had threatened to commit a school shooting the next day. Although there was no threat, many students did not come to school that day. At some point the next week, the student responsible for writing the graffiti was found, and the district superintendent sent an email to the Parkway community. The school has seemingly moved on, but some students feel that not enough has changed, so they have taken it upon themselves to be catalysts for progress. The graffiti itself had a negative impact on students. Alyssa Smith, a senior at Parkway Central and congregant of Congregation B’nai Amoona, said, “I was frustrated when I learned what happened. It’s hard to see. After all these years, we still have issues with racism.” Avery Adams, another senior, added, “It’s very exhausting. It feels like you’re not safe at school, and it’s worse for students of color and especially African Americans.” The walkout had a mixed effect on people. For some, it was a healing moment, a way for the student body to come together in support. “After the walkout, people were inspired to take action,” Smith said. “It gave me hope to see that so many people stood for the greater good of all students.” On the other hand, unfavorable outcomes were also exposed by students during the walkout. “Racist events have happened five years in a row,” Adams said. “The recurrence of these incidents is the main problem.” Students also noted that school administrators had varying reactions to the incident as well as other similar ones in the past. “Our principal was at the walkout, listening to students, and still continues to meet with them about their concerns,” Smith said. “He values our opinions and wants things to change.” In contrast, the superintendent of Parkway was “out of the district” the day of the walkout. Therefore, many Central students place more blame on district administrators instead of those working at the school. “The district should have acted the first time [there was an incident], but the school-level administrators did everything they could,” Adams said. “The problem is with our school board, superintendent and the culture at the school.” Eventually, the superintendent sent an email about the incident, and he pointed out the student responsible for the graffi-
ti was not white. Students took issue with the inclusion of this detail. “The superintendent was trying to push the belief that it’s not a big deal because the student wasn’t white,” senior Katie Tien said. “But it is still a big deal.” Smith said: “He tried to deflect criticism toward the district. Nonwhite can include other races that still shouldn’t be racist against African Americans. Even if it was a Black student, that doesn’t make it OK, either.” The superintendent’s email also compared the graffiti in the bathroom to people stealing bathroom appliances as a part of the “Devious Lick” challenge, another point of contention with students. (Devious Lick is a viral theme on TikTok that encourages students to steal or vandalize school property and post a video of the action on TikTok.) “[I think] the district wanted the news to focus on something other than their own responsibility,” Adams said. Nevertheless, many news articles still focused on the race aspect. Students found multiple local and national articles, and even one from the United Kingdom, that all spent more time providing examples of Black students writing racist messages than describing the real systemic problems that Parkway Central students continue to struggle with. “The news made the story [about the fact] that a Black student did this to get attention, and once the story [got] out, it [was] impossible to turn,” Adams said. Partially due to the backlash of the incident, students have started to notice positive changes after all the negativity. “Administration is also working more openly with students now because they realize how we feel,” Smith said. Adams said, “The district is trying to make changes, slowly, but they need to be doing more.” Now, almost two months since the vandalism, students are taking significant charge in promoting progress by establishing social action clubs. These clubs have gained a lot of popularity recently. Tien is the president of Project Help, one such club. “Project Help works to make the community a better place through community service and learning opportunities,” she said. Adams leads Students for Progressive Change (SPC). “SPC exists to give students a place to have a voice,” Adams said, explaining that SPC is working to resolve the problems of the past by implementing policies and educating other students on issues of race and similar topics. It also strives to support students who are struggling and give them a space to be comfortable. Although conversations regarding social justice issues at Parkway Central have been prominent recently, a lot of progress needs to be made in the school, and students will continue to assume the role of driving that progress.
Ryan Silver works on his Vanderbilt University supplemental essay.
College applications: Advice from a senior BY RYAN SILVER LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR
So … what now? For many, college is a symbol of independence. It represents a chance to follow passions, make new friends and explore one’s identity. Each year, high school seniors across the country spend time and energy dedicating themselves to their college applications. For me, this held true. Now that early applications have ended (with a deadline of Nov. 1), I can recall how I got to this point. I like to split the process up into two parts: essays and everything else. The everything else part comes first. It includes researching colleges, choosing colleges to apply to, choosing how to apply (rolling decisions, early action, early decision, regular decision, etc.), learning what topics and possible careers to further pursue, compiling extracurricular activities, etc. You get the point. Essentially, it is researching colleges and presenting yourselves to these colleges as accurately, precisely and impressively as you can. And it takes a lot of time. The essays take even more time. In addition to the 650-word essay sent to virtually every college that a student applies to, each school usually has one to three extra supplemental essays. Although it is possible to use the same essays for different prompts, the truth is that many cannot be combined. I applied to four schools early, and I wrote nearly 10 supplemental essays. If I had applied to more, I would have needed to write more essays. Still, essays are one of the most unique parts of any application. They represent a chance to stand out through personality, creativity and effort. The more time put in, the better the output. As an already busy student, the process has completely changed my schedule. I take difficult school classes, participate in a handful of activities outside the classroom and save some time to be social.
On an average day this fall, I would go to school from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., attend a club from 2:30 to 3:30, do schoolwork and eat dinner from 4 to 7 p.m., work on personal extracurriculars from 7 to 9, work on my college application from 9 to 10 p.m., and I would have just a few resulting minutes at the end of my day to truly relax. Due to college applications, the time that I would usually have spent socializing or relaxing morphed into those sparse minutes at the end of the day. I do now appreciate the time management that I have learned, but it is difficult to repeat this process every single day. So, what should the underclassman or junior do in advance? As a junior, I wish that I dedicated more time to researching colleges. It would have taken away some of the stress. I could have instead worked more on essays. In general, a junior should make sure to try their best in school, participate in activities that they enjoy and hang out with friends. It is tough, but it is important. The underclassman has a completely different approach. As a freshman, I wish that I had understood the importance of finding topics that I found interesting. And the only way to do this to the fullest extent is through clubs and activities. I wish that I had experimented with the many club opportunities at my high school and tried out activities spanning a wide range of interests. Though I mainly began trying new things as a sophomore, the process would have been much easier if I had known this at an even younger age. The takeaway depends on who you are. For the younger high schoolers, branch out. Juniors should do their best in school and activities (and honestly mentally prepare for the stress of college applications). Seniors should understand that they are not alone, as everyone around them is working just as hard. But for now, as I prepare to tackle the Jan. 1 regular decision deadline, I am going to sit back and appreciate the effort that I have put in, and I am going to look forward to the future.
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COOKIN’ WITH KATESTER
Katie’s Halloween leftovers cookies BY KATIE SILVER LADUE HORTON WATKINS SCHOOL, SENIOR
“Can you make me a Katie cookie?” “One Katie cookie please!” “Are there any Katie cookies left in the freezer?” If you’re like me and have a family that’s pretty much dependent on you for desserts, you might be thinking to yourself, “What can I possibly make next?” This is your answer. With a cookie recipe not too dissimilar from the Nestle’s chocolate chip one, Katie’s cookies have become a staple in my household. Not only are they the perfect post-Halloween treat for getting rid of the candy bowl on your counter, but they’re also easy to make and will receive a lot of compliments. This recipe is sort of a “do what you want” kind of thing. It’s not exact, and there’s a lot of room for improvisation depending on what kind of candy you choose. No candy is necessarily the right candy, so it’s up to whatever you have left in your (or even your toddler’s) Halloween bag.
Recipe: Katie’s Halloween Leftovers Cookies Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time 8-10 minutes
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375º F Cut up candy into desired size and place to the side. INGREDIENTS: Combine flour, baking soda 2¼ cups of all-purpose flour and salt in a medium bowl and 1 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda (1 place to the side. teaspoon is OK, too, but I like Place butter in the microwave to add a little more) or leave out until softened (about 1 teaspoon salt 10 seconds in microwave) and 2 sticks of softened butter place in large mixer bowl. ¾ cup of granulated sugar Beat butter, granulated sugar, (½ cup or 2/3 cup for brown sugar and vanilla extract less sweet cookies due together until you have a creamy to the candy added) consistency. ¾ cup of brown sugar Continue to stir, add eggs one 1 teaspoon vanilla extract at a time. 2 large eggs Beat in flour, baking soda and 1-2 cups chocolate candy salt gradually until combined. of your choice (I Once combined, add in candy. recommend Twix, Form into rounded balls and Snickers, M&M’s, Kit place on baking tray covered with Kats, Heath Bars or parchment paper. Reese’s) Cook for 8-10 minutes or until 1 spoonful of peanut butter golden brown. (optional)
I baked with M&M’s, Twix, Snickers and Milky Way, but any chocolate candy will do.
Youth to youth education: ‘Madrichim’ return with in-person religious school classes BY MOLLY LEVINE MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR
As students return to in-person school, Sunday school classes are also returning. For many, the shift from virtual religious education to in-person Sunday school classes was a major adjustment, especially for young Jewish educators, called madrichim. In Hebrew, the word madrich translates to “leader” or “teacher.” As Sunday school teacher assistants, madrichim obtain the significant role of fostering the growth of Jewish education for the next generation of Jewish individuals. Samara Landy, a sophomore at Clayton High School and member of Congregation B’nai Amoona, signed up to be a madrich during the height of the pandemic and has continued to fulfill this position at her congregation’s religious school. “I taught sixth grade last year, and I was entirely online for the school year, which was not great,” Landy said. “This is my first year being a madrich in-person, and I am with the third-grade class. I also definitely prefer being a madrich this year compared to last year.” Despite the apparent difficulties she encountered when first becoming a madrich during the pandemic, Landy was motivated to continue as a Jewish role model for elementary-age children. “I signed up to teach Sunday school as a madrich because I used to go to the same Sunday school,” Landy said. “I also wanted to be a teacher to the kids that were not as willing to go, so they could have more fun and be excited to come to Sunday school. I am trying to show them that Hebrew school is fun to go to, and it can be a good experience.” In order to shine a positive light and encourage Sunday school attendance, head teachers, with the assistance of madrichim, carry out a variety of educational and engaging activities. Alyssa Smith, a senior at Parkway Central High School and congregant of B’nai Amoona, detailed the schedule that students at her synagogue’s religious school follow each week. “At the beginning of religious school, the kids are in their classroom for 15 minutes doing an activity,” Smith said. “Then, they have some sort of elective, whether that be music, learning about Israel or art. We are
The madrichim program is implemented within numerous synagogues throughout America. eventually adding in cooking. Then, they go back to their room for Hebrew lessons, and later they will have a break. At 11 a.m., they go to T’filah, and then they go home.” Smith provides assistance to individual students as the inclusion specialist. Although this position differs from her past role as a teacher assistant in a specific classroom, the role is just as rewarding for Smith. “I do a variety of things as the inclusion specialist,” Smith said. “I walk around to all of the different classrooms, and I see where I can help out with the kids. I also sit in the sensory room with kids, so if they need a break from the classroom, they can go in there. I feel like I am allowing my
students to get a more flexible and comfortable Jewish experience as well. It is just fun getting to hang out with the kids.” Andrew Goldberg, a senior at Parkway North High School and member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, has been promoted from assistant teacher to lead educator. Starting off as a madrich his freshman year of high school, Goldberg enjoys being a co-teacher alongside another Jewish educator. “When I previously worked as a teacher assistant, it was more learning how to be a teacher and helping the teacher with background activities,” Goldberg said. “If markers were running low, I would go get more markers. I would be the one writing things on the board while the teacher was teaching. Now, my role has changed.” With his new position, Goldberg now has greater autonomy in his classroom as a teacher and has been able to engage even more with the students. “It’s great working with the kids, and I get to do that more as the head teacher,” Goldberg said. “My favorite part of teaching Sunday school is being able to pass down what I have learned through these years. I hope to impact my students by passing down my own Jewish traditions
and knowledge. The message of L’dor V’dor, generation to generation, is very important to me.” Although many madrichim including Landy, Smith and Goldberg have all been a part of the teacher assistant program for several consecutive years, others are just beginning to share their Jewish knowledge with young children. Carli Alper, a freshman at Parkway Central High School and congregant of United Hebrew, has fostered the growth of Jewish education among her class of kindergartners and first-graders as a madrich. “It is interesting to see the different levels of learning and curiosity, and also what the kids know and what they want to know more about,” Alper said. “I hope that I am encouraging my students to actually like being Jewish and enjoy going to Sunday school. I definitely feel that students enjoying Sunday school is important to our future as a Jewish people because it is a gateway into other Jewish opportunities. Throughout the remainder of the religious school year, madrichim will continue to share their Jewish experiences and knowledge with their students, some even planning their own lessons to teach in class.
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CHAILIGHTS
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JEWISH LIGHT
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Local Jewish organizations and congregations can submit calendar items to news@ stljewishlight.org. All items received by 5 p.m. Friday will be considered for the following week’s edition.
THURSDAY | Nov. 18
SUNDAY | Dec. 5
Overview on Alzheimer’s disease
NHBZ Hanukkah Lunch & Party
From 2 to 3 p.m. join the Mirowitz Center for a discussion about Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia affecting memory, thinking, and behavior and accounts for 60 to 80% of dementia cases. The majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 years and older. Jennifer K. Phillips, the research center program manager at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine, provides an overview of Alzheimer’s disease. Register for this free, online Mirowitz Center event by visiting http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter, calling 314-733-9813 or emailing joliver@mirowitzcenter.org.
SATURDAY | Nov. 20
The JFS gala on Nov. 21 will honor Laura K. and Michael Silver (above), Gay Kornblum (top right) and Kathy Kornblum (right).
Thanksgiving reminds us to take inventory of our blessings and to be grateful for all of the goodness we enjoy in our lives. Join Rabbi Ze’ev Smason’s discussion “Thanksgiving: An Attitude of Gratitude” at 10:15 a.m. This talk is part of NHBZ’s weekly “Starting Points: Wisdom for Daily Living,” which features interactive discussions that explore relevant, contemporary topics. NHBZ membership is not necessary to attend and RSVP’s are not required. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.
century America at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom. This session, hosted by Kol Rinah, will touch on the extraordinary activism of a cadre of Jewish lawyers and civil servants who up-ended decades of anti-Indian federal policy, and the rise of American anthropology and the fascinating role of Jews and Native Americans in it. Also discussed will be what’s been happening of late between Jews and Native Americans—solidarities, tensions and interactions around a set of fraught themes: suffering and sovereignty, colonialism and country.There will be plenty of time for discussion. Zoom registration link: https://bit.ly/KR-ZoomNov21 For more information contact: rabbiarnow@kolrinahstl.org
SUNDAY | Nov. 21
SATURDAY | Nov. 27
Jewish War Veterans meeting
NHBZ Discusses “Hanukkah: Do Miracles Still Happen?”
NHBZ talk: “Thanksgiving: An Attitude of Gratitude”
Jewish War Veterans Post 644 meetings will take place via Zoom for the foreseeable future at 10 a.m. the third Sunday each month. For more information contact Post 644 Commander Ellis Frohman at 636-519-7512.
JFS gala event celebrates agency’s 150 years
Jewish Family Services (JFS) will host a gala event celebrating the agency’s 150th year. “The Masks We Wear: A JFS Gala Celebrating 150 Years” will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, 100 Carondelet Plaza in Clayton. Proceeds from the gala will benefit JFS programs and services. The evening will pay tribute to the Harvey Kornblum Foundation along with trustees Gay Kornblum, Kathy Kornblum, Laura K. Silver and Michael Silver. The Foundation has enabled JFS to meet the St. Louis community’s need for food assistance during the past 20 years, including providing critical support and nourishment throughout the ongoing pandemic. The gala includes a reception, dinner and entertainment. For more information, call 314-993-1000 or visit JFSSTL.org.
‘Home Depot Hanukkah Experience, In a Box’
Chabad of Greater St. Louis will once again partner with Home Depot to offer a pre-Hanukkah build-your-own-menorah experience. This year, like last year, it will be done a little bit differently. The same BuildYour-Own-Menorah, but from the comfort of your home. Participants can pick up their kits to take home from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Morris and Ann Lazaroff Chabad Center in University City. Parents are encouraged to reserve a free kit for their children online at www.ShowMeChabad. com/HomeDepot.
Discussion on American Jews and Native Americans
Join Professor David S. Koffman for a wide-ranging discussion about Jewish-Native American encounters in 20th and early 21st
ent kinds of latkes. Special guest speaker is Dvorah Miller. The event takes place at the Aish Firehouse, 457 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. For more information or to register, call 314-862-2474 or email mimidavid@aish.com.
WEDNESDAY | Dec. 1 Professionals invited to explore workplace culture
“Light Up Our Work: Creating a Thriving Workplace Culture,” a JProStL program for staff who work at Jewish organizations, congregations, and schools will take place from noon to 1 p.m., online by Zoom. The program will be facilitated by Mark S. Young and moderated by Rabbi Lori Levine of Congregation Shaare Emeth (and current chair of JProStl Professional Development). Young is director of JResponse at JCC Association of North America, and an expert on ways to build successful work cultures in Jewish organizations. He will share strategies to amplify organizational strengths through listening, mentorship, mission, flexibility and developing meaningful relationships with each other. Register for the free program at JFedSTL.org/LightUpOurWork.
As we prepare to celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah, it can be asked, do miracles still happen today? Explore this topic with Rabbi Ze’ev Smason on Saturday, November 27 at 10:15 a.m. This talk is part of NHBZ’s weekly “Starting Points: Wisdom for Daily Living,” which features interactive discussions that explore relevant, contemporary topics. NHBZ membership is not necessary to attend and RSVP’s are not required. For more information, call 314-991-2100, ext. 2.
THURSDAY | Dec. 2
SUNDAY | Nov. 28
Chabad of Chesterfield plans Hanukkah car parade
Hanukkah on Main Street
Join Chabad of St. Charles from 5 to 6 p.m. in Berthold Square Park, 221 S Main St. in St. Charles, for a giant menorah lighting, Jewish holiday music, gelt drop, hot latkes and more at this free Hanukkah event. Free but registration is required at https://bit. ly/2021-chabad-stcharles. For more information, go to info@jewishstcharles.org.
TUESDAY | Nov. 30 ‘Cryptocurrency for Dummies’
From 10 to 11 a.m., join Sandy Boxerman for an introduction to Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency/virtual currency. We’ll talk about who invented Bitcoin, how it works, how it relates to other cryptocurrencies, and any other Bitcoin-related topic that is on your mind. No computer or technical skills or background are required to participate in the discussion! This program is provided in conjunction with FEL (Friends Enjoying Life), an organization supported by the Mirowitz Center. To register for this free, online program, visit http://bit.ly/Register_ MirowitzCenter.
Latke fest with Mimi David
At 6 p.m., women are invited to a special Jewish Women’s Society Event celebrating Hanukah by making (and tasting) six differ-
Chabad of Chesterfield will hold its 9th annual menorah car parade in Chesterfield to celebrate Hanukkah. More than 100 menorah-topped cars are expected to take part in the parade, which will culminate in a public menorah lighting event featuring a 75-foot Hanukkah gelt drop with eight lucky golden gelt winners, live Jewish music and Hanukkah treats for all. Unlike traditional parades, everyone is invited to participate by driving the car menorah parade. Each car will receive a parade kit complete with car decorations, a Jewish music radio program, treats and activities. Parade attendees are asked to meet at Chesterfield Central Park at 6 p.m. for the pre-event celebrations. The parade will commence at 6:30 p.m. and travel down Chesterfield Parkway. The annual parade and events are free and open to all. rsvp: www.ChabadOfChesterfield.com/parade
Menorahs & Martinis: A Hanukkah Ladies Night Out
At 7 p.m. Chabad of Chesterfield will host a Hanukkah ladies night out titled: “Menorahs and Martinis.” Participants will have the opportunity to design their own granite menorah while enjoying a Hanukkah themed martini bar and gourmet holiday treats. Suggested donation: $36 rsvp: www.ChabadOfChesterfield.com/chaicircle. For more information email Chanala@ChabadofChesterfield.com or call 636.778.4000
It’s time to celebrate Hanukkah! Bring your entire family to NHBZ’s festive Hanukkah lunch and party from 12-3 p.m. Everyone will enjoy a delicious holiday lunch plus Bingo with prizes for kids and adults, as well as Way Cool Balloons by Mike Geerlof and chocolate gelt. Prices are: $18 for adults; $11 for kids 10 and under; and free for ages 3 and under. There is a $62 family cap. RSVP by Nov. 21 when prices will increase to $25, $16 and $87 family cap. NHBZ membership is not necessary to attend. Masks required (when not eating) for all ages 3 and older. Proof of vaccination required for ages 12 and over. To RSVP and for more information, please call 314-991-2100 or go to office@ nhbz.org.
19th annual JSU gala
At its 19th annual gala Friday, Dec. 3, Jewish Student Union will honor Dr. Jay Pepose and Dr. Susan Feigenbaum and Bob Hardcastle for their work to strengthen the St. Louis Jewish Community in general and the youth in particular. Find out more about the virtual event by visiting www.jsustl.org/ galarsvp.
ONGOING Teen schmooze at NHBZ
Calling all teens to schmooze with Nusach Hari B’nai Zion Rabbi Avi Okin about whatever is on your mind — life, Jewish stuff, not-so-Jewish stuff, concerns or questions. Teen Schmooze meets in person every Sunday on the NHBZ patio in a relaxed, informal group setting. Middle schoolers meet from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and high schoolers meet from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Refreshments are served. The program is free, and teens and families do not need to be members of NHBZ to attend. To ask questions or to RSVP, contact Okin at aviokin@nhbz.org.
Bible study with Rabbi Shook
Congregation Temple Israel Rabbi Emeritus Mark L. Shook will hold a regular Saturday morning Bible study at 9:30 a.m. through spring 2022. The St. Louis community is invited to join via Zoom. To join the class via Zoom or for more info, email Shook at mshook@ti-stl.org. No previous Bible Study experience is necessary.
Discuss important issues of the day in Mirowitz Center series
Do you find yourself talking at the TV when listening to the daily news? The news can be upsetting, controversial and exciting, and if you would like to discuss the issues with others, join community facilitators Harvey Gerstein and Sheldon Enger each week to share your thoughts and opinions on some of the important issues of the day. The online Mirowitz Center talks take place Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Register online at http://bit.ly/Register_MirowitzCenter or by calling 314-733-9813 or via email to joliver@mirowitzcenter.org
Rabbi leads weekly meditation
Join Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and 5 p.m. on Thursdays for mindfulness meditation sits. Incorporating lessons from the weekly Torah portion, as well as stories, rituals and symbols of the season, Goldstein leads participants in practices that open hearts and minds to the possibility of continual growth and change. No meditation experience necessary. Questions? Contact Stacy Jespersen at sjespersen@sestl.org.
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JEWISH LIGHT
SIMCHAS BIRTHS
ENGAGEMENTS
WEDDINGS
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
MITZVOT
Submit your simcha announcement online at stljewishlight.org/simchas
HKF
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Harvey Kornblum Foundation
BAT MITZVAH: SHAUNA FAYE KRUGER Shauna Kruger will become a bat mitzvah on Dec. 4, 2021. Shauna is the daughter of Nicole Kruger from Denver, and Warren Kruger from Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the youngest of three children, one of nine first cousins, and the youngest grandchild in both her mother and father’s families. Shauna was born in Des Moines, Iowa and at the age of 2 moved to St. Louis. Shauna is in the seventh grade at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. Her favorite subjects are math and social studies. When Shauna is not reading a book, she can be found spending time with her friends, dancing ballet and jazz, baking and cooking, and doing art projects. Shauna is a true lover of literature. Her favorites include “Pretend She’s Here,” the “Divergent” series, and the “Michael Vey” series. Shauna has an adventurous spirit and enjoys hanging out with her siblings and family vacations. Shauna has some very special people who are with us today through streaming services. Special shout out to both sets of loving grandparents, Danny and Sheila Teitelbaum and Arthur and Lydia Kruger. Also watching the service and close to our hearts are aunts, uncles, cousins and friends across the globe. While they cannot be with us in person today, their influence and love has helped her to reach this important milestone in her life. We look forward to celebrating with them in the future. For her bat mitzvah project, Shauna collected pet
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: ARIEL ELÍAS MÜNSTER PHOTO COURTESY OF VIDEO GATE STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
supplies for the Humane Society of Missouri, and reviewed children’s books for the Jewish Book Festival.
Rena and Roberto Münster of Olivette would like to announce the birth of their son, Ariel Elías Münster, on Oct. 26, 2021, weighing 8 pounds. Ariel is the grandson of Mark and Judy Hoffman of Clayton, and Ricardo and Irene Münster of Rockville, Md.
PHOTO: LAUREN NICOLE IMAGERY
STARR-DUBOIS WEDDING Samantha Rachel Starr and Ryan Christopher DuBois were married Oct. 2, 2021 at Meadowbrook Country Club, where Rabbi Amy Feder officiated. Samantha is the daughter of Jill and Steve Starr of St. Louis. She is the granddaughter of Gloria Starr of Boca Raton, Fla., the late Michael Starr, and Sidney and Nanette Holtzman. Ryan is the son of Barb and Dave DuBois of St. Charles. He is the grandson of the late Harold and Mary Dubois, and William and Patricia
NOVEMBER TRIBUTES
Kistenmacher. The bride’s sister, Stephanie Starr, served as maid of honor. Laura Steiner, Casey Henderson and sister-in-law Emily Dubois served as bridesmaids. Chris Seals was best man and Adam Garnett, Phil Saettele and Kevin McGarrah served as groomsmen. The bride’s brothers, Johnny and Sidney Starr, served as flower men. After the wedding, the couple enjoyed a wedding trip to Jamaica.
IN MEMORY OF MARVIN SANDWEISS - David Lang, Rosenblum Goldenhersh -
IN HONOR OF
“In honor and memory of your father.” - Joan and Sherman Silber -
DR. MELVIN GLAZER’S 80TH BIRTHDAY - Robert Steiner -
ELLEN & GENE PORTMAN - Sandy & Gloria Spitzer RICHARD ALAN BOHM “May his memory be a blessing” - St. Louis Jewish Light -
BAR MITZVAH: SAM ALFRED ABELES Sam Alfred Abeles became a bar mitzvah Nov. 13, 2021 at Congregation Temple Israel. A seventh-grade student at Wydown Middle School, Sam is the son of Jenny and Zach Abeles of Clayton. Sam is the grandson of Jane and Mark Tucker, and Bette and Ron Abeles, all of St. Louis. He is the great-grandson of the late Lorraine and Sam Tucker of St. Louis, the late Ann and Lee Richards of St. Louis, the late Ilse and Frank Altman of St. Louis, and the late Margaret and Alfred Abeles of Amherst, Mass. Sam has one younger brother, Tucker Abeles, who is 11. Sam loves acting and his other interests include cross country, golf and reading. Sam’s favorite thing in the world is reading and he believes that every kid should have access to books. So he has teamed up with Ready Readers for his mitzvah project. Sam has been writing letters to publishers and bookstores across the country asking them to donate books and has already received hundreds from several generous publishers and distributors. Ready Readers is a nonprofit organization that gives books to children and schools in low-income communities.
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November 17, 2021
JEWISH LITE JEWISH CROSSWORD PUZZLE
STL
1
2
41. Yutzes
8. Say for certain
1. Complicated sci-fi character Boba
44. Another name for 35-Across
9. Dancer who was a WWI spy
5. Yishmael’s descendants’ practice it
50. Right-hand man: Abbr.
10. Zemo portrayer for Marvel
10. Bird or Pitt
51. Bring out of slumber
11. Fixes, as a shoe
15. “Beautiful” name for an Israeli girl 16. AKA Rabbi Moshe Isserles 17. Former NBA announcer Albert 18. Like expectations for many a Mets and Knicks season 19. Military pilots’ org. 20. Thanksgiving 23. 2009 World Series MVP Matsui 24. Like much of Jerusalem 26. Efrat to Jericho dir. 27. “Turn the Beat Around” singer 31. Ger.’s locale 32. Brit. sports cars 33. Kind of space or limits
54. Hostage in Genesis
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25. Rambam and Ramban, Abbr.
57
57. Another name for 35-Across
28. Legendary boy king
62
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29. List abbr.
65
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30. “Oy vey!”
67. Jewish rocker Lee
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36. Comics-page scream
48. Sometimes they’re frozen
2. Clearing the tape
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47. Hurry it up
49. Prime Minister or Talmudic Rav
38. Stare
50. Pond slime
40. Like some cousins
53. Kind of fit 58. “The Voice” judge ___-Lo
4. Iconic milkman
35. Saying thanks at the end of Thanksgiving, perhaps
43. Went at a crawl
60. Gas-guzzling stat.
5. How to harmonize
61. A hitter might have a good one
39. Gentle as ___
7. Seder mainstay
45. “Game of Thrones” character with many faces
6. Made like Netta
59. Cockney “present”
46. Where some jokes
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64. Blazing heaps
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55. Former Mossad Director Cohen or composer Green
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42. Israeli spy Jonathan
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52. Where David slew Goliath
5
ANSWERS TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
14. New York canal since 1825
4
14
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November 17, 2021
JEWISH LIGHT
Page 15B
WASHU HILLEL
Given insights gained during the pandemic, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and Zoom fatigue, WashU Hillel reimagined a number of its High Holiday offerings this year. On Sept.6, it debuted a Higher Holidays music festival in the center of the South 40 residence area Following a picnic dinner, six student a capella groups (Jewish and secular) performed songs inspired by the festival theme, “A Season of Renewal: Embracing Life, Reclaiming Hope.” The performances were followed by an Erev Rosh Hashanah service, led by Jewish musician Rick Recht and student song leaders. Above, students gather in the center of the Washington University South 40 residential area for Hillel’s Erev Rosh Hashanah picnic and concert.
SP
TLIGHT
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY As part of the festival, WashU Hillel also distributed hundreds of curated Rosh Hashanah boxes in advance, and offered “Jewbers” to local synagogues, apple and honey tasting pop-ups around campus where students could sample up to five different varieties of honey, free meals, two meditative tashlichs in Forest Park, and a hard cider tasting for the 21+ crowd. Hillel’s Jew-It-Yourself grants provided opportunities for students to host friends for more intimate meals in their apartments and dorm common areas. Above, first-year WashU student Jack Weitzner poses with his Hillel Rosh Hashanah care package.
PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to news@stljewishlight.org. VIEW MORE ONLINE: stljewishlight.org/multimedia
Silk Foundation Campus Rabbi Jordan Gerson and second-year student Ben Miller pose in front of WashU Hillel’s Shofar Mobile, which circled campus multiple times throughout the holiday to ensure everyone could take part in the mitzvah of hearing the shofar’s blast. At left, students pose with WashU Hillel staff members Allison Frieze and Rabbi Gerson, at one of two apple and honey sampling pop-ups at the campus underpass.
J STREET ST. LOUIS
J Street St. Louis hosted an annual benefit both in person and virtually via Zoom on Oct. 25 at Congregation Shaare Emeth. J Street St. Louis honored Joe Pereles with the group’s Rodef Shalom “Pursuer of Peace” award for his social justice work in the community. Jeremy Ben-Ami, Founder and President of J Street interviewed former ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk in a discussion focused on Indyk’s new book “Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy” and how successful Kissinger was in using a “step by step” approach to Middle East diplomacy. Indyk said that a two-state solution is the only and best way for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and for Israel to be the democratic homeland of the Jewish people. Above, from left are Ben-Ami, Pereles and Indyk.
Above, Neil Jaffe, Chair of J Street St. Louis made introductions and welcomed the 40+ in person guests and approximately 30 virtual guests attending via Zoom.
Page 16B
November 17, 2021
STL
JEWISH LIGHT
stljewishlight.org
ב״ה
THIS CHANUKAH LET’S INCREASE THE LIGHT! GET YOUR FREE MENORAH. Do you know of someone that can use a menorah or candles? This Chanukah, share the beauty and light of the menorah with another Jewish family or individual. At no cost to you or the recipient, you can pick-up a Chanukah kit and deliver it to their door with a customized message.
JOIN A CHANUKAH CELEBRATION NEAR YOU. Join one of dozens of Chanukah celebrations across the region, including an at-home version of “The Home Depot Chanukah Experience,” a grand car menorah parade, public menorah lightings and many other family friendly experiences each night of the eight-day holiday.
To get your free Chanukah kit and to view a schedule of events for each of the eight nights of Chanukah across St. Louis, visit:
ShowMeChabad.com/Chanukah
Celebrating Jewish Living and Learning AFFILIATE CENTERS
Morris & Ann Lazaroff Chabad Center and Regional Office • Chabad on Campus at Washington University Chabad of Chesterfield • Chabad of the Central West End • Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County