LETTER FROM THE Editor

When I recently mentioned to a friend that our Oy! Lifestyle cover story was about the Jewish population of St. Charles, she laughed, then commented: “I guess it’s a short story.”

Well sorry to disappoint, my friend, but as writer Bill Motchan tells us, roughly 6,000 Jews are estimated to live in St. Charles County –about 10% of the region’s total Jewish population. Some moved there because they could secure a more affordable, larger home than closer-in suburbs, others came because of a job opportunity and still others wanted to be closer to family and friends who had moved there before them.

Regardless of the reason for them coming, as you’ll read in Bill’s story, Jewish life in St. Charles is robust and growing, with celebrations for major Jewish holidays held in parks and along Main Street downtown, Torah study groups at the St. Charles Chabad and an online community called “Being Jewish in St. Charles” (@ BeingJewishStCharles), which looks at the lives of Jews who live and work in the area, told through first-person photo essays.

Bill also tells us about the sport that’s growing faster than weeds in springtime: Pickleball. Apparently, it’s been around since the mid1960s, but its popularity has soared more recently, partly because of the pandemic. And among what demographic has most of this growth taken place? Players 60 and older, who enjoy the exercise but find it easier on their bodies than tennis or racquetball.

In separate stories, Bill and I introduce you to two interesting young men who both graduated from Clayton High School, though years apart, and are pursuing a passion that began at a very young age.

Zachary Wexelman, a budding songwriter and musician, is breaking into the business thanks to his presence on TikTok. As a concierge gemologist, Jake Talve-Goodman appraises clients’ jewelry, gems and precious metals at their home so that they don’t have to take their valuables to a jewelry store.

Another profile, by our digital guru Jordan Palmer, looks at art consultant Faith Berger’s “second act,” part of a recurring series about interesting career shifts later in life.

Finally, no lifestyle magazine, especially a Jewish one, would be complete without a piece about food. Passionate Palate writer Margi Lenga Kahn delves into the fascinating history of almonds and their relationship to the Torah, Israel and Judaism. And of course, she includes a few recipes using this ancient but yummy tree nut.

Hopefully, we have made our way through the worst of COVID, and are getting back to “normal,” whatever that means in the wake of the pandemic. One thing is for sure though: the vibrancy of the people, places and institutions that make up the St. Louis community continues to be strong; as many of these stories attest, lives are still being well-lived and celebrated.

As always, we welcome feedback and ideas; feel free to contact me at efutterman@stljewishlight.org or by calling 314-743-3669.

Warmest regards,

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

General correspondence: PO Box 411487

Our Board And Staff

Board Of Trustees

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

Debra Klevens, Secretary

TRUSTEES

Dan Bindler, Jerry Ehrlich, Richard Flom, Judy Kaplan, 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

Founder Morris Pearlmutter (1913-1993)

Staff

EXECUTIVE

Betsy Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

Robert A. Cohn, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Mike Sherwin, Managing Editor

BUSINESS AND ENGAGEMENT

Stacy Wolff Smart, Director of Business

Development and Communications

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer

Angela Jolly, Administrative Assistant

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Shane Blatt, Senior Account Executive

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PRODUCTION

Erin Eason, Creative Lead

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Eric Berger, Burton Boxerman, Barry Gilbert, Repps Hudson, Cate Marquis, Margi Lenga Kahn, Cathleen Kronemer, Bill Motchan

St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Institute offers a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic interventional and surgical procedures, including electrophysiology procedures, heart disease prevention programs, vascular services, and rehabilitation programs for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Missouri named one of America’s 50 Best for Cardiac Surgery™ by Healthgrades® four years in a row (2019 – 2022). and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention.™

In Alliance With Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute

Leader in Beating Heart Surgery in the St. Louis Area

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Five-star Ratings for Heart Attack and Heart Failure From Healthgrades®

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