Dear Friends,
Shabbat Shalom! I hope you all had a meaningful Passover; I spent it with Andrew and Nora in Birmingham and we cannot wait to celebrate chaggim with you all in the coming months and years.
This coming week, we now enter a sacred stretch of our Jewish calendar. From Yom HaShoah to Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, we journey together through remembrance, mourning, and ultimately, celebration.
This past week and through our community observance this coming Sunday, Yom HaShoah reminds us of the unfathomable loss of six million Jews — men, women, and children — who were murdered in the Holocaust. It is a time to remember, to honor, and to vow never to forget. We carry the weight of that memory not only as a burden but as a moral directive: to ensure Never Again is indeed Never Again.
Just days later, on Yom HaZikaron, we grieve again. This time for the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and the victims of terror. This year, our mourning is particularly acute, as we remember not only those we have lost but those who remain in peril. Fifty-nine hostages are still being held in Gaza by Hamas. Fifty-nine souls — each a world unto themselves — remain separated from their families, their homes, and their lives. We cannot let them be forgotten. Their captivity is an open wound for the Jewish people, and our hearts remain with them and their loved ones every day.
And then, on Yom Ha’atzmaut, we rise — as we always have. We lift our heads and our hearts in celebration of Israel’s independence. It is a remarkable testament to Jewish endurance, spirit, and hope. After tragedy and struggle, we declare life. We affirm our sovereignty, our culture, and our right to flourish in our ancestral land.
Through these days, we embody the timeless Jewish principle: Hazak hazak v’nithazek — be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another. From the ashes of the Shoah, we built communities. From the heartbreak of war and terror, we nurtured a thriving homeland. From exile and dispersion, we forged resilience and unity.
Here in St. Louis, we too, draw strength from each other. In our synagogues, schools, and community centers — in every act of kindness, justice, and learning — we carry forward the legacy of those who came before us. I invite you to join me at these commemorations and celebrations in our community. More information is available here on the Kehila calendar.
As we look ahead, we do so with hope — not a naïve hope, but a courageous one. Our hope is rooted in our people’s capacity to dream, to rebuild, and to renew. The future of Judaism is not only in our memory of the past but in our commitment to shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and compassionate Jewish tomorrow.
May these days of reflection and remembrance lead us to greater purpose, deeper connection, and unwavering strength. And may our prayers for the safe return of every hostage be answered speedily and in our days.
Hazak hazak v’nithazek — may we continue to strengthen one another, now and always.
B’Shalom,
Danny
Danny Cohn
President & CEO
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Upcoming Community Events:
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum is hosting Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Commemoration: Liberation, Loss & Life at Temple Israel on Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m.
Yom HaZikaron – Israel Memorial Day ceremony at the JCC’s Staenberg Family Complex Arts & Education Building on April 29 at 7 p.m. will allow us to pay tribute to those we have lost.
The celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel’s 77th Anniversary will be held on the evening of May 1 at the JCC’s Staenberg Family Complex and offers entertainment and cultural activities for the entire family.
You can find more community events on the Kehilla Calendar!