Blog
Elu V’Elu. These and those.
Dear Friends, As we enter this Shabbat, I’ve been reflecting on the powerful Talmudic phrase: Elu V’Elu Divrei Elokim Chayim “These and those are the words of the living God.” This concept—that multiple, even opposing, truths can coexist—feels especially relevant...
A Blessing, Not A Curse
Dear Friends, This week we read Parashat Balak, the story of a Moabite king who hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. Yet when Balaam opens his mouth, he cannot curse them. Instead, he offers one of our most beautiful blessings: “Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov,...
Becca’s Experience in Israel
I left for Israel on June 4th, excited to be exploring and learning about Israel, the Israeli people, and my home for what I thought was going to be the next 10 days. We started our trip in Tzfat, learning about the Kabbalah, spirituality, and taking in this beautiful...
How can joy live alongside fear and uncertainty?
Shabbat Shalom, With war raging on multiple fronts, like many of you, I find myself glued to the news more than usual. Media broadcasts play constantly in my office and at home, updates are coming in from colleagues overseas, and the i24 app pings my phone with...
Facing Hate: We are not powerless. But we must act.
Shabbat Shalom, We enter Shabbat heartbroken and outraged. This week, a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado—held in support of the hostages still held by Hamas—was violently disrupted by a terror attack. The pain and fear reverberating through our community...
Standing Together Through Storms & Sorrow
Dear Friends, As we prepare to welcome Shabbat, we come to the end of a challenging week for our St. Louis community and our global Jewish family. Our thoughts continue to be with those impacted by last week’s tornado and storms. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis is...
Helping Our Community Recover from Friday’s Severe Storms
To our St. Louis Jewish community, We continue to be in contact with community leaders following Friday afternoon’s storms and tornadoes. Throughout Shabbat, our Security team members visited synagogues and other organizations, working with local authorities to assess...
Jewish Federation of St. Louis Appoints Michael Lourie as Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff
The Jewish Federation of St. Louis announces the appointment of Michael Lourie as Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, effective immediately. This newly combined role represents a strategic investment in strengthening the Federation’s voice, visibility...
Shabbat Shalom: A message from Danny Cohn
Shabbat Shalom, Jewish St. Louis, As we prepare to enter this Shabbat, I want to take a moment to wish each of you peace, rest and meaningful connection with loved ones. This weekend, we also look ahead to Mother’s Day—a time to honor the extraordinary women in our...
Our journey through remembrance, mourning and celebration: A message from Danny Cohn
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...