NJT Presents "She Loves Me"
2026-12-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-12-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-12-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-12-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-12-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-12-12 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-12-10 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-12-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) and 4 more dates | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
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She Loves Me
Book by Joe Masteroff; Music by Jerry Bock; Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the play Parfuemerie by Miklos Laszio
December 3-December 20, 2026
An intimate and touching show, from the musical team behind Fiddler on the Roof and the writer of Cabaret. Considered by many to be the most charming musical ever written, She Loves Me is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old-world elegance, the original play also inspired the films The Shop Around the Corner and You’ve Got Mail.

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About NJT
NJT (New Jewish Theatre), St. Louis’s premier small professional theatre, is dedicated to the exploration of universal themes and issues and the examination of the full range of the human experience filtered through the lens of the Jewish experience. Through the medium of theater, we build bridges of multicultural understanding, tolerance, communication, and education. NJT productions are held in the Wool Studio Theater, inside the Arts & Education Building of the J’s Staenberg Family Complex in Creve Coeur, Missouri. NJT is a program of the J – St. Louis.

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Merryl Goldberg, Part of the Dr. Arthur Gale “Jewish Lives” Series
2026-12-17 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131, United States
Four musicians. One secret mission. Countless lives forever changed. In the mid-1980s, Merryl Goldberg joined a Jewish klezmer quartet that traveled into the Soviet Union under the watchful eye of the KGB. Behind every concert lay a far more dangerous purpose: encouraging Jewish activists, supporting dissidents, and helping Soviet Jews find a path to freedom.
In Notes of Deception, Goldberg shares this astonishing firsthand account of bravery, friendship, and quiet defiance. Equal parts gripping espionage tale and moving testament to the power of music, her presentation brings a little-known chapter of Jewish history vividly to life while reminding us that courage often begins with a single step. You’ll leave believing that ordinary people can shape history.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council and is held in partnership with St. Louis County Library.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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Hanukkah at Ballpark Village
2026-12-12 00:00 | Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63102, United States
Sports & Social St. Louis is hosting a Hanukkah pop-up party with free admission and themed drinks and menu items available for purchase. All are welcome.

Hanukkah at the Arch
2026-12-10 | Offsite, United States
Details to follow

Hanukkah at the Botanical Gardens
2026-12-06 | Missouri Botanical Gardens, 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63110, United States
An annual community celebration of Hanukkah with the Missouri Botanical Gardens at Garden Glow! Tickets can be purchased through the Missouri Botanical Gardens website.

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Mark Oppenheimer
2026-12-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, 348 S. Mason Road, Creve Coeur, MO, 63141, United States
Some books stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page. Judy Blume’s stories helped generations of readers navigate childhood, adolescence, and all the messy moments in between.
In Judy Blume: A Life, journalist, professor, and podcaster Mark Oppenheimer draws on years of personal interviews to tell the fascinating story behind the author whose honest voice forever changed children’s literature.
Whether you grew up devouring her novels or are discovering her legacy through children and grandchildren, this engaging conversation offers fresh insight into the woman who gave millions of readers the courage to feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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J'La: Living the J Life...Together.
2026-11-15 | The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, MO, 63005, United States
Save the Date for J’la: Living the J Life…Together.
The J’s 10th Annual Fundraising Gala
In Honor of the Koritz-Lefton Families
Get tickets and sponsorship information at jccstl.com/jla.
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Moms and Mental Health: Pathways to Parenthood
2026-11-11 | To Be Announced

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents a Kristallnacht Memorial Speaker: Douglas Century
2026-11-10 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, 36 Millstone Campus Dr, St Louis, 63146, United States
In moments of crisis, what gives ordinary people the courage to act? Bestselling author and investigative journalist Douglas Century explores that timeless question through the extraordinary story of Hannah Senesh and the only Allied military mission to rescue Europe’s Jews during World War II.
In Crash of the Heavens, Century brings to life a daring mission filled with impossible choices, remarkable bravery, and enduring hope. More than a wartime history, this unforgettable presentation offers fresh insight into Jewish resilience, moral courage, and the power of individuals to make a difference, even when the odds seem insurmountable. You’ll leave inspired by a story of action, conviction, and extraordinary Jewish heroism.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Bruce Feiler
2026-11-08 13:00 - 15:00
Jewish tradition has long understood the power of ritual to shape meaningful lives. In his inspiring new book, A Time to Gather, bestselling author and TED speaker Bruce Feiler explores why those timeless practices remain essential today, not only in Jewish life, but for anyone seeking greater connection, resilience, and purpose.
Blending history, contemporary research, and engaging storytelling, Feiler shows how intentional rituals help us celebrate, grieve, gather, and grow. Whether you’re looking to strengthen family traditions, build community, or simply bring more meaning to everyday moments, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and practical ideas for creating rituals that enrich your life and the lives of those around you.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council and is hosted in partnership with Congregation B’nai Amoona.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Dr. David Tuch
2026-11-07 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
You’ve never heard a story like this. History is rarely as simple as heroes and villains. Dr. David Tuch uncovers the astonishing true story of his own cousin, a British sailor whose daring exploits helped shape the modern drug trade while also rescuing Jewish refugees fleeing danger on their journey to Israel.
In The Wireless Operator, Tuch reveals a life filled with adventure, impossible choices, and unexpected acts of courage that challenge our assumptions about morality and history. If you enjoy untold stories that leave you questioning what you thought you knew, you’ll be captivated by this remarkable journey into one of the most surprising chapters of modern Jewish history.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Missouri’s Own Panel
2026-11-06 13:00 - 15:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
Come to the 2026 Jewish Book Festival’s Missouri’s Own panel for a lively, thought-provoking conversation with four homegrown authors whose books could hardly be more different—and whose questions could hardly be more timely.
Prof. Flora Cassen’s Stained Glass helps readers look more clearly at the long history of antisemitism and the ways it has shaped culture and memory; Prof. Samuel Cohen’s Banning Books in America speaks to anyone trying to understand censorship, education, and intellectual freedom in today’s divided public square; Mark Heller’s Scoop Dreams & Rocky Roads offers hard-earned lessons from a life of work, ambition, and adaptation; and Debbie Kimberg’s A Blind Spot on Autism invites readers to reconsider what we think we know about autism and what might be driving its rise.
Together, these four Missouri-connected authors offer an evening for people who want more than a standard book talk: come to make sense of difficult issues, discover new local voices, stretch your thinking across disciplines, and leave with fresh questions—and perhaps a few practical insights—for how we understand history, learning, resilience, health, and community today.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Fiction Panel with Emily Matchar & Jenna Blum
2026-11-05 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
Sometimes the best way to understand ourselves is through someone else’s story. Join acclaimed novelists Emily Matchar and Jenna Blum for an engaging conversation about the art of fiction, unforgettable characters, and the stories that stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page.
Matchar’s The Lost Girl of Craven County brings Depression-era North Carolina vividly to life through a gripping mystery rooted in Jewish history, while Blum’s Murder Your Darlings showcases the emotional depth and masterful storytelling that have made her an international bestselling author. Whether you’re an avid reader or simply love a great story, you’ll leave inspired, entertained, and eager for your next favorite read.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

< Back to the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

< Back to the J Events Calendar

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Janice Kaplan
2026-11-05 11:00 - 13:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
What if feeling happier didn’t require changing your life; just changing how you use your body? Bestselling author Janice Kaplan explores the surprising science behind the mind-body connection in her new book, What Your Body Knows About Happiness.
Drawing on cutting-edge research and engaging storytelling, Kaplan reveals simple, practical ways your posture, movement, breathing, and everyday habits can boost joy, reduce stress, spark creativity, and strengthen relationships
Whether you’re looking for more energy, greater resilience, or a brighter outlook, you’ll leave with science-backed strategies you can begin using immediately to feel happier, healthier, and more fully engaged in everyday life.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council and is sponsored by NORC (the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community).
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

< Back to the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

< Back to the J Events Calendar

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ Tupper
2026-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
Cousins Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper are the fourth-generation co-owners of Russ & Daughters, the beloved New York appetizing institution founded in 1914. Their new book, Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing, brings together treasured recipes, family stories, and the remarkable history of a business that has helped define Jewish food culture for more than a century.
Come hear the inside story of a Jewish institution from the family carrying its legacy forward. Through food, memory, tradition, and humor, this event offers a delicious opportunity to reconnect with Jewish culture, share in the comfort of familiar flavors, and experience the joy and nostalgia that gather around the table.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

< Back to the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Marc Shaiman
2026-11-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
Marc Shaiman is the award-winning composer, lyricist, arranger, and producer behind beloved Broadway shows and films including Hairspray, Smash, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Sister Act, and many more. In his candid and wickedly funny memoir, Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, he looks back on five decades of creative triumphs, memorable collaborations, personal heartbreaks, spectacular disappointments, and life behind the curtain.
Come for an irresistible evening of show-business stories, communal laughter, and an intimate look at how memorable art gets made. Whether you are navigating rejection, reinvention, creative uncertainty, or simply need a joyful night out, Shaiman’s humor and hard-earned perspective will help you embrace life’s wrong notes, keep moving through the setbacks, and rediscover the beat that keeps you going.
This event is in partnership with STAGES.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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< Back to the J Events Calendar

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Presents Danny Meyer
2026-11-02 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
St. Louis native Danny Meyer is the celebrated restaurateur and entrepreneur behind Union Square Hospitality Group and the founder of Shake Shack. In his new book, What Could Possibly Go Right?, he shares candid stories, hard-earned leadership lessons, and practical tools for building energized teams, enduring cultures, and organizations where people can thrive.
Whether you lead a business, a nonprofit, a classroom, a community, or simply want to bring out the best in the people around you, this evening will help you approach challenges with greater optimism and courage. Discover how to learn from setbacks, create a stronger sense of belonging, and turn everyday interactions into opportunities to make something meaningful—and lasting.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

< Back to the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

< Back to the J Events Calendar

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series Women’s Night with Zibby Owens
2026-11-01 19:00 - 21:00 | The J – Staenberg Family Complex (Arts & Education Building), 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146
Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, bookstore owner, and founder of Zibby Media—one of today’s most dynamic champions of books and writers. In her candid new essay collection, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, she reflects with warmth and humor on motherhood, friendship, love, career reinvention, and the unexpected risks that helped her reshape her life.
Gather with women across generations for an uplifting evening about the chapters that shape us—and the ones we have yet to write. Whether you are starting over, navigating a transition, nurturing a long-delayed dream, or simply asking, “What is my next chapter?”, come for honest stories, meaningful connection, laughter, and inspiration to take your own next step.
This event is made possible by the Jewish Book Council and is sponsored by the St. Louis Woman’s Club.
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About the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series

The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized literary arts series presented by the J - St. Louis. Through conversations with celebrated authors, speakers, and storytellers, the Festival explores a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, welcoming readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn and be inspired.

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Jewish Book Month with the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series
2026-11-01 - 2026-11-10 | Various Venues, MO
The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is an annual celebration of authors, books, and ideas, typically during the first two weeks of November, with additional events year-round. The range of topics is vast: business, cooking, economics, family, fiction, history, music, religion, sports, and more.
