Ukraine’s President Zelensky Addresses US Jewish Leadership
Ukraine’s President Zelensky to Jewish Leaders: “To those who ask about anti-semitism in Ukraine – just look at me!” In a first meeting with the US Jewish leadership today in a NY hotel, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude for their efforts and support for the benefit of Ukraine. Organized and hosted by […]
High Holiday Campaign Combats Children Hunger and Neglect
Ahead of the High Holidays, the Federation of Jewish Communities of the FSU is running a critical fundraising campaign aimed to provide lifesaving humanitarian relief for the Jewish children across the former Sovie Union. Campaign organizers hope to raise funds to buy food, clothing and basic necessities for thousands of children from disadvantaged families living […]
Yizkor at the Western Wall Open to All: FJC Yom Kippur Service
This year, as in the last few years, the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) is getting ready to represent diaspora Jews at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on the holiest of days in Jewish tradition – on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. An FJC Rabbi will say the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur during […]
A Spiritual Injection for Azerbaijan’s Hidden Jerusalem
Traveling rabbis visit the only all-Jewish town outside Israel and New York by Ashira Weiss – Sloboda, Azerbaijan | Lubavitch.com Just about thirty miles from the Caspian Seashore, in the northeast of Azerbaijan, lies the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel and Kiryas Joel and New Square in the USA. Krasnaya Sloboda, or Qirmizi Qəsəbə in Azerbaijani […]
Service marks 75th anniversary of Klooga concentration camp massacre
By: ERR A ceremony on Thursday commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Klooga concentration camp massacre, where up to 2,000 people were killed. The ceremony took place at the site of the camp. The opening speech was delivered by Alla Jakobson, the President of the Jewish Community of Estonia, with population minister Riina Solman, the Minister of […]
Historic Home to Khazars and Cantonists, Astrakhan Gets a Mikvah
City’s first ritual bath in 90 years a certain sign of Jewish revival By Menachem Posner | Chabad.org The Jewish community of Astrakhan has roots that go back to the dawn of recorded history in Eastern Europe. Situated near the salt mines of Lake Baskunchak, northwest of the Caspian Sea in the southernmost reaches of Russia, […]
Historic Belarus Synagogue Restored To Jewish Hands
Seventy-eight years after Nazis threw out Jews from Hekdesh Shul, the Jewish community buys building back by Mussi Sharfstein According to the city register of Brest (formerly Brisk), Belarus, as of October 15, 1942, there were 17,893 Jews residing in the city. The next day, that figure was scratched out. That’s when the Nazis liquidated the […]
Petersburg Synagogue Takes Part in Siege of Leningrad Commemorations
The Petersburg Grand Choral Synagogue participated in the city-wide commemoration of the Siege of Leningrad and the thousands of lives it has taken last week, among them many Jewish ones. The commemoration, held on September 8th, the day of the beginning of the siege in 1941, fell on a Saturday this year and the synagogue […]
Magnificent Mikvah Opens in Southern Russia
Rabbi Yisrael Melamed led a celebration opening a magnificent new Mikvah and the inauguration of a historic synagogue in the city of Astrakhan in southern Russia. A number of events were held this past week in the city of Astrakhan in southern Russia, with the opening of a magnificent new Mikvah built in the courtyard of the […]
150-year old Torah Scroll Survivor Innagurated in Kharkov
A touching celebration of Jewish continuity and vivacity took place in Kharkov, Ukraine recently – a 150-year old Torah Scroll was restored and inaugurated at the local community by the original owner’s 6th generation descendant in honor of his upcoming wedding. The Kolpak family reconnected to their heritage through the activities initiated by Kharkov’s Rabbi […]