Putin initiates law against anti-Semitic Biblical commentary
By Hillel Fendel | Arutz Sheva 7 At the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Duma (Russian Parliament) has legislated a law outlawing “distorted and/or extremist” commentary of Scriptures. The purpose of the unusual law, it is widely understood, is the prevention of cynical advantage being taken of Biblical verses for anti-Semitic purposes. Russian […]
Putin congratulates Jews on Hanukkah
Moscow, December 10, Interfax – Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated all Russian Jews on Hanukkah. “This is a big and bright holiday when one candle is kindled every day. This is not just a holiday of renewal and light but also of courage of the Jewish people,” Putin said at a meeting with Russia’s […]
Moscow honors former refusenik Yosef Begun
By Victoria Martynov | The Jerusalem Post | photo credit: VADIM BRODSKY At the Annual Hanukka ceremony of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday night, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar of Chabad presented the special Fiddler on the Roof Award to human rights activist and former refusenik […]
Jews start celebrating Hanukkah Peace all over the world
Vestnik Kavkaza | Dec 6 Today Jews start celebrating Hanukkah, ‘the holiday of candles’ that lasts for eight days from the 25th of the month of Kislev up to the 2nd of the month of Tevet according to the Hebrew calendar. In 2015, these days are from December 6th to December 14th. Hanukkah is celebrated […]
Thousands in Moscow Watch First Light Kindled on Menorah
By Chabad.org Staff Hundreds of Jews gathered this evening in Revolution Square in Moscow to watch the lighting of Russia’s largest menorah. The event, which was witnessed by thousands of passers-by, marked the first night of Chanukah. The giant menorah was lit in the country’s capital city by Rabbi Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia […]
Chanukah celebrations open across the FSU
Hundreds of thousands of Jews from across the Former Soviet Union are now celebrating the festival of Chanukah, the festival of lights, in public Menorah lightings, parties, concerts, special events and traditional gatherings. The events are taking place in more than 420 communities, in both major cities and small villages. The first light of Chanukah […]
Hanukkah 2015: Jewish Festival of Lights begins in Ukraine’s port city of Odesa
UT Ukraine Today Millions of Jews around the world have begun celebrating the start of Hanukkah, also known as the ‘festival of lights’. In Ukraine’s port city of Odessa, a six meter menorah has been lit on what was the first night of the eight-day holiday. Each night another light is added, bringing light to […]
Jews of Ivanovo, Russia, Celebrate a Place of Their Own
Lubavitch.com | by Staff Writer – Ivanovo, Russia Earlier this week, the Jewish community of Ivanovo, Russia, now on the rebound after years of stagnant activity, celebrated the opening of a new synagogue and Jewish community center. Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar presided over the dedication of the new center, well attended by the local […]
Chief rabbi of Russia lights a candle at the French Embassy and prays for victims of the terror attacks
Moscow, November 16, Interfax – Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar lit a candle at the Embassy of France in Moscow and read a commemorative prayer for the victims of serial terror attacks in Paris. “Unfortunately, our people know very well what is international terrorism. Militants killed thousands of Jews in various countries, including France. […]
Jewish life in Azerbaijan embodies Muslim-majority nation’s culture of tolerance
By Peter Rothholz/JNS.org At a time when, due to rampant anti-Semitism, thousands of Jews are leaving France, the United Kingdom, and other countries in Europe, there is one country where “it’s becoming attractive even for some people to come back” from Israel and other countries to which they had previously emigrated. According to Rabbi Shneor […]