(JTA) — The government of Lithuania asked Israeli President Shimon Peres to head the international advisory board for the restoration of the Vilnius Great Synagogue. “The [restoration] project is an important part of the effort to both preserve and restore Vilnius’ Jewish heritage, and I think that President Peres could bring valuable guidance and insight […]
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Siberian City of Tomsk to Return Wooden Synagogue to the Jewish Community
JTA — The Siberian city of Tomsk will return an old, wooden synagogue built by Jewish soldiers to the Jewish community. The synagogue and surrounding complex will be handed over to the Jewish Community of Tomsk after the municipality finds alternative housing for some 15 families who are currently living there, Mayor Nikolay Nikolaychuk said, according […]
Azarbaijan: A Partnership Between Jews and Muslims
By Nasimi Aghayev From The Washington Times– With Syria mired in open revolt, several other Middle Eastern and North African countries still reeling from the Arab Spring, and Iran at loggerheads with the United States over its nuclear program, it was astounding to hear Israel’s president refer to a Muslim country this week not as […]
Moscow Jewish Museum Depicts the ComplexHistory of Jews in Russia
From JSpace– The world’s largest and most expensive Jewish Museum opened to great fanfare in Russia late last year. And although it has only been open for less than six months, the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow has become a must-see for any visitors to the Russian capital. A high profile project, its […]
Ukrainian Jews Worry About Rise of the Svoboda Party and Antisemitism
KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — Marching in formation, six young men in dark jackets approach an anti-government rally in Cherkasy, a city some 125 miles southeast of Kiev. At the appointed moment, they remove their windbreakers to reveal white T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Beat the kikes.” Their jackets carry the name of Svoboda, the ultranationalist […]
Ukrainian Christian Receives Tolerance Award for Saving a Rural Synagogue
KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — A Ukrainian Christian who saved a dilapidated rural synagogue was honored at an interaith forum in Kiev. Boris Slobodnyuk of Satanov received the forum’s 2013 Crystal Noah Tolerance Award on Tuesday at the Kiev Interfaith Forum for guarding the 500-year-old Stanovskaya synagogue in western Ukraine and initiating renovation work there. For […]
UCSJ Accomplishment: Lviv Director Meylakh Sheykhet
On April 12, 2013 the Board of the Scientists and Methodists of the Minister of Culture of Ukraine approved “THE PROGRAM FOR THE REGENERATION OF THE FORMER JEWISH QUARTER IN L’VIV (FEDOROVA ST. – ARSENALSKA ST. – STAROYEVREYSKA ST. – BRATIV ROHATYNTSIV ST.)” developed by the State Enterprise “UKRZAKHIDPROEKTRESTAVRACIJA”. Ordered by the Representation to Ukraine […]
Limmud FSU Conference Celebrates Israel’s Independence and Jewish Pride in Russia
From the Jerusalem Post: MOSCOW – Just 40 km. outside the Russian capital at a hotel in a forested suburb, over 1,200 young Russian-Jewish professionals gathered Thursday to attend the latest Limmud FSU conference and learn more about their shared history and to socialize with fellow Jews. Limmud Jewish education conferences are a volunteer driven […]
Moscow’s New Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Awarded Museum of the Year
JTA — Moscow’s new Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center was named Museum of the Year award by the Russia edition of the prestigious The Art newspaper. The award was presented to the museum’s chairman, Boruch Gorin, last week at a ceremony in the Russian capital. The monthly’s Russian edition, the most recent addition to an international […]
Lithuania’s Synagogues Are Falling Into Ruin Due to Lack of Funding
AFP reports that Lithania’s wooden synagogues are falling into ruin due to a lack of funding and support. These rundown buildings are the remaining vestiges of the former Jewish presence that was wiped out in the Holocaust. Between 1941- 1944, the Nazis murdered approximately 90 percent of Lithuania’s 200,000 Jews. “Jews owned around 20 shops […]