Few events feature both wiener schnitzel and kosher wine, songs from the classic Yiddish “Bey Mir Bist du Scheyn” to the bluesy “Georgia On My Mind,” and uplifting Shabbat services and debates about divisive Israeli politics.
Eight hundred Jewish students from across Russia and the FSU, toured Europe last week during the annual YAHAD EuroStars trip, weaving together the past of European Jewish life and its future, pages of history books turning at their footsteps.
“Am Israel Chai!” 800 Jewish students called out after being inspired by Poway’s Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s message of Jewish pride and triumph against adversity at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The final stage of FJC’s Darkeinu ‘Olympics’ contest took place in Jerusalem earlier this week, determining winners in two age categories out of 36 finalists, who flew to Israel from 25 cities in the FSU.
On Thursday, thousands of locals gathered outside the synagogue and viewed on a giant screen live footage of Rabbi Berel Lazar, one of Russia’s two chief rabbis, blowing the shofar inside for about 1,000 guests at the rededication ceremony.