U.S., Russia seek new Syria peace talks, rebels skeptical

Published on May 8, 2013

Russia and the United States agreed to seek new peace talks with both sides to end Syria's civil war, but opposition leaders were skeptical on Wednesday of an initiative they fear might let President Bashar Assad hang on to power.

Abbas wants peace talks with Israel this year

Published on March 14, 2013

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he hoped peace talks with Israel would restart this year although the chances of a resumption seemed slim.

Clinton warns Russia, Iran of Syria conflict spreading

Published on February 1, 2013

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran and Russia on Thursday to rethink their support for Syria, saying the most dire scenarios of the conflict spilling beyond its borders could come to pass.

Abbas claims link between Nazis and Zionists

Published on January 22, 2013

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told a Lebanese television station that the Nazis and Zionists worked in collaboration before World War II.

U.S. says Russia ‘waking up to reality’ on Syria

Published on December 13, 2012

The United States welcomed on Thursday a Russian admission that Syria's rebels may succeed in their drive to topple President Bashar Assad and called on Moscow to join efforts to manage a peaceful political transition.

Eastern European giving

Published on October 11, 2012

Wearing an elegant dress and a name tag, Dasha Fedoseeva flitted among the tables during a recent Jewish community dinner in Moscow just after Rosh Hashanah.

Assad chemical weapons plans blocked by Moscow

Published on July 24, 2012

Increasingly under pressure by rebels intent on unseating him, Bashar al-Assad has considered using chemical weapons against his enemies but Washington and Moscow have formed an unlikely alliance to force him to abandon such plans.

Iran agrees to discuss nuclear proposal in Moscow, EU officials say

Published on June 11, 2012

European Union officials said on Monday that Iran has agreed to discuss a proposal from six world powers to curb its production of high-grade uranium at a meeting in Moscow next week in an apparent de-escalation of tensions ahead of the talks.

Limmud conference to launch in Moscow

Published on April 18, 2012

The first of six Limmud conferences for Russian-speaking Jews will open in Moscow.

Moscow synagogue firebombed

Published on July 12, 2011

A synagogue in Moscow was attacked with firebombs.

Vladimir Lenin was part Jewish, according to declassified KGB files

By JewishJournal.com
Published on June 14, 2011

Russia expels Israel’s military attaché over espionage claims

Published on May 18, 2011

Israel's military attaché in Moscow was arrested and expelled earlier this week, it was revealed on Wednesday, with sources saying that the top Israel Defense Forces officer was questioned over espionage suspicions.

When Everybody Didn’t Love Phil:  “Exporting Raymond” [VIDEO]

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 5, 2011

Jewish funeral home to open in Moscow

Published on March 21, 2011

A city funeral home in Moscow will be converted to a Jewish funeral home, the only one in the city. The funeral home will operate under the auspices of the Moscow chief rabbinate, the Bais Menachem Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue and the Chevra Kadisha Hamerkazi Jewish burial society of Moscow, according to Rabbi Sheah Deitsch, a Jewish burial society member and Chabad emissary in Moscow.

Joys of growing up in Communist Soviet Union, and other tales of my Family.

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 16, 2011

Bombing at Moscow airport seen as terrorism [VIDEO]

Published on January 24, 2011

A bombing at the busiest airport in Moscow that killed at least 31 and injured 130 is being called a terrorist attack by Russian officials. "From the preliminary information we have, it was a terror attack," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said of Monday's attack on the Domodedovo Airport in a televised briefing. Medvedev also said that those responsible for the attack would be "tracked down and punished." All Moscow transportation services went on high alert following the attack. Israel canceled all flights to Moscow.

31 dead, 130 hurt in suicide bomb at Moscow’s busiest airport

Published on January 24, 2011

At least 31 people were killed and 130 wounded Monday in a suicide blast at Domodedovo airport in Moscow, Russian Health Ministry officials said.

How Poor Jews Come to America, meaning my parents!

By Julia Bendis
Published on December 15, 2010

Moscow exhibit gives a voice to Jewish Red Army soldiers

Published on July 1, 2010

Lev Fein, a Jewish soldier in the Red Army, returned home to Minsk in 1945 to find a letter about his family being wiped out by the Nazis and the dire consequences of the occupation for Belarus Jews.

Madoff scheme deals new hit to FSU Jews

Published on December 24, 2008

The Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard Madoff is the latest in a string of financial blows to Jewish aid programs in the former Soviet Union, wiping out a major foundation that was the primary funder of Jewish higher education in Russia

Melancholy Russian soul flourishing in immigrants

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on October 22, 2008

In an interview, the Moscow-born author, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 7, admits that she, too, has a lingering Russian soul. Her well-written and very enjoyable first novel recasts Tolstoy, as its title suggests, observing immigrants from the former Soviet Union, body and soul.

U.S. court rules for Chabad

Published on June 20, 2008

A U.S. appeals court ruled that a decades-old struggle between Chabad-Lubavitch and the Russian government over a seminal Lubavitch archive can proceed in the American courts.

Falling dollar hurts seniors in former Soviet Union

Published on June 19, 2008

After his wife died, the worker still came but less often, until global economic pressure forced the JDC to scale back operations for the "least needy" in the former Soviet Union. Six months ago, Zheleznyak began having to fend for himself.

Moscow poisonings bring only shrugs and rumors here

By Si Frumkin
Published on March 15, 2007

Rumors abound. Conspiracy theories flourish. The Russian community knows -- absolutely knows -- that nothing is ever what it seems.

Hamas Rises as Kadima Declines

By Leslie Susser
Published on March 9, 2006

After a visit to Moscow, Hamas leaders claim "the wall" of diplomatic isolation Israel is trying to build around the newly empowered organization is collapsing.
But Israeli government officials say they are still confident that the international community will cut off funds to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority and back Israeli moves for a second unilateral pullback from Palestinian territory.

Super Sunday Aims at Aiding Programs

By Marc Ballon
Published on February 16, 2006

"The Federation improved our lives," said Khananashvili, now a 48-year-old social worker and Beverly Hills resident. "They gave us our start here and protected us under their shield. We're very grateful."

Attacks on Moscow Synagogues

By Lev Krichevsky
Published on January 19, 2006

Moscow's five functioning synagogues have been repeated targets.

Indifference Enables Moscow Shul Attack

By Lev Krichevsky
Published on January 19, 2006

The incident took place just before the evening service, when the Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue in downtown Moscow was full of worshippers. The shul is one of the oldest in Moscow and serves as the base of the Agudas Chasidei Chabad in Russia, a Lubavitch organization.

From Russia With Love

By Adam Wills
Published on May 5, 2005

Between the stars for Shari Lewis and Sidney Sheldon on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three middle-aged Russian Jews and a 30-something Arizona native are hoping a controversial artist will help establish them as players in Southern California's museum culture.

Windows to the Yiddish Soul

By David Finnigan
Published on December 16, 2004

Russia's Yiddish actors, playwrights and poets are some of the oft-forgotten victims of the 20th century's murderous Stalinist purges.

Lenin, Meet Noah

By Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein
Published on October 14, 2004

Fall was just beginning to turn the Moscow air crispy when the lot of us -- 10 high school seniors and three faculty members of Yeshiva University Los Angeles Girls' School -- trudged down the stairs of our Intourist Hotel in the late '80s, and began our walk of several miles, not to the better-known Chabad Lubavitch Synagogue or to the Moscow Choral Synagogue, but to another shul in the city's north.

Israel, Russia Sign Memo on Terrorism

By Dan Baron
Published on September 9, 2004

It was not clear what form the new Israeli-Russian cooperation would take.

World Briefs

Published on February 5, 2004

World Briefs

Russia Returns 16 Long-Sought Books

By Lev Krichevsky
Published on December 26, 2002

Earlier this month, a group of Lubavitch Jews gathered in a downtown Moscow synagogue to welcome the 16 books that were returned to the movement from the Russian State Library, formerly known as the Lenin Library, where the collection has been held for the last 80 years.

A Nuclear Iran: Still the Greatest Threat

By Rep. Jane Harman
Published on June 6, 2002

President Bush has just completed a historic series of meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Moscow, and a few days later in Italy, they signed accords to reduce each nation's nuclear stockpiles and increase Russian cooperation with NATO. Much was accomplished, but a major item was left on the negotiating table: Russia's continuing assistance to Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

A Harsh Spotlight

By Lev Gorodetsky
Published on June 22, 2000

When Vladimir Goussinsky walked out of jail here last Friday night, he was not just another released prisoner waiting to be formally arraigned.