Siberian Jewish Community Gets New School building

OMSK, Russia –- The West Siberian city of Omsk this week celberated the recently renovated Synagogue and completion and opening of the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School.

Following morning prayers in the Synagogue, which involved more than 100 congregants – an especially large number for a weekday – Visiting Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance of the building. The visiting Jewish leaders were joined by Chief Rabbi of Omsk Osher Krichevsky for a discussion with Governor Leonid Polezhaev, who personally assisted the community at every stage of construction.

Cosmetics Magnate Inaugurates Vienna’s Only Jewish University

VIENNA, Austria — A host of Austrian politicians joined international businessman and philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder last Wednesday to inaugurate Vienna’s only Jewish university. The fete in honor of the Lauder Business School coincided with a series of other events in the country’s capital celebrating the 20th anniversary of Lauder’s foundation, whose first project was the Lauder Chabad elementary and high schools in the city.

Ceremony Unites Jewish Community in Western Ukraine

ROVNO, Ukraine –- a unique event has occurred in the life of the Jewish community in a provincial town of Ukraine – Rovno. This week, the local community was happy to celebrate an Opshernish ceremony to mark the first haircut for the son of Chief Rabbi of Rovno Shneur Zalman Schneerson, who is also serving in the region as a Chabad Lubavitch emissary.

Located within the borders of Poland until World War Two, as many as 30,000 Jews were estimated to have lived in Rovno. Their existence practically ceased with the annihilation that proceeded under occupying Nazi troops.

Jewish Mysticism Now Served with Chopsticks

NEW YORK, NY — Jewish life at Baruch College is flourishing. There are many ways the students can get in touch with their Jewish roots. Recently, a new learning initiative called the Baruch College Torah Center, created by the Chabad Club, has had success in motivating to learn topics relating to Judaism.