Ceremonial Haircut – Celebration Introduces Sons to Jewish Faith

LONGMONT, CO — As far as Meir Borenstein and Elan Barkenbus knew, the party meant sweet treats, gifts and loved ones.

But the June 12 community gathering at the D-Barn Reception Hall on South Main Street was more than a child’s birthday party. The celebration marked the boys’ third birthday earlier this month and symbolized their introduction to the Jewish faith through a custom known as an upshernish.

Israeli Public School Students Celebrate Bar Mitzvahs as a Class

Be’er Sheva, Israel‘s ornate Pyramid Synagogue hosted a joint bar mitzvah ceremony for dozens of public school students, replete with a choral performance setting the tone.

Youth Seminar Unites Russian Far East, Urals & Siberia

OMSK, Russia — Just outside of Omsk, a youth seminar for over 50 Jewish youth has concluded. The event, which ran from June 11th through 15th, involved representatives from youth clubs run by Jewish communities across Siberia, the Urals Region, and the Russian Far East.

The program featured lectures with various guest speakers on the history of Israel and the Jewish people, Shabbat, and prayers, as well as faith and feelings from the perspective of Judaism. Chief Rabbi of Omsk Osher Krichevsky led a session on the first chapter of ‘Perkei Avot’ and Rachel Krichevsky baked Chala with the girls for Shabbat. The seminar also involved Yevgeniy Fishman, the Head of the Youth Department of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, which organized this event.

Russian Jewish Community Celebrates Decade of Rejuvenation

SARATOV, Russia — A crowd of 550 Jewish community members, businesspeople and government officials packed a Saratov, Russia, municipal hall to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Volga River port’s Chabad-Lubavitch center.

Solon: Council lets Chabad Jewish Center Build Ceremonial Bath

SOLON, OH — A plan by the Chabad Jewish Center of Solon, 5570 Harper Road, to build a mikvah (ceremonial bath) was approved Monday (June 16) by City Council.

The mikvah, in the form of a house, will be located in a residential area on Cannon Road just north of the Chabad center.

First Jewish Wedding for Russian Border Town

BRYANSK, Russia — For the first time ever since the onset of Soviet power in the USSR, a traditional Jewish wedding is taking place in the Russian border city of Bryansk. This event is not only a life-altering moment for Nachum and Ilana, but also a joyous occasion for the entire Jewish community of Bryansk.

The big event took place in one of the city’s best restaurants, where a Chuppa and more than 100 guests met the young couple. The ceremony was led by chief Rabbi of Bryansk Menachem Mendel Zaklos, as the crowd looked on with great interest and heartfelt emotion.

Business School Taps Canadian Television Producer to Head Leadership Program

A Canadian television producer with a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy is developing a curriculum for the Jewish Leadership Program at the Lauder Business School in Vienna, Austria, following his appointment as the school’s Rohr Chair of Jewish Studies.