Tatarstan. During the meeting with Russian rabbis, Vladimir Putin paid special attention to Jewish community life in Kazan. As the Chief Rabbi of Tatarstan Itzhak Gorelik said, the meeting lasted for two hours, instead of the planned hour. He also noted that the correct ethnic policy of Tatarstan favors the development of the Jewish community and strengthens friendly relations between different confessions.

Belarus. The local authorities of Brest oblast renamed the Shoseynaya Street into Moshensky Street on request of the Entrepreneur Association. Moshensky is well-known in the local Jewish community for his help. Besides, his companies, producing ice-cream, canned fish and carbonated drinks multiplied the fame of the legendary Brest land.

Russia. The program "Provision for Progress" on behalf of the World Jewish Organization of Help and Support of Social Organizations and Institutions of North-Western Russia provided 2.573 tons of humanitarian aid. This aid is meant for families with many children, with handicapped children, for lonely pensioners and lonely mothers. The average cost of every set is 400 rubles and weighs 17.4 kg.

"We are pleased that Saint Petersburg participated in the program not only as a recipient, but also allotted money for transportation", - said Eli Livshitz, President of the World Jewish Organization of Help and Support.

Belarus. Borisov authorities (Minsk oblast) are planning to offer the former synagogue building for sale. This was informed by Uriy Dorn, the President of the Jewish Religious Association of Belarus.

The synagogue was built by the Borisov Jewish community in 1906. All the attempts to return the building to the community were in vain. Thus, the city authorities are breaching the Law on Religious Freedom and Religious Organizations. The Borisov Jewish community, which numbers about 150 people, is forced to rent premises for services, though there are three former synagogue buildings in the city.

Russia. A reading hall, totally dedicated to Jewish literature, opened in the Russian State Library. Besides Russian literature, the collection includes about 40 thousand books in Hebrew, about 20 thousand books in Yiddish, more than a thousand books in Arabic, and 2 thousand manuscripts.

The RJC allotted funds for equipping the Orient Literature Center. One of its rooms will accommodate this unique collection.

The first Jewish books, printed in Russia in the XV-XVI centuries, are already under restoration.