Moldova. June 12 a report–and–elect conference of the Union of Jewish organizations of Kishinev (UJOK) was held in Moldava’s capital.

Though the Union was initially meant to unite all Jewish organizations of the city, its leadership has decided not to admit to it the following organizations: Community of Highland, Bohara and Georgian Jews, “Maggen League”, family club of parents “Gilelya”.

Director of the Jewish charitable center “Khesed Yehuda” also did not take part in the conference. The gathering decided to suspend the membership of the Kishinev Jewish religious community. The decision to leave the Union was taken by director of the yeshiva “Agudit Israel” and director of the student organization “Gilel”.

Russia. Construction of a new synagogue in Ufa is to begin already in August. According to Chief Rabbi of Bashkiria and Ufa Dan Krichevsky, it will become a true cultural center. A four–storeyed building will house a 200–300 person strong charitable canteen, kindergarten, Jewish school and public organizations. A chapel will welcome 300 parishioners.

By the next summer 20 thousand Jews of Ufa expect to have given a house–warming party.

Bashkir Jews have not had a true synagogue since 1940s, when the Bashkir state philharmonic society entered its building. Only in 2000 a semi–cellar in the center of the city was allotted under a synagogue, but far from everybody willing to attend it was able to place himself in a small chapel.

Russia. A unique foundation “Jewish community of Veliky Novgorod – center of cultural and spiritual heritage” opened in Veliky Novgorod. The event was timed to mark the Day of the city. A specially written for this event in Jerusalem Torah roll was solemnly brought into the Jewish center.

Russia. Members of the Jewish religions organization “Center “Shalom” applied to the mayor of the city of Orel Vasily Uvarov with a request to allow for constructing a memorial complex in the place of an old Jewish cemetery subject to vandalism over several years.

Burials on the old cemetery stopped in late 1960s. Practically all graves are dug up; tombstones broken and fences bent in search of gold.

Local authorities intended to wipe off profaned cemetery, but members of the Jewish community succeeded in winning the graves back.

“It is, unfortunately, impossible to revive the cemetery, – says the chairman of “Center “Shalom” Semen Livshits. – We are going to lay a park in its place and erect a Lament wall with the names of all Jews died in the Soviet times.”