Russia. A concert of the "Ruakh" band from the town of Volzhsky, the Volgograd region, took place in Astrakhan'. "Ruakh" (one of its meaning is 'soul') is a comparatively young artistic collective. The band consisting of professionals and amateurs became the laureate of II All-Russian contest of Jewish music and dance.

More than 20 compositions were performed at the concert in Astrakhan'.

Artists arrived to Astrakhan' on the invitation of the regional religious Jewish community "Sfard". A presentation of the first issue of Jewish charitable fund "Khesed" and Jewish youth organization of the Astrakhan' region "Hand in hand" newspaper took place before the concert.

Russia. August 14 the officials of RF North-Caucasian operative department together with FSB representation in Kabardino-Balkaria detained a previously convicted for arms' keeping 24-year-old Nalchik's resident. He was going to blow up a local synagogue.

While the detention a set of saboteur-shot-firer (metallic tube of weight 1 kg with plastid, clocks, wires and microchips to the explosion set) was withdrawn from the criminal. To compare: MON-50 mine, blown up on May 9 in Kaspiysk, when 42 people died, contained 700 grams of plastid.

The detained informed he was preparing himself for the crime step-by-step and lonely. "Jews as a ruling cast impede the living of others", - the terrorist told the officials of law enforcement agencies.

Russia. A synagogue of the city of Astrakhan' has recently been robbed. Talits, time relays brought from Israel, crockery, fruit and juices prepared for Saturday were stolen. A vault with money was unlocked. Thieves opened even a bank for donations. An investigation is in progress.

Russia. The night August 19-20 unknown persons stole a plaque established in Penza in memory of Veniamin Zuskin, an outstanding Jewish actor, Jewish anti-fascist committee member (JAC). The solemn opening of the plaque took place on August 12, the 50th anniversary of JAC's shooting. The plaque was placed in the premises of school #12.

Belarus. Jewish leaders addressed the country's government with an appeal to restore the synagogues and other Jewish sacred places in this former Soviet republic, the authorities of which proved to be unable to cope with a wave of rising anti-Semitism.

In the letter representatives of 18 Jewish communities stated the "restoration of Jewish sacred places will be the best proof of how the government builds up its relations with the Jewish community of Belarus", - informed Yuriy Dorn, the president of republic's Jewish religious community.