Belarus. Jews of Belarus are concerned about a new law on religious organizations. It consolidates the domination of Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, a religious organization may from now on be registered only if it consists of more than 20 members and is active for more than 20 years on the territory of Belarus. Non-corresponding to these requirements religious formations have no right to hold divine services, perform publishing and educational activities.

European Union and representatives of many confessions have already criticized the new law.

Belarus. Fragments of bodies of more than 25 persons were discovered during excavations on the territory of a railway brigade of ministry of defense near Slutsk, Minsk region. The burial is supposedly related to 1942-1944. Archive documents as well as evidence of eyewitnesses testify to the fact that up to 9 thousand persons were exterminated in the burial locality.

After one version, the burial keeps remnants of Slutsk' Jews since the burial is not far from the place of former Jewish ghetto.

Prior to the War 90% of Slutsk was populated by Jews.

Russia. A jubilee concert of Jewish vocal-dance group "Zilber" took place in the city Puppet theatre on November 3. It was dated to the festival of Jewish book and 30th birth anniversary of a collective's head.

The group is attached to the Nizhegorodsky society of Jewish culture "Tsvi Girsh". For the fourth consecutive time its concert opens the festival of Jewish book organized by this society.

The initial repertoire - Yiddish songs and dances - has been widened with popular Israeli songs.

Russia. The 6th congress of Jewish charitable centers of Russia took place in Orenburg. Heads of 38 centers were present there.

The congress delegates elected a new Council of Association of Jewish communities of Russia, affiliated new members into the Association, discussed questions of interrelationship with fiscal authorities and charitable organizations, government bodies, formed a new staff of editorial board of the "Idud Khasadim" newspaper, etc.

Russia. The Pyatigorsk state regional theatre of operetta was on tour in Stavropol.

Pyatigorsk artists presented to the Stavropol residents a famous musical of D. Bok "Violinist on the roof" after the story by Sholom-Aleikhem "Tevje-Milkman".

Due to the efforts of Pyatigorsk charitable Jewish fund "Khesed Bentsion" more than one hundred Jews of Stavropol managed to attend this wonderful show for free.