Many Jewish visitors to Moscow will make a trip to the city’s celebrated Choral Synagogue. Except perhaps for the odd Instagram photo or status update, most will do so without much fanfare. But when 50-year-old Golda Meir visited the shul in 1948, a crowd of 50,000 Muscovites cheered her arrival. “As we had planned, we went to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah,” Meir wrote in her autobiography. “The street in front of the synagogue had changed. Now it was filled with people, packed together like …More

Forbes Magazine has released its list of the world’s 100 most powerful women of 2013, 14 of whom are Jewish. The women range from corporate leaders and journalists, to philanthropists, fashion designers and Hollywood execs. #99: Judith Rodin Judith Rodin is the president of the Rockefeller Foundation and 14th most powerful Jewish female, according to Forbes. As the head of a philanthropic organization, Rodin oversaw and distributed $171 million in 2012 to organizations that focused on a variety of global …More

Vice President Joe Biden praised Jewish contributions to American culture, while the nation as a whole honors Jewish American Heritage Month this May. “The truth is that Jewish heritage, Jewish culture, Jewish values are such an essential part of who we are that it’s fair to say that Jewish heritage is American heritage,” Biden said. “The Jewish people have contributed greatly to America,” he added, saying, “No group has had such an outsized influence per capita.” Biden …More

The seven Egyptian guards kidnapped in the Sinai Peninsula last week have been freed. [Times of Israel] Germany is supporting efforts to add Hezbollah to the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations. [Times of Israel] Hundreds of protestors marched in Malmo, Sweden to address rising levels of anti-Semitism in the city. [Ynet] A Jewish conductor will celebrate the 200th birthday of anti-Semitic composer Richard Wagner. [Forward] The 18-year-old heir to the Belz Hasidic Jewish dynasty was married …More

Egyptian police have blocked the border between Egypt and the Gaza strip, after Islamists kidnapped seven members of the force. [Forward] Morocco’s King Mohammed VI is funding the restoration of his country’s Jewish burial sites. [IJN] The London Jewish Cultural Center in Golders Green will host the country’s largest Jewish food festival, Gefiltefest. [Times] South Africa’s chief rabbi, Warren Goldstein, defends Israel amongst his country’s widespread support for the anti-Israel …More

The Autry National Center’s new exhibit, entitled “Jews in Los Angeles Mosaic,” will highlight the Jewish community's contribution to the city since the 1800s. [Daily News] Scarlett Johansson will make her directorial debut with an adaptation of Truman Capote’s novel, “Summer Crossing.” [Screen Daily] Destination bar and bat mitzvahs are becoming common practice among American families. [Tablet] A devout Jewish man and former “American Idol” contestant is suing …More

Two J-Connected celebrities announced retirement plans this week, ending long and successful careers. Barbara Walters, veteran TV anchorwoman, and David Beckham, famed soccer midfielder, each expressed thanks and satisfaction to fans and colleagues as they bid their respective careers goodbye. Each announcement was a symbolic ending of a job that could have been mundane and repetitive, but which they each performed with renewed vivaciousness every time they stepped on set or field. This week’s parsha, …More

Judaism’s biblical practice of schmita, a mandated year of rest, offers modern Jews the opportunity to diminish their consumerism. [NJJN] An Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn sent letters home to parents, banning the hipster-themed thick-framed glasses and requesting that they only buy their children simple frames. [Scallywag] The man who confessed to kidnapping and killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 in New York, will stand trial. [Forward] The 25-year-old man who defaced a Torah and Jewish prayer …More

The Jewish community has praised Angelina Jolie’s decision to undergo a double mastectomy after she tested positive for the Ashkenazi-based BRCA1 gene mutation. [Forward] The Women of The Wall’s chairwoman gives an interview on her tactics for gender equality and the different Jewish values in Israel. [Jerusalem Post] Israel is receiving criticism as they maintain silence following the Arab League’s peace initiative two weeks ago. [ABC] Secretary of State John Kerry is being pressured by …More

Israeli leaders celebrated Shavuot this week, the ritual holiday commemorating the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu honored the holiday at a gathering with children from the Valley of Springs Regional Council. Bibi spoke with the children and accepted gifts of locally grown fruit, a traditional food for the holiday, as biblical commandment mandated that farmers bring their “first fruits” to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. "I thank you for …More

Standing in the customs line at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, Jacob was carrying a Torah scroll. This is a typical scenario in Israel, where dozens of Torah scrolls travel daily to their destinations worldwide. Suddenly a custom official approached Jacob. He said, “In Israel we don’t have our Torah wait in line! Please proceed to the front of the line.” Nature dictates that when we experience something often, we become accustomed to it. The excitement and enthusiasm we experience the first …More

With its tradition of dairy meals, Shavuot is one of my favorite holidays. Arriving later in the spring—an ideal time to find delicious fruits, herbs and vegetables—it’s perfect for using fresh and seasonal ingredients. The four dishes I have selected for a Shavuot menu not only are perfect for dinner or lunch, they also reflect my philosophy on eating well: good planning, portion control and nutrition. Each dish can be prepared in advance, is not too difficult to make and doesn’t require …More