Afghanistan’s last Jew has left the country

(JTA) — Zebulon Simantov, the last remaining Jew in Afghanistan, has finally left the country for fear of persecution by the Taliban, an Israeli television channel reported. Simantov, the 62-year-old former keeper of Kabul’s lone remaining synagogue, left the country for the United States in recent days with several other exiles, the Kan broadcaster in […]

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2 new synagogues open in Budapest

BUDAPEST (JTA) — Jewish communities in Hungary opened two new synagogues as part of the annual Jewish Cultural Festival in this capital city. One is situated in the bustling center of Budapest, while the other is a 50-seat synagogue in an apartment building. The latter — the Vorosmarty Street Synagogue — is owned by MAOIH, […]

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An anti-vaxxer in Montreal said he would stop wearing a yellow star. He still thinks vaccine mandates are like the Holocaust.

(JTA) — Last month, Francois Amalega Bitondo was standing on a Montreal street, megaphone and cellphone in hand, protesting against COVID-19 vaccines. A bright yellow six-pointed star stood out against his black T-shirt. The star, which read “unvaccinated,” was an explicit reference to the yellow Stars of David that Jews were forced to wear during […]

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