In this text, Tajik blogger Roxana Burkhanova describes, in Russian, the history and current status of Muslims in Russia. Islam is the largest minority faith in Russia and Muslims are a growing and important demographic there, especially among immigrants from Central Asia. The material below details both the challenges that Muslims have faced in integrating […]

Healthcare abroad is often different from what we’ve experienced at home. How doctors and homestay facilitators may react to certain illnesses is different. Medicines and procedures that can be prescribed by doctors are often different. Over-the-counter brands that can be recommended by pharmacists are often different. Home remedies offered by friends or homestay facilitators can […]

Despite their cloistered livelihood, nuns have found their way into many veins of popular theater and movies. However, their usual depiction, wearing black habits with a veil and carrying a rosary, is not accurate for all nuns. It is true that the symbolic meaning of the habit is consistent across both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox […]

Near the center of the city, St. Sophia’s Cathedral is maintained by the Ukrainian government as a grand and beautiful reminder of the past. Originally founded in 1011 A.D., when Kyiv was still the capital of Kyivan Rus’, it was an early and grand celebration of the state’s official adoption of Christianity in 988. The […]

Warsaw, a city deeply entwined with Jewish history, hosts two large Jewish cemeteries. Although one is currently still active, both are in states of severe disrepair. The largest of these is the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, one of the largest Jewish burial grounds in Europe. Spanning approximately 33 hectares (about 63 American football fields), it […]

World War II holds profound significance in modern Russian culture, transcending mere historical events to become a deeply ingrained element of national identity and collective memory. Known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia, it represents a pivotal period of sacrifice, resilience, and victory against Nazi Germany, shaping the ethos of the nation. Victory Day, […]

This guide to travel in Poland is tailored for Jewish-American university students preparing to study abroad in Warsaw. Learn about Poland’s long Jewish history and find out where to find a kosher meal while abroad. We’ll also cover some major museums, historical sites, and day trips. Most importantly, we’ll get you moving on engaging with […]

In this text, Tajik blogger Roxana Burkhanova describes, in Russian, the history of Jews in the Russian Empire, the USSR, and the Russian Federation. While the resource focuses on Russia, this also includes Jews in regions which are no longer part of Russia – including Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Central and Eastern Europe. More […]

Tucked away on a side street in central Warsaw, the heart of the city’s old Jewish center still beats within the walls of the Nożyk Synagogue. The Nożyk Synagogue was the only synagogue in Warsaw to survive the devastation of WWII. Today, it serves as the primary place of worship for the Jewish community in […]