Homecoming for Libyan Jews after 33 years

Two Italian Jews are to return to their homes in Libya for the first time in more than 30 years.

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Eggsellent news in Uganda

You may recall our recent report on the Putti Jews of Uganda and Ros Eisen, the London woman aiding them. Happily, the egg-farming venture she set up has taken off. "We started with 50 chickens, three weeks later we are up to 500," Ros said. "They've had to convert an empty building planned as a library into an additional henhouse."

After seven months their laying days will be over and a date with the soup pot beckoning.

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Euro hopes for Israel ahead of Malta clash

Manager Luis Fernandez has reiterated his belief that Israel can reach the Euro 2012 finals, ahead of their Group F qualifying opener against Malta next week.

Thursday's match at Ramat Gan will be followed by a tricky fixture in Georgia on September 7. Croatia, Greece and Latvia complete the group.

Fernandez said: "There is no reason why this team should not reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine. We have a strong squad that would have been good enough to go beyond the group stage had they reached the World Cup finals in South Africa."

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Jeneration mercy mission

Volunteers from Jeneration, the pluralist initiative for students and young adults, spent a fortnight in Kenya helping out at a primary school for disadvantaged children and an orphanage.

The group - from London, Essex, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield - decorated two derelict classrooms at the school and taught a variety of subjects. At the orphange, they cooked, cleaned and taught English, science and maths.

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Arab who sang at synagogue has gig cancelled

A Tunisian pop star has pulled out of a concert after a video emerged of him performing at a synagogue.

Saleem Bakkoush was set to sing at the annual Carthage festival but had his appearance cancelled after the footage surfaced.

Mr Bakkoush said the show at Tunisia’s oldest synagogue in Djerba was several years ago and accused “rivals” of trying to damage his reputation.

Judaism is believed to be Tunisia’s third largest religion, with a population of 1,500 Jews living mainly in Tunis and Djerba.

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Israeli held in Libya released after five months

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that an Israeli man imprisoned in Libya for photographing Jewish sites has been freed and is to return home to Tel Aviv.

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New York schools shun special needs kids

Manhattan offers the Jewish parent everything: gleaming community centres, world-class Jewish day schools, and a synagogue on just about every corner. But when it comes to raising children with special needs, New York's glitziest borough is, apparently, lacking.

One recent Monday evening, about 150 people crowded into the basement of Congregation Shearith Israel, on Central Park West, to discuss "The Jewish Community's Obligation to Special Needs Children."

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Man sentenced for £6,000 fraud

A Jewish employee at a building material export company in Manchester has been sentenced to six months in prison for fraud.

Dov Hanson's sentence was suspended for 12 months and he was also prohibited from buying or trading in any building materials in the UK for six months after pleading guilty in Manchester Crown Court on Monday.

Hanson, 27, of Prestwich, pleaded guilty to abusing his position as an employee at Sundream Enterprises.

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