CRIF, the umbrella representative group of Jewish organizations in France, expressed dismay after French Prime Minister Francois Fillon urged Muslims and Jews to consider scrapping what he called ''outdated'' halal and kosher slaughter rules.

FBI considering to open investigation into allegations that followers of Rabbi Pinto made contributions to U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, according to a law enforcement official.

Octogenarian Jewish writer Akos Kertesz of Hungary has left for Canada where he is seeking asylum because of a ''political campaign'' against him, his press service said Sunday.

'Maybe if there were a more serious choice of candidates they would vote for someone else,' Chabad Rabbi Berel Lazar tells Haaretz.

Mitt Romney won Republican primary contests in Arizona and Michigan, maintaining his frontrunner status for now.

Latvian President Andris Berzins on Tuesday defended a controversial annual parade that honours troops from the Baltic state who fought the Soviet Union under the banner of Nazi Germany.

Jailed American Jewish contractor Alan Gross ''was no spy,'' Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a meeting with two visiting U.S. senators, Patrick Leahy and Richard Shelby.

The anniversary of the deaths of more than 750 Jewish refugees who were denied shelter by Turkey in World War II is a reminder of perennial tension between pragmatic and humanitarian impulses.

Romania and Jews in Turkey paid homage Friday to 768 Jews who died 70 years ago when the ship on which they were fleeing marshal Ion Antonescu's pro-Nazi regime was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine.