Presidents Conference too secretive: Whether or not it votes to admit the “pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby” J Street, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations needs to make the process more transparent, the editors argue. (Forward)

Manhattan shul in shambles: The Fort Tryon Jewish Center has a growing membership and is in a gentrifying locale — but a stalled renovation deal with a real estate developer has left its building unusable. (N.Y. Times)

Russia’s mixed Jewish messages: The Kremlin and its sympathizers simultaneously depict Jews in Ukraine as helpless victims and nationalist villains, writes Alina Polyakova. (The New Republic)

Send in the Israeli clowns: Nir Kaplan, founder of Israel’s 12-year-old Florentin Circus, describes his efforts to train more of his countrymen in circus skills such as acrobatics, flame-throwing and clowning. (Times of Israel)