Year In Review policies worry many, later steps down as official leader of the party Los Angeles — Federal prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against Buford Furrow Jr., the white supremacist accused of killing a Filipino American mail carrier after wounding five people at a Jewish community center last August. Jerusalem — Israel's interior min- ister, Natan Sharansky, says his ministry will recognize civil mar- riages performed in foreign con- sulates based in Israel. MARCH 2000 Jerusalem — Pope John Paul II arrives in Israel, the first papal visit in 36 years. New York — The Reform move- ment passes a resolution affirming the right of its movement's rabbis to officiate at gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies. Jerusalem — The Knesset passes a law granting equal rights to women, including equality in the workplace and the military, the right of women over their bodies and protection from violence and sexual exploitation. Top: Israel's Ehud Barak, U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Palestinians' Yasser Arafat worked overtime at Camp David. New York — The Birthright Israel program announces plans to send 2,000 Jews to Israel this coming summer after sending 6,000 stu- dents during the winter. The pro- gram, sponsored by Jewish philan- Above: An Orthodox woman chastises members of Women at the Wall. thropists, the Israeli government and Jewish communities world- wide, had more would-be travelers than space available just weeks after it began accepting applica- tions toward the end of 1999. APRIL 2000 New York — Holocaust denier David Irving loses his libel lawsuit against American academic Deborah Lipstadt and publisher Penguin Books. Washington — Receiving the Most Valuable Player award at the 27th Annual Reebok Classic bas- ketball game, Orthodox Jewish high school student Tamir Goodman is slated to play for Towson University in Maryland in the fall, after earlier turning down the University of Maryland's offer, in part because of friction over his refusal to play basketball on Shabbat. Pittsburgh — Richard Scott Baumhammers goes on a shooting spree, killing five minorities, including one Jewish woman. MAY 2000 Jerusalem — The Jewish Agency for Israel flies 100 Falash Mum — Ethiopians whose ancestors con- verted from Judaism to Christianity — from Ethiopia to Israel. The group is the first to arrive since Interior Minister Natan Sharansky visited Ethiopia a month before to assess the situation of the thousands of Falash Mura who have amassed in transit camps hop- ing to emigrate to Israel. Washington — Members of syna- gogues, Jewish organizations and Jewish mothers from across the United States join the Million Mom March in Washington to press for gun control legislation. Jerusalem — Israel's High Court of Justice rules that women can pray at the Western Wall while wearing prayer shawls, marking a victory in an 11-year effort by the group Women of the Wall. Jerusalem — After formally noti- fying the United Nations of its intention to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon by July, Israel accelerates its withdrawal from southern Lebanon when it becomes evident that its ally in the region, the South Lebanon Army, has collapsed. More than 5,000 South Lebanon Army members and their families are granted asy- lum in Israel. New York — Israel accepts an invitation to join the United Nations' Western Europe and Others Group, giving the country a stronger voice in U.N. affairs. Israeli leaders and their backers say they are concerned about some of the membership condi- tions — that Israel can only par- ticipate in WEOG activities com- ing out of the U.N.'s New York headquarters and that Israeli rep- Tour Guide To The New 9/29 2000 56 Look for the JN SourceBook in your mailbox THIS WEEK! Read through the vast references offered Keep it near your phone Refer to it throughout the year for Restaurants