year in review
continued from page 84
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, announces that he
intends to run for the U.S. presidency. A self-described "Democratic
socialist," Sanders, who is running as a Democrat, is considered a long
shot to defeat the party's front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Ethiopian-Israeli protesters clash with police during demonstrations
throughout Jerusalem over two attacks against Ethiopian-Israelis
by Israeli law enforcement, one of which is captured on video. The
attacks spark a national debate about racism in Israel.
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Ed Miliband, the first Jewish leader of Britain's Labor Party, fails to
become his country's first Jewish prime minister as the incumbent,
David Cameron of the Conservative Party, handily wins re-election
and secures 331 of the 650 seats in the Parliament. Miliband resigns
immediately after the defeat.
Rabbi Freundel is sentenced to nearly 61/2 years in prison — 45 days
for each of the 52 counts of misdemeanor voyeurism. Additional
court documents show Freundel also engaged in extramarital sexual
encounters.
Ethiopian-Israelis demonstrate in Jerusalem against
what they allege is police brutality and racism, April 30,
2015.
COU RTESY O F S HARS HERET
May 2015
The U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passes a bill providing for its
approval of any Iran nuclear deal.
Shlomo Riskin, rabbi of the West Bank city of Efrat, is summoned to
a hearing by the Chief Rabbinate's governing body on the future of his
position. An Orthodox progressive on women's issues and conversion,
Riskin vows not to go, suspecting the Chief Rabbinate is looking for
a pretext to dismiss him. The Rabbinate later backs down and renews
Riskin's position.
Rochelle Shoretz, the founder of the national cancer group Sharsheret
after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 28, dies of the disease at 42.
Rabbi Barry Freundel exiting the
courthouse after entering his guilty plea,
Feb. 19, 2015.
June 2015
JASON MILLER/GETTY IMAGES
After a lengthy story in The New York Times detailing his habit of
inviting young males to join him for naked heart-to-heart talks in the
sauna, Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt of the Riverdale Jewish Center in
New York asserts he is innocent of any crime but says he regrets if his
conduct offended anyone. Congregants at his Orthodox synagogue
are divided over whether or not to dismiss him. Rosenblatt eventually
rebuffs offers to buy out the remainder of his contract, vowing he will
stay on as leader of the shul.
Rochelle Shoretz was the
founder and executive director of
Sharsheret.
The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a 2002 law allowing U.S. citizens
to list Jerusalem, Israel, as their place of birth. The case was brought
by the parents of 12-year-old Menachem Zivotofsky, whose parents
sought the passport listing not long after his birth.
Spain's lower house of Parliament passes a law offering citizenship to
descendants of Sephardic Jews, the result of a 2012 government deci-
sion that described the law as compensation for the expulsion of Jews
during the Spanish Inquisition.
David Blatt, the first Israeli to serve as head coach of an NBA team,
guides the Cleveland Cavaliers to the league finals. Blatt's club loses to
the Golden State Warriors in six games after taking a 2-1 lead in the
best-of-seven series.
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September 10 • 2015
M
Cavaliers coach David Blatt speaking to the media in Cleveland before Game 4 of the
Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, May 26, 2015.