Roundup of world Jewish news

From Jewish Long Island princesses to newly-discovered 13th Century Spanish Jews, we bring you the latest in Jewish News from around the world – dated 24 June.[divider]

Ukraine

Hundreds of leaders of Jewish and Zionist organizations from around the world re-elected Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky at a Board of Governors meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. The chief rabbi of Kiev said the choice of venue would revitalise the city’s Jewish community.

Spain

Historians and archaeologists examining a 13th-century Jewish cemetery first discovered in 2008 have said that there are ‘well-preserved’ remains in 107 tombs. Arturo Ruiz Taboada, who is leading the excavation at the cemetery in Toledo, said the tombs were ‘unusually deep’ in the ground.

Australia

A former Chabad leader in Sydney has said Jewish victims of alleged child sex abuse in Australia ‘agreed to it’. Rabbi Boruch Lesches, who now works in America, was the top leader at the Sydney Chabad for 20 years. He did not report the alleged abuser and says the case is a ‘can of worms.’

Argentina

A rabbi has been chosen to lead a centre-right party into Argentina’s national elections in October. Rabbi Sergio Bergman, who will lead the PRO Party, holds two rabbinic ordinations and has spent years working to bridge the gaps between the Reform and Conservative movements.

United States

A Congressman has claimed that the TV series ‘Princesses: Long Island’ promotes Jewish stereotyping. Rep. Steve Israel said viewers would think ‘if you’re Jewish and live on Long Island, you’re narcissistic, you’re all about money and a Shabbat dinner is about drinking and fighting’.

France

The Jewish owner of a small French publisher has been fined EUR 5,000 after advertising a job vacancy that said Arabs need not apply. It comes at a tense time, with Prime Minister Francois Fillon earlier this month saying that France could not cope with the 200,000 immigrants that arrive every year.