World news-roundup: Madagascar gets first Jewish community

Country: Madagascar

The remote Indian Ocean island of Madagascar now has its first Jewish community, after 121 people underwent Orthodox conversions at the end of May. The group of men, women and children spent years learning through self-study, online guidance and correspondence with rabbis.

Country: Sweden

A Swedish nun who saved at least a dozen Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust has been made a saint by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad had already been recognised as Righteous Among the Nations by Israel’s Yad Vashem 12 years ago.

Country: United States

A New York Governor has ordered all state agencies to divest themselves of firms and organisations linked to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Andrew Cuomo signed the executive order saying: ‘If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you.’

Country: Australia

A psychiatrist in Israel has ruled an Orthodox former headmistress ‘unfit to stand trial’ in extradition proceedings. Malka Leifer faces 74 sexual abuse charges against girls while she was a principal in Melbourne. She fled for Israel in 2008 before the allegations became public.

Country: Poland

Building inspectors in Warsaw have closed the city’s Jewish theatre because it is in such a dire state of repair. Inspectors were called in by a private developer who wants to build a skyscraper on the site. The Jewish cultural association sold the plot last year to finance its other work.

Country: Netherlands

A famous Dutch singer who has a Nazi father and Jewish mother has died aged 83. Corry Brokken, considered a feminist role model, studied law and eventually became a judge before returning to the stage in the 90s. She only revealed her unusual family history in a 1999 interview.