The Best of the Scroll in 2014

2014 has been quite a year. From this summer’s Israeli operation in Gaza to the death of trailblazing comedian Joan Rivers, Pope Francis’ Holy Land visit to the Sony hack, this past year was nothing if not chock full of news, much of it grim.

Before welcoming the new year (2015 truly can’t come soon enough), here’s a quick look back on the year in Scroll: the ups, downs, and memorable moments of the past 12 months.

A portrait of an Orthodox girl at synagogue wins an international photography contest, and gets displayed in London’s National Portrait Gallery.

Hillary Clinton challenges Jon Stewart on Gaza.

The tale of actress Ginnifer Goodwin losing her ketubah on her wedding day.

Jewish passengers on a Belgian train told to get off at Auschwitz over the loudspeaker by a band of troublemaking teens.

The story behind the Sephardic culinary tradition of ‘Jewish ham’ during the Spanish Inquisition.

California eighth graders are asked on an exam to debate whether the Holocaust happened. (Their answers are as disturbing as you might imagine.)

Rabbi Andy Bachman explains why the Eric Garner ruling is a grave injustice.

Anti-government protestors chant “Jew, France Is Not Yours” at a rally in Paris in January—and Berlin protestors shout ‘Jew, Jew, Cowardly Pig, Come on out and Fight’ during an anti-Israel demonstration in July.

Yarmulke-clad 12-year-old Josh Orlian stuns the America’s Got Talent judges with a potty-mouthed comedy routine.

What #Gamergate and some of the discourse surrounding Israel have in common.

Residents at the Los Angeles Jewish Home explain Yiddish words, to the delight of the Internet.

Trying kosher for Passover cocktails for each of the 10 plagues.

The Simpsons says goodbye to Rabbi Hyman Krustofski.

Anti-Israel protests across Europe serve to make the case for Israel.

The confusing news that all Ashkenazi Jews might be 30th cousins.

Michael Douglas sustains hora-related injury at his son’s bar mitzvah.

The in-flight safety video El Al should show.

And, of course, J.K. Rowling’s Hanukkah gift to the world: A Jewish wizard at Hogwarts.

Tablet will be dark tomorrow for New Year’s Day. Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2015.

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