You see my problem?
Reading the Same Numbers, Getting New Results
Jacob Kornbluh, in Gestetner Updates, offers an uncommon analysis of the latest AJC poll on how Jews will be voting in 2012. His headline says: “Romney Making Inroads With Jewish Voters.”
He suggests the “based on this poll data, one could confidentially assume Mitt Romney getting around 39% of the Jewish vote in November. It matches President Reagan’s 1980-1984 support.”
It’s not that his analysis (you should look at it) is necessarily wrong—what do I know?—but there’s a whiff of wishful thinking emanating from the entry. Correct me if I’m wrong…
Looking for a Good Forum Fight?
I like to encourage good, stormy, online debates, because, for one thing, they keep all those aggressive persons off the street. In addition, some good ideas can come out, unintentionally.
Israpundit has just started one such debate which, alas, has yet to attract detractors, or anyone, really. The topic is totally enticing: “Demographic threat? Not according to statistics.”
Ted Belman posted: “According to Immigration Authority data published by the Yedioth Ahronoth daily on Wednesday, the number of Jewish newborns in Israel has increased by nearly 20% since 2001, while during this time the number of Muslim and Christian newborns has dropped by five and 10%, respectively.”
There’s more of the same there, and, naturally, the conclusion should be: Annex, annex, annex those territories already, do everyone a favor. So, go, start something, I’m counting on you.
Shoshana Kordova keeps the world up-to-date on the whereabouts of her loved ones in her “family circus” style blog “The 90th Minute.” It’s all about little girls and the cute stuff they say and I, like many of you, am a sucker for cute. So here’s one nugget:
“In honor of Yom Haatzmaut, Kinneret has recently been singing ‘Degel yisrael sheli yaffa v’gam porahat,’ which may not make that much sense (if a flag is blooming, does that mean it’s moldy?), but does actually fit into the song really well, since “degel” has not only the same amount of syllables as the original “eretz” but also has a similar sound.”
She does this all the time. Go visit, say hi from Tibi.
Mass Party for a Mass Murderer
Palestinian Media Watch posted a bulletin titled “PA celebrates Abu Jihad’s terror and killing of civilians.”
During the week of the anniversary of the death of PLO arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, the Palestinian Authority held events and broadcast TV programs celebrating him and his terror attacks. One of the striking components of the Abu Jihad festivities was the presentation of the 125 Israeli civilians and soldiers killed in terror attacks he planned and directed, as a positive achievement. Six sporting events were also held in his honor.
If you’re into gore-lists, it’s all there. Kinda’ sickening, kinda’ revolting, but maybe it’s like the proverbial car crash across the median – you just have to slow down and watch.
Left the Best for Last, I Do That
Here’s a personal account from an unusual angle: “Men can be Rabbis?!” by Jesse Paikin, in NFTY. He writes: “I was that rare breed of kid who actually enjoyed Hebrew school. Maybe it was partly because I was a dork, but I ascribe much of my thirst for Jewish knowledge to the inspirational education I received at the hands of my very first rabbi – Rabbi Nancy Wechsler.”
But then, “when I was eight years old, my family joined a synagogue for the first time.”
Thoroughly enjoyable entry. Tibi says go there.