mal http://www.jta.org/user/profile/45442 en-us zsilberman@washingtonjewishweek.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 It's very nice to point the finger at the lay leadership of day schools; however, the "professionals" who run these organizations are as much to blame as their "baal-habatim". The professional leadership are, for the most part, YU and Stern graduates; they think "inside the box", and in a very small box, at that. They tend to over-administer and under-educate; they impose little real control over teachers, hire cronies and others who are more "politically correct" than qualified. And, worst of all, they spend the bulk of their efforts in sycophantic efforts targeted at self-promotion rather than in a true effort to improve their institutions. The only time they make a "push" to improve their institutions is when they want to use some perceived improvement as a tool for selling themselves for a better-paying job elsewhere. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Jews from all over Europe were brought to Poland for extermination because the climate was ideal for killing Jews. Now, the occasional Pole will act friendly towards a visiting Jewish group or organization because it's in his economic interest to do so. The Jewish presence in Poland always leaks some money into the economy. The best one can do for the millions of Jews who were slaughtered in Poland is to avoid it; don't go there, don't do anything there, and let them rot in their own filth and misery. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 the scariest part is when they opened the door for Elijah the Prophet and the ghost of Dick Cheney appeared 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 the Cincinnati campus may have some historical significance, but it's about as anachronistic as one is likely to get. the LA facility could be converted to another form of community support system. the New York "campus", adjacent to and part of the NYU community is the only one that allows for a real learning environment, particularly since it grants the faculty an opportunity to pursue other, non-conflicting positions to augment their pretty meager salaries. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 how about if they just have a lot of grandchildren or if they're avoiding subpoenas in the US or if they have a few "non-marital" wives outside the US or if they just like schwarma 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 The arrogance, chutzpa, and downright stupidity of extreme nationalist Israelis marching in Umm el-Fahm is so abhorrent that it may well be the "unique Israeli spin" on the 30 years of troubles in Northern Ireland. Do these chalerias and mamzerim think they're going to frighten away arabs who've lived there for seven or eight generations? Or are they just a band of home-grown fascists with an agenda limited to hatred and nihilism. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 So, Tateleh? How will the realists in Labor even sit in the same meeting with the lunatics of Israel Beiteinu? Is there going to be one voice speaking for the government, or will each MK and cabinet member be his own authority on everything under the sun from the Arabs, to Iran, to peace, through a position on whether the sun or the earth is the center of the universe. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 If Arlen Specter were to vote for the union bill this time, it would doom him politically; he already faces strong primary challenges for 2010. A pro-union vote would doom his chances with the GOP activists who vote in and run the primaries. As is the smart money is that he'll lose in the primary to some rabid right-wing zealot who will then lose to a Dem in the general election. Pretty soon the Republican-free zone will extend all the way south to DC 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Sheldon Adelson of Freedom Watch and the Vegas Chabad won't be heard from much longer, other than in bankruptcy proceedings. He's broke, his casinos are broke, and the whole system that lets a self-made gazillionaire with a soapbox take over the public discourse has been totally discredited. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 The Republican Party has evolved to the point where it is quite uncomfortable for Jews to feel comfortable while the contenders in the primary are debating who's a better christian. Religion on the table makes for a very unappetizing meal for Jews; we flourish under the First Amendment, and must forever keep religion out of politics. Many Republicans feel otherwise, and until the party makes it clear that all are welcome, Jews won't feel like they belong. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00