21 Jan
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Jews Up For Grabs

By Symi Rom-Rymer In advertising the November debate between Alan Dershowitz and Jeremy Ben-Ami, the 92nd St. Y framed it as a discussion over Israeli policy, Iran, and military vs. diplomatic strategies in the Middle East.   Yet it turned out to be a debate not so much about foreign policy, as a fight for the right to represent the Jewish community.   A clash between the old and the new.  Who has the right to speak for American Jews? Can that right extend to more than one group?  And most importantly, (at least to Dershowitz) who has earned that right? There was, of course, the requisite tussling over J Street’s branding and each of their positions on Iran but the real flashpoint erupted around J Street’s very existence.   Despite its successes in its first 18 months, including being...

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17 Oct
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This Week's Links

Stop bitching and pick up a knife. Activists, upset with the kosher meat industry, have taken matters into their own hands. A profile of Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz. Alan M. Dershowitz is endorsing Obama for President. A US soldier was beat up. That soldier was Jewish. Is there a connection? "What does make this an unusual election is that the Democratic candidate is largely unknown to the Jewish community. It’s relatively rare that that happens." An interview with Jonathon Sarna on the election. Craving some unnecessarily bloody violence? Be patient. Quentin Tarantino started filming his Brad Pitt flick about killing a bunch of Nazis. As long as Philip Roth keeps hating on Swedes, he'll never win a Nobel Prize. Who wins in a fight: Sarah Silverman or Jackie Mason? They're battling over the election. I'll...

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