Arnold Rosenzweig http://jta.org/user/profile/44180 en-us moster@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Reinharz's first name, according to various web sites, is Jehuda, not Juehuda, as given in your article. Thank you for considering this. As we say down South, Shalom-you-all and G'mar Chatima Tovah--from Arnold Rosenzweig 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, I'm skeptical about all your blogger speculation regarding the Conservative movement, but more to the point, there is no United Synagogue FOR Conservative Judaism, to my knowledge. The name given on its website is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. If there are layoffs in the movement, that's something that has been going on all over the country. Nothing new there! Anyway, it's the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. In Reform, it's the Union for Reform Judaism. If you have a stylebook, JTA, you might consider including the two organizations' names in your listings. Shalom-you-all and Shana Tova, as well say down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article claims that NGOs have been issuing reports accusing Israeli of war crimes. I guess you mean that the NGOs, whoever they are, are accusing Israel, not Israeli, of war crimes. But, in fairness, who or what are these NGOs? Only one group is mentioned by name--Human Rights Watch. What about any others, whoever or whatever they might allegedly be? There is a lot of anonymous invective against Israel in the article--including this statement, among others: top Israeli officials smear critics with ancient guilt-by-association accusations. What are these unexplained "ancient guilt-by-association accusations"? With all due respect to the importance of telling "both sides of the story," is your article fair to Israel--faced with so many enemies on its borders and elsewhere? Why dignify anonymous NGOs' purported accusations against Israel--in a "Jewish" telegraphic service, of all places? AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Laurie Turnof's last name is spelled two ways in your article. I believe that the correct spelling is Turnof, not Turnoff -- based on references in the Internet. She should be complimented on her forthright decision. And JTA should be complimented for an enlightening article. AR 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your copy reads: Religous Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Union of Reform Judaism.... I think it's the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Union for Reform Judaism. Thank you for considering this. AR 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Again, your purported discussion of the money-laundering accusations appears to assume that people are guilty, even though they have not been convicted of anything. The "insularity" of groups like the Syrian-Jewish community gets the supposed blame--although only certain people--including some rabbis and public officials--have been accused. Not everyohe--religious or not--is at fault. Let's try to be more nonjudgmental and to engage in less stereotyping and stigmatizing of each other. We are commanded to love one another, not just to generalize about other people's purported faults. Shalom you-all from AR, down South, where we have learned to be respectful of our fellow human beings 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, I respectfully question the tone of your latest article (taken from a New Jersey paper) about money-laundering accusations. Rabbis are among clergy and officials who have been accused--but your article emphasizes the rabbis. I hope that JTA is not playing on age-old generalizations, stereotypes and negative assumptions about Jews. Various officials are also accused--and some of them may not be Jewish. Let's not internalize the bad things about Jews that have been said, in the past. Some or all of the leaders may be exonerated in court. Just because many of the accused people are from the North shouldn't necessarily make them instant targets of our judgmental condemnation. Down South, we know that there actually are decent people among Northerners!! AR, in Dixie, where we long ago gave up ethnic stereotypes 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your headline reads: Rabbis arrested in N.J. sting But, in fairness, five rabbis were among several people, including public officials, who were arrested. Singling out rabbis in your headline and lead paragraph helps perpetuate a stereotype about Jews--coming from, of all places, the JTA. A number of people were accused of money-laundering or whatever--according to reports, the JTA says. Which reports? Undisclosed third-party sources? The same place that a Chicago newspaoer got its information for the infamous headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman"? Were the five rabbis any more accused than anyone else? What if the charges are thrown out? Let's all be careful about categories and stereotypes. Not everyone up North, regardless of background, is a crook. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, It would be helpful to Jewish newspapers if the JTA could include the text of the story about the Jewish baseball fans--not just the video. Thanks, AR down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Please, JTA--Rabbi Eric Yoffie is president of the Union for Reform Judaism, not the Union of Reform Judaism. Otherwise, your article is great! The Jewish Telegraph Association doing a wonderful job of covering the news! Shalom-you-all from AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, According to web sites, the director of the Robert I. Lappin Foundation spells her name Deborah Coltin, not Deboah. One can only deplore the Madoff spectacle and other evildoing that dominate the news. But what about the many people who quietly help others, yet never look for recognition? Let's put more personal emphasis on doing good works, rather than endlessly focusing our attention on scandalous wrongdoers. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, I wonder what JTA means by "American voters". Does the term refer only to voters who live in the United States--or to those who live in various countries in North or South America? Are we in the U.S. the only "Americans"? (is that ethnocentric?) Secondly, is a poll of 800 registered voters (from wherever?) sufficient to establish how the many tens of millions of "American voters" stand regarding Israel?. Which 800 people were polled? Which states or countries were they from? Were they from big cities like those down South or from small towns like those up North? How do we know that those polled generally represent either U.S. voters' opinions or the opinions of people from various countries in the Western Hemisphere? AR, down South, where some of us regard ourselves as the primary "American voters" 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Will UJC really change its name? This sounds like speculation by one person. What if UJC decides to leave the name as is--or ignores the presumed matter of name change? Did Israel allegedly take the Catholic Church's funds? Af first, supposedly so--now, we hear it otherwise. Or the matter isn't discussed, at all. Did Israeli forces really attack Arab fishing boats? An adversarial source is quoted. Does that make the alleged report worthy of consideration? Should Israeli sources even bother to respond to the Arab allegation? Saying that something is "reportedly" so doesn't make it newsworthy. After all, Dewey "reportedly" defeated Truman. AR, down South, where Confederate forces were said to have been victorious in the last battle of the War Between the States 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Again, JTA picks up and goes along with second-hand predictions and unsubstantiated media mongering. As it turns out, Israel is NOT seizing Catholic assets--despite what "Italian and Catholic media previous reported"--as well as JTA, as a perceptive commenator noted. I think Jewish newspapers deserve better than to be misled by derivative and clever guesswork and "news reports" that "reportedly" are so but do not turn out to be so. Dewey did defeat Truman, didn't he, JTA? AR down South, where we who who really won the War Between the States. (That's what we were told, anyway.) 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, In my estimation, your article based on anonymous gossip and tipsters, name dropping, judging people by the money they are supposed to have or control, and unsubstantiated predictions about who will lead the UJC. (Dewey did defeat Truman--didn't he, JTA?) There are misspelled words like joing for joining. The references to mega-money and small-market communities are dispiriting. Is this how we purportedly judge community leaders? Or is that just more JTA gossip? Anyway, I hope the UJC budget cut wasn't just cut "from $37 million this year to $30.3 in 2009-10." You probably mean $30.3 million--or is that correct? AR down South, where news is based on facts, not gossip and speculation . 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article about the secret Jews of the Southwest is interesting. Your article includes this statement:: As the rabbi takes the Torah around the sanctuary to be kissed, the congregation sings "Etz chayim chai, l'amachazikim bah" (“A tree of life to all those who hold fast to it ...”) and Carrasco tears up at the last verse: "Hashiveinu hashem elecha v'nashuva" -- “Return us to you, God, and we shall return.” My comment: As all Southwesterners know, the first statement (sung when the Torah scroll is being returned to the Ark, not necessarily when it is being carried around the sanctuary to be kissed) should read: "Etz chayim hee (not chai), l'machazikim (not l'amachazikim) bah". And the second quotation properly should capitalize the word Hashem (a reference to the divine name). Another letter writer speaks of "the Nuevo Laredo area in north Mexico south of McAllen, Texas." Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas. I wonder whether Nuevo Laredo really is south of McAllen, Texas, a bustling metropolis located in the south Texas Valley--7 miles from the Texas-Mexican border, not far from the Gulf coast. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, would possibly be somewhat northwest of McAllen, Texas. All the cities mentioned are largely Hispanic--and there may be many stories that people in these cities have to tell about possible Jewish roots. Thank you for considering this. AR in the erudite Southwest, where "Etz Chayim hee" is well known to daveners of various backgrounds 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Oh, come on, JTA, your headline and lead angle are silly. Your headline reads: "Bibi gets his first date thrill, but what about the relationship?" Why engage in inappropriate banter about a "first date"? Why not present serious reporting of a significant meeting between two heads of state? (The "first date" wording in the headline and lead paragraphs gives me the impression that the dating angle was superimposed on a news report that originally had read appropriately.) But was it the first meeting of Obama and Netanyahu? Perhaps as heads of state, but the White House version of their dialogue indicates that this was not their first meeting. Thus, comparing their meeting to a "first date" is inaccurate, unseemly and misleading. AR down South, where we know better than to confuse flippant references with serious reporting 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article quotes Biden and Kerry as calling for a "settlement freeze" by Israel. But which settlements? Are all settlements bad or questionable? What about settlements in Israel proper? Does your article refer to settlements in disputed territories? The article doesn't say which settlements might be at issue. An ad next to the article promotes something called a "Settlement Loan." I guess that's something else. But I still wonder which settlements Biden and Kerry might be referring to. And what's wrong with settlements? Shalom-you all from AR down South, where our historic settlements are safeguarded by regional tradition 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Please, JTA--it's the Union for Reform Judaism, not the Union of Reform Judaism. While JTA tells us what the Reform rabbis have to say about what U.S. policy should be regarding Afghanistan, I wonder what spokesmen for other movements might have to say. 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, The JTA headline reads: Axelrod: Bibi-Barack meeting ‘will happen in the very near future’ Maybe it's my Southern sensibility speaking, but the White House advisor is referred to, in the headline, by his last name, while two heads of state, including U.S. President Barack Obama, of all people, are addressed alliteratively by their first name or nickname. (How about Cesar for Cesar Chavez or Angela for Angela Merkel, JTA?) Oh, well, times and sensitivities have changed, down South, at least. I don't know about up North. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, A "kosher-style" Seder in the White House. It's great that the White House had a Seder. But what's this "kosher-style" business? In some places, so I hear, use of the term "kosher style" is forbidden, as some people consider the term misleading. If there is a "kosher style," is there also a "treif style"? What might be served at a "kosher-style" Seder? Thanks for considering this. AR, doiwn South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your headline reads: "Army chief of chaplains calls for Passover fast." Well, did he mention Passover? He called for prayer and fasting on April 8, but Passover, in any event, doesn't begin until that evening. I think your headline misconstrues his intent. At the same time, April 8 is, in fact, a fast day--it's the Fast of the Firstborn, preceding Passover. True, if one goes to a Torah-study session on the morning of April 8, one is exempt from fasting--but my Jewish calendar does list April 8 as "Taanit Bechorim"--the fast of the firstborn. So, in a sense, the Army chief of chaplains may have been onto the right idea, after all. April 8 is also the day when we say the blessing of the sun. My advice: Please don't look at the sun! A quick glance, at most, before saying the blessing, is more than sufficient. Happy Passover from AR down South, where it's often sunny, and the people don't need to talk too fast 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article speaks of the Omer as the period between the first day of Passover and the day before Shavuot. But I think the Omer begins on the second night of Passover. Also, another clever JTA story about Passover speaks of kosher-style cuisine. But kosher-style is a questionable term to use, particularly in Jewish media. In some places, it may forbidden or even illegal for an eatery to describe itself as :"kosher style," which could be misleading. Kosher-style is a contradiction in terms, particularly if the eatery serves obviously nonkosher products. Thank you for considering this. AR down South, where we try to use Jewish terminology correctly 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article about the Jerusalem mayor variously spells his name. More to the point,, it includes this sentence: The neighborhood slated for demolition is comprised of houses built illegally by Palestinian residents of Jerusalem on land that had been set aside 20 years ago as open green space for an archeological garden where King David may have written the Song of Songs. First, the AP Stylebook says the word "comprise" is best used in the active voice. Composed is the word you would want, in the first sentence, not comprised. Second, you state that King David may have written the Song of Songs. Could he have been the author? The first verse of the Song of Songs attributes the work to Solomon; "modern scholars"--whoever they might be--may question even that, but the writer of the Song of Songs probably was not King David. Thank you for considering this. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article on Netanyahu's being designated to form a new government in Israel is next to a photo of Peres and Netanyahu. But I think that Peres is the one on the left, and Netanyahu is the one on the right--despite what your cutline says. And I think that rebuild is the word you want in the 4th paragraph, not rebuilt; and publicly, not publicy, is the appropriate word the 4th paragraph. Also, I disagree with referring cleverly to welfare and education funding as "goodies" that the religious parties want. Don't the other parties have their own demands? Are those also "goodies'? Finally, I continue to disagree with predicting what will happen in the Israeli election mess. (Similarly, a major Internet news service already told us who would win the Academy Awards, even before they were presented..) Thank you for considering this. AR down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article states: "Likud's Netanyahu undoubtedly will succeed in assembling a coalition government and assuming the post of prime minister." For the sake of Israel's national unity, I certainly hope he will assemble such a coalition government, and it's likely that he just might assume the post of prime minister. But only those possessing prophetic powers really know if and when this might happen. What if other events intervene? What if Olmert somehow holds on to power, despite allegations against him? What if other political arrangements are made in Israel--whatever they might be? Dewey really defeated Truman--didn't he, JTA? AR, down South, where he know who really won the War Between the States 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, A national-unity government in Israel? That would be great, if it happens. But let's not jump the gun with our observations and predictions. Wasn't Livni supposed to have been the "winner"? Didn't Dewey defeat Truman? Or, did some Northern news source try to decide what the news was to be before the matter was decided? Shalom-you-all from AR down South, where Dixie domination is the wave of the future 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, In your article on French Holocaust guilt, the word sited is used, when, I think, you mean cited. Also, at the end, the word you want is "avant-garde," not avant-guard." Thanks for considering this. AR down South, where our advanced intellectual are truly the nation's avant-garde 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Here comes the Dixie sun: You have Schachter-Shalomi spelled ttwo ways: Schachter or Shachter? Is it really Shalomi (not Shlomi?) Don't you-all know up North? And the name of the organization in Conservative Judaism is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism; in Reform, the group is named the Union for Reform Judaism. Down South, our erudite teachers taught us to keep track of these differences. Shalom-you-all from AR, down South, where the sun always shines brightly all the way across Dixie 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your latest headline reads: Votes in, but real winner still uncertain, I thought you had stated that Livni was victorious--or maybe she was--or wasn't! (Was it Livni or or her party that appeared to have come out ahead?) Anyway, let's all follow the JTA example of predicting the news before it happens, in the spirit of that great headline: "Dewey Defeats Truman." Shalom-you-all from AR down South, where we all know who really won the Civil War 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Congratulations, JTA--you pronounced Livni the winner, based on exit polls. She looks like the winner--but are you sure? Have the votes been counted? What about the previous Peres-Netanyahu contest? Did it come out the way it was predicted? Your guiding light appears to be the famous or infamous "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline. (So I once read, the Chicago Tribune corrected the headline in later editions.) Predicting the news is tricky. I hope you're right this time. AR, down South, where we were correctly taught that victorious Confederate forces defeated Union troops in the last battle of the Civil War--otherwise known as the War Between the States 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear folks at JTA, Your article includes this sentence: Weinberg is lauded for taking a non-judgmental approach to outreach. He welcomed atheists and non-believers to his yeshiva, saying he would make them better atheists. He even reportedly allowed a practicing Muslim to study at Aish, even though the student prayed five times a day to Mecca. My comment: Would the student have prayed five times a day to Mecca? I think the student would have prayed facing Mecca or toward Mecca, but he would not have "prayed five times a day to Mecca." Also, I question the contrasting, somewhat invidious comparisons between Aish HaTorah and Chabad emissaries. Both appear to use personal as well as intellectual approaches in drawing people closer to Judaism. Chabad is not at issue in this article; Aish is. And why don't you refer to the rabbi properly as Rabbi Weinberg--not Weinberg? What's wrong with giving rabbis the titles they deserve, rather than cutting off their titles? Shalom, you-all, from AR down South, where rabbis and other people are respectfully addressed by their appropriate titles 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Correcting my earlier comment, your article mentions both Leiberman and Lieberman, and you give Avigdor as the first name of Leiberman, then refer to someone named Lieberman. So, I might guess that his name is actually Avigdor Lieberman (not Leiberman?). Or is this right? Thank you again. Shalom-you-all from AR, down South, where we eruditely correct our own mistakes 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, In your report on Israel's upcoming election, you refer to a politician named Lieberman. But his first name isn't given, to my knowledge. What is his first name? Isn't it Avigdor? You might want to give the man a first name. Thank you for considering this. Shalom you-all from AR, down South in erudite Dixie 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA,' Your article about the temporary lifeline for schools in the former Soviet Union is most comprrehensive--but it repeats two paragraphs: According to the Chabad-run federation's Web site, Leviev approached Eckstein to ask for the infusion of cash to support Jewish schools here. After Lev Leviev “learned that the State of Israel, the Jewish Agency and many other international charities would not be providing more than the amounts sufficient to ensure the continuance of Jewish community programs,” a press release says, Leviev approached “IFCJ to request aid in salvaging this system.” You might want to correct this repetition. Shalom-you-all from AR, down South, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Kvelling with Obama is a great idea! But just how would you define kvelling? Happily celebrating? Rejoicing? More to the point, I think you have the chief of staff's name misspelled. It's Rahm Emanuel, not Emaunel. And the AP Stylebook indicates that Obama's new title is spelled commander in chief (without hyphens), rather than commander-in-chief. Thanks and Shalom-you-all from AR down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Please, with all due respect to Israel's Minister of Welfare and Social Services: His name is Isaac Herzog, not Issac Herzog--according to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website listing and the Wikipedia website listing. In this article and in the news brief about Israel's treatment center at the Gaza border, you spelled Herzog's first name Issac. Thank you, and Shalom-you-all from all the erudite folks down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA,\ With all due respect, Rabbi Michael Signer was Abrams Professor of Jewish Thought and Culture in the Theology Department at the University of Notre Dame. The name of the university is the University of Notre Dame, not Notre Dame University. Thanks for considering this. Shalom-you-all from AR, in erudite Dixie, south of the University of Notre Dame 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your headline says Obama is "mostly silent" on Gaza, and your article speaks questionably about Democrats supposedly being increasingly "antsy" about his purported refusal to weigh in on the Gaza war. Then you report, "Obama said he was paying close attention to the civilian casualties on both sides. "The loss of civilian life in Gaza and in Israel is a source of deep concern to me," he said. "And after Jan. 20th, I'm going to have plenty to say about the issue." That's not what being "mostly silent" means to me. Why should a quoted person be depicted as "mostly silent"? Should he have been expected to go on at length? Even if you and your JTA pals disagree, at least spell Haas correctly; you have his name spelled two ways Regards from erudite Dixie, AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Hi, you-all at JTA, from AR, down South: Your report on Obama's supposed silence on Gaza may be out of date. Consider this Reuters news report from MSNBC, in which Obama was quoted: U.N.: 30 die in Israeli strike near Gaza school Obama says he's deeply concerned by growing number of civilian casualties Reuters msnbc.com news services updated 33 minutes ago GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - An Israeli bombardment hit outside a U.N. school where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people — many of them children — as international outrage grew over civilian deaths. President-elect Barack Obama, breaking his silence about the Gaza conflict, said the loss of life in Gaza and Israel "is a source of deep concern for me." But Obama otherwise said he would adhere to his principle that only President George W. Bush would speak for American foreign policy at this time. 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, My condolence on the death of the Holtzbergs' son. I have these queries: 1. Your article says he died late Tuesday night and was buried Tuesday morning. Really? 2. You say he died "of the genetic disease." Which one? Should the genetic disease be mentioned at all? 3. Wouldn't it be better to refer to the parents as Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg? Thank you for considering this. It would be commendable for JTA to check its copy (even if the copy is lifted from another publication) before sending the copy out. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 DEAR JTA, Your article on a possibly nuclear Iran contains this sentence: Finding common ground with Moscow gibes with Israel’s strategy, relayed earlier this month ,,, I think jibes, not gibes, is the word you want. To gibe is to taunt or sneer; to jibe colloquially means to agree--according to the AP Stylebook. (Maybe the JTA pals could provide one for you.) Thank you for considering this. AR down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article on the Madoff scandal includes a reference, in the eighth paragraph, to someone named Ruskay. But his/her first name is never given. (This is an article for putting a person's name and his/her job description adjacent to each other.) What is Ruskay's first name? Thank you for considering this. AR, down South 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article about the new liturgy includes reference to the "discomfort many feel with the traditional blessing thanking God for making women in his image, an alternative to the blessing for men that thanks God for not making them women." But, in fairness, I think the statement misrepresents what is found in the traditional prayer book. In my Orthodox Siddur, the blessing for women ends "she-asani kirtzono"--which would be better ttanslated as offering thanks for His having "made me according to His will"--with no reference to being made in the divine image. For the man, the traditional blessing ends: "shelo asani isha"--"who has not made me a woman." The men's blessing has been traditionally explained in a positive way: Men offer thanks for the greater number of commandments that they must uphold. Both men and women are obviously made in the divine image. Yes, the traditional blessings said by men and women have been upheld, criticized, omitted and amended, but at least, let's not confuse the divine image with being made "according to His will." Shalom-you-all from AR down South, where we try to get our facts straight 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article about the Indian Jews is magnificent! But I would question the grammar of the sentence: The maze of dusty alleyways that surround the now infamous building, Nariman House, are bustling. I think the word maze takes a singular verb. Only the object of the preposition is plural. Also, is the man's name Antony Korenstein or Kornstein? You have it both ways. Shalom-you-all from AR, down South, where we try to express ourselves correctly and politely 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Your article about Jews in the GOP contains a number of quoted statements that may unfairly and inaccurately categorize and stereotype Jews. "Jewish voters are very demanding," we are told. (Whch ones? I might ask.) "Yellow-Dog Jewish Democrats," whatever they are, are also mentioned. (Who are they?) The Jewish community even is suggestively depicted as "the Jewish Democrats whose formative years came during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt age." (Is that an apt quote? Who, young or old, is referred to, in this quotation?.) Regardless of who states them, are all of these generalizations and categories fair or accurate, when referring to Jews? Do Jews typically go this or that way, politically? Maybe up North, many people may fit in categories, but here in the South, we're individuals, of various persuasions. I know Jews who supported Obama or McCain--or could not stand either of them. These Jewish voters, of various tendencies, are all Jews--not this or that JTA political category. We're not part of "the Jewish vote," whatever it is; we're people who have our own individual opinions, political, religious and otherwise. "Two Jews--three or more opinions"--that's the real Jewish way. AR down South, speaking only for myself 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Agriprocessors suspending production, you say. But then you say, production may resume. Which is it? Didn't Dewey really defeat Truman? Can news media predict how the news will come out? Only JTA knows! AR down South, speaking only for myself 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00 Dear JTA, Apparent election of Jerusalem's new mayor?--and that becomes JTA's instant fact?. He'll probably win, all right--but that could have been said about Dewey. "Dewey defeats Truman" appears to be your guiding philosophy. AR down South, speaking only for myself 2009-11-22T;16:45:00-05:00