Monthly Archives: November 2008
Misfire: Todd Hasak-Lowy’s Very, Very Bad First Novel
In 2004, Nicholson Baker, lately celebrated in some quarters for his argument that World War II wasn’t quite worth the trouble, published a rather creepy, inconsequential novel entitled Checkpoint. The entire narrative consists of one character confiding in another his … Read More
The Long History of Jihad on the Subcontinent
Sixty hours of jihadist terror depradations throughout India’s financial capital, Mumbai — during which nearly 200 innocent victims were murdered, and 300 wounded — apparently ceased this Saturday, November 29, when Indian commandos slew the last three gunmen inside a … Read More
The Women of the Wall, Twenty Years On
Twenty years ago today, on December 1, 1988, for the first time in history, 70 Jewish women prayed together out loud as a group at the Western Wall (or "Kotel") in Jerusalem. Women have always prayed at the Kotel, often … Read More
Agriprocessors: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Since I last posted on Agriprocessors, shortly after the company was hit with more than 9,000 counts of child labor violations, the company’s "former" CEO (and still current VP) Rabbi Sholom M. Rubashkin was arrested on felony immigration and identity fraud charges. That was followed … Read More
Was Marx Right? The Auto Industry and the Bailout
There are two reasons we need to bail out the auto industry. The first, quite simply, is to buy time. Let’s say we agree that the American auto industry is doomed, and that a $25 billion bailout does nothing more … Read More
Chabad Rabbi and Rebbetzen Holtzberg of Mumbai, India: Precious Lives Cut Short By Terrorists
Hello everyone, I usually like to write about funny moments in life or the importance of putting humor to the not-so-funny moments. However, today is a day of mourning in Mumbai, India, and around the world. We must realize that in … Read More
Andy Warhol, Gay Marriage, and Accountability
A few weeks ago I went to see the new Andy Warhol exhibit, "Warhol’s Jews," at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. Though I’ve never cared for Warhol or his artwork– his refusal to truly speak about the themes … Read More
The Michelle Obama Files
Yesterday afternoon, in tandem with my original essay on Michelle Obama below, I joined a group of exceptional women including Anna Perez, the former Press Secretary for Barbara Bush, Leslie Morgan Steiner, the editor of the best-selling anthology Mommy Wars, … Read More