The RestoreTorah Umadda campaign is picking up steam. The NJ Voice and Opinion ran a large front page story that is mailed to 16,000 orthodox/traditional homes.This followed a front page 5 Towns Jewish Times article.In addition Commentator the Yeshiva College student paper had a page one story,and I have been invited to write an op-ed for the next edition.
Ira Rifkin of the Baltimore Jewish paper called erev Shabbat and he is writing a story for that paper and the Jerusalem Report.
In a few weeks when the students are back in school,and I return from the Jewish Agency meeting in Jerusalem we will evaluate where we are and plan for the future Thia could include a real web site dedicated to the issue that would invite students and faculty as well as alumni to participate. It has been suggested we start selling baseball caps (how ironic ) and sweatshirts with the RESTORE TORAH UMADDA label on it ..stay tuned.
Jeffrey Berkowitz who is a Special Asst to Pres Bush for Jewish Affairs, e-mailed me some commentary on the Bush-Abbas meeting.
It would appear that Abbas did get some leeway to allow Hamas into the political process,but the President was not in favor of this move,absent the surrender of all weapons and denouncing terrorism.No one believes Abbas can succeed He was strongly urged to exert leadership and that the incorporation of active terrorists into the political process is not really possible.
I have spoken to some Uzi Landau people prior to his US trip last week and they are exhibiting an increased confidence that he could beat Bibi.
It is sad to see Ms Miers floundering.As much as I favor having a conservative oriented philosophy,all of us should demand intellectual superiority for our High Court nominees.This is not a place for cronyism.Personally,the issues of affirmative action and assisted suicide as well as the influence of foreign courts are more important than Roe v Wade which is really settled law.At most the Court could be involved in late term abortions, and parental notification.It is hard to believe that the court would throw out our current laws. The nomination should be withdrawn and a well seasoned individual with a record to examine and defend should be appointed.
