Many have already posted about it, and I am really too exhausted to post something lengthy and articulate, so I’ll instead post some random thoughts and observations.
- For me, the highlight of the evening was meeting the various bloggers present, which invariably turned out to be a gigantic game of Jewish geography. Included was the wife of an ex-teacher of mine, two Aussies with whom I attended seminary, and a friend of my wife. I also met a number of bloggers with whom I have online discussions.
- None of the anonymous bloggers I met for the first time in person conformed to the image of them I had in my head.
- Only after the conference did I realize how many bloggers there I did not meet.
- The journalist of the infamous (dishonest) Ha’aretz article was there, wearing a skullcap. In other words, looking like his own worst nightmare – all right wing and religious. He also happens to bear a striking similarity to an ex-child star of a cheesy 90’s American sitcom that sounds like Raved by the Hell. I had my picture taken with him, so I could possibly then publish a Separated at Birth post. But that could be unethical – like his article.
- I wonder how he’ll portray the conference in his next article, given that the panel discussions indicated the diversity of religious beliefs and political views (although the vast majority of participants were identifiably religious).
- You could tell it was a Jewish conference by the fact most of the bloggers walking in made a beeline for the buffet table. That, and the fact most participants looked all right wing and religious (I know, I am milking it for all it’s worth)
- While Bibi is a great speaker, and I agree with much of what he says, I took exception to the fact that his speech seemed to be more a campaign speech than anything else. He was also more about telling the bloggers in attendance how to accomplish effective Habara than listening to them.