The Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention takes place in Jerusalem this coming Sunday and unlike last year, there does not seem to be much whining or seething. In fact, the only negative post I have seen on the conference comes from none other than anti-Israel Tikun Olam Moron blogger Richard Silverstein.
http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2009/09/10/nefesh-bnefesh-jewish-blogging-conference/
Any newspaper articles about blogging naturally catch my eye. Al achat kama v’ kama (”even more so”) regarding Jewish blogging. So when I read that Israel would be hosting a conference for Jewish blogging my interest was piqued. But as soon as I began reading, my interest turned to horror (or something approximating it).
One of the most entertaining parts of writing this blog is bringing my readers unintentionally hilarious bits of Jewish or Israeli life, and this one will tickle your (ironic) funny bone. Before you begin, keep in mind that the conference sponsor, Nefesh B’Nefesh is the very-same American Jewish non-profit organization bringing new olim from America and other western countries and settling them, with the help of tax-deductible donations from American Jews, in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory. As the saying goes, your tax dollars hard at work. Here, by the way, is NBN’s little promo for living the phat life in Maaleh Adumim, one of the most contentious settlement projects dividing the U.S. and Israel in the debate over a freeze.
[Silverstein quotes article here, which ends as follows:Members of Nefesh B’Nefesh explained that the conference’s aim is to “deepen collaboration and coordination between Jewish bloggers around the world in order to further join the interests of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
The conference will host officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Information who will attempt to recruit the bloggers for these goals.]
Now here I was ready to reserve my airline ticket until I read that last line. Am I prepared to be recruited by the PM or PR or Mossad or whoever, to become a hasbarist on behalf of the State of Israel? No thank you. I’ll leave that task to David Abitbol, Aussie Dave and the humus eaters of Nefesh B’Nefesh. I’d prefer to be able to look myself in the mirror and say I’m still my own man, not bought and paid for, whether through mammon or ideology by anyone or anything, except The (Jewish) Good as defined by yours truly.
Ahh, dear. Still bitter and twisted after all these years.
Incidentally, this is what Silverstein sees when he looks at himself in the mirror.
As Yoda would say, if had to look at that in the mirror every day, also be bitter and twisted, you would. Yes, hmmm.
