HOW MUCH IS THAT IN SHEKELS?

This was printed in the magazine Haaretz on September 9, 2007, and it’s on the Internet. The headline reads "MIAMI SYNAGOGUE AUCTIONS OFF SEATS ON eBAY FOR AT LEAST $1.8 MILLION."

"Just in time for the Jewish High Holidays, two lifetime front-row seats to services at the historic Temple Emanu-El synagogue in Miami Beach are being auctioned off on eBay with a minimum opening bid of $1.8 million. Besides getting to sit up front close to the rabbi, the winning bidder's family name will be engraved on Seats 1 and 2 of Row 1, and they will receive free parking, two custom-made prayer shawls and yarmulkes, and a hefty tax write-off. And it is for life. 'It's a gift that goes from one generation to another,' said Rabbi Kliel Rose, who came up with the concept with a little bit of chutzpah and the help of two congregants who work in advertising and marketing. The auction ends Monday morning, but as of Saturday evening, no one had made a bid. Rose said he was not surprised. He said the auction was more about gaining the attention of Jews who are disconnected from their faith."

Mollie’s reaction: If the target is Jews who are disconnected from their faith, then it makes no sense that those Jews would come up with that kind of money. What, they’ll be more likely to go to services if they have front-row seats? I'd rather just donate $1.8 million because the downside is that everyone will know whose seats those are, and the shulen menschen (and everyone else) will notice the two conspicuous absences week in and week out. If it's a publicity stunt, then it's counterproductive because it will be perceived by non-Jews as reinforcement of the stereotype connecting Jews with money. And I wish the press hadn’t picked up on this; it makes me wonder, “Is this good for the Jews?" Comments, anyone?

~