The Gaydamak Campaign

18 Tishrei, 5769 (3rd day of Chol HaMoed Sukkot)

Let's face it: the guy doesn't have a chance. He would have a much better chance of winning an election in Sderot. So why is he running for the Mayor of Jerusalem? It could be that he knows that this time around he won't win, but he want's to "put himself on the political map." Perhaps he likes seeing his picture hanging from buildings in the Capital:



Who am I, a guy struggling with his overdraft, to argue with Arcadi Gaydamak?

The Final Rabinfest 2007 Update?

I sure hope so. Here's the latest festivity:

The left-wing Peace Now organization has demanded that a soccer club be probed because its team's fans booed the name of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin during a moment of silence before Sunday's game. Peace Now did not define what law the fans had broken.

The incident involved the Beitar Jerusalem team, whose management condemned the booing. "We are sure that the overwhelming majority of our fans will join us in condemning the calls," an official said.

The Beitar Jerusalem club will pay the price for their fans' heretical behavior:

The Israel Football Association has decided to punish the Betar Jerusalem soccer club for its fans' behavior at Sunday's game during a minute of silence for slain Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. The fans booed Rabin's name and chanted "Yigal Amir," who is serving a life sentence in prison for murdering Rabin.

The team's fans have been noted for unruly behavior and racist comments at games, but punishment has been rare until the booing was considered embarrassing enough to rule against Betar. The punishment will be decided later in the week, but a fine is the harshest punishment that can be applied, according to Voice of Israel government radio.

Beitar Jerusalem's owner, Arkadi Gaydamak, sides with the Beitar fans:

Russian-Israeli billionaire and Jerusalem mayoral candidate Arkadi Gaydamak said Monday that he would not condemn the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team. Several politicians condemned the team and its fans on Monday after fans whistled and booed during a moment of silence in memory of slain Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin on Sunday.

Gaydamak, who owns the team, blamed the game’s organizers for the incident. Holding a respectful moment of silence “is not appropriate for a soccer field,” he said.

Let's hope that this is the concluding event of Rabinfest 2007!

Update: See also Joe and Batya.

Gaydamak: The Next Mayor Of Jerusalem?

Word is out that Arcadi Gaydamak wants to be our mayor:

Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak announced Monday that he plans to run for Mayor of Jerusalem. “I have no doubt that the entire city will vote for me,” he said. Gaydamak said he plans to turn Jerusalem into “a symbol of peace and Judaism.”

Gaydamak has gained popularity in Israel through a series of highly publicized projects such as funding vacations for residents of the north during the Second Lebanon War, granting a free vacation in Eilat to children from Sderot, and holding a large party in honor of Independence Day with several famous singers.

Sources close to Gaydamak said he made the decision to run just days ago, when Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski criticized the annual march held in the city by Russian veterans of World War II. Lupolianski said that the march, funded by Gaydamak, disturbs city workers.

Well Mr. Gaydamak, yours truly does admire some of your charitable projects. However, your chances of getting my vote are very slim. Before you officially throw your hat into the ring, I recommend that you check in with Rabbi Elyashiv, the Gerrer Rebbe, and Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and see what they think.