Franken in Recount
MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Senate race in Minnesota between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and comedian Al Franken is headed for a recount. Franken, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, said he’ll seek a recount under state laws requiring them in close elections, citing statewide reports of voting problems. Out of three million votes cast, Coleman declared victory with a 708-vote lead in the final tally. The candidates, both Jewish, fought a bitter campaign, with Franken, a Democrat, accusing Coleman of corruption.
Blind Rabbi Loses
NEWYORK — A blind rabbi lost his race for U.S. Congress. Rabbi Dennis Shulman, a Democrat, was defeated by three-term incumbent Rep. Scott Garrett in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District by a 56-42 per cent margin. The Reform rabbi, who received national attention for his unique personal story, called Garrett “too conservative” for the district and accused the Republican of taking an improper tax break and being too close to a mortgage company linked to the economic crisis. Garrett denied any wrongdoing.
Gay Jew Wins
DENVER — A Jewish man made history as the first openly gay non-incumbent male elected to the U.S. Congress. Jared Polis, 33, will represent Colorado’s heavily Democratic 2nd Congressional District, which includes Boulder and other Denver suburbs. Polis is a multimillionaire web entrepreneur who founded an Internet site for his parents’ greeting card company and donated more than $5 million to his campaign.
A Jewish Trump?
NEWYORK — Ivanka Trump has begun converting to Judaism. The daughter of real estate tycoon Donald Trump started the process at Kehilath Jeshurun, an Orthodox synagogue on Manhattan’s East Side, Ynetnews reported. Trump, 27, is engaged to Jewish businessman Jared Kushner. The former model is vice-president of her father’s firm. The couple will wed next year.
Arrests in Van Attack
BERLIN — Berlin police have arrested two teens in connection with a Nov. 1 attack on a van carrying a Chabad rabbi and eight rabbinical students. The suspects, 16- and 18-year-old males, confessed to the crime, according to news reports. Both come from families that immigrated to Germany, and at least one has roots in Lebanon.
