The Money-Move Business

This is getting coverage:-

DOTHAN, Ala. - Larry Blumberg is looking for a few good Jews to move to his corner of the Bible Belt. Blumberg is chairman of the Blumberg Family Relocation Fund, which is offering Jewish families as much as $50,000 to relocate to Dothan, an overwhelmingly Christian town of 58,000 that calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World.

...Launched in June, the Blumberg program has put advertisements in Jewish newspapers in Boston, Miami, Providence, R.I., and Washington, and it plans to expand the campaign.

"I think it's important that we try to find young people that we could use in our religious school, our Sunday school and help in the way of trying to create more of a family-type atmosphere in our temple," Blumberg said.

..."Our program is distinctive because it's Dothan, but it's also distinctive because of the type of financial assistance," said Rob Goldsmith, executive director of Blumberg Family Jewish Community Services, which will screen applicants and administer the grant program.

More...

Now, this report above reminded of two things.

First, Israel's government is also in the money-move business:-

Israel's government on Sunday postponed discussion of landmark legislation that would pay Jewish settlers to leave their homes in the West Bank, but said it would take up the matter next week. At the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his Cabinet that Israel would likely have to uproot West Bank settlers as part of a future peace agreement.

In light of Israel's continuing peace talks with the Palestinians, he added, "it would be proper" to think about providing cash incentives for settlers to leave voluntarily.

...Dubbed "evacuation-compensation," versions of the proposal have been pushed in recent years by dovish lawmakers...Under the proposed bill, Jewish settlers willing to leave their homes in territory thought likely to be transferred to the Palestinians would receive payment from the government.

Now, I know that Blumberg means well and I fuly understand his position although I am all for Jews returning home, to Israel. But, at least, there's nothing venal in all this. That is not my view of Israel government's outlook.


And second, and this is a revenant's inside joke, Dothan is in...Northern Samaria.

And it's still under Israel's control.

But if Olmert hears about this, will he demand of Blumberg to stop importing Jews?