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David P. Goldman is a senior editor of First Things.

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Norma-tive Judaism

From First Thoughts

Win some, lose some: The Daily Mail today reports that Lindsay Lohan proposes to convert to Judaism. According to Ha’aretz this morning, Actress Lindsay Lohan is planning to convert to Judaism to show her committment to her Jewish girlfriend D.J. Samantha Ronson, according to the British . . . . Continue Reading »

The First Demographic Default

From First Thoughts

Ukraine is the financial basket case of the day. Bloomberg News reports this morning: S&P cut Ukraine’s credit rating by two levels last week to CCC+, seven below investment grade and the lowest in Europe. S&P also cut Latvia to below investment grade. Investors demand a record 28.1 . . . . Continue Reading »

The Man of the Crowd at the Inauguration

From First Thoughts

Edgar Allan Poe’s bicentennial birthday passed unremarked by this publication January 19. For the most part I considered Poe useful mainly as a horrible example of how not to write. Every so often, though, something characteristic took shape in his odd imagination. One of his lesser-known . . . . Continue Reading »

Pro Judaeis

From First Thoughts

The Italian Rabbinate has declined to participate in the Italian Catholic Church’s annual Day of Judaism, held every January 17 since 1990 to further Catholic—Jewish dialogue, in protest against the prayer ” Pro Judaeis ” for the conversion of the Jews, included in the newly . . . . Continue Reading »

The Mustard Seed in Palestine

From First Thoughts

Masab Youssef, the 30-year-old son of a top Hamas operative in the West Bank, spoke to Ha’aretz today about his conversion to Christianity, his respect for Israel, and his conviction that political organizations guided by Islam never will make peace with the Jewish State. Masab’s . . . . Continue Reading »

Catholic Destiny in China

From First Thoughts

La Stampa’s Asia editor Francesco Sisci offers a contrarian vision of a ” Catholic ‘Destiny’ in China ” on the newspaper’s blog today, predicting an early rapprochement between the Vatican and the Chinese government. China already has 130 million Christians, . . . . Continue Reading »