Posted by Hemant Mehta in Let me just quote the first paragraph of the article:
DOTHAN, Ala. — Larry Blumberg is looking for a few good Jews to move to his corner of the Bible Belt. Blumberg is chairman of an organization 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. Get involved at Temple Emanu-El and stay at least five years, the group’s leaders say, and the money doesn’t have to be repaid.
You will need to supply “Rabbinic reference,” but if you qualify, you could get money in the following areas:
Grants are available, for those who qualify, up to $50,000 in the following general categories (and maximum amounts):
- Relocation – moving and resettling ($7,500)
- Housing – primary residence ($7,500)
- Temple Emanu-El membership ($1,000)
- Repaying outstanding educational loans ($15,000)
- Small business seed money ($15,000)
- Children’s private secular K-12 education ($7,500)
- Other outstanding financial obligations ($7,500)
The Blumbergs want to relocate up to twenty Jewish families… which brings the potential amount of the treasure chest up to $1,000,000.
(I’m a math teacher. I did that one in my head!)
Who wants to convert with me?
I have student loans that must be paid off.
(via The Invisible Pink Unicorn)
I might be willing to convert for five years. Would that work?
There’s a similar situation in part of Boston, but it’s mainly an interest-free loan to buy a house.
Not really unusual.
That’s not enough money for me to live in a small town, especially one here in the Bible Belt!
Good grief, the temple actually charges for membership? At $1,000 per person?!?
Oy, vey! Imagine if they had to pay the retail price!
(*rimshot*)
~David D.G.
Umm, Why? If you really want your own community, why not just move where there already is one? It’d be a whole lot less expensive!
I’d only convert (temporarily) for at least 6 figures. OTOH, $50K probably goes much further in Alabama than in L.A..
So who will be paying the medical bills for all the little inbred children in a few years?
Is there anywhere a cash incentive program for getting atheists to move out?
Bear in mind, there’s no weekly collection.
There are some very old (in American terms) Jewish communities down South, some going back to the colonial period, but they’ve dissipated over the years. I can understand that the few remaining holdouts would want to revitalize them.
That being said – no way, no how.
Actually, that’s not an unusual idea. I’ve heard of churches that charge annual membership “fees.” It would never work at the Church I used to attend. The membership would dry up instantly.
Mormons are also required to “tithe” and that’s a literal requirement. 10% on the GROSS.
I also used to tithe, but there was no requirement. I WANT A REFUND!
Polly, did you save the receipts?
Reminds me of that scene from Seinfeld:
“I’d like to return this jacket.”
“The reason?”
“For spite.”
“I’m afraid we can’t let you return a jacket for spite, sir.”
“Okay, I changed my mind.”
“Well, you already said spite… !”
Better think again, Hemant. Five years in Texas is equivalent to a lifetime anywhere else.
‘Cause EVERYTHING’S bigger in Texas!
My MIL was Jewish. Doesn’t that make me Jewish by marriage? OTOH, it would take a lot more than $50k to make me move to Alabama.
I’ve driven through that part of Alabama.. You don’t wanna live there..
@cipher,
LOL! I remember that episode.
Although, in my case it would be failure to fulfill the stipulations of the contract.