This week in power: Gingrich, Tebow, YU Beacon, Matisyahu’s beard

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Gingrich’s gaffe
During a debate last Saturday night, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich referred to the Palestinians as an “invented” people, an error that has upset some potential voters. “Rather than scoring cheap and easy points, stand up for the values that made America great, summed up in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence,” ” title=”http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/12/newt-the-jews-and-an-invented-people.html” target=”_blank”>said David Remnick at The New Yorker: “You can be sure that Gingrich did not care a whit for what Palestinians, here or in the U.S., would think. The Palestinian vote will not decide swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, or, above all, Florida; a considerable shift in the Jewish vote could.” And Thomas Friedman of The New York Times worries about bigger issues at play with the election. “I’d never claim to speak for American Jews, but I’m certain there are many out there like me, who strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to a state, who understand that Israel lives in a dangerous neighborhood yet remains a democracy, but who are deeply worried about where Israel is going today,” ” title=”http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/12/13/3090725/football-players-signature-move-has-jews-and-gentiles-alike-tebowing-in-odd-locations” target=”_blank”>some tangential connections. “Unlike some other blue-staters, I do not fear people of faith. I fear people of certainty.  The worldwide struggle going on right now is not between good and evil, but between certainty and doubt,” ” title=”http://columbustelegram.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_a6eff1ec-235c-11e1-a729-001871e3ce6c.html” target=”_blank”>asked Susan Stamper Brown in the Columbus Telegram. And others argue that reactions like Hammerman’s are “” title=”http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/nyregion/yeshiva-university-stunned-by-tale-of-a-tryst.html” target=”_blank”>beginning an outcry over censorship on campus. The editors stood up against the university and lost their funding as a result. “Instead of responding to such trivial provocation with nonchalant disregard, they’ve raised hell and probably made this the most read story ever of the Beacon,” ” title=”http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/adam_dickters_continuum/free_speech_and_student_journalism” target=”_blank”>said Adam Dickter in The Jewish Week. “They deserve credit for not invoking a ludicrous Big Brother defense.” What the article has done is open up discussion – ” title=”http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/famed-hasidic-reggae-star-sheds-the-hasid-part/” target=”_blank”>ditched his beard this week, prompting many to speculate about what it means for the singer’s spirituality. “A beard does not make a man. I am sure some famous bard centuries ago wrote something along those lines. Matisyahu’s talent as a singer and performer have little to do with what clothes he wears and what kind of facial hair he prefers,” ” title=”http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/12/jewish-rapper-matisyahu-shaves-his-signature-beard/” target=”_blank”>warned Kate Shellnut at the Houston Chronicle, because from Matisyahu’s brief statement “it seems he is aware of his relationship with God through Judaism and wants to adjust to a way that makes ancient traditions most meaningful to his own life.” See before and after photos ” title=”http://www.tabletmag.com/100-films/84756/no-1-e-t-the-extra-terrestrial/” target=”_blank”>Number 1 Jewish movie of all-time, upsetting some protesters. “The Tablet writers admit at the beginning that they can’t define a Jewish film and don’t try. After all, who can even define, to everyone’s satisfaction, a Jew? ” title=”http://blogs.indiewire.com/kohn/d9eaa960-22c2-11e1-8f3c-123138165f92″ target=”_blank”>said Eric Kohn at IndieWire. “The list is a terrific read, and definitely includes some viable contenders, especially when you consider the entire idea of Jewishness as an expansive concept.”