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July 18, 2008

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The Sanctification and Importance of Time

Caroline B. Glick: US wants it absolutely clear it has no intention of attacking Iran's nuclear installations

Mona Charen: What can you say about a people who welcome a child murderer as a hero?

JWisdom:: Living a dog's life, dawg? by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 17, 2008

Steven Emerson: Deals with devils

Libby Lazewnik: One Step at a Time

JWisdom:: Leader the follower? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 16, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Poaching humans

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Meaty pasta salad with summer berries perfect for warm evenings

JWisdom:: Keeping A Secret by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 15, 2008

Dennis Prager: False Equation: Opposing Same-Sex Marriage and Opposing Interracial Marriage

Joel Greenberg: Researchers look to Israeli circumcision program to help combat AIDS 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part V: Why Judaism ISN'T Spiritual by Rabbi David Aaron

July 14, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A warning from Canada to those who value life

Jonathan Tobin: 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism, Part II

July 11, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: It's hard to be humble when you're great

Caroline B. Glick: A tale of two hostages

JWisdom:: Profane for Prophet by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 8, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Duty to save gullible from themselves?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Islamists have the West just where they want us

JWisdom:: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 3: The Fully Loaded Human Being by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 3, 2008

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget (TOUCHING!)

Jeff Jacoby: Israel still paying for its defeat

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part IV by Rabbi David Aaron

JWisdom:: The Moses Method by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 2, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Appeasers Make Poor Patriots

The Kosher Gourmet By Kathleen Purvis: Slaw, y'all: For BBQs or Sabbath dinner, these southern recipes are something else!

JWisdom:: Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Jewish Rx for A Simpler Life

July 1, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. I think it's important to leave a legacy to my children. How much should I save towards this end?

Paul Greenberg:A President who is history deficient?

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism

June 30, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Remembering the architect of Torah Judaism for the modern world

Abe Novick: Hulk: Still a Jew?

JWisdom: : Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 2: The Abandoned Child

June 26, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Quantum leap to evil

Caroline B. Glick: Victimized families must not be allowed to dictate policy

June 25, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Today in Biblical History: King Jeroboam of Israel prevents pilgrimage to Jerusalem

Jonathan Tobin: Real Friends and Real Enemies

JWisdom: Raping of reason By Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 25, 2008

Steven Emerson: Kristof: Never Mind the Terrorists

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: Mediterranean Flyover: Telegraphing an Israeli Punch?

JWisdom: Rabbi David Aaron: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part III

June 24, 2008

Caroline B. Glick: What were they thinking!?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Guilty knowledge

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Warping Innocence

June 23, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Diploma dilemma

Jeff Jacoby: A world without children

JWisdom: Rabbi Dovid Gross: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality --- Introduction

June 20, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's darkest week

JWisdom: We aren't worthy? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 19, 2008

Rabbi Elazar Meisels: The saints who don't come marchin' in

Chris Christoff: Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub

June 18, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Still Dancing Around Jerusalem

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky: Chilled fruit and vegetable soups

JWisdom: Souls Need A Check Up? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 17, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Baby Einstein

Caroline B. Glick: Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron

June 16, 2008

Varda Branfman: Bob Dylan, won't you please come home?

Diana West: Academic dares to question the 'religion of peace'

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Positive Backfire

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review August 31, 2006 / 7 Elul 5766

Unreal Real Estate

By Lloyd Garver


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Want to sell your house? Before putting it on the market, you'll probably want it to look as good as possible. So, you'll do a few things like paint the gutters, fix that leaky faucet, and finally throw away all those piles of papers you're never going to look at.


But that's the old-fashioned way. Today, the business of getting a house to look as good as possible before you sell it is much more sophisticated. In fact, there are professionals you can hire to do this for you called "home stagers."


They'll toss your old furniture in storage and rent you better looking stuff. They'll place beautiful plants all over the house and they'll hang impressive paintings on the walls.


When I first learned about this, it seemed a bit excessive, but I figured "business is business." That was until I heard about the latest thing that home stagers will do to make your house seem more appealing — they'll hire actors to be a fake happy family in your home.


Since I live in the city built on fantasy, I assumed that this "home staging" was just an L.A. thing. But it's happening all over the country. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but if it's going on in Tupelo, Miss., can Paris be far behind?


There is even an organization that trains and "accredits" home stagers. Their Web site explains that an "ASP (an Accredited Staging Professional) is a professional who has completed a rigorous three-day training program that teaches specific techniques and concepts in home presentation and Staging. This includes one day of class room instruction and another day of actual hands on "staging in a real home on the market for sale."


Wow, after that impressive training, I'm surprised these people aren't performing brain surgery on the kitchen table when prospective buyers come by. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have put that idea out there.


Now that we know that the house might be filled with actors, how do we know that the "owners" we're introduced to aren't just hired by the owners? How do we know that the "grandma," who's sobbing about moving out of a place that has been "more of a member of the family than just a house," isn't an actress? And how do we know that couple that's ooh-ing and ah-ing about the house and loudly shouting that they're going to put in a bid today aren't really actors?


At least one Southern California company likes to stage a phony birthday party while prospective buyers look at the house. That way, the would-be buyer can see a crowd of happy people having a good time in the home. Some stagers make sure there's a fire in the fireplace, install a good swing set in the backyard, and put romantic, scented candles in the master bedroom.


As UCLA's assistant marketing professor, Ely Dahan, says, "It's all about appealing to the emotions of the buyers, subtly suggesting things to help them envision themselves living in this house."


Well, if that's the goal, I think the actors they hire should be conveying more inviting images than just a birthday party. When a couple walks into a house they're thinking about buying, they should hear things like: "You know, you look so much thinner in this house." Or, "You really look like you have more hair in this house." Or, "I've heard all the kids in this neighborhood are very respectful of their parents."


If they really want to attract buyers, maybe the phony "owners" should stage a conversation like this: "Honey, I can't believe it! We won the lottery!" "And we're the third family on this block to win!"


But these companies have to make sure they stay away from hiring actors who like to perform in a more realistic style. Otherwise, when the prospective buyers walk into the master bedroom with the scented candles and see the actor couple in that antique king-sized bed, they're likely to hear something more realistic like this:


"This never happened in our old house," followed by: "I'm sorry, but I just can't get in the mood while I'm worrying about making the mortgage payments on this place."

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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