The business behind “Best Dentist,” “Best Pizza” and other local awards — who wins, who pays and why your inbox is full of voting pleas

Every few days, another urgent message arrives in my inbox.

Vote for us as Best Dentist.

Vote for us as Best Plumber.

Vote for us as Best Pizza.

Vote for us as Best Accountant.

At this rate, I expect my shul to send out a ballot for Best Kiddush Herring.

And if you think that would not become competitive, you have never attended a synagogue board meeting.

Somewhere along the way, American life — and certainly Jewish communal life — became one enormous popularity contest. We used to be satisfied with “Best Dressed” in the high-school yearbook. Now we have Best Periodontist, Best Roofer, Best Caterer and probably, somewhere, Best Mohel.

I am not sure I want to know how the voting works in that last category.

What fascinates me about these contests is how seriously everyone takes them.

“Please vote for Dr. Cohen as Best Dentist in the County!”

I happen to like Dr. Cohen very much. He is pleasant. His office is clean. He has never accidentally removed the wrong tooth.

But am I really qualified to declare him the best dentist in the county?

Have I sampled the competition?

Nobody sends me........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)