From a Genetics guy:
Although it also gets some things wrong, the NYT article does a better job of covering the issues of selection vs. founder effects for the prevalence of certain genetic diseases in ashkenazic jews. The idea of a relationship between those traits and intelligence is plausible but clearly speculative. Not having read the original article, I would probably bet on chance (founder effects) being more important on both counts, but that doesn’t mean the traits are not related. And as you point out the proposed coupling between intellectual success and biological success is a bit of a stretch. Unfortunately, the article is likely to generate more controversy than light – just what the genetics field needs.