The Jewish Vote 2012


Jewish Numbers in Congress Set To Plunge

By Forward Staff

FORWARD PROJECTION: The number of Jews in the House and Senate is set to plummet. A Forward analysis projects just 31 Jews will be in the next Congress. SEE INTERACTIVE MAP.Read More

How Big Was Obama's Jewish Win?

By Nathan Guttman

Once the votes are counted, politicos turn to arguing over just how many Jews voted for the Democrats and why. Not surprisingly, 2012 is no different.Read More

Bad Night for the Jewish Echo Chamber

By Jay Michaelson

For the Jewish establishment, Barack Obama’s big win is a rude awakening. Conservatives who regard the president as an existential threat to Israel are scratching their heads.Read More

Obama Channels Bush's Strategy To Win

By Noam Neusner

President Obama’s victory wasn’t revelatory. He simply channeled George W. Bush’s timeworn strategy to win a second term in the White House.Read More

Great Expectations

FORWARD EDITORIAL: Perhaps the great national achievement was not electing the first African-American president. It was doing it again.Read More

Little Hope for Change Seen by Jews

By Josh Nathan-Kazis

Jews were supposed to vote on Israel and Medicare. They didn’t. Despite palpable disillusionment, they backed President Obama with just a small dip in support from 2008.Read More

Las Vegas Jews Caught in Adelson's Shadow

By Josh Nathan-Kazis

The long shadow of casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson looms over Las Vegas as the election nears. Despite economic woes, Israel is dominating the debate in Nevada.Read More

Sympathy for the Undecided

By Gal Beckerman

It’s open season on that much ridiculed species: the undecided voter. They actually deserve sympathy because the campaign has been so devoid of specifics.Read More

Lena Dunham: First Time (Voting) Should Be Special

By Josh Nathan-Kazis

What Readers Think About the Election

By Jane Eisner

The results of the Forward’s polls are in, and the results may not surprise you. Which in itself may be a surprise.Read More




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  • "My wife and I are both half-Jewish. Both of us very much felt and feel American first and Jewish second. We are currently debating whether we should send our daughter to a Jewish pre-K and kindergarten program or to a public one. Pros? Give her a Jewish community and identity that she could build on throughout her life. Cons? Costs a lot of money; She will enter school with the idea that being Jewish makes her different somehow instead of something that you do after or in addition to regular school. Maybe a Shabbat sing-along would be enough?"
  • Undeterred by the conflict, 24 Jews participated in the first ever Jewish National Fund— JDate singles trip to Israel. Translation: Jews age 30 to 45 travelled to Israel to get it on in the sun, with a side of hummus.
  • "It pains and shocks me to say this, but here goes: My father was right all along. He always told me, as I spouted liberal talking points at the Shabbos table and challenged his hawkish views on Israel and the Palestinians to his unending chagrin, that I would one day change my tune." Have you had a similar experience?
  • "'What’s this, mommy?' she asked, while pulling at the purple sleeve to unwrap this mysterious little gift mom keeps hidden in the inside pocket of her bag. Oh boy, how do I answer?"
  • "I fear that we are witnessing the end of politics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I see no possibility for resolution right now. I look into the future and see only a void." What do you think?
  • Not a gazillionaire? Take the "poor door."
  • "We will do what we must to protect our people. We have that right. We are not less deserving of life and quiet than anyone else. No more apologies."
  • "Woody Allen should have quit while he was ahead." Ezra Glinter's review of "Magic in the Moonlight": http://jd.fo/f4Q1Q
  • Jon Stewart responds to his critics: “Look, obviously there are many strong opinions on this. But just merely mentioning Israel or questioning in any way the effectiveness or humanity of Israel’s policies is not the same thing as being pro-Hamas.”
  • "My bat mitzvah party took place in our living room. There were only a few Jewish kids there, and only one from my Sunday school class. She sat in the corner, wearing the right clothes, asking her mom when they could go." The latest in our Promised Lands series — what state should we visit next?
  • Former Israeli National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror: “A cease-fire will mean that anytime Hamas wants to fight it can. Occupation of Gaza will bring longer-term quiet, but the price will be very high.” What do you think?
  • Should couples sign a pre-pregnancy contract, outlining how caring for the infant will be equally divided between the two parties involved? Just think of it as a ketubah for expectant parents:
  • Many #Israelis can't make it to bomb shelters in time. One of them is Amos Oz.
  • According to Israeli professor Mordechai Kedar, “the only thing that can deter terrorists, like those who kidnapped the children and killed them, is the knowledge that their sister or their mother will be raped."
  • Why does ultra-Orthodox group Agudath Israel of America receive its largest donation from the majority owners of Walmart? Find out here: http://jd.fo/q4XfI
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