Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah Image by iStock

By Ari Feldman, Jenny SingerSeptember 27, 2019

The Jewish year is coming to a close and we’re about to party like it’s 5780.

But first — lets find out if you remember the biggest, wildest, and weirdest headlines of this Jewish year.

If you’re a little rusty and want to remind yourself just how things got so whack, take a look through this year’s stories. You can read the Forward’s analysis of Jewish donations to 2020 Dem hopefuls, our investigation of the funding behind the shadowy organization Canary Mission, and our reporting on Jeffrey Epstein’s charitable habits. Remind yourself what it is that Lena Dunham did that was so unforgivable — this year’s Yom Kippur services are going to be very high-stakes for her.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

For lighter fare, fall in love with the stars of “Shtisel,” recall the mystery of the giant safe that was unearthed from underneath a Chicago synagogue, and practice citing biblical verses like Gal Gadot and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did. Get inspired by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s favorite feminist role models, and the mammoth donations made by Muslim communities after the Pittsburgh massacre.

And if you have the nerve, stay for the weird stuff — Steven Spielberg’s family’s kosher restaurant, Michael Cohen’s extremely Jewish prison, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s extreme antics on “Who Is America.”

But first, the quiz. Good luck!

Ari Feldman is a staff writer at the Forward. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @aefeldman

Jenny Singer is the deputy life/features editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount