Rabbi Ted Falcon
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Rabbi Falcon helped heal the childhood wound in my soul of being “half” Jewish; not quite acceptable in my Jewish family and not understood in my non-Jewish world. This left me feeling intimidated and inauthentic. In 1996, I walked into a Rosh Hashanah service lead by Rabbi Ted. The congregation was warm, happy and engaged. “This is yours” was his message to me almost 20 years ago. Far from the judgmental inquiry into the pedigree of my earlier life. Rabbi Falcon welcomed me into my heritage. He taught me through ancient language, story, humor, meditation and melody. Also, through friendship and social action, that “half” is an illusion. He has inspired my life in many ways. Most importantly, he is a model of how to be a good human being.
—Trudi Sackey and 31 others
Why I became the Forward’s editor-in-chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
— Alyssa Katz, editor-in-chief
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