For 125 years, the Forward has delivered accurate, timely and nuanced news to American Jews. From breaking news to in-depth investigations, our reporting team covers the people, institutions and issues that define the many ways to be Jewish in the…
News
-
Virtual pastoring, and the texts that give them comfort: 19 rabbis (and 2 cantors) on spiritual leadership through coronavirus
They are our teachers, our counselors, our spiritual leaders, our neighbors. Rabbis and cantors help us navigate the most important parts of our lives, from birth to Bnei Mitzvah, marriage (and divorce) to death and its aftermath. We rely on them, especially, in times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. As the pandemic’s revolutionary impact…
-
Brooklyn clinic reports 500 coronavirus cases. But city questions its testing methods.
An urgent-care center that serves Hasidic neighborhoods in Brooklyn said Thursday that it has confirmed 528 cases of coronavirus among the 937 people it tested since last Friday, heightening concerns that infections in the highly social Hasidic world are spiking — and that the clinic’s aggressive approach could be helping it spread. With test kits…
-
Quarantined college kids find meetups, memes and flirting at Hillel on Facebook
With classes cancelled around the country, Jewish college students are unable to meet their Jewish friends at Hillel for Shabbat dinner, social justice projects or just to hang out. But in less than a week, a virtual community with nearly 8,000 members has emerged to fill that gap: a Facebook group called Zoom University Hillel….
The Latest
-
In Jewish death rituals as in life, coronavirus is changing everything
For many Jews, it is one of the most visceral of rituals: helping shovel the dirt to cover a casket of a loved one. At a recent graveside service, before the stricter limits on public gatherings kicked in, Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner explained a new part of the ritual. “If you are wearing gloves, you can…
-
‘I’m increasingly alone’: Coronavirus intensifies isolation for seniors
Six weeks ago, Judith West, who is in her 80s, lost her husband. For any adult, that kind of transition can be isolating and anxiety-inducing. But for West, the loss was exacerbated by the rapid escalation of coronavirus and its associated restrictions. “For me personally, it’s a double whammy,” she said in an interview. “Now,…
-
Orthodox doctors plead with community — via viral WhatsApp messages
The voice of Ari Greenwald, an emergency-medicine doctor in Toronto, played on thousands of Orthodox Jews’ smartphones on Wednesday, warning that the novel coronavirus “has been spreading throughout our community like wildfire.” “This virus is so much smarter than all of us,” he said in a voice note that went viral on Orthodox WhatsApp. Greenwald…
-
To preserve life, most Orthodox Jews submit, and sacrifice religious life
Hana Cohen’s apartment in Borough Park has a view onto the heavily Orthodox neighborhood’s 12th Avenue thoroughfare. There is a yeshiva, a daycare, a small synagogue, a restaurant. Tuesday, it was business as usual, with class in session and people shopping. Wednesday was different. “Usually there’s kids playing by the street, there’s mothers on the…
-
Watch: White House calls Hasidic leaders, asking them to take virus more seriously
An assistant to the president called on rabbis and leaders of the Orthodox community to help reduce gatherings of more than ten people to prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to video and audio recordings sent to the Forward. Religious leaders asked questions on Tuesday about how to safely hold minyanim, including having them outside,…
-
From the Forverts archives: Influenza 1918, everyone does the flu their own way
Reading the Forverts in 1918 you’d be forgiven for thinking revolution—rather than an influenza pandemic—was in the air. In June they thrilled to America’s military victory over Germany due to the spread of flu among Germany’s soldiers, not realizing it would make its way here, a viral passenger along for the ride with soldiers returning…
-
Notes from the future: A view from New Rochelle, N.Y., where “social distancing” started
America, I know where you are headed, because I’m already there. We in New Rochelle, N.Y., became the experts at social distance, physical distance, early on. A “hot spot” – “New Roch-HELL” – “a problem area” – throw at us whatever you have because we can take it. Here at a forefront of the pandemic,…
-
At least 100 test positive for coronavirus in Hasidic Brooklyn neighborhood
At least 100 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood, amid intense debates within and around such communities over continued gatherings for prayer, study and celebrations like weddings. The news of the outbreak was first reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which cited an official at Asisa, an urgent-care clinic…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward Unarmed man who tackled Bondi Beach Hanukkah attacker identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed
- 2
Fast Forward First Puka Nacua, now Mookie Betts: Why do sports stars keep getting antisemitic around a Jewish streamer?
- 3
Fast Forward After MIT professor’s killing, Jewish influencers spread unverified antisemitism claim
- 4
Opinion I grew up believing Australia was the best place to be Jewish. This Hanukkah shooting forces a reckoning I do not want.
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion His family was killed in Sydney. Hours later, he helped feed 600 unhoused people in LA.
-
Fast Forward Yehuda Kaploun confirmed by Senate as Trump’s antisemitism envoy
-
Holy Ground One of America’s first Jewish farms was nearly lost to history. Now these Brooklyn parents are risking everything to keep their family’s legacy alive.
-
Fast Forward Liberal Zionist groups criticize Trump administration’s travel ban on those with Palestinian Authority passports
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
