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A Sonnet for July 4

Now here’s a word for Independence Day
A day our Fathers shook the world around
The words they spoke with thunder did resound
And still inspire people to this day.

They said that when the fateful time is nigh
When people wish to break the painful chains
That have too long enslaved their brawn and brains
They want the world to know the reason why.

And so they penned a mighty document
In which they spoke of every human’s right
A worthy cause for which they said they’ll fight
And to the world this message then was sent.

They spoke these words, yes, many years ago
And many of us live to make it so!

It’s our birthday and we’re still celebrating!

This week we celebrate 129 years of the Forward. We’re proud of our origins as a Yiddish print publication serving Jewish immigrants. And we’re just as proud of what we’ve become today: A trusted source of Jewish news and opinion, available digitally to anyone in the world without paywalls or subscriptions. 

We’ve helped five generations of American Jews make sense of the news and the world around them — and we aren’t slowing down any time soon.

As a nonprofit newsroom, reader donations make it possible for us to do this work. Support independent, agenda-free Jewish journalism and our board will match your gift in honor of our birthday! 

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