Image by istock

What a year it was, this two-oh-one-one,

Uprisings, protests, regimes on the run.

A year when “occupy” became a noun,

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)

And millions tried to imitate Kate’s gown.

Bin Laden is gone, we’re out of Iraq.

Here at the Forward, it’s time to look back.

It was a year of Jacobs — Jill, Leslie,

And Rick, who now heads Reform’s polity.

Gabby Giffords displayed courage unique,

And the Brewer’s Ryan Braun reached his peak,

‘Till charges he had help throwing the ball.

The higher they go, the harder they fall.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Eric Cantor,

Already started their campaign banter.

Poet Philip Levine and James Levine,

The spelling’s the same, but the names don’t rhyme!

Poor Anthony Weiner texted too much

Queens voters said “bye, don’t stay in touch.”

Thanks to Michael Hirsch, the Triangle fire

Is a history that serves to inspire.

It was also a year to remember

The horrible attacks of September,

Michael Arad for his stunning design

And Daniel Libeskind for his vision so fine.

Birthright got more from Sheldon Adelson.

The New York Times promoted Jill Abramson.

John Zorn made music, Bill Kristol bought ads,

Adam Mansbach had fun with moms and dads.

Rabbi Pinto’s charity made headlines.

Was its luxury spending out of line?

David Yerushalmi launched his crusade.

Ruth Messinger brought Africa aid.

Michael Solomonov wowed with his food.

New Square noticed when Michael Sussman sued.

Mark Cuban, Fred Wilpon — yes, Jews do sports.

Does Joy Levitt have any tennis courts?

David Graeber spawned Occupy Wall Street

Mark Bittman opined on what we should eat.

Murdoch was defended by our Joel Klein.

MacArthur picked Alisa Weilerstein.

For Google ideas, Jared Cohen was your guy.

Want to live longer? Call Nir Barzilai!

Sharon Kleinbaum fought for same-sex unions.

Art Spiegelman drew a Maus reunion.

Natalie Portman had baby Aleph,

And Caryl Stern championed UNICEF.

Rahm Emanuel earned Chicago’s crown

While the Hasidic world dealt with Judy Brown.

Chaya Mushka, Chaya Mushka — what’s in a name?

For Lubavitcher girls, it was one and the same.

Tony Kushner courted controversy,

While his new play told its own history.

Dovid Katz challenged Lithuania.

Jaron Lanier warned about techno-mania.

Social justice was the theme for Simon Greer.

Michael Tilson Thomas delighted the ear.

Outreach was strengthened by Burt Visotzky.

Israel Project’s Jennifer Mizrahi

Turned a small group into a powerhouse.

Who says Jewish women are like Minnie Mouse?

Look at Sheryl Sandberg running Facebook.

And as she retires, don’t overlook

The contribution of Joan Rosenbaum

Leading a museum of great renown.

Jay Sanderson made changes in L.A.,

And the cops made trouble for DSK.

The Forward found George Washington’s letter

To Jews in Newport, pledging a better

United States shorn of all bigotry.

Now Richard Morgenstern holds the key

To showing the letter for all to see.

Will he do the right thing, and set it free?

As we light candles and greet the new year

We send our best wishes from everyone here:

Paul, Nathan, Nathan, Josh, Rex and Larry

Laura, Lil, Richard, Kurt, Nate and Barry

Sam, Janet, Sharon, Gal, Jane and Naomi

J.J., Maia, Eileen, Devra, Teri

Dan, Jeanette, Ezra, Dave and Gabrielle

And all of the writers whose work is so swell.

We follow in a great Forward tradition

And thank you for reading our next edition!

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount