Opinion

• Opinion

  How To Hand Off the Peace Process to Our Next President

  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice just finished her seventh visit to Israel of 2008 to try to press the Israelis and Palestinians to reach some sort of agreement — one of the last major efforts of the Bush administration in its final months. But can the administration make any progress on this critical issue in the time…

  By Steven L. Spiegel

  3 min read
• Opinion

  This Much We Know: Alaskans Love Israel

  But where does she stand on Israel? The question, of course, is directed at John McCain’s choice for vice president of the United States. Please note well: This is neither an endorsement of Sarah Palin nor a refutation of the Alaskan governor’s candidacy. The readers of this paper are perfectly competent to make their own…

  By Leonard Fein Sep 4, 2008 | 4 min read
• Letters

  September 12, 2008

  Don’t Blame O’Reilly An August 22 editorial mentions that books by conservative talk show hosts Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage and Sean Hannity were found in the home of alleged killer Jim Adkisson (“Terrorism and the Lone Gunman”). The Forward does not mention what other books or other types of literature were found in Adkisson’s home…

  Sep 4, 2008 | 3 min read

Columnists View All

• Jodi Rudoren This is my last column as editor of the Forward

  

• Jay Michaelson American Jews were played — now what?

  

• Rob Eshman Charlie Kirk and Alan Berg: 2 murders, 41 years apart, show the painful perils of polarization

  

• Nora Berman Is Netflix’s new show the most Jewish cartoon ever?

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s strike in Qatar: An audacious bid for victory, or just another foolhardy provocation?

  

• Emily Tamkin Trump’s attack on George Soros is ludicrous. It also endangers Jews (and everyone else)

  

The Latest

• Opinion

  Preaching Abstinence

  In a rare moment of consensus and civility in mid-campaign, Democratic and Republican leaders concurred last week that public debate over the candidates’ family troubles — specifically the pregnant, unwed 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin — is “off-limits,” in Barack Obama’s words. Families, even public families, should be left to sort…

  Sep 4, 2008 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  Elul, Prep Time

  Elul, the Jewish lunar month that began September 1, is a mysterious, emotionally fraught time in the ritual year. It is an annual event that has its own distinct message and special rituals. Elul’s meaning derives from proximity: It is the month leading up to the New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which in turn kicks off…

  Sep 4, 2008 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  On the Jewish Agenda(s), Part 2

  The next president will help set the national agenda on a wide range of issues of importance to the Jewish community. While our collective concern for the well-being of Israel has featured prominently in discussions of our community’s stake in the presidential election, Jewish groups are also vigorous participants in debates over a diverse array…

  By Gideon Aronoff, and Hadar Susskind, and Jerome M. Epstein, and Nancy Falchuk, and Nancy Ratzan, and Nathan J. Diament, and Rachel Goldberg, and Richard S. Gordon, and Ruth Messinger, and Susan B. Tuchman, and Tom Neumann Aug 29, 2008 | 11 min read
• Opinion

  No Time Nor Patience for Cynicism

  I know, I know: The Summer Olympics were then, the Democratic Convention is now. But I find it hard to let go of the Olympics, and not just because of my flickering fantasy of yet becoming a gymnast. Not only because I don’t expect soon to forget the neo-fascist opening ceremony, so utterly and eerily…

  By Leonard Fein Aug 29, 2008 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  The Front Against Iran Is Unraveling

  Barring a doomsday scenario, Israel may be forced to concede to Washington at least some of its freedom to make independent decisions aimed at militarily neutralizing or even delaying the Iranian nuclear threat. In the near future, Israel is far less likely to receive American backing and support for an attack on Iran, as it…

  By Yossi Alpher Aug 28, 2008 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  Give Professionals Time To Dream

  More often than not, young professionals in the non-profit world “do” what they “are.” In the Jewish communal world, this is constantly evident: The professionals who work in our communities also pray in our communities, socialize in our communities and volunteer in our communities. They are the personification of the sense of community that we…

  By Seth Cohen Aug 28, 2008 | 4 min read
• Letters

  September 5, 2008

  Hezbollah Holds Keys To Power in Lebanon Opinion writer Firas Maksad is surely right in asserting that many Lebanese deeply resent pervasive Hezbollah influence in their country (“All of Lebanon Is Not Hezbollah,” August 29). Unfortunately, they no longer have any ability to do anything about it. Hezbollah has achieved absolute veto status over the government;…

  Aug 28, 2008 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  The Decision in Denver

  America’s political conventions may not be the pivotal moments of decision that they once were, but for all their staged predictability, they are still capable of making history. So it was in Denver on August 27, 2008, when the Democratic Party formally designated Barack Obama as its candidate for president. Obama promised change when he…

  Aug 28, 2008 | 2 min read