Opinion

• Opinion

  Hello and Farewell

  About a month ago, the Forward offered to convene an ongoing conversation between our readers and Jewish communal leaders, to hold those leaders accountable and to promote civil dialogue at a time when it is sorely needed. Not surprisingly, we haven’t heard from any communal leaders willing to participate. Yet. But we have heard from…

  By Jane Eisner

  2 min read
• Opinion

  When Charity Isn’t Charitable

  President Obama’s proposal to reduce the tax deductions enjoyed by wealthy individuals who give to charity has led to a predictable wave of protest from the philanthropic sector. I’ve just published a book arguing that people who are financially comfortable ought to increase their donations to help those in great need. So I too must…

  By Peter Singer Apr 22, 2009 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  Disarming Dreams, Nuclear Realities

  President Obama’s landmark speech in Prague on April 5, in which he proclaimed “America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” was certainly historic. But it was not entirely without precedent. Ever since the days of Harry Truman, America’s first atomic president, almost every American administration — Democratic and…

  By Avner Cohen Apr 22, 2009 | 3 min read

Columnists View All

• Alyssa Katz My summer plans prove it: The Jewish Catskills are alive and kicking

  

• Rob Eshman ‘Remember the Liberty’ has become code for ‘Israel Is Evil’ 

  

• Dan Perry The Iran war ended terribly for the US, and even worse for Israel

  

• Emily Tamkin Outrage over Nicholas Kristof’s op-ed on sexual assault of Palestinians is missing the point

  

• Jay Michaelson You’re wrong, Ken Paxton: Obviously God is nonbinary

  

The Latest

• Opinion

  Menacing Egypt From Lebanon

  In recent weeks, Egyptian media outlets have been accusing Hezbollah and Iran of planning attacks on targets in Egypt and fomenting the overthrow of the Mubarak regime. Cairo reportedly has smoking guns in the form of dozens of detainees, the intelligence these agents allegedly collected on Suez Canal targets and an illegal Sinai arms factory….

  By Yossi Alpher Apr 22, 2009 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  The Torturers and the Memo-Writers

  In his statement regarding the release of the shocking Department of Justice memos justifying America’s use of torture during the interrogation of terrorism suspects, President Obama said, “In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice…

  By Leonard Fein Apr 22, 2009 | 4 min read
• Letters

  May 1, 2009

  Spiritual Pros, Cons There are exciting policy implications in the new Synagogue 3000 study by Steven M. Cohen and Lawrence Hoffman, “How Spiritual Are America’s Jews?” as reported in your April 17 article “Study: Young Jews More Spiritual, Yet More Divided?” The authors of the study conclude that stressing spirituality will broaden Judaism’s appeal to…

  Apr 22, 2009 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Jews and Labor

  The men and women who founded the Jewish Daily Forward 112 years ago believed they were creating a newspaper for the Yiddish-speaking workers of the New World. Their devotion to furthering the cause of unionized labor wasn’t just an intellectual exercise. When the Forward needed money in its early years, unions contributed to its coffers,…

  Apr 22, 2009 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Torturous Questions

  Amidst the debate on whether the Obama administration was wise to release Justice Department legal opinions on torture, and whether former Bush administration officials should be held accountable — and, if so, how — there is one uncomfortable question we must ask: How did this happen on our watch? How did we become a nation…

  Apr 22, 2009 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Irish Lessons

  The violence that tore into Northern Ireland last month seemed sadly, infuriatingly familiar. First, two British soldiers were killed in County Atrium, then only 48 hours later, a policeman was gunned down in County Armagh, the first murder of a Northern Irish police officer in more than a decade. A dissident Irish Republican group appeared…

  Apr 15, 2009 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  Seder With the Obamas

  Four is a fine number when it comes to discussing a Passover Seder. Four questions. Four children. Four cups of wine. So here are four reasons why the Seder held in the White House on the second night of Passover 5769 was notable: This was the first time a president of the United States attended…

  Apr 15, 2009 | 2 min read
• Letters

  April 24, 2009

  40% Foolish on Iran Your account of the J Street poll that reports 40% of American Jews would favor an American attack on Iran if it were on the verge of going nuclear is no less disturbing than any other bad news we’ve heard recently (“Israel, U.S. Pursue Divergent Path on Iran,” April 3). Does…

  Apr 15, 2009 | 3 min read