Opinion

• Opinion

  Abraham’s Iraq Mistake

  ‘Turn it over and over, for everything is in it.” So the mishnaic tractate Pirke Avot tells us of the capaciousness of Torah: Everything that concerns us in our private or public lives is addressed by Jewish tradition — everything, including what America’s plans should be for post-war Iraq. In making the case for war,…

  By David Klinghoffer

  3 min read
• Opinion

  Our Side

  As America’s war machine rolled into action in the Middle East this week and humanity watched in awe and foreboding, there was no longer any denying the blunt fact that a new page was being written in world history. America, the world’s sole superpower, was claiming the right to make war anywhere — not for…

  Mar 21, 2003 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Following the Map

  If nothing else, President Bush’s announced plan to release his “road map” to Israeli-Palestinian peace gives the lie to those paranoid theories about a Jewish conspiracy driving America into war with Iraq. According to the conspiracy-mongers, invading Iraq was supposed to upset the Middle East apple cart in a way that would leave Israel free…

  Mar 21, 2003 | 2 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 There’s a shocking new report on civilian deaths in Gaza. If only it were accurate.

  

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

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s new gift to the far right could help end the Gaza war

  

• Emily Tamkin Entering motherhood — and an obsession with the works of an Italian Jewish literary hero

  

The Latest

• Opinion

  First Reform Palestinian Authority, Then Negotiate

  The urgency of Prime Minister Sharon’s efforts to bring about the reform of the Palestinian Authority and the emergence of a genuine, effective and trustworthy Palestinian partner for peace was driven home during my most recent visit to Israel leading a five-member congressional delegation. During our discussion, Sharon spoke frankly about the need for sweeping…

  By Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Mar 21, 2003 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  The Iraqi Challenge to Pax Americana

  Historians who examine the rise and fall of great powers frequently ask how a given power attained the status of empire. Some historians probe the essence of the imperialist urge — that is, they ask what awakened the aspirations that brought the great power to its preeminent status, since the growth of an empire has…

  By Uzi Arad Mar 21, 2003 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  Unleashing Women’s Leadership Potential

  In the last two years, five of the most significant organizations in the Jewish community have elected a woman as president or chair, each for the first time in its history. This is not mere coincidence. It reflects the beginning of a historic change. Just five years ago, a study of 45 major American Jewish…

  By Shifra Bronznick Mar 21, 2003 | 4 min read
• Letters

  March 21, 2003

  I am unable to fathom the journalistic justification for the strange way in which the Forward reported the story of my decision to ask the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly to review its position paper on homosexuality (“Foe of Gay Ban Won’t Head Conservative Panel,” March 7). This…

  Mar 21, 2003 | 5 min read
• Opinion

  Solidarity With Israel Does Not an American Jewish Identity Make

  There needs to be a place on the spectrum for the recognition that Israel is not the natural center of American Jewish life. Unfortunately, the lack of such recognition reflects a deeper problem among American Jews — a mistaken notion that solidarity with Israel will substitute for deeper reflection about our Jewish purpose. Indeed, while…

  By Zackary Sholem Berger Mar 21, 2003 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  Resigned to Regime Change

  There’s considerable talk about Saddam Hussein resigning, and that would doubtless be a good thing all around. Unfortunately, little thought has been invested in how he might be encouraged, beyond military pressure, to leave office voluntarily. What follows is not only intended to give the Iraqi leader the necessary push — as will be immediately…

  By Leonard Fein Mar 14, 2003 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  Blabber

  Representative Jim Moran’s notions of Jewish war-mongering are so patently offensive, so deeply pernicious, that they almost seem like residual ooze from another era in history. But this is not ancient history; the Virginia Democrat spoke his inflammatory words just last week. And he is not the only one talking this way these days. Addressing…

  Mar 14, 2003 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  Orthodox: Imbue Ritual With Spirituality

  There is hardly an Orthodox Jewish community of any size in this country that does not have a day school, a Jewish high school and often a kollel of advanced scholars who are teaching and doing outreach in the community. The study of traditional texts is more widespread in American Orthodox Jewish communities today than…

  By Tzvi Hersh Weinreb Mar 14, 2003 | 3 min read