In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
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Opinion
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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…
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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…
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Letters March 14, 2003
Lack of Options Justifies PETA Holocaust Exhibit It is because my grandmother was killed at Auschwitz that I support the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals “Holocaust on Your Plate” exhibit (“Animal Rights Group Invokes Holocaust,” February 28). Being the grandchild of a victim gives me no privileged status. It does make me witness,…
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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…
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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…
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Opinion Our Responsibility to Holocaust Survivors
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs last month called for “any and all Holocaust-related funds” to be used to aid impoverished survivors. Amid reports of needy survivors in Florida and Boston, the JCPA passed a resolution at its annual plenum in which it objected to setting aside any discretionary funds for Holocaust education, research and…
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Opinion Old-New Paths to Religious Renewal in America
One year ago this month, I announced a new campaign for Conservative synagogues in order to strengthen Jewish commitment. The campaign articulated a vision of synagogues stimulating congregants to climb the ladder of Jewish living by urging Conservative Jews to make a personal “Compact of Conservative Commitment.” The compact was based on the recognition that…
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Opinion Carry the Legacy of Remembrance
In the death camps, strangers became friends. When anyone was near death or about to be killed by the Nazis, they asked their fellow inmates, “Don’t forget me. Keep the memory alive.” The delegates who at last month’s annual meeting of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs called for restricting the disbursement of funds dedicated…
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Opinion Then They Came for the Romani Women
I hear stories of forced sterilization experiments on a daily basis. I hear frail, old voices trying to explain what happened to them so many years ago at the hands of Nazi doctors. These Holocaust survivors struggle to describe the indescribable, fighting to recollect the horrific experiments to which they were subjected so that they…
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Opinion Saudi Schools Keep Sowing Seeds of Hate
Meeting with leaders of the American Jewish Committee in New York last September, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal acknowledged a problem with his country’s schoolbooks, and he assured us that steps would be taken to rewrite them. He asserted, as he has in interviews with American media, that the problematic passages are limited to about…
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Opinion The Fallacy of Biological Judaism
Observant Jews of centuries past understood that while being born a Jew was precious and important to one’s Jewishness, it was not necessary and certainly not sufficient for a full Jewish life. The central ideas and actions of a Jew have always had to be taught and learned, never inherited. Nevertheless, until recently many reasonable…
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In Case You Missed It
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Looking Forward My artist grandmother nearly made aliyah. I don’t know what she’d think of Israel today
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Holy Ground A Jewish farmer broke ground on a synagogue in an Illinois cornfield. His neighbors showed up to help.
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Film & TV Is this Apple TV thriller hasbara — or societal critique?
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Fast Forward Israeli man indicted in attack on Catholic nun in Jerusalem’s Old City