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
Purim celebrates a thwarted genocide. Honor its message, and commit to aiding the Uyghurs.
A few years ago, I told the story of Purim to a second-grade Sunday school class in a sleepy Rhode Island suburb. My students found the opening scenes to be thrilling and exotic, as the goofy Achashverosh expelled Queen Vashti and the beautiful Esther won his heart. Then suddenly, evil Haman called for the Jews’…
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Opinion We must join forces to ensure the protection of American Jews
Over the last several years, we have seen near-historic increases in antisemitic incidents and assaults as we have watched a surge in online hate from more vocal — and violent — extremist groups. From online hate to cyber-attacks to the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, the danger is real. To protect America’s Jewish community, it…
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Opinion The entertainment industry needs a reset. A new Black-Jewish alliance is ready for the job.
For over a century, the struggles of Black and Jewish Americans have been deeply intertwined. Black and Jewish activists fighting against racial violence founded the NAACP in 1909 to push for a more peaceful and tolerant society. Arnie Aronson, a Jewish activist, worked with A. Philip Randolph and Roy Wilkins to form the Leadership Conference…
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Opinion Our yeshiva day schools have a binge-drinking problem. Here’s what we can do about it.
(JTA) — Purim, which begins on Thursday night, is perhaps the happiest Jewish holiday of the year. It can also be distressing, as adults and young people use the spirit of relative abandon to indulge in binge drinking and other irresponsible behaviors. Make no mistake: Substance use and binge drinking are of great concern to…
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Opinion ‘Save a single life, save an entire world:’ Faith leaders must stop fighting COVID restrictions
After a year marked by loss — of loved ones, community, a sense of normalcy — it takes no stretch of the imagination to understand why people of faith across the country yearn to return to houses of worship. I am among them. A Zoom call can never replace the experience of being in the…
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Opinion The California ethnic studies antisemitism firestorm is far from over
In recent days, the national Jewish community has focused on the ethnic studies model curriculum making its way through the approval process in California. The curriculum created a furor in 2019, when its first draft promoted gratuitous and offensive antisemitic and anti-Israel biases. California is the most populous state in the country and often serves…
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Opinion Why all American Jews should care about New York’s mayoral election
More than 30 people are running to be the next mayor of New York City, including a former Democratic presidential hopeful, several candidates with years of service in city government, and more than a few unknown longshots. Trying to follow the race, especially as it debuts a new experiment in ranked-choice voting, can be dizzying…
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Opinion Dear President Biden: ‘Chase justice,’ and other messages from religious scholars
Prof. Marc Brettler started writing his letter to Joe Biden before he actually became president, optimistic for what the future held. But after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Brettler said in an interview, he went back and edited the letter to emphasize “the urgency to call for justice.” “There was this sense that…
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Opinion Our synagogue’s Big Idea: shakshuka, scones, maybe a little singing
This is an adaptation of our weekly Shabbat newsletter, sent by our editor-in-chief on Friday afternoons. Sign up here to get the Forward’s free newsletters delivered to your inbox. And click here for a PDF of stories to savor over Shabbat and Sunday that you can download and print. The president of our synagogue called…
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Opinion Why it’s essential that Hamas run in the next Palestinian election
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has called on the U.S. and the international community in recent weeeks to push against the participation of an “unreformed Hamas” in the upcoming Palestinian elections. AIPAC argues that Hamas, an Islamist group that the State Department counts as terrorist, should not be allowed to participate in the balloting…
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Opinion The fight against QAnon in government is only just beginning
Over the course of our long history, the Jewish people have seen, with devastating frequency, what happens when antisemitism is granted a foothold. Dangerous on the fringes, it swiftly becomes deadly when granted legitimacy. There is no middle ground with an ideology that seeks the elimination of an entire people. Today the American people —…
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Sports First Puka Nacua, now Mookie Betts: Why do sports stars keep getting antisemitic around a Jewish streamer?
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Fast Forward After MIT professor’s killing, Jewish influencers spread unverified antisemitism claim
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Culture Why do Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas?
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Politics This politician refused to say ‘Happy Hanukkah,’ then blamed ‘political correctness’ for the backlash
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Fast Forward Jewish groups defend European media monitors banned for what State Dept. calls ‘censorship’
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Fast Forward British police drop case against Bob Vylan for ‘Death to the IDF’ chant, sparking outrage from Jewish groups
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Yiddish יהודה גור-אריה און שירי שפּירא געווינען רובינליכט־פּריז פֿאַר ליטעראַטורYehuda Gur-Arye and Shiri Shapira win Rubinlicht Prize for Literature
די רובינליכט־פֿונדאַציע טיילט צו יערלעכע פּרעמיעס פֿאַר ליטעראַרישער און קולטורעלער טעטיקייט אויף ייִדיש און לטובֿת ייִדיש.
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Yiddish אַ בריוועלע דער מאַמען (אַ דערציילונג) A letter to my mother (story)
בעת אַ ייִדישער סאָלדאַט ליגט אין אַ סאָוועטישן מיליטערישן שפּיטאָל פֿאַרמעסט זיך זײַן מאַמע קעגן דעם ייִדישן הויפּט־דאָקטער
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