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
Controversies about Jews and white supremacy are erasing Jews of color
In December, the Forward published an article about my most recent book, “Black Power, Jewish Politics,” with a headline that mentioned Jews in connection with white supremacy. With those two words — “white supremacy” — the internet lit up. The article received over 100 critical comments. The Forward published an op-ed pushing back on the…
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Letters Letter | Ahoy Vey from Annapolis
Dear Editor, A recent internet fascination with sea shanties must have prompted the Forward editors to concoct a Jewish connection. “Once Upon A Time, Jewish Pirates Ruled the Sea” says the headline. Well, shiver me timbers! Or is it sit shiva and timber? Or should I say Ahoy Vey? This is just the latest shot…
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Opinion We asked 13 rabbis: How should we process 500,000 American COVID deaths?
This post is part of our Rabbi Roundtable series. This week, the United States recorded its 500,000th death from COVID-19. It’s a staggering number, one many of us have struggled to wrap our heads around. For thoughts on how to process the milestone we turned to rabbis across the country for their wisdom, both on…
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Opinion Yes, that ‘Nurses’ episode hurt. So do the Haredi world’s systemic problems.
When I was a kid, on Purim, several of my classmates from Belz Yeshiva in Borough Park and I would buy matching costumes, borrow a family member’s boombox and hire a car-service driver to take us from street to street in well-to-do Jewish areas of Brooklyn. We would hop out of the car, knock on…
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Opinion Open letter to Andrew Yang: You’ve got yeshivas all wrong
Dear Mr. Yang, Your recent statement that we “shouldn’t interfere” in the city’s Chasidic yeshiva system constitutes a craven and deeply misguided embrace of a key voting issue for the Haredi community at the expense of thousands of children. At this point, you must know that the vast majority of Chasidic yeshivas in Borough Park,…
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Letters Letter | Lawsuits over vanilla flavoring are nothing to celebrate
To the editors, Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, New York again leads the nation in food-labeling lawsuits, thanks in part to the torrent of filings over vanilla flavoring and other food additives. (“The Jewish lawyer fighting against fake vanilla — and for 3-legged squirrels,” Feb. 10.) The Empire State first overtook California as the favored jurisdiction…
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Opinion This Purim, don’t boo Haman
Purim is back, a year after many of us gathered in person for the last time, with very different masks on. Jewish communities all over are rising to the challenge of a virtual Purim with wonderful expressions of creativity and care, as we continue to struggle with the challenges of COVID-19, as well as with…
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Opinion Let’s tell the whole truth when talking about the antisemitism envoy
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. My first close encounter with IfNotNow,…
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Opinion What Jewish comedians made of Michael Che’s Israel Joke
(JTA) — It’s almost Purim, which means I am busy writing jokes that poke fun at the stuff we do and obsess about as Jews without offending too many people. Not always easy, and that’s when I am writing for an audience that I know extremely well. Now imagine writing Jewish jokes outside the bubble….
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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 dark message behind Tucker Carlson’s attempt to drum up drama in Israel
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Opinion The ‘Hymietown’ affair degraded Black-Jewish relations. Jesse Jackson wasn’t the real culprit
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