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
Letter | ADL is an ardent advocate for the religious freedom of Jews and all Americans
To the Editor: In their [article in these pages](“Why are liberal Jewish organizations undermining religious liberty?,”), Howard Slugh and Mitchell Rocklin completely misconstrue the Anti-Defamation League’s long history of religious freedom advocacy and the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania. For over a century, ADL has been…
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Opinion If Israel proceeds with annexation, American Jews will socially distance – from Israel
I recently participated in a conversation about Israel with a group of five very thoughtful 20-something Jews from a variety of backgrounds. It was stunning to hear the pain, fear, and confusion that marks how young Jews engage with Israel — or try to engage. One word in particular came up over and over: Shame….
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Opinion Coronavirus lockdown meant a break from shidduch pressure — until it didn’t
I’m expecting my cap and gown in the mail any day now, and that is not a sentence I ever thought I’d write. In fact, a lot of unexpected things have been happening lately. Unprecedented things. Which is why I was startled to receive an email from my university the other day regarding an upcoming…
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Opinion It’s the anniversary of Iran’s murder of a Jewish businessman. The Jewish community must break its silence.
In 1967, when the Islamic clerics of Tehran were in the middle of constructing their new and grand Hossieneh Ershad mosque in the heart of the city, their funds for the project dried up. They turned to individual Muslim business leaders and observant Islamic individuals for financial help to complete the grand mosque after work…
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Opinion Bibi’s ‘emergency government’ is a land grab disguised as a health crisis
When Donald Trump announced his “Deal of the Century” at the White House in late January with Netanyahu at his side, many in Israel and the US dismissed it as an PR stunt to boost his election campaign. With Palestinians outright rejecting the plan and the Israeli right up in arms over potential recognition of…
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Opinion Trust camps when they say it’s not safe. And it’s not safe.
I have a list of 20 names on my phone. It’s sacred to me, one of the most important artifacts of my life. I created it on June 29, 2013, the year I was Program Director at the Goldman Union Camp Institute. It was also the year three campers were sent to the ER after…
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Opinion Why are liberal Jewish organizations undermining religious liberty?
What sort of groups would you expect to file a Supreme Court brief arguing that laws providing exemptions for Sabbath observant workers are unconstitutional? Certainly not organizations that represent the interests of the American Jewish community. Unfortunately, the groups who recently filed a brief positively citing that argument included the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Council…
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Opinion Letter | America’s JCCs are neither failing nor irrelevant
Dear Editor, The May 2 column by Joel Swanson, “America’s Jewish institutions were failing: Coronavirus hastened their demise,” offered some fascinating — but also highly inaccurate — views on how American Jewish communal life is changing. Swanson quoted me on the painful economic hit North America’s 164 JCCs have taken during the pandemic, but then…
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Opinion Israel is ready to reopen. I’m not.
Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an easing up of restrictions. No longer confined to 100 meters, we can go out for the first time in ages. National parks are reopening and even malls will open later in the week. Nearly one in four Israelis are unemployed, up from a record low of…
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Opinion I’m a statistician. Closing camp because of corona is a huge mistake
When the Reform movement announced that it would be shutting its camps for the summer, a rabbi friend broadcast on Facebook that he thought the decision, while regrettable, was nevertheless “prudent.” I disagree. A considered, well thought out decision has to think through both risks and rewards. It must grapple not just with possibilities but…
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Opinion American Jews: You are desperately needed in the fight against annexation.
The most serious setback to peace in the Middle East has taken place under the cloud of the coronavirus and the internal Israeli political scene. A chance, however, still exists for a unified Arab coalition with action by American Jews to create a firewall that will help preserve a chance for Israeli-Palestinian peace. As part…
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