In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
To pitch an opinion piece, email our Opinion Editor, Talya Zax.
Opinion
-
Opinion
Don’t cancel DeSean Jackson. You can’t fight cancel culture with cancel culture.
On Monday, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson shared a quote wrongly attributed to Hitler on his Instagram Stories. “Because the white Jews knows that the Negroes are the real Children of Israel and to keep Americas secret the Jews will blackmail America,” the quote read. “They will extort America, their plan for world domination…
-
Opinion Cancel culture comes for all sins – except anti-Semitism
One of the great ironies of this moment is that the role of police is being debated while too many are becoming cancel culture cops, alert to infractions of tone or language, eagle-eyed and quick to punish. But this new regime has a curious blind spot, a category of infraction where enforcement is lax and…
-
Opinion Letter | Of course Jews are indigenous to Israel
Dear Editor, Regarding the Forward’s recent article highlighting my colleague’s Twitter posting, “Are Jews ‘indigenous’ to Israel? One rabbi said ‘no’ on Twitter – and went viral” — I disagree with Rabbi Kahn’s statement in both its facts and its effects, nor does it speak for Temple Emanu-El. Beyond the Bible, numerous historians argue the…
Columnists View All
The Latest
-
Opinion Public Education is a Jewish value
Our legacy as the most successful Jewish diaspora community in our people’s history is thanks to two things: the right freely to exercise our religion without state interference and the extraordinary education our ancestors — and our kids today — received and receive — through public education. Everything about our experience as American Jews is…
-
Opinion Letter | Jews must vigilantly protect against incursions of government in matters of faith
Dear Editor, Avi Shafran’s criticism of ADL’s opposition to state-mandated scholarships for religious schools sees the trees, not the forest (“A Supreme Court decision just exposed how liberal Jewish groups abandoned Jewish education,” July 2). While professing to support Jewish education, Mr. Shafran ignores the dangers of government support of religious education. Consistent with our…
-
Opinion The best antidote to polarization is exposure
This article is part of a new series called “On Persuasion.” We asked thought leaders to consider what persuasion means to them. What works in terms of persuading people? Is it moot in 2020? What is the Jewish value of persuasion? Should we be opening our minds to other points of view, or closing them…
-
Opinion The Arch of Titus must come down
Almost every day of the last month, statues of slave traders and colonialists, racists and missionaries that are prominently displayed in our parks, city halls and public squares have come crashing down in a collective outpouring of rage and hurt. This summer has been a watershed moment in so many ways, and as activists press…
-
Opinion We need a Jewish American Hamilton
American Jews are showing signs of strain from our concurrent crises: anti-Semitism, the shut down of communal life, the shuttering of schools and the open antagonism over Israeli annexation. Meanwhile, institutional leadership has been caught in the crossfire of a community torn over its first principles and ultimate commitments on issues like racism and Zionism….
-
Opinion Since we’re debating labels, stop calling it anti-Semitism. It’s Jew hatred.
Should we capitalize the “b” in Black? Hundreds of publications across the country, including bellwethers like The New York Times and Associated Press, have adjusted their style guides, arguing that capital-B Black reflects a common identity and heritage. It’s time for a similarly introspective debate about the language we use to describe discrimination against Jews….
-
Opinion Trump’s attacks on ‘left-wing cultural revolution’ are an anti-Semitic dogwhistle
On Friday, President Trump rang in Fourth of July weekend with a speech and fireworks display at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, a stark contrast with the large number of fireworks displays that were canceled across the rest of the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though the Rushmore celebration attracted much attention for the…
-
Opinion Trump enabled China’s abuse of Uighurs. This is a ‘Never Again’ election.
China has come in for a cascade of criticism in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and became a pandemic due to the government’s botched initial response. Lost in the mix, however, has been the other misdeeds of the Chinese authorities, not least atrocities committed against the…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward DNC finding: Biden’s Israel backing cost Harris votes for president
- 2
News What We Know About Jeffrey Epstein’s Childhood
- 3
News An audiobook narrator told Zionists to kill themselves. A popular romance novelist hired him anyway.
- 4
Opinion The dark message behind Tucker Carlson’s attempt to drum up drama in Israel
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward NYC synagogue protest bill tasks police with developing a protection plan. Mamdani still hasn’t committed to sign
-
Antisemitism Decoded After Minneapolis, a Youtuber comes for Jewish ‘welfare queens’
-
Fast Forward Atlanta Jewish Film Festival apologizes for selecting anti-Zionist juror
-
Culture How a new generation of comics is changing the face of Jewish comedy — and Judaism itself
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
