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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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….
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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….
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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…
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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…
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Opinion These are divided times. 4 tips for civil debate on difficult topics.
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…
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Opinion Tim Scott refuses to call out Trump’s racist behavior — again
Today, the President once again made a racist statement on Twitter. Tweeting about the only black NASCAR driver, who mistakenly thought a noose was intended as a hate crime against him, Trump then tweeted disapprovingly of NASCAR’s recent decision to ban the Confederate flag. “Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!” He wrote. Has @BubbaWallace…
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Opinion The right – and wrong – way to handle anti-Semitism on college campus
At two universities on opposite ends of the country, student government leaders recently found themselves mired in controversy for promoting anti-Semitism online. In June, the student senate president of Florida State University, Ahmad Daraldik, was revealed to have posted hateful messages to his social media accounts, including “#f—kisrael” and “stupid jew thinks he is cool”…
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Books In ‘Something We Said,’ Richard Pryor’s daughter finds words to discuss the unspeakable
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Culture ‘My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish’ — the Knicks chant capturing New York’s soul
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Opinion It’s time for Jews who love Israel to give up on Zionism
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Opinion New York’s Israel Day parade was a shanda — but not because of Mamdani
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Opinion For many queer Jews, Pride has lost its joy
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Fast Forward Thomas Massie calls for USS Liberty probe, elevating anti-Israel conspiracy theory to House floor
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Fast Forward Tribeca Festival denounces pro-Israel celebrities’ red-carpet jokes about Israeli dog rape allegations
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Fast Forward ‘This is sort of their normal’: Israelis confront yet another wartime flare after Iranian fire