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
Russian Jews have been preparing for this crisis our whole lives
Previous Article Next Article It’s hard to resist employing the kind of cynical Jewish humor that Russian-speaking Jews know so well when speaking with Americans. If you’re asked a question you don’t want to answer, well, be a clever Jew and respond back with your own question. I successfully resisted the urge when my editor…
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Opinion When it comes to Memorial Day, we have a lot to learn from Israel
Last Memorial Day, I went deal hunting at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, a marvelous mall aggregating all discount brands an average dresser could ever wish for: Banana Republic “Factory,” Eddie Bauer “Outlet,” even Brooks Brothers “Factory Store” (et tu, Brooks Brothers?). At the conclusion of my shopping excursion, before heading to the beach, I…
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Opinion Are Americans as stupid as we seem on Twitter?
I’ve found myself staying up until 3 am some nights, frantically replying to every Twitter reply, as if my bon mots are essential to ending the pandemic. If your adopted slogan is “Open the Economy,” it’s hard to figure out why half of social media seems to want to destroy it. If your adopted slogan…
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Opinion The secret unity of Jewish Twitter
The global COVID-19 pandemic has had dire effects on the world and will have lasting effects on the infrastructure of the Jewish community. Given the harsh financial reality, some Reform and Conservative congregations are considering consolidating. Many have wondered whether the denominational model that frames the Jewish community will evaporate all together. I am not…
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Opinion It’s not a merger! Reform and Conservative are just collaborating
As the holiday of Shavuot approaches, we prepare to greet the giving of the Torah with all-night study in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The classical mode of Torah study is in chavruta, a pair or small group of learners who explore texts in partnership. It is in this spirit of chavruta that we, leaders of…
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Opinion Letter | Differences among denominations will make us stronger
Dear Editor, Regarding the Forward’s recent article, “Will Jewish denominations survive the pandemic: 30 rabbis weigh in,” whether we ultimately see the collapse of denominations or their preservation, clergy must be well trained to unite diverse Jewish communities. The strength of any community lies, not so much in the capacity of its members to agree…
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Opinion How sexual abusers can earn their way back into Jewish communal spaces
Recently, there has been renewed discussion in Jewish communal spaces of men, once prominent in Jewish life but removed from it because of revelations of serial sexual abuse of women. The men — the journalist Ari Shavit, the writer Leon Wieseltier, and the social scientist Steven M. Cohen — have all expressed some regret, while…
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Opinion Jews of Color deserve an accurate count
This weekend, eJewishPhilanthropy, the main online publication supporting the Jewish professional world, published an essay by demographers of American Jewish life, Ira M. Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky, “How Many Jews of Color Are There?” which was republished in the Forward. The essay, a preview a chapter in their forthcoming “American Jewish Yearbook”, concludes that we…
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Opinion Will Jewish denominations survive the pandemic? 30 Rabbis weigh in.
Last week, the Union for Reform Judaism announced it was laying off 20% of its staff, citing an existential threat to their organization and their denomination as a whole in the wake of the economic crash caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the URJ, said he is considering the…
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Opinion How many Jews of color are there? Fewer than you think.
This article originally appeared in eJewishphilanthropy. It is based on information presented in Chapter five of the 2019 American Jewish Year Book 2019, eds. Arnold Dashefsky and Ira M. Sheskin., vol. 119, Cham Switzerland: Springer, due out in June. You can read a response to this article by Professor Ari Kelman, who disputes the claims…
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Opinion Enough doom and gloom: History shows American Judaism is much more resilient than you think
Last week, in the wake of the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 as well as losses from cancelling its summer camp season, the Union for Reform Judaism announced it would be firing sixty employees, furloughing others, and reducing all staff salaries. Jewish professionals across the country, reeling from projected losses throughout Jewish organizational life, immediately…
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