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  Letter | No, The ZOA’s Trips Don’t Bribe Jews To Be Pro-Israel

  Dear Editor, Last week, a story was published in these pages about campus trips to Israel run by the Zionist Organization of America. It wrongly argued that the ZOA is bribing young Jews to be pro-Israel. In truth, American Jews do not need to be bribed to be pro-Israel; plenty of American Jews — and…

  By Mark Levenson

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  RIP: An Obituary For Israel’s Labor Party

  For Israel’s erstwhile ruling party, it indeed ends with a whimper. Shelly Yacimovich, the Labor Party’s former chairwoman and popular public figure, has said she will not run in September’s snap elections. Her announcement followed the triumph of Amir Peretz over two much younger opponents in the party’s leadership contest earlier this month. All of…

  By Daniel Samet Jul 22, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Ilhan Omar’s Pro-BDS Bill Is Gaining Momentum – Thanks To A Surprising Supporter

  Last week, freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar announced the introduction of a new resolution protecting the right to boycott in the United States. A response to the 25 states which have passed laws curtailing the right to participate in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement targeting Israel, Omar introduced H.Res.496 along with Representative Rashida Tlaib, who,…

  By Ariel Gold Jul 22, 2019 | 4 min read

Columnists View All

• Jodi Rudoren This is my last column as editor of the Forward

  

• Jay Michaelson American Jews were played — now what?

  

• Rob Eshman Charlie Kirk and Alan Berg: 2 murders, 41 years apart, show the painful perils of polarization

  

• Nora Berman Is Netflix’s new show the most Jewish cartoon ever?

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s strike in Qatar: An audacious bid for victory, or just another foolhardy provocation?

  

• Emily Tamkin Trump’s attack on George Soros is ludicrous. It also endangers Jews (and everyone else)

  

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  Opinion

  Jewish Tradition Dictates Fasting To Oppose Tyrants. We Should Fast To Overcome Trump.

  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish,…

  By Joshua Peck Jul 22, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  AOC’s Squad Is Being Targeted For Calling Out Our Hateful Immigration Policies

  Our country has a long, sordid history of telling black and brown people and other racial minorities to “go back to where they came from.” The “America: Love it or leave it leave it” sentiment reeks of racism and xenophobia, in that it prioritizes the idea that America is a country for white people. In…

  By Sandra Lawson Jul 19, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Want To ‘Send Omar Back’? That’s What The Nazis Did

  Since Sunday morning, President Trump has been on an endless tirade suggesting that four Congresswomen – Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, all women of color – are un-American. Conflating Pressley, Tlaib, and Ocasio-Cortez, all U.S. born citizens, with Omar, a Somali refugee, Trump suggested that all four “go back” to the…

  By Batya Ungar-Sargon Jul 18, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Absolute Hypocrisy Of Republicans Using Jews To Attack The Squad

  Senator Lindsey Graham went on television and proclaimed that Congressional House Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar are a “bunch of communists.” He called them Anti-Semites, and said they “hate Israel.” Graham is now the latest addition to a lineup of would-be “Jewish Defenders” who have lobbed attacks at these women…

  By Rochelle Swartz Jul 18, 2019 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Ilhan Omar’s Pro-BDS Bill Is Important. But She’s The Wrong Person To Fight For It.

  All week, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has been subject to a racist Twitter tirade from the President of the United States, which culminated last night in President Trump beaming as his supporters chanted “send her back.” “Send her back” chant breaks out at the Trump rally when he talks about Omar pic.twitter.com/JFZHc7eaOc — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence)…

  By Abe Silberstein Jul 18, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  As Israel Moves Farther To The Right, Women Are Paying The Price

  The latest Pew Report on religious freedom showing that Israel is practically on par with Iran on this issue should not come as much of a surprise. Those of us who have been tracking religious freedom in Israel have observed that not only are incidents of religious intolerance and oppression on the rise, but they…

  By Elana Sztokman Jul 17, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Interfaith Families Are An Essential Part Of Our Community. Stop Excluding Them

  Last week, it was widely reported that Israel’s new minister of education likened Jewish intermarriage to the Holocaust. Like many, I felt gut-punched when I read his hateful words. Once again, interfaith families are being used as a proxy and scapegoat for disengagement with Jewish life and Israel. Once again, we hear a Jewish leader…

  By Jodi Bromberg Jul 17, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  J Street’s Birthright Replacement Trip To Israel Killed My Zionism

  I am one of the lucky few young Jews who got to attend J Street’s launched a inaugural trip to Israel, called “Let Our People Know.” Flying into Tel Aviv’s sweltering heat on the first of July, I entered Israel an ardent Zionist — aware of the innumerable issues Palestinians face, yet convinced of the…

  By Jesse Kireyev Jul 17, 2019 | 4 min read