Opinion

• Opinion

  A Letter To My Gay Conversion Therapist

  Dear Dr. S, How have you been since I dropped out of conversion therapy? I’m doing okay, I think. Well, at least I’m doing better than before. I still suffer from anxiety and depression, which was exacerbated by the conversion therapy. But I’ve certainly come a long way since you tried to “cure” me of…

  By Anonymous

  6 min read
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  Opinion

  It’s The Occupation, Stupid. No Amount Of Cash Can Buy Palestinian Freedom

  On Sunday, the White House announced it would be co-hosting a conference with Bahrain focused on Palestinian economic prosperity to kick start the always-delayed Trump peace deal. “Finance ministers, but not foreign ministers, will be invited along with delegations of business leaders,” CNN reported. It appears that they also decided that the Palestinians will not…

  By Muhammad Shehada May 21, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Our Schools Are More Segregated – And More Discriminatory – Than Ever

  This past February, an 11-year-old Black child who was arrested at his school in Lakeland, Florida for choosing to sit quietly during the Pledge of Allegiance. You read that right. While it wasn’t the first time the student had sat for the Pledge, the substitute teacher leading the class that day took particular offense. Rather…

  By Charles D. Ellison May 20, 2019 | 4 min read

Columnists View All

• Alyssa Katz As editor-in-chief, I’m finding my way Forward (and back)

  

• Rob Eshman A war with Israel, not for Israel

  

• Dan Perry Israel and US go for regime change in Iran, with leaders few trust

  

• Emily Tamkin We’re losing the fight against antisemitism. Here’s how to turn the tide

  

• Jay Michaelson We are talking past one another on Zionism

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  It’s Time to End America’s Blank Check Military Aid to Israel

  Last month, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declared that American aid to Israel is “something that can be discussed” in Washington. Her comments made news precisely because America’s policy of giving Israel billions in aid without expecting any policy changes in return hasn’t actually been discussed — or at least questioned — in either party in more…

  By Peter Beinart May 20, 2019 | 16 min read
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  Opinion

  This Week In Good Jewish News: Octogenarians Had Bat Mitzvahs And Seinfeld Saw ‘Fiddler On The Roof’

  Bad news breaks every single day, and it breaks our hearts. But good news happens every day too, and reading it helps put the pieces back together. If you have a tip for a Jewish news story that brought you joy, please send it to [email protected]. Hallelu!: On shabbat last week, 21 women ages 85…

  By Jenny Singer May 17, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  There’s No Such Thing As Coexistence Between Unequals

  This week, U.S. Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted about a Ramadan Iftar — the evening meal in which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast. This Iftar took place in Hebron, and Israeli settlers were the honored guests. “A groundwork for peace, a wonderful example of what could be possible,” Mr. Greenblatt wrote, sharing an…

  By Issa Amro May 17, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Welcome To The Age Of Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform

  Commentators might bemoan the ever-growing list of presidential candidates. But adding more voices means more, different policy proposals. And before a single ballot has been cast, candidates are already engaging in the “ideas primary,” the contest over what issues will shape the campaign, from the Green New Deal to Medicare for All. Absent, until now,…

  By Adureh Onyekwere & Ames C. Grawert May 16, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Abortion Extremists – On Both Sides – Are Overplaying Their Hands

  There are few issues more polarizing in America than abortion. Few issues split Americans so perfectly and so consistently and down the middle: [About] (https://news.gallup.com/poll/235445/abortion-attitudes-remain-closely-divided.aspx) half of Americans consider themselves” pro-life,” while the other half consider themselves “pro-choice.” In fact, it’s exactly 48% on each side, according to Gallup polls. But these categories are not…

  By Bethany Mandel May 16, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Don’t Let The Measles Epidemic Fuel a Jew-Hating One

  If you live in New York – or anywhere, really – you will have recently been inundated with headlines about a measles outbreak, more often than not accompanied by a picture of Orthodox Jews. It’s true that an inordinate number of measles cases have in fact occurred in Orthodox communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County….

  May 16, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Jews Need To Stand Up For Abortion Rights – Our Religious Freedom Is At Stake

  In enacting a law that would make performing virtually all abortions a crime, the state of Alabama is impinging on my religious freedom as a Jew. So are at least half a dozen other states which are attempting to seriously restrict access to abortion, or ban it altogether in a naked attempt to overturn Roe…

  By Jane Eisner May 16, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Orthodox Jews Love Trump Not Despite His Views On Women But Because Of Them

  President Trump’s popularity in the Orthodox community is well documented. Though he only won 55% of the community’s votes in 2016, his approval since the election has skyrocketed. Many view this support as tied to specific policies, like moving the embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, policies that appeal to the…

  By Avraham Bronstein May 15, 2019 | 4 min read