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
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…
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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,…
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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…
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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….
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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…
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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…
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Opinion Think Social Media Should Be Government Regulated? Check Your Privilege
We’re used to hearing people moan about how much time they waste on social media. But recently, there’s been a shift in the focus of the discussions about social media use, from focusing on harm to our productivity to focusing on the damage wrought by social media companies themselves. The massive and systematic violations of…
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Opinion While You Celebrate Eurovision, Don’t Forget Us Palestinians Who Can’t
Ah, the Eurovision contest — that time when so many countries come together in a show of playful competition and unity. It’s Gaza’s cries that the Eurovision songs are competing with. Great effort went into Israel’s preparations to have a perfect Eurovision celebration. Hotels had large discounts to attract visitors, while bars, clubs and restaurants…
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Opinion My Father Tried To Hide The Nakba – But It Found Me.
When 71 years ago this month, the creation of the State of Israel led to a mass Palestinian exodus, only about 150,000 Palestinians out of nearly one million who had lived on the territory managed to remain within the new state. Among them were my grandparents. Palestinians refer to events that unfolded that year as…
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Opinion The Jewish Community Needs to Address Chronic Illness
One Yom Kippur not so long ago, I was in too much pain to stand at Ne’ilah, the closing service. I was sitting near the back of the synagogue sanctuary, holding back tears. Looking around, it seemed that even the most frail of the elderly congregants — people who relied heavily on mobility devices like…
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Opinion I’m A Convert. Do I Deserve To Be Afraid Of Anti-Semitism?
I clearly remember the final step in my conversion to Judaism, moments before entering the mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath. In front of the Beit Din, the Rabbinic Court, my Rabbi looked at me and asked: “If, G-d forbid, Jews were ever persecuted again, would you stand as a Jew?” My answer, without hesitation, was…
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