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
No, The Orthodox Aren’t Stealing Birthright. They’re Attracting Young People
Last week, Haaretz ran an explosive story. “Orthodox trip operators are taking over Birthright Israel Programs” proclaimed the headline. The article examined Birthright’s recent decision to drop the Reform Movement “as a certified trip provider,” attributing this “split” between Birthright and the Reform movement to the “aggressive” and often misleading “marketing” of Orthodox trip providers…
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Opinion The Forward’s Opinion Editor Misunderstood The ZOA Gala
Dear Editor, Forward opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon’s op-ed about the Zionist Organization of America’s November 10, 2017 annual gala engages in the same unsubstantiated smears against Steve Bannon and Dr. Sebastian Gorka that the Forward has previously engaged in, and that were repeatedly shown to be false. The Forward editor compounded this by disparaging the…
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Opinion American Jews: Stop Getting Distracted By BDS
Fighting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement has become a primary focus of US Israel advocacy. As BDS resolutions come to a vote on campuses across the country, the issue dominates how we talk about Israel. This is to our detriment. The single-minded focus on BDS in fact only makes it harder to fight, and…
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Opinion Why Doesn’t The New York Times Mention Ben Shapiro’s Islamophobia?
Now and then—when Donald Trump retweets a video entitled “Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches!” by a British woman convicted of harassing a woman wearing a hijab, for instance—the media notices anti-Muslim bigotry. But often, it remains invisible. In recent years, this species of prejudice has become so pervasive, especially on the American…
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Opinion Fault Lines Season 1, Episode 14: On The Future Of Right-Wing Jews
Who are the Jewish right? How is Trump-era conservatism affecting American Jews? There are a lot of Jews at Breitbart, Josh Mandel is running a campaign for Senate, and we might soon see a lot more right wing Jews. Is the state of political discourse becoming even more vitriolic? How do Orthodox Jews feel about…
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Opinion Fault Lines Season 1, Episode 15: Changing Views On Intermarriage
Some prominent conservative rabbis are now pushing for the ability to ordain intermarriages. Why are these rabbis pushing for this now? Are conservative rabbis trying to compete with reform rabbis? Is it part of a new push to appeal to millennials who wouldn’t consider conversion? Listen now and please let us know your thoughts by…
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Opinion Fault Lines Season 1, Episode 16: The Relationship Between Trump and Netanyahu
Is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu imitating President Donald Trump? Both of them have attacked the press for being ‘fake news,’ both have sons that got them into trouble, both exist on the right end of political spectrum and both have cozied up to right-wing leaders. Why would a seasoned politician like Netanyahu want to…
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Opinion Fault Lines Season 1, Episode 13: Is Israel Still Relevant To American Jews?
What are American Jews interested in talking about, if not Israel? Is Israel still a hot-button issue on college campuses? Has the election of President Trump, and the shakiness of American liberal democracy, distracted Jews from thinking about Israel? Listen to Peter Beinart and Daniel Gordis’ lively conversation regarding American Jewry’s opinion on the Middle…
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Opinion Welcome To The Post Modern Anti-Semitism Debate
Tuesday in New York City told a tale of two anti-Semitism panels. The first was a buttoned-up afternoon symposium in a minimalist midtown law office entitled “Anti-Zionism=Anti-Semitism.” The second, “The Uses and Abuses of Anti-Semitism,” was a jolly evening affair at the New School where, as you might expect, students predominated. These two mirror image…
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Opinion The Importance of JVP’s Anti-Semitism Panel With Linda Sarsour
In this week’s Torah portion Jacob, paralyzed by fear, divides his community in two, for fear his brother Esau would destroy them. At least if they destroy one group, he rationalizes, another group will live. Out of his fear,Jacob gathered gifts to pacify his brother Esau. But when Jacob approached his brother, Esau ran to…
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Opinion Why Labeling Meghan Markle As Jewish Is So Offensive
Dear Editor, The Forward blog post “Is Meghan Markle Going To Be Prince Harry’s Jewish Princess?” is extremely offensive. By continuing to question Markle’s Jewish identity, the author of this piece is just as — if not more — offensive than the people who questioned Markle about her multi-ethnic and biracial identity throughout her whole…
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