Opinion

• Opinion

  How a year in Trump’s America renewed my faith

  As I look back on the long, chaotic, exhausting, infuriating, terrifying year we’ve had since the presidency was called for Trump, one thought in particular stands out: I’m really proud of us. I’m proud of all of us who have made calling our elected representatives a new daily habit; who have gotten involved in politics…

  By Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Russia’s election meddling is not even its most dangerous recent achievement

  Russia. When Americans hear the word these days, we’re usually thinking about the stealth computer attack on our election system. But as Russian attacks on America go, undermining our democracy and helping install a circus clown as our commander in chief is further down the list than you might think. Of greater immediate consequence is…

  By J.J. Goldberg Oct 25, 2017 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Move to Free Chained Women Will Only Further Shackle Them

  On Monday, the government of Israel announced that it found a solution to a problem that has long plagued Orthodox women. A new bill purports to help agunoth, or women who haven’t received a religious bill of divorce (known as a get) from their husbands. This means that they are chained to these husbands (agunah…

  By Shayna Zamkanei Oct 25, 2017 | 5 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson Being Jewish in America today feels like walking multiple tightropes at once

  

• Rob Eshman A doctor in the midst of the Boulder attack: ‘This did not come out of vacuum’

  

• Nora Berman For new parents, the aid crisis in Gaza is hitting hard

  

• Dan Perry Don’t be grateful two hostages’ bodies were recovered. Be furious.

  

• Emily Tamkin The two things I fear most after the horrifying attack on Jews in Boulder

  

The Latest

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  Letters

  Here’s How the Orthodox Deal With Sexual Assault

  The Harvey Weinstein scandal is just the latest case of the misuse and exploitation of power through sexual harassment and abuse by people in influential positions. It has caught everyone’s attention and has empowered victims to come forward, speak out, and be believed. Hopefully it is finally the catalyst for significant cultural change. But sexual…

  By Mark Dratch Oct 24, 2017 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  I’m a Conservative Jewish woman and I oppose Quebec’s new burqa ban

  Earlier this year, I wrote about a town in New Jersey called Mahwah, where tensions have erupted between Orthodox Jews and their non-Jewish or nonreligious neighbors. Things were getting so bad that a group called Mahwah Strong formed, devoting itself to keeping the town “diverse.” That diversity didn’t extend to Hasidic Jews, which many in…

  By Bethany Mandel Oct 24, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Our Conversation About Israel/Palestine Is Broken

  Recently the Palestinian Freedom Theater had its U.S. Premiere of the play “The Siege” at NYU’s Skirball Center. Almost immediately, members of the Jewish leadership and right wing pro-Israel groups came out against the play, claiming it is “one sided”. And they are right. The play is one sided. It represents the Palestinian side of…

  By Gili Getz Oct 24, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Letters

  Why The Forward Took Down a Story About Elie Wiesel

  Dear Rabbi Farber, Thank you for your note regarding our decision to take down the Elie Wiesel story. Your concerns are valid and commendable, and I’ll do my best to respond. The story in question was not reported by the Forward. It was aggregated from a story that appeared on another site. We made a…

  By Jane Eisner Oct 24, 2017 | 2 min read
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  Letters

  Letter to the Forward: Please Explain the Elie Wiesel Retraction.

  Dear Editor, I saw the retraction of the Elie Wiesel story. It is very difficult to read such a terse and vague statement and not worry that perhaps it isn’t about journalistic standards as opposed to threats by powerful people. I have no opinions on the subject personally, I don’t know the author and did…

  By Zev Farber Oct 24, 2017 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  We Asked 22 Rabbis: Are Jews The Inheritors Of Eretz Yisrael?

  As a part of our Rabbi Roundtable series, we brought together leading rabbis from all corners of the Jewish world to offer their thoughts on the big questions. This week, we asked our rabbis, “Are Jews the inheritors of Eretz Yisrael?” Here are their responses: Ayelet Cohen, Conservative, The New Israel Fund, NY: We need…

  By Forward Staff Oct 24, 2017 | 9 min read
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  Opinion

  Jane Looking Forward: John F. Kelly’s Military Elitism And Trump’s Disastrous Shiva Call

  Welcome back to Jane Looking Forward. If you wish to continue reading this weekly newsletter, please subscribe here. And spread the word! Ever since the controversy erupted over President Trump’s remarks to the widow of a slain soldier, I wondered whether anything like that could happen in Israel. As my colleague Nathan Guttman wrote in…

  By Jane Eisner Oct 23, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Do Jews have a responsibility to speak out against the Rohingya Genocide?

  Have Your Say is your chance to tell us what you think. Comment below or on Facebook and let us know what you think about the question posed in the headline.

  By Forward Staff Oct 23, 2017 | < 1 min read