Opinion

• Opinion

  How The Holocaust Helps Us Understand Independence Day

  One day 241 years ago, John Hancock led a group of patriots in signing a document that quickly became the banner of democracy across the world. As with most holidays, the significance of this anniversary has evolved over time, and today the principles to which those 56 men ascribed their names is often lost amid…

  By Martha Allen

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  NC Pride Excludes Jews By Scheduling Event On Yom Kippur

  Like many in the Jewish community, I was deeply troubled to see that the Chicago Dyke March kicked out three women for carrying pride flags adorned with the Star of David. The star, a proud symbol of Judaism, reportedly made some marchers feel “unsafe.” One ejected marcher told the Chicagoist, “Being removed from this march…

  By Peter Reitzes Jul 3, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Jane Looking Forward: July 4th In Yiddish, Trumpcare And More

  Happy July 4th Weekend! I’m sending this latest Jane Looking Forward newsletter from Virginia, where I am visiting family and thinking about Independence Day. It feels different this year, and not only because I no longer live in the suburbs and therefore can’t host our traditional July 4th party. Starting with a backyard barbecue with…

  By Jane Eisner Jul 3, 2017 | 2 min read

Columnists View All

• Jay Michaelson What can really be done to prevent antisemitic attacks like Bondi Beach?

  

• Rob Eshman Australia shooting terrifies Jews worldwide — and strengthens the case for Israel

  

• Nora Berman Did crypto-Jews invent the modern tarot deck?

  

• Dan Perry The 3 responses to the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack that could make Jews safer

  

• Emily Tamkin The fundamental miscalculation behind the GOP’s antisemitism crisis

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  On This Fourth Of July, Trump Must Protect Our Public Lands

  More than half a dozen U.S. presidents have come from New York, including Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump. Some have compared the two due to their populist stances. One of Roosevelt’s biggest domestic priorities was focusing on the need to balance development with conservation. This led him to support and sign into law the Antiquities…

  By Steve Gutow Jul 3, 2017 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Real Wall Problem: When Will Diaspora Jews Fight For Palestinians?

  The North American Jewish establishment is furious with Israel – and has just let loose an astonishing fusillade of collective protest. The President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an “unconscionable insult” and vowed not to be “still or silent.” The Executive Director of the Conservative…

  By Brant Rosen Jul 2, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  What Do TIP And The Dyke March Have In Common? Absolutely Nothing.

  What do The Israel Project and the Chicago Dyke March organizers have in common, Peter Beinart asks in his response to my op-ed published on Tuesday. Nothing — that’s the short and only answer to his latest slanderous assault on the integrity of my organization. We, at TIP, are a nonpartisan, centrist, umbrella organization that…

  By Josh Block Jun 30, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  When It Comes To Dating, Chats Beat Apps Every Time

  Despite the ease with which men and women connect using phones, social media and the Internet, lasting relationships seem to be harder than ever to obtain. When it comes to Millennials, there are serious obstacles in finding compatible members of the opposite sex online or in person. The popularity of reality TV shows like “The…

  By Mark Wildes Jun 30, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  5 Quintessentially Jewish Concepts in the Harry Potter Saga

  It has been twenty years since Scholastic Books made the best choice in its history by publishing a children’s novel about an orphaned boy who finds out that he’s a wizard. While Judaism generally does not make a big deal about birthdays (the only Biblical character who celebrates his birthday is Pharaoh), we are no…

  By Moshe Rosenberg Jun 30, 2017 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  How A Soap Opera Explains Egyptian-Israeli Relations

  Egyptian-Israeli relations have been steadily improving in the past few years, with the two countries facing the same threat from ISIS on the Sinai border. Coupled with Egypt’s current economic hardships, increased cooperation between the two sides beyond security matters might become a possibility. Moreover, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his top officials have…

  By Haisam Hassenein Jun 29, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Orthodox Town Has Jewish Obligation To Shame Fraudsters In Its Midst

  Residents of Lakewood, New Jersey, knew the hammer was about to fall. According to news reports, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato informed the community two years ago that community residents were involved in abuse of welfare programs, and warned that authorities would be taking action. On Monday, that warning came to pass. In what was…

  By Bethany Mandel Jun 29, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  The Chicago Dyke March And The Israel Project: Guilty Of The Same Intolerance

  Watch the American debate over Israel closely and you notice an intriguing symmetry. In official Washington, where establishment Jewish groups wield power, they erect a de facto litmus test for Palestinians: Endorse Zionism or we will bar you from the halls of power. Earlier this month, for instance, Nadia Ben-Youssef, a representative of Adalah, which…

  By Peter Beinart Jun 28, 2017 | 3 min read