Opinion

• Opinion

  Our Representatives Should Attend the Inauguration, and Support Our Institutions

  Members of Congress like mine, should attend the Inauguration even if they, like me, believe the president-elect is not worthy of our respect because — and this is important — the peaceful transition of power in our nation is worthy of our respect. President Obama has urged us in these last few days to ensure…

  By Alan Van Capelle

  < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Betsy DeVos Shows How Jews Are Failing Early Tests in Age of Trump

  Among the many crises plaguing the presidential transition, one has special meaning for American Jews. You could almost call it a test case in the ability of the Jewish community’s expensive network of institutions to serve our needs and handle the scrapes for which they were designed. And they’re failing. If you look closely, we’re…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jan 18, 2017 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Barack Obama Became the Face of Liberal Zionism — for Better or Worse

  (JTA) — During his campaign for president in 2008, I wrote a column suggesting that Barack Obama was struggling to connect with Jews because they weren’t sure that he supported Israel’s cause in his gut — that is, in his kishkes. I may have been the first to apply the term “Kishkes Factor” in relation…

  By Andrew Silow-Carroll Jan 18, 2017 | 5 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson American Jews were played — now what?

  

• Rob Eshman I have the answer to Jon Stewart’s toughest question about Israel

  

• Nora Berman ‘Eddington’ is full of conspiracy theories but it’s not about Jews. Or is it?

  

• Dan Perry A US official just made history in the West Bank — did he imperil prospects for peace?

  

• Emily Tamkin Is starvation in Gaza really Israel’s fault? The facts are clear

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Eliot Engel Should Turn His Back on Trump — Not Reach for Handshake

  When Donald Trump takes the oath of office Friday, dozens of members of Congress will not be there, including at least three Jewish lawmakers. Sadly, my representative will. By his presence, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York), who represents Riverdale and other parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, will honor a president who declares women…

  By Bernard L. Stein Jan 17, 2017 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Barring Jared Kushner From the White House Would Be Unconstitutional

  Commentators and political enemies jumped up crying nepotism the moment on January 9 that the President-elect announced his appointment of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as Senior Adviser to the President in the White House Office. Members of Congress and Mr. Kushner’s own lawyer immediately floated competing interpretations of the federal anti-nepotism law, which purports to…

  By Akiva Shapiro Jan 17, 2017 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Why We Wouldn’t Let ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ Be Trump’s Anthem

  Media controversy makes for big headlines. The follow-up — not so much. In the build-up to the inauguration with the difficulties of booking acts to play for Donald Trump, NPR host Kurt Andersen was discussing the president-elect’s musical taste. On the show, political analyst John Heilemann sang the chorus of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”…

  By Jay Jay French Jan 17, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Letters

  We Must Continue To Be Vigilant To Avoid Catastrophe

  Dear Editor, “Why Won’t More Jewish Groups Condemn Trump’s Shameful Nazi Comparisons?” by Jane Eisner, from January 13, 2017, was compelling. We were justifiably fearful during the campaign when candidate Trump bullied his way through the path to the nomination. The harassment of the media and discriminatory stands against minorities, religions and disadvantaged members of…

  By Steven A. Ludsin Jan 16, 2017 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  My Meeting With Fethullah Gülen, the Man Accused of Plotting Turkey’s Coup

  Last month, I met with Fethullah Gülen, “the man behind the coup,” according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, who accuses this reclusive cleric of being the brains behind the failed coup last summer in Turkey. Since 1999 Gülen has lived in exile from his homeland in a small compound converted out of an…

  By Reuven Firestone Jan 16, 2017 | 6 min read
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  Opinion

  Opening the Gates of Justice at ‘Hashem’s House’

  When I was invited to sing in Israel this past Hanukkah, my heart filled with joy at the chance to celebrate the Holiday of Light in the City of Eternal Light. I went in search of truth and to return to my home of homes. But going home is never as easy as you think…

  By Neshama Carlebach Jan 14, 2017 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Won’t More Jewish Groups Condemn Trump’s Shameful Nazi Comparisons?

  Twice in one day, President-elect Donald Trump compared himself to the victims of Nazi persecution. The first instance was in one of his infamous tweets, responding to two very different media reports, by CNN and BuzzFeed, about intelligence briefings given to Trump last week regarding his relationship with Russia. . “One last shot at me,”…

  By Jane Eisner Jan 12, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Killer Israeli Soldier Deserves Prison Not Pardon — Democracy Depends on It

  For decades now I have been active in shaping the moral face of Israel, the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people. I have been involved in writing the codes of ethics for the IDF, the Knesset, the government, several ministries as well as numerous major organizations and professions. I am, therefore, immediately attracted to every…

  By Asa Kasher Jan 12, 2017 | 5 min read