Opinion

• Opinion

  The ‘Anti-Semitism Awareness Act’ Is the Opposite of What Jews and Muslims Need Now

  I was pleased to see Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, gallantly tweet that he would “register as a Muslim” in the event that such a registry were created. But despite this initial gesture, actions that the organization has since taken are less encouraging. After initially defending Rep. Keith Ellison from charges of anti-Semitism,…

  By Rachel Roberts

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Reading Anne Frank in South Africa: Apartheid’s Jewish Lesson for Trump’s America

  The mainstreaming of anti-Semitism during the Donald Trump election campaign has shocked many American Jews, and it is obviously cause for concern. But it can’t be separated from white nationalists’ broader onslaught against Muslims, Latinos and people of color in general. In fact, if we Jews want to act on the basis of our shared…

  By Tony Karon Dec 8, 2016 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  This Transgender Rabbi Is Standing Up to Ben Shapiro’s Hateful Rhetoric

  Right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro, speaking at Yeshiva University on Monday night, declared that “transgender people are unfortunately suffering from a significant mental illness” and that “Torah Judaism does not support social justice.” In the same breath, he delivered his views on how to be a mensch. As a transgender rabbi, a Jewish educator and an…

  By Becky Silverstein Dec 7, 2016 | 4 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 Recognizing a Palestinian state is a great way to doom Palestinians

  

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

  

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  Opinion

  A Friend’s Poignant Goodbye to a Jewish Victim of the Oakland Warehouse Fire

  It’s been five days since a fire tore through an Oakland warehouse party, taking the lives of 36 people. One of those people was my friend, Jon Bernbaum, who was video dee-jaying that night. This tragedy is horrifying. Not only because of the fire and the lives lost, but because a lot of those people…

  By Samantha Saltzman Dec 7, 2016 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  For Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, Whiteness Was a Fragile Identity Long Before Trump

  “I have lived for 26 years under the illusion that I am unconditionally white…. Recently I have started looking at my face and going, ‘Oh man, do I look too Jewish?’” Sydney Brownstone, the reporter who voiced this question in a recent Blabbermouth podcast, is not alone in wondering this. Many Ashkenazi Jews who have…

  By Sigal Samuel Dec 7, 2016 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The ‘Real’ Benjamin Netanyahu Shows Brusque Side — and Steps on His Own Message

  Jerusalem —  Those who know Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu far better than I do said that the real Bibi was on display as he addressed the International Jewish Media Summit in Jerusalem Tuesday night. In that case, Netanyahu — the only Israeli elected prime minister three times in a row, the man who says…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 6, 2016 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Bibi and Barack Agree 100% — on Bagels!

  Jerusalem — Scoff if you like, but this is something I do. I’m a Jewish journalist. We care about our food. At the end of my White House interview last year with President Obama, I asked him for his favorite flavor of bagel. How could I not ask the same thing of the prime minister of…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 6, 2016 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  How Jews Became White Folks — and May Become Nonwhite Under Trump

  Decades before I wrote the book “How Jews Became White Folks and What That Says About Race in America,” I had an eye-opening conversation with my parents. I asked them if they were white. They looked flummoxed and said, “We’re Jewish.” “But are you white?” “Well, I guess we’re white; but we’re Jewish.” Then they…

  By Karen Brodkin Dec 6, 2016 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  That Time I Spoke at the Knesset — and Israeli Lawmakers Seemed to Listen

  Jerusalem — Usually I’m the one sitting in the audience or the press section, covering legislative hearings or committee meetings or the endless speeches of lawmakers, hoping someone, somewhere, is listening. In all my years as a journalist, I’ve never been the one asked to speak. But there I was yesterday, in a paneled committee room…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 5, 2016 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Did My Fellow Austrians Just Stop the Surge of Far Right Populism in Europe?

  On Sunday, Austria put a halt to the seemingly unstoppable surge of far right populism in Europe. Yes, Austria of all places. Green Party-turned-independent candidate, Alexander Van der Bellen, decisively won the presidential election against Norbert Hofer of the far right Freedom Party. The votes by Austrians living abroad – like me – are still…

  By Lilly Maier Dec 5, 2016 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Does Israel’s President Still Not Get How Vital the Kotel Is to Diaspora Jews?

  Jerusalem — Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was the first major elected official to speak at the International Jewish Media Summit, which opened Sunday night in Jerusalem, and he encapsulated the challenge facing his country as it tries to connect more substantively with the Jewish diaspora. The challenge is this: I’m not sure he gets it. Rivlin,…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 4, 2016 | 3 min read