In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
To pitch an opinion piece, email our Opinion Editor, Talya Zax.
Opinion
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Opinion
Inaugurate This!
Dear Forward Reader: Our world changes January 20. How will you respond? For the next four years, the Forward will hold our elected officials accountable — to the U.S. constitution, to democratic principles, and to the values American Jews cherish — just as we’ve done since 1897. We’re going to continue publishing real journalism based…
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Opinion Donald Trump Plays ‘Identity Politics’ With Jews and Israel — but Conservatives Keep Quiet
If there’s one thing conservatives hate, it’s “identity politics”: the claim that membership in a particular ethnic, racial or gender group gives someone special authority over policy toward that group. Tell conservatives that women should make abortion policy, or Latinos should make immigration policy, or African Americans should decide whether affirmative action is fair, and…
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Opinion An Alternative Inaugural Prayer From the National Synagogue’s Rabbi
Shmuel Herzfeld, the rabbi of Washington’s oldest synagogue, Ohev Sholom – The National Synagogue, offers a new inauguration prayer. Dear God: Please give the president the wisdom and courage to guide the United States with fairness and kindness, and to help keep all of us safe and secure. Please protect us from violence and war…
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Opinion Honor Alberto Nisman’s Sacrifice by Continuing His Probe of Argentina Bombing
WASHINGTON (JTA) — On Jan. 18, 2015, Argentine terrorism prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head in what was almost certainly murder, not suicide. Whoever murdered him didn’t just want to kill him but rather his body of work. They wanted to bury the revelations he was about to…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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”…
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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…
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News When observant Jews gathered to challenge Israel orthodoxy, verbal sparring and walkouts ensued
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Opinion Trump has forced an impossible choice on American synagogues amid antisemitic attacks
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Opinion The one crucial domain in which Iran outwitted Israel
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Fast Forward Suspect in Michigan synagogue attack dead after ramming car into temple, police say
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