Opinion

• Opinion

  Why U. of California Should Dump ‘Three D’ Definition of Anti-Semitism

  Pity the University of California. The UC system is the latest (and perhaps largest) organization being pulled in different directions by competing supporters of Israeli and/or Palestinian causes. At issue? Whether the UC system — which in the past few years has seen outrageous instances of anti-Semitism and (separately) contentious anti-Israel activities and resolutions —…

  By Jay Michaelson

  4 min read
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  Opinion

  On My Last Day as ADL Director, I’m Worried About Iran

  Today is the last day of my long tenure as national director of the Anti-Defamation League. It has been a highly satisfactory and meaningful 28 years as director and 50 years as a professional at this prestigious organization. So why am I choosing to write an article on my last day? It is the same…

  By Abraham Foxman Jul 20, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Should We Transform Tisha B’Av from Fast to Feast?

  Tisha B’Av is one of Judaism’s two major fast days, but it’s mostly unfamiliar to American Jews. I saw this clearly when, in 2013, I served as Team Rabbi for the U.S. delegation to the World Maccabiah Games. Before the games, we took teams on a trip around Israel, and Tisha B’Av fell near the…

  By Daniel Greyber Jul 20, 2015 | 4 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 My brother-in-law’s kibbutz weathered Oct. 7. Then came the Iranian missile strikes

  

• Nora Berman Zohran Mamdani is right about what ‘intifada’ means — well, kind of

  

• Dan Perry Might Iran become Trump’s Iraq? Americans are wary — but shouldn’t be

  

• Emily Tamkin Israeli leaders are using Holocaust comparisons to justify attacks on Iran. Is that kosher?

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  I’m Young. I’m Liberal. And Yes, I’m Zionist.

  A few months ago, as I was chatting with a new friend, I found myself divulging my political ideological makeup. Inevitably, Arab-Israeli standpoints entered into the fray, and she asked me what my position was on the current climate in Israel. “I’m a Zionist,” I told her without hesitation, and was met with what I’ve…

  By J.E. Reich Jul 20, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Yes, Orthodoxy Changes. No, That’s Not ‘Rewriting History.’

  Pssst! I’ve got a secret to share. It’s from deep inside the Orthodox Jewish world. Come closer… Okay, here it is: Orthodoxy changes! It’s not much of a secret, actually. At least in these here parts. But it seems to be an unfamiliar concept for Marc Shapiro, a University of Scranton professor and author of…

  Jul 20, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Iran Letter I’d Write If I Were Still a Federation CEO

  As a lifelong Zionist and a former 19-year Jewish federation chief executive, I was dismayed by to encourage members to urge their congressional representatives to vote against the Iran nuclear deal. While I can imagine that federation boards and executives are under no small amount of pressure to weigh in on this important issue, I…

  By Ami Nahshon Jul 20, 2015 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  An Eloquent Message About Race That Jews Need to Read

  The publication of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s stirring and pained “Between the World and Me” might just provide the kind of watershed moment for redefining the Black-Jewish relationship in the United States. Jewish leaders should seize it by encouraging their communities to read the book and talk about its implications for us both as Americans and Jews….

  By Andy Bachman Jul 20, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  The Pathology Plaguing American Jews

  My daughter is confused. She has asked me a number of times in the last few weeks what it means to be a Jew. She’s 5. So confusion about identity is not an unusual state for her — she’s also been wondering aloud lately about why she can’t fly. But her questions about Jewishness are…

  By Gal Beckerman Jul 20, 2015 | 7 min read
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  Opinion

  Europe Has Had Enough of Benjamin Netanyahu

  Europe and Israel don’t see eye-to-eye on Iran — and maybe never will. Netanyahu believes that any deal with Iran should tie its behavior to sanctions relief. It’s a good argument to make, when you consider the history of Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism and its tendency to say one thing but mean another. And yet,…

  By Liam Hoare Jul 19, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why This Man Supports Iran Deal — Despite Bibi’s Bluster

  “There is no ideal world, and there are no ideal agreements,” says Ami Ayalon, a former director of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service. “And let me add that there is no ideal Middle East.” Given the imperfections in the world at large and the Middle East in particular, the imperfect nuclear agreement that was…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 17, 2015 | 6 min read
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  Opinion

  I Don’t Want Birthright Telling Me What To Think About Iran

  “Help the State of Israel by contacting your congressman and senator and requesting that they reject this deal and override President Obama’s veto of their decision.” That was a plea sent out on Tuesday to New York-area Birthright alumni by “The Alumni Community.” Is it right for this group to impose the political viewpoint of…

  By Madison Margolin Jul 16, 2015 | 2 min read