Opinion

• Opinion

  4 Things the Jewish Community Needs To Be Called Out On

  Last June, a group of Israeli journalists from left to right, from Haaretz to Israel Hayom, asked me, the president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs: “How long can you hold off BDS?” I told them that only Israel could hold off BDS. We would do what we could here in America, but unless…

  By Steve Gutow

  4 min read
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  Opinion

  How Rabbi-Led LGBT Clergy Are Supporting Black Lives Matter

  Rabbi Debra Kolodny believes that Black Lives Matter is “one of the most critical movements of our day.” And she wants to transfer that belief into action. So Kolodny next weekend will lead a nationwide conference of LGBTQ clergy from all faiths to explore ways to actively support the activist group that exploded onto the…

  By John A. Oswald Oct 12, 2015 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  How a Vote for Republicans Harms Israel — and Not How You Might Think

  Today you’re invited to join me in a thought experiment. Assume for a moment that you’re the sort of American voter who puts Israel’s safety and welfare first when deciding how to vote. Let’s go further and assume that you don’t believe the American government should be dictating Israel’s policies, but should project American power…

  By J.J. Goldberg Oct 12, 2015 | 7 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

  Ben Carson Needs To Stop Using the Holocaust To Score Political Points

  Ben Carson’s ignorance of the historical facts of the Holocaust is every bit as appalling as his insensitive exploitation of the memory of that genocide in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Arguing against any form of gun control, Carson wrote in his new book, “A More Perfect Union,” that “German citizens were disarmed…

  By Menachem Z. Rosensaft Oct 12, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Who Says Rabbis Must Be Role Models On Intermarriage — Or Anything Else?

  Jane Eisner is right to attribute the change in Reconstructionist Rabbinical College’s intermarriage policy to a disagreement about the rabbi’s role in his or her community. But she misses the reason for this disagreement. : “Clergy don’t reflect their congregations. Clergy lead their congregations — and do so not as leaders who bow to the…

  By Ben Bernstein Oct 12, 2015 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Ben Carson’s Rant About Gun Control and the Holocaust Is So Dangerous

  Many Jews, when they heard Ben Carson’s recent remark that if Jews had owned guns, the Holocaust wouldn’t have happened, probably said to themselves (to use the vernacular): “WTF?” Those familiar with Carson’s long history of bizarre, ignorant and just plain weird pronouncements were likely less surprised, but have probably chalked it up to just…

  By Jay Michaelson Oct 9, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Jewish Women Are Extra Tired This Week

  We just tallied up the results from our third installment of the Who Sets the Table? survey series and, once again, found that women are still mostly responsible for making holidays happen at home and getting folks to synagogue. Below is a compilation of your stories along with your answers to our survey questions. Whether…

  By Elissa Strauss Oct 9, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  French Jews Need To Stand Up for Muslims Right Now

  France discovered recently that Marine Le Pen, leader of the extreme right-wing Front National, has a kindred spirit. Her name is Nadine Morano. Like Le Pen, Morano is an immigrant-baiting and blunt-talking politician. A leading figure of the conservative Les Républicains, Morano is very close to the party’s leader, the once (and so he hopes)…

  By Robert Zaretsky Oct 9, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  It’s Not Quite a Third Intifada — Yet

  The violence that’s erupted in Jerusalem and the West Bank in the past few weeks hasn’t reached the level of a new intifada, Israeli officials are saying. And they’re right. There are indeed reasons why, with luck, it might not get that bad. But these days, good luck is in short supply in that part…

  By J.J. Goldberg Oct 9, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Fighting Intermarriage Is a Lost Cause

  Jane Eisner clearly states her difference of opinion with the recent decision to allow inter-partnered candidates to apply to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC), where I serve as president. If I understand her point correctly, it is that intermarriage represents a lack of commitment to Judaism by Jews and that we need to hold the…

  By Deborah Waxman Oct 8, 2015 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why We Shouldn’t Accept Rabbis Who Marry Non-Jews

  Does it make a difference to the larger Jewish community that the Reconstructionist movement has made the regrettable decision to admit and ordain intermarried rabbis? Its adherents are miniscule: Only about 1% of American Jews identify with the movement. Cross the continent and you’ll find slightly more than a hundred congregations. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College…

  By Jane Eisner Oct 8, 2015 | 4 min read