Opinion

• Opinion

  Why Is East Ramapo School Board Under Siege?

  The Board of Education of the East Ramapo Central School District is under siege. There has been a relentless drumbeat in support of a bill pending in the legislature that, if enacted, would require the appointment of a “monitor” to exercise complete control over the school district. The elected Board of Education will be figureheads,…

  By Yehuda Weissmandl

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  6 Ways To Prevent More ‘Sauna Rabbi’ Scenarios

  When I read the recent article in The New York Times detailing the accusations against Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt of the Riverdale Jewish Center, I was deeply saddened. This is the synagogue and community where I grew up. My parents moved to Riverdale in the 1950s and are among the RJC’s founding members. Rosenblatt — like…

  By Deborah Rosenbloom (JTA) Jun 9, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why the Forward Sent a Brave Reporter to Gaza

  When the Forward sent Naomi Zeveloff to Israel last August to be our first full-time reporter there, the title she went with — Middle East correspondent — was chosen consciously and deliberately. Israel’s policies and actions in the region have simply grown too intertwined with those of its neighbors for her to cover only Israel,…

  By Jane Eisner Jun 9, 2015 | 3 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

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  What’s Behind the ‘Embarassing’ Heckling of Jack Lew at Jerusalem Post Conference

  The most surprising thing about the heckling of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew at the Jerusalem Post Conference in New York on Sunday was how much surprise it evoked. Catcalls and Bronx cheers, mostly directed against the Obama administration but also at Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, have been a distinguishing feature of the annual event since its…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jun 8, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  5 Most Bizarre Moments at the Jerusalem Post Conference

  In no particular order, here they are. 1) Jack Lew Gets Booed First to mind, of course, is the hostile reception meted out to Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew. All he said before the first wave of boos started was: “We recognize that the threats to the state of Israel’s existence today are real. They…

  By Yael Even Or Jun 8, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Books

  Israel Doesn’t Have a Monopoly on Great Hebrew Literature

  The Sapir Prize for Hebrew Literature is one of Israel’s most important literary awards, and the most significant financially. Recently, the managing board of the prize decided to change its guidelines and enable only candidates who are residents of Israel to submit their work. This new rule caused an interesting and important debate, both in…

  By Haim Weiss Jun 8, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  7 Reasons Nicky Is the Most Badass Jew on ‘Orange Is the New Black’

  With the new season of “Orange Is the New Black” almost upon us (is it Friday yet?), there are seven glorious reasons why my inner Jewess is getting desperately excited — and all of them are Nicky. Yes, yes, I know — when you think “OITNB” and “Jewish,” you think “Larry.” But Larry is far…

  By Sigal Samuel Jun 8, 2015 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Caitlyn Jenner Is an American Triumph — and Challenge to Observant Jews

  In ultra-Orthodox circles, Western culture, and the non-Orthodox Jews who embrace it, are often referred to as “Greek.” Though seemingly frozen in time, this epithet is actually quite apt. It points to the deeper meaning of debates surrounding religion in American life – and why progressives are winning them. Where Haredim say “Greek,” conservative Christians…

  By Jay Michaelson Jun 8, 2015 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Only Writers Living in Israel Deserve To Win Its Biggest Prize

  When I heard that an Israeli author living abroad — Ruby Namdar — had received the prestigious Sapir Prize for Hebrew literature this year, my first thought was “How dare we?” Of course, my gut reaction of including myself in this group was preposterous, because I write in English and cannot claim membership in this…

  By Talia Carner Jun 8, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Best Way To Move the Orthodox World

  The Orthodox rabbinate will come around to approving same-sex marriage and equal status for women in Halacha, Jewish law. Provided. Provided that the momentum for such equality in the wider society builds to the point where discrimination is so repugnant that the Orthodox rabbinate feels morally compromised. So if you want Orthodoxy to alter its…

  By Yitzchak Francus Jun 8, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Godology: Searching for the Divine in the Torah’s Scroll

  Godology is a monthly conversation between Forward columnist Elissa Strauss and Rabbi Scott Perlo in which they explore what it means to be “Godish” — to kind of, sort of, believe in God. ELISSA: Scott, we recently celebrated the holiday of Shavuot, when we honor the day God gave the Israelites the Torah at Mount…

  By Elissa Strauss and Scott Perlo Jun 7, 2015 | 4 min read