In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
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Opinion
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Opinion
Why Is France Up in Arms About Holocaust Compensation Deal?
A heated debate erupted in the French Parliament yesterday about who is responsible for the deportation of thousands of French Jews to the death camps during the Holocaust: Could it be the French government? Last year, the U.S. and French governments signed an agreement for France to pay $60 million to those rounded up and…
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Opinion The BDS Blacklist Is a Jewish Moral Failure
I, like many others, read the Forward’s — and shuddered. This organization documents, on its website, the names and photographs of pro-Palestinian activists around the country with links to their personal details, social media profiles, and print-out profiles for activists. The database, as stated on the webpage, “was created to expose individuals and groups that…
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Opinion A Disgraceful Imprisonment in Iran
Sometimes life imitates art which imitates life. Such is the link between Maziar Bahari and Jason Rezaian. Life: Bahari is an Iranian-born journalist who was in Tehran reporting for Newsweek during the disputed 2009 Iranian national elections when he was charged with espionage, thrown in prison, tortured, denied counsel and visitation, held in solitary confinement…
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Opinion Jean Zay, Resistance Fighter and Cannes Founder, Enters the Pantheon
One could hardly conceive of a greater contrast between the resorts and runways at Cannes and the sepulchers and silence at the Pantheon. The Mediterranean town is the capital of glitter and celebrity, while the Parisian monument is the twilit-resting place for those whose lives brought glory to the nation. This year, however, the red…
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Opinion Ben and Jerry’s Twitter Spat With GOP Over Bernie Sanders
A decision by Ben & Jerry’s to donate ice cream to Bernie Sanders’ official campaign kickoff party gave a GOP communications director brain freeze. Sean Spicer, communications director for the Republican National Committee, got into a Twitter fight with the beloved ice cream company on Wednesday, that Sanders’ decision to hand out free Cherry Garcia…
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Opinion When Israelis Demand Jewish Drivers for Their Taxis
Have you ever thought about making demands about your taxi driver’s ethnicity or religion? “Hello, car service, I’d like my driver white and Christian, please?” No, you would never. Because that would be, well, racist, right? Apparently, Cinema City — a movie theater complex in Jerusalem — was doing exactly that. For months. A bunch of…
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Opinion Insulting Shlomo Riskin Insults Israelis — and American Jews
We read with great concern the decision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to summon Rabbi Shlomo Riskin to their offices to discuss whether his conversion policy will prevent his reappointment to serve as a Chief Rabbi of Efrat. This is an absolute outrage and reflects an extreme level of disrespect on many levels. First,…
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Opinion Why Paid Leave Makes Economic Sense
I remember the first time I was confronted with an employee’s request for maternity leave. I was in charge of the features department of The Philadelphia Inquirer, and a talented reporter told me she was pregnant and planned on taking leave for several months. On the outside, I expressed the appropriate joy and congratulations. On…
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Opinion Sleepy But Awake: My Shavuot Experience
Some of my readers scolded me via email because I planned to attend a night of Shavuot learning that wasn’t centered around text study. I heard them. But I went anyway. And I hope, for this particular column, we can set aside the debate of whether it’s kosher to include non-Torah-focused discussions on Shavuot –-…
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Opinion Let’s Mark Anniversary of 3 Kidnappings With Unity Day
This piece was written by Iris and Ori Ifrach, Rachelli and Avi Fraenkel, and Bat-Galim and Ofer Shaer, the parents of Eyal Ifrach, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel. (JTA) — One year ago, our families were thrust into a nightmare beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Our sons, Eyal Ifrach, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali…
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Opinion What Israel’s Chief of Staff Is Worried About — No, It’s Not Iran
Two members of Congress from New York, a Democrat and a Republican, are calling on President Obama to provide Israel with massive, 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, capable of penetrating Iran’s fortified underground nuclear facilities. They also want to send B-52 long-range bombers that can carry the huge devices. “Providing Israel with a stronger capability to destroy…
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