Opinion

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  The Purim Story as Told by Bibi’s Speech

  When Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress about the dangers of a nuclear Iran, he couldn’t resist drawing a parallel to that other time Jews were threatened by a “Persian potentate.” (Extra points for vocab, Bibi!) We, in turn, couldn’t resist imagining the entire Purim story recast in Bibi terms. Before the fun, the facts. Here’s…

  By Sigal Samuel and Anne Cohen

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Purim Is Holiday of Ironies

  “All our struggles are in vain if the battle against the Jews is not fought to the finish. It is not enough to get the Jews out of Germany. No, they must be destroyed throughout the entire world so that humanity will be free of them.” Thus spake Julius Streicher, whose vile tabloid Der Sturmer…

  Mar 4, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  How Bibi’s Speech Raises Stakes for All of Us

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dramatically, effectively — and perhaps, dangerously — raised the stakes on Iran in his speech to Congress yesterday. It was great political theater; one observer likened it to a Republican response to the State of the Union address, but on a grander scale (and with more anticipatory hype). Netanyahu’s apocalyptic…

  Mar 4, 2015 | 4 min read

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The Latest

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  Opinion

  How Netanyahu Put the Democrats to Shame

  House Democrats listen to Netanyahu’s speech / Getty Images As the echo of the sustained ovations that greeted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress began to fade, Democratic apologists for the Obama administration had a problem. For several weeks, the White House succeeded in focusing attention on the question of…

  By Jonathan S. Tobin Mar 3, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  11 Lies Netanyahu Told Congress on Iran

  Getty Images / Lior Zaltzman The case Netanyahu laid out against an Iran deal in his address to Congress revolves around 11 core arguments. Think they sound convincing? Look at those arguments one by one, and you’ll see why each of them is bogus. Argument #1. More pressure can secure a better deal with Iran…

  By Lara Friedman Mar 3, 2015 | 6 min read
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  Opinion

  Netanyahu’s Speech Just Raised the Stakes for All

  Getty Images Benjamin Netanyahu dramatically, effectively — and perhaps, dangerously — raised the stakes in his speech to Congress today. The Israeli prime minister employed his considerable rhetorical skills to command the room, describing Iran in terms designed to frighten and excite, painting a ferocious picture of a nation hell bent on exporting its vicious…

  By Jane Eisner Mar 3, 2015 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  READ: Transcript of Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress

  Getty Images Speaker of the House John Boehner, President Pro Tem Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, And House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, I also want to acknowledge Senator, Democratic Leader Harry Reid. Harry, it’s good to see you back on your feet. I guess it’s true what…

  By JTA Mar 3, 2015 | 13 min read
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  Opinion

  Prayer for Agunot by Shelley Frier List

  Creator of heaven and earth. / May it be your will to free the captive wives of Israel / When love and sanctity have fled the home, / But their husbands bind them in the tatters of ketubot. / Remove the bitter burden from these agunot and / Soften the hearts of their misguided captors….

  By Abigail Pogrebin Mar 3, 2015 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Grappling With God’s Wrathful Side

  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. SCOTT: Elissa, I think that most people take it as an article of faith that the angry “Old Testament God,” as some…

  By Elissa Strauss and Scott Perlo Mar 3, 2015 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Preparing to Fast and Shpiel

  It must be embroidered on a sampler somewhere: “Before Jews party, they should suffer a little.” Thus, we fast the day before Purim. Purim is, hands down, the biggest party of the Jewish year. Forget fall’s Simchat Torah, with its sips of single malt, THIS is the Big Megillah and we’re supposed to get trashed….

  By Abigail Pogrebin Mar 3, 2015 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  The Real Existential Threat Is Not Iran. It’s Bibi.

  Getty Images / Lior Zaltzman On the eve of his departure to Washington this week, Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli press assembled on the airport tarmac that he had a “sacred duty” to do everything in his power to protect Israel and the Jewish people from existential threats. As Netanyahu has said nearly every time…

  By Lisa Goldman Mar 2, 2015 | 3 min read