In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
To pitch an opinion piece, email our Opinion Editor, Talya Zax.
Opinion
-
Opinion
Is Bibi Stalling Pick of IDF Chief to Promote Rightist?
More mystery and intrigue in the senior ranks of the Israel Defense Forces: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reported (Maariv, Haaretz) to be stalling the nomination of Israel’s next military chief of staff. His reasons are a topic of hot speculation, though the facts seem to speak for themselves. By law the nomination of a…
-
Opinion VIDEO: ‘Fascist’ Name-Calling Drama in Knesset
A Palestinian Knesset member, Jamal Zahalka (Balad), was forcibly removed from the podium and dragged out of the Knesset plenary today after he called Moshe Feiglin (Likud) a fascist. Some parliament members have protested against the move. They stood up, yelling at Feiglin, who served as the Speaker of the Knesset for the day and…
-
Opinion The Conflict, the Coverage — and the Tribalism
Getty Images One of the most dynamic aspects of modern print journalism is the presence of a “public editor,” a designated staff member who engages with readers around issues of the newspaper’s integrity. In her latest revealing column, New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan responds to readers’ critiques of the recent reporting on the…
Columnists View All
The Latest
-
Opinion 4 Problems With Israel’s ‘Jewish Nation-State’ Law
Getty Images Members of the Israeli government have renewed a push to create a Basic Law enshrining Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” This time, the effort is being spearheaded by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Although his is meant to be a “softer” version of previous similar bills, it’s still highly problematic for a…
-
Opinion At Twersky Shiva, Glimmer of Hope for Jerusalem
Ibrahaim Wassim pays respects to Jewish victims’ families in Jerusalem / Yossi Zamir, Tag Meir Forum Mirrors covered with drapes, pictures stripped from the walls, and the out-of-style black-and-white modernism of North American Orthodox homes — the shiva (mourning) house of Rabbi Moshe Twersky of Har Nof was overcrowded and warm. On the men’s side,…
-
Opinion When I Drifted Off the Path
A cottage industry of memoirs detailing their writers’ journeys from restrictive “ultra-Orthodox” upbringings into the embrace of resplendent enlightenment and freedom has sprung up in recent years. Reading samples of the genre always reminds me of my own abandonment of the Jewish religious tradition in which I had been raised. I was 12. My apostasy…
-
Opinion 3 Ex-Security Chiefs Slam Bibi for Caving to Right
Three of Israel’s most senior ex-defense officials came out last week, almost simultaneously, with blistering attacks on the security policies of the Netanyahu coalition. Appearing in separate forums, the three — former Mossad director Shabtai Shavit, former Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin and former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi — each charged that the…
-
Opinion The Terror Rocking Jerusalem Is Not About God
Israeli emergency services cleans the sidewalk at the scene of the Jerusalem attack / Getty Images Four ultra-Orthodox Jews at prayer and one Druze policeman, murdered by two Palestinian young men armed with knives, axes and a gun. The heart grieves for the families of the victims and the suffering of the injured. This past…
-
Opinion Don’t Let the Billionaires Decide
In mid-November, two billionaires with a shared interest in Israel but radically different domestic politics shared a stage, airing their views on critical challenges facing Israel and the United States, from Iran to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Because Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban can — and do — spend tens and even hundreds of millions of…
-
Opinion How Can She Believe in God?
The Seesaw is a new kind of advice column in which a broad range of columnists will address the real life issues faced by interfaith couples and families. Read the discussion and vote below for what you think is the best response to this particular quandary. You can email your own questions, which will remain…
-
Opinion First Relief, Then Tracing the Roots of Bloody Har Nof Attack
News of terrorist attacks in Israel can strike us in many different ways. For some the first reaction is anguish; for others it’s rage. There are those who look on with mixed feelings, horrified at the bloodshed yet wanting to understand what drives the killers to such crimes. For still others, it’s that very ambivalence…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Sports First Puka Nacua, now Mookie Betts: Why do sports stars keep getting antisemitic around a Jewish streamer?
- 2
Fast Forward After MIT professor’s killing, Jewish influencers spread unverified antisemitism claim
- 3
Culture Why do Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas?
- 4
Politics This politician refused to say ‘Happy Hanukkah,’ then blamed ‘political correctness’ for the backlash
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward The data is in: For many in the Northeast, Christmas isn’t Christmas without Chinese food
-
Fast Forward StopAntisemitism names Tucker Carlson ‘Antisemite of the Year’ as 2024 winner Candace Owens ramps up anti-Jewish rhetoric
-
Fast Forward Jewish groups defend European media monitors banned for what State Dept. calls ‘censorship’
-
Fast Forward British police drop case against Bob Vylan for ‘Death to the IDF’ chant, sparking outrage from Jewish groups
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
