Opinion

• Opinion

  Twisting a Palestinian’s Three-Finger Salute

  Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf, left; Palestinian student Mohammad AlQadi, right Since the kidnapping of three Israeli teens last Thursday, the Israeli media has been engaged in a full court press to fill in the blanks and tell a compelling story — whether or not it’s true. Today, I came across a Facebook post from Mohammad…

  By A. Daniel Roth

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Move To Ban Kosher Slaughter Really Not About the Animals

  A number of European countries have recently sought, with some success, to ban the ritual slaughter of four-legged animals by Muslims and Jews. Denmark did so in February, following Poland in January. Proponents framed the discussion in terms of animal welfare. They have a point. Executed properly, animals suffer less when stunned — that is,…

  By Jacob Ari Labendz Jun 18, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Who Says Hasidim Have ‘Dead Eyes’?

  Hasidim walk through Williamsburg / All photos courtesy of Mo Gelber Pro tip for anyone considering a tour of Hasidic Williamsburg: It’s not that big a deal. You do not need to wear a hat, broad-brimmed or otherwise. You may visit during the week, and you may visit on weekends. You may bring along with…

  By Shulem Deen Jun 18, 2014 | 5 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 There’s a shocking new report on civilian deaths in Gaza. If only it were accurate.

  

• Nora Berman Is Netflix’s new show the most Jewish cartoon ever?

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s new gift to the far right could help end the Gaza war

  

• Emily Tamkin Entering motherhood — and an obsession with the works of an Italian Jewish literary hero

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Kidnapping of West Bank Teens Points To Worse To Come

  As June opened, it was easy to joke that an honest headline writer could only proclaim “Hamas Gives Up Control of Gaza; Israel Outraged.” But with the abduction of three Israeli teenagers who were reportedly hitchhiking in the West Bank, it is clear that the implications of the current political situation are not funny. Yes,…

  By Nathan J. Brown Jun 18, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  My Life Revolves Around Kidnapped Boys

  Prayer vigil for the three missing Israeli teens / Getty Images (JTA) — Four days into the search for three kidnapped Israeli teens, I attended a group prayer session dedicated to their safe return. Dozens of women gathered together to read responsively psalms seeking God’s mercy and intervention before the start of our morning Jewish studies…

  By Marcy Oster Jun 17, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Working Toward a Transgender Vocabulary

  Elliot Kukla, first out transgender rabbi ordained by the Reform movement / Nic Coury Reactions to the Forward’s transgender and Jewish series varied from “after a decade of acceptance, this is news?” to “the synagogues are being overrun by sex maniacs” to an attitude of open curiosity, perhaps best espoused by Sheila Rubin in Naomi…

  By Dan Friedman Jun 17, 2014 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why #BringBackOurBoys Is the Perfect Hashtag

  A picture tweeted from Matisyahu’s Twitter feed In writing about the decision to adapt #BringBackOurBoys as the virtual call to action for the three kidnapped Israeli students — Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer and Naftali Frankel — Sigal Samuel expresses her regret that the hashtag appropriates the call to action for the 200 Nigerian school girls…

  By Mordechai Lightstone Jun 17, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Prayer Won’t #BringBackOurBoys

  When my eldest daughter was three years old, she enjoyed a comfortable morning routine. After breakfast, if she dressed quickly, she was allowed to watch half an episode of “Sesame Street” before heading off to school. Like most three-year-olds, she enjoyed the predictability and sameness of quiet time with Elmo and Grover and Oscar the…

  By Leah Bieler Jun 17, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  The Rebbe’s Big Idea

  (JTA) — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, was inarguably the most well-known rabbi since Moses Maimonides. Hundreds of prominent rabbinic figures have lived in the intervening 800 years since Maimonides died. But how many can be named before an audience of Jews from the United States, Israel, France or the former Soviet…

  By Joseph Telushkin Jun 17, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Maharat Graduation Surprised Me — Twice

  Last year’s Maharat graduation ceremony / Robert Kalfus Two dramatic moments punctuated yesterday’s graduation ceremony of the New York-based Yeshivat Maharat, the rabbinical academy for Orthodox women, which ordained its second class of women who will serve Orthodox communities as poskot — halakhic decisors and advisors. They were granted the title “Maharat,” and acronym for…

  By Jerome A. Chanes Jun 16, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  News Quiz: The One with Mila Kunis and the Mock Katz’s Deli

  Getty Images This week brings us Mila Kunis, Katz’s Deli and, yes, a schmaltz joke. Always with the schmaltz jokes.

  By Lenore Skenazy Jun 16, 2014 | < 1 min read