Opinion

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  Is This Palestinian Show ‘Art’ — or Propaganda?

  An image from the “Invisible” exhibit in Ottawa, Canada / Mira Sucharov An art exhibit in a quiet gallery inside Ottawa’s City Hall has caused an international stir. Accusing the exhibit of “glorifying terror,” the Israeli ambassador to Canada met with the mayor to express his concerns. And dubbing it a “monument to terror” and…

  By Mira Sucharov

  4 min read
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  Opinion

  My Jewish Duty in Thailand

  Burmese girls at school in Thailand’s Mae La refugee camp / Getty Images Even though I was raised in a Washington, D.C. suburb, I never spent much time in the district and definitely never toured the White House. But last month, I joined 150 Jewish activists from 18 states to lobby my elected officials to…

  By Aaron Levi Jun 4, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Meet the McJunkins (They’re Jewish!)

  Alexander Rapaport (JTA) — Just in time for Shavuot, with its reading of the Book of Ruth about Judaism’s first convert, a Tennessee family of 12’s conversion to Judaism has prompted an outpouring of support from Brooklyn’s haredi Orthodox community. On Sunday, Sholom and Nechama (originally Chad and Libby) McJunkin brought their 10 children to…

  By Julie Wiener Jun 4, 2014 | 2 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

  5 Ways To Make Folks Care About Shavuot

  Hey, did you know that Shavuot is upon us? If you said, “no” or “oh, right, I remember that vaguely from grade school,” you’re not alone. Many non-observant Jews (not to mention non-Jews) are unfamiliar with this festival, even though it’s one of the most important ones in the Bible, celebrating… something (see No. 4)….

  By Amy Klein Jun 4, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Tell It on the Mountain: A Shavuot Holiday Concert

  The festival of Shavuot begins tonight. You all know what that means: time for a little holiday music. Herewith a mix of Peter Paul & Mary, Shlomo Carlebach, Shoshana Damari, Bob Dylan, some Ladino sacred cancon, some 1950s doo-wop and lots more, including a snippet of Mel Brooks. The holiday comes seven weeks after Passover…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jun 3, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Can Washington D.C. Save This Rare Synagogue Mural?

  Washington’s Synagogue Mural / Jewish Historical Society Stephanie Slewka was peeling layers of paint and plaster from her just-purchased house in downtown Washington, D.C. when she spied a blue patch — unusual in the mildewy mess of browns and beiges. Removing a few more gunky strata revealed a Star of David. And tearing off even…

  By Michael Kaminer Jun 3, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Bother Playing Gaza Rocket Blame Game?

  Man walks by rocket shelter in Israeli town of Sderot / Getty Images Responding to the new Palestinian unity government yesterday, Israel decided that it will start holding the Palestinian Authority responsible for rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. The security cabinet resolved unanimously to “hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for all actions that harm…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jun 3, 2014 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why ‘Love the Jew, Hate the Judaism’ Is So Wrong

  What do some devout Christians say about gays and lesbians? Love the sinner, hate the sin. Love the person even if you believe that at the very core of his or her identity is something so intrinsically wrong, it puts that gay man or woman in a separate, scornful category of being. To the modern…

  By Jane Eisner Jun 3, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  News Quiz: The Rolling Stones Rock and Chubby Checker

  Getty Images: Alfred ‘Chuck’ Leavell, keyboard player for The Rolling Stones, puts a note into the Western Wall in the old city. Chubby Checker, ultra-Orthodox rabbis and The Rolling Stones reunite for their farewell tour! Ok, so maybe they just unite as part of this week’s news quiz.

  By Lenore Skenazy Jun 3, 2014 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  King Juan Carlos Gone — Can Sephardic Jews Still Return?

  Spain’s King Juan Carlos / Getty Images If Juan Carlos didn’t entirely reconcile Spain and the Sephardic Jews, it wasn’t for lack of trying. The Spanish king announced his abdication this morning, 39 years into a reign that stands both as an argument for monarchy and an argument against it. Lionized for shepherding Spain through…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Jun 2, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  After Brussels Bust, France Nabs ‘Jihad Recruiters’

  French police have arrested four people suspected of recruiting would-be jihadist fighters in Paris and southern France, apparently for training and combat in the Syrian civil war, the British edition of the International Business Times reported today. The arrests were announced by French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. They come a day after the announcement on…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jun 2, 2014 | 2 min read