Opinion

• Opinion

  Supreme Plea for Inclusive Kind of Prayer

  Sometime after I became editorial page editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1994, I was invited to have breakfast with Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, the archbishop of Philadelphia. Even though my devout Catholic secretary coached me on how to address him and what I might expect, I was apprehensive – afraid that I would feel uncomfortable…

  By Jane Eisner

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why the iNakba App Is a Brilliant Idea

  Views of the iNakba app / Zochrot What would be a reasonable response to this week’s release of the interactive iNakba app, designed to help users “locate the Palestinian localities destroyed in the Nakba since 1948 and to learn about them”? Given the depth of ignorance surrounding the topic, you could greet iNakba as an…

  By Emily L. Hauser May 6, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Keeping Guns Away From the Torah in Georgia

  I may live in a so-called “Bible Belt” state, but lately the state government of Georgia has been neglecting some critical biblical values. The Prophet Isaiah implores that all shall “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks,” but Georgia Governor Nathan Deal just signed into law new sweeping legislation that allows…

  By Elana Erdstein Perry May 6, 2014 | 3 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

  Newsquiz: Sarah Palin Meets Iran in this Week’s Quiz

  Sarah Palin’s dog makes a surprise appearance in this week’s quiz, as do millions of bees, Pres. Obama’s cousin, and Santa. That’s enough, right?

  By Lenore Skenazy May 6, 2014 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  ‘Privileged’ Princeton Student’s Tale of Jewish Woe

  Princeton student Tal Fortgang / Fox News By now, you’ve probably heard about Tal Fortgang, the white male Princeton freshman who’s taken the phrase “check your privilege” to the next level. He’s actually claimed to have checked his, and in an article that’s now gone viral, he admits that he has privilege but insists it’s…

  By Michael Kaplan May 5, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  On Independence Day, the Difficulties of Loving Israel and Each Other

  Every year around this time, when Israel’s independence day rolls around, we’re confronted — a good many of us — with an uncomfortable sense that loving and celebrating the Jewish state has gotten just a bit harder than last year. Not that there isn’t a lot about Israel to love and celebrate: sunrise atop Masada,…

  By J.J. Goldberg May 5, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Watch, Hear: Ben-Gurion Declaring Independence

  Here’s the live broadcast, as it happened. You can watch the accompanying images or follow along in English — the official translation is below. Footnote: The British were to leave Eretz Israel/Palestine on Saturday, May 15. The Jewish Agency decided to declare independence at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, before the Sabbath. A declaration was written,…

  By J.J. Goldberg May 5, 2014 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Haredi Editorial Unifies Israel on Memorial Day

  Ultra-Orthodox Israelis stand for the Yom Hazikaron siren / Vimeo Israeli unity made a big leap forward today, on the national memorial day for fallen soldiers. Normally, Yom Hazikaron, one of the most emotionally-charged days in the calendar, gives rise to anger from the general population towards the ultra-Orthodox community, which is considered disrespectful toward…

  By Nathan Jeffay May 5, 2014 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  7 Things Missing from Israel’s Facebook Movie

  If Israel had a Facebook account, what would it look like? The answer can be found in a Facebook “look back” movie promoted ahead of Israeli Independence Day and made by Todd Zeff of Jerusalem U, an institution that uses film to strengthen young Jews’ connection to Israel. Or, I should say, an answer. If…

  By Sigal Samuel May 5, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Ruth Messinger’s Granddaughter Is Also Her Roommate

  Francesca Sternfeld and Ruth Messinger / Courtesy of the authors So, imagine sharing a large apartment with someone else who loves life, enjoys good food, cooks well, reads intensively and extensively [but not always the same material] and is not always but often willing to hear about your day or your life and offer wise…

  By Ruth Messinger and Francesca Sternfeld May 4, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Now Even Winnipeg Disinvites Speakers Over Israel Politics

  Getty Images The struggle over Israel in the Jewish community is heating up in Winnipeg, Canada. David Barnard, the President of the University of Manitoba — the city’s largest university — has been publicly un-invited to speak at one of the larger shuls in the city, Shaarey Zedek. The president was to have spoken at…

  By Brent Sasley May 4, 2014 | 3 min read