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
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Opinion
Diaspora Uneasy With Israeli ‘Jewish Democracy’
The Jerusalem think tank set up by the Jewish Agency in 2002, the Jewish People Policy Institute, appears to have dropped a bombshell into the middle of Israel’s political hothouse with a new report (PDF) it released May 21 on Diaspora attitudes toward Israeli democracy. The report, titled “Jewish and Democratic: Perspectives from World Jewry,”…
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Opinion 5 Dudes Who Claim To Be America’s Rabbi
Judaism — it’s a big religion; America — it’s an even bigger place. But one man — one brave, self-sacrificing man — has taken upon himself the weight and burden of serving both constituencies, of being just the Jew that this country needs, of being: America’s Rabbi. I’m sorry, did I say “one man”? I…
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Opinion Coma Case Could Mean Leap Forward for Agunot
A woman gestures at a Jerusalem demonstration to help agunot / Haaretz We’re familiar with the stories of recalcitrant husbands who refuse to give their wives a get, a religious writ of divorce, effectively preventing them from remarrying. But less discussed is the heart-wrenching experience of women whose husbands are alive, but unable to interact…
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Opinion Step Right Up to Sept. 11 Museum — and See My Husband’s Remains
I spend a lot of time in my Subaru Outback. On a good day, the roof is not leaking but the radio is permanently broken. Not an easy fix, and the Great God of Radio has gone ahead and chosen a station and volume for me. I can’t turn the sound up, down or off,…
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Opinion Why Is Pa.’s Tom Wolf a Big JCC Macher?
Pennsylvania’s Tom Wolf is a JCC macher, but is not Jewish / Flicker: WolfForPa Campaign (JTA) — In his coverage of last night’s primary elections, Slate political reporter Dave Weigel mentioned an odd fact: Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania’s newly crowned gubernatorial nominee, has given so much to his local Jewish community center in York, Pa., that…
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Opinion Posing as Jewish Women — To Beat Up Arab Men
Still from a video produced by anti-miscegenation group Yad L’Achim Imagine this: You’re a young guy in Israel. Scrolling through Facebook, you see the profile of an attractive Jewish girl. She seems interested in finding a date, so you send her a message. She writes back! The two of you make plans to meet up…
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Opinion 3 Things the Jewish World Can Learn From Abramson-Gate
It even has a name now. Abramson-gate. The abrupt firing of Jill Abramson as executive editor of The New York Times, and the unfolding public relations disaster for one of journalism’s premier brands is a story of unending fascination for media mavens and for those who like to see the mighty mess up. But Abramson-gate…
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Opinion Why Jonathan Sarna Is My Best Source
Brandeis University We often think of historians as dry academics walled off in their ivory towers. But the level of concern about the health of historian Jonathan Sarna, who is hospitalized in critical condition after collapsing, shows that Sarna is something special. Sarna, a professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University, is not just…
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Opinion Pam Geller — Secret to Interfaith Healing?
The controversial new bus ad. Pamela Geller is at it again. Her new set of black and white posters on Metro buses in Washington, D.C. declare: “Islamic Jew-Hatred: It’s In the Quran. Two Thirds of All U.S. Aid Goes to Islamic Countries. Stop Racism. End All Aid to Islamic Countries.” An accompanying photo shows Adolph…
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Opinion Jay Michaelson Wins Deadline Club Award
Forward contributing editor Jay Michaelson has won the 2014 Deadline Club award for opinion writing. The columnist edged out Forward editor-in-chief Jane Eisner and Fortune magazine’s Allan Sloan to grab the prestigious annual award handed out by the New York City chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists. “I am so proud of Jay Michaelson…
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Opinion I Am 1 Billionth ‘Anti-Semite’
Why is anyone taking the Anti-Defamation League’s survey on global anti-Semitism seriously? Like catnip to a calico tabby, the ADL’s recent “findings” that one-quarter of the world is anti-Semitic has indeed thrown much of the Jewish press into a feeding frenzy. As if confirming what some — read, conservative — Jews have been telling us…
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