In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
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Opinion
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Opinion
Israel Faces Facebook Intifada From WIthin Ranks of Army
On the surface, the Israeli army’s Facebook Intifada is a very 21st-century crisis. A soldier on patrol cocks his weapon at a Palestinian youth, apparently violating the army’s rules of engagement. Other Palestinians film the encounter and upload it to YouTube, exposing the soldier to possible discipline. The soldier’s friends launch a Facebook page in…
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Opinion Supreme Court Got Politics of Prayer All Wrong
Prayer outside the U.S. Supreme Court / Getty Images “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful, amen.” For ten years I attended a Church of England school and, for every set meal during that time, a version of this grace was said. Although there was a notable minority…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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?
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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…
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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,…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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