Opinion

• Opinion

  Brutal Modernity Turns 100 With Anniversary of First World War

  Counting pages on the calendar probably isn’t the most instructive way of organizing the past or understanding our progress. What did we learn the past year from the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, or the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, that we hadn’t known a year earlier? Every now and then, though,…

  By J.J. Goldberg

  4 min read
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  Opinion

  In Menachem Stark Slay, Where’s the Humanity?

  Menachem Stark, a Brooklyn Hasidic real estate developer, was abducted, murdered, and thrown into a dumpster. Stepping to a new low, the New York Post reports this story with inappropriate levity and derision toward the victim. Practically gloating over Stark’s death, the front cover of [Sunday’s New York Post rhetorically asks, “Who didn’t want him…

  By Eliyahu Federman Jan 5, 2014 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Why I Am Leaving San Francisco Jewish Federation

  In my nearly 10 years at the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and in my fifth year as the CEO, I have had the great fortune to be in the forefront of a community that is responding with creativity and wisdom to the changes in Jewish life in the 21st century. Having…

  By Jennifer Gorovitz Jan 4, 2014 | 3 min read

Columnists View All

• Jodi Rudoren This is my last column as editor of the Forward

  

• Jay Michaelson Being Jewish in America today feels like walking multiple tightropes at once

  

• Rob Eshman A precise, Chekhovian logic guided Israel’s strike on Iran — but chaos could come next

  

• Nora Berman Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla was never going to help Palestinians

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s strike on Iran was necessary. But for real change, the US must join the fray

  

• Emily Tamkin Trump’s latest move makes Mahmoud Khalil a Joseph for our times

  

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  Opinion

  For a Two-State Solution? Boycott Ariel

  A while back, I wrote a column in which I urged people to boycott Ariel. An explanation is in order here: Ariel is a town of some 18,000 people that juts 16 kilometers (10 miles) beyond the Green Line. It is, in other words, rather deep within the West Bank. It is 25 miles from…

  By Leonard Fein Jan 4, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Ani DiFranco’s Slave Plantation Gaffe

  At first glance, it seems that Ani DiFranco has become the latest example of how a mix of star-fueled insulation from the real world and white privilege can lead to bad public relations. After an Internet-inspired backlash, the feminist singer-songwriter has canceled a musical retreat at a former slave plantation in Louisiana, now a resort…

  By Ari Paul Jan 3, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Real Story of My Spiritual Journey to Reform Judaism

  (JTA) — Over the past two weeks I’ve been both heartened and horrified by the spectrum of response to what, I felt, was a spontaneous and sincere statement of unity and joy — my proclamation of “aliyah” to Reform Judaism, made at the biennial conference of the Union for Reform Judaism. I’m honored that the…

  By Neshama Carlebach Jan 3, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  How ‘Quenelle’ Salute Creator Dieudonne Built Bridge to Anti-Semitic Far Fight

  The comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala, according to French authorities, is under investigation for inciting racial hatred. They have also urged city officials to consider barring Dieudonné from public performances during his upcoming tour. Prodding the government to act was the video clip of Dieudonné’s current show in Paris, when he mentions the name of Patrick…

  By Robert Zaretsky Jan 3, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Israel Is Running Out of Pre-Oslo Prisoners

  A nephew of a murdered Israeli soldier protests a Palestinian prisoner release. / Getty Images For 26 Palestinians, this weekend will be the first one in decades spent at home with their families. They were released on Monday as part of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The discourse over prisoner releases tends to be dominated by…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jan 2, 2014 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Pew Poll Reveals How Americans View Israel

  Pro-Israel marchers walk along Fifth Avenue on May 5, 2002 in New York City. / Getty Images While Americans continue to hold long-time allies like Great Britain and Canada in high esteem, they are pretty divided as to how they feel about some of the government’s other key allies — like Israel. A recently published…

  By Michael Kaplan Jan 2, 2014 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Busting the New Year’s Jewish Myths

  It takes no special insight to predict some of the topics for conversation among Jews in this new year. The Mideast peace process, such as it is. Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The endless need to engage young people in meaningful Jewish life. The prohibitive cost of day school and summer camp. The unlikelihood of any Jew…

  Jan 2, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Bring on a New Operating System for Judaism

  In 2014, my four-year-old will learn the aleph bet. Teacher Eric’s songs at preschool will help, but most of this will happen through some great Hebrew videos and apps. In 2014, I’ll probably fail in my quest to get my one-year-old daughter to her next birthday without the iPad. But I’ll make myself feel better…

  By Sarah Lefton Jan 1, 2014 | < 1 min read