Opinion

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  The Jewish Bloodbath We Caused — and Forgot

  “Do you kids have a permit to hang up all of these posters around the city?” the policeman asked. “Permit?” my friend and I questioned in response. “We are trying to raise public awareness about baseless hatred, and destructive conflict, and you’re asking us for a permit?” Yet, after several hours in the sweltering heat…

  By Daniel Roth

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Woody Allen’s Thing for Younger Women Doesn’t Make Him a Pedophile

  Hopefully, Woody Allen Fatigue has now settled in. Every major newspaper in the country has run op-eds on this horrible situation, some by family members themselves. This publication has published four: one demanding that we “stand up for Dylan Farrow,” one likening the pursuit of Allen to a “lynch mob,” and two professing ambivalence about…

  By Jay Michaelson Feb 10, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Who Are the Rabbis That Changed Your Life?

  Rabbi Joseph Potasnik provided counseling to those mourning at Ground Zero shortly after 9/11. Illustration: Kurt Hoffman Last winter when we asked readers to tell us about the rabbis who inspire them, we were overwhelmed by stories of individuals like Rabbi Joseph Potasnik who provided counseling at Ground Zero shortly after the twin towers came…

  By Devra Ferst Feb 10, 2014 | 2 min read

Columnists View All

• Jay Michaelson What can really be done to prevent antisemitic attacks like Bondi Beach?

  

• Rob Eshman Australia shooting terrifies Jews worldwide — and strengthens the case for Israel

  

• Nora Berman Did crypto-Jews invent the modern tarot deck?

  

• Dan Perry The 3 responses to the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack that could make Jews safer

  

• Emily Tamkin The fundamental miscalculation behind the GOP’s antisemitism crisis

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Birthright’s Second-Time Shift

  Here’s the current mission statement: “The gift of a trip to Israel from Taglit-Birthright Israel is designed to offer a first-time educational peer experience.” Not any more. The international leadership group in charge of Birthright has decided that the free, 10-day program can be a second-time educational experience, too. This is a technical change with…

  Feb 10, 2014 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Seinfeld Takes Heat: ‘Just’ Funny? That’s Racist!

  Jerry Seinfeld is in trouble. He’s been under attack on the web for the last week or so, accused of racism. The complaints focus on the lack of gender and racial diversity among the guests on his web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” More specifically, critics are steamed over a televised interview with Peter…

  By J.J. Goldberg Feb 9, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Toxic Denial of Climate Change Reality as Planet Hangs in the Balance

  Environmentalists sometimes accuse conservatives of turning a blind eye to the extreme weather battering the country lately, because of disagreements over global warming. That’s unfair. Despite political squabbling, some bold initiatives are emerging. On February 1, seeking to end the crippling drought that’s produced federal disaster areas in 11 Western states, faith leaders from across…

  By J.J. Goldberg Feb 9, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  The Times of Israel Launches Arabic Edition

  For the past two years, increasing numbers of English speakers worldwide have been turning to The Times of Israel for news and analysis on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Beginning this week, Arabic speakers can do the same. The Jerusalem-based online newspaper’s founding editor David Horovitz announced on February 4 the launch…

  By Renee Ghert-Zand Feb 8, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  What To Call Occupation After 47 Years?

  (Haaretz) — Open Haaretz on any given day. Half or three quarters of its news items will invariably revolve around the same two topics: people struggling to protect the good name of Israel, and people struggling against its violence and injustices. An almost random example: On December 17, 2013, one could read, on a single…

  By Eva Illouz Feb 8, 2014 | 21 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Climate Change Denial Is Biggest Conservative Lie of All

  Are conservatives ever right? They were wrong about slavery, wrong about women’s suffrage, wrong about segregation, wrong about gay rights. They were wrong about trickle down economics – it’s never worked and never will, as the ballooning wealth gap proves once again. They were wrong about Iraq (where are those WMD’s, anyway?) and wrong about…

  By Jay Michaelson Feb 8, 2014 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Should I Apply for Spanish Citizenship as Sephardic Jew?

  Will I apply? That’s what people are asking me today, as news circulates of the law the Spanish cabinet just approved to offer citizenship to Sephardic Jews. Two weeks ago, the Forward published a long essay I wrote about this citizenship offer, which the Spanish justice and foreign ministers first proposed in 2012. I went…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Feb 7, 2014 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Sochi’s Olympic Games Are a Missed Opportunity

  An activist wearing a mask of Russian President Vladimir Putin joins protesters on the opening day of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. / Getty Images As the winter Olympics open today, there has been a crescendo of condemnation in the West of Russia’s many human rights violations. Sadly, in spite of all the attention Vladimir…

  By Gal Beckerman Feb 7, 2014 | 2 min read