Opinion

• Opinion

  Kerry, ‘Sobered’ by Bibi’s Map, ‘Will Present Plan’

  A day before Secretary of State John Kerry’s expected arrival in Israel to further peace talks, Israeli news media are reporting that Kerry has begun preparing an American peace plan to present to the parties in January as a basis for negotiations, if there isn’t progress by then. It will reportedly be based on the…

  By J.J. Goldberg

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  The (Chabad) Rebbe’s Army

  (JTA) — So far as I know, there are two major roll calls each year in the Jewish world. One takes place each spring at the annual AIPAC convention in Washington, in which the names of hundreds of members of Congress are read aloud from the rostrum. The other took place last night, at the annual…

  By Ben Harris Nov 4, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Diving Into ‘The Melting Pot’ for Answers on Pew Survey of #Jewish America

  When the researchers at Pew released their study in early October, they offered a series of statistics that were supposed to offer “A Portrait of Jewish Americans.” While I admit I’m not a quantitative type, its seems that a third of Jewish America immediately despaired the fate of Jews; then a third of Jewish America…

  By Karen E. H. Skinazi Nov 4, 2013 | 7 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

  We Are All Russian Jews Now

  In the wake of the Pew Research Center’s findings on American Jews, the Forward’s headlines told a disheartening story: “Boundaries Are Blurring,” “New Study Finds Jews Fleeing Faith Traditions” and “Can You Be Jewish and Believe in Jesus?” But for Jews in Russia and Ukraine, none of this was news. With two Russian colleagues, in…

  By Zvi Gitelman Nov 4, 2013 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Who’s In and Who’s Out in Orthodoxy

  At a time when most Jewish leaders are eagerly embracing anyone who claims a shred of Jewish identity or heritage, some Orthodox leaders are doing just the opposite: dramatically restricting the acceptable behaviors and belief systems of even their own. So we have the embarrassing spectacle of Rabbi Asher Lopatin, the new president of Yeshivat…

  Nov 4, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  U.N. Rights Council’s Israel Embarassment

  The goals of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are laudatory: a non-partisan forum designed to promote the highest levels of human rights adherence by nations around the world. Unfortunately, the current council fails to perform its mission as it has descended into concerning itself more with local politics and decades old ideological conflicts….

  By Aaron Magid Nov 4, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Share Birthright Data With All

  Taglit-Birthright Israel is considered by many to be the most successful Big Idea in the American Jewish community in recent years, sending hundreds of thousands of young people to Israel on a free, 10-day trip of connection and discovery. But even those who run and fund Birthright acknowledge that, nearly 14 years after its creation,…

  Nov 4, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  From Gaza Battles to the New York Marathon

  Aharon Karov barely survived his time as an Israeli soldier in the 2009 Gaza operation Cast Lead. When he was transferred from hospital to rehab and first tried to walk, he took just one step and fainted. This Sunday, he took his place among the 47,000 runners in the ING New York Marathon and finished…

  By Peter Hellman Nov 4, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  7 Best Jewish Comebacks to Catcalling

  I’m sure you’ve seen it by now. A video made by the anti-street harassment group Hollaback shows a woman, the Jewish actress Shoshana Roberts, walking around in New York City getting unwanted attention from men. The video struck me because, when I moved to New York ten years ago, two things happened: street harassment became…

  By Lilit Marcus Nov 3, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Laughing Until We Cry (Thanks, Pew Survey on #JewishAmerica!)

  And what do American Jews view as “essential” to their sense of Jewishness? Large majorities of U.S. Jews say that remembering the Holocaust (73%) and leading an ethical life (69%) are essential. More than half (56%) say that working for justice and equality is essential to what being Jewish means to them. And about four-in-ten…

  By Leonard Fein Nov 1, 2013 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Vote Titi Aynaw (for Miss Universe)!

  The Forward is a non-profit news organization and as such is barred from telling you whom to vote for. There’s also this little thing called journalistic integrity. But we have decided to toss both policies out the window — just this once. Vote for Titi! There, we said it. Let the IRS do what it…

  By Renee Ghert-Zand Nov 1, 2013 | 2 min read