Opinion

• Opinion

  Sequestration’s Jewish Toll

  Lest you think that the thoughtless, cowardly attempt to reduce federal spending, known as sequestration, was nowhere near as bad as it sounded, listen to Nancy Volpert. She’s the director of public policy for the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, the oldest charity in L.A. and one of the largest, an organization dedicated to…

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Democracy’s Creative Tensions? Take That Back!

  Our old friend Ofer Shelah, former Maariv military and sports reporter, former Forward Israel correspondent and currently Yesh Atid Knesset caucus whip, has come out against the phenomenon of “nationality laws” that seek to define the relationship between Israel’s Jewish and democratic qualities or assign preferential standing in law to one over the other (usually…

  By J.J. Goldberg Aug 26, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  March on Washington Won Freedom But Fell Short on Jobs

  Well, the big news is out. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s immortal “I have a dream” speech, it seems racial inequality hasn’t improved over the years the way we’d hoped it would. In some ways it’s hardly budged. And we still can’t figure out why. If you’re following the…

  By J.J. Goldberg Aug 25, 2013 | 4 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson American Jews were played — now what?

  

• Rob Eshman I have the answer to Jon Stewart’s toughest question about Israel

  

• Nora Berman ‘Eddington’ is full of conspiracy theories but it’s not about Jews. Or is it?

  

• Dan Perry A US official just made history in the West Bank — did he imperil prospects for peace?

  

• Emily Tamkin Is starvation in Gaza really Israel’s fault? The facts are clear

  

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  Opinion

  Abbas: We’ll Sign Deal To End Conflict With Israel

  Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas told a visiting group of Knesset members on Thursday that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement will mean an end to Palestinian demands from Israel, and that Palestinians did not aim to return to “Haifa, Acre and Safed.” As the British Guardian newspaper reported: In remarks possibly aimed at reassuring Israelis who…

  By J.J. Goldberg Aug 25, 2013 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Justice Calls for Boycott of Ariel

  In a recent column, I concluded with a passing reference to the city of Ariel, a Jewish enclave that juts into the West Bank 10 miles beyond the Green Line. The column dealt with boycotts, and specifically with the EU’s recent announcement that it will withhold any scientific collaboration, investment or the awarding of grants…

  By Leonard Fein Aug 24, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Forgive Us for Clicking on Sam Horowitz’s Bar Mitzvah Drama

  Ashamnu, bagadnu, gazalnu, dibarnu dofi. The words of the Vidui are familiar to most Jews as being part of the Yom Kippur collective confessional. When we recite the Vidui, we all stand — as congregants, as people, as Jews — and confess to sins. These sins to which we confess are ones that we ourselves…

  By Jordana Horn Aug 23, 2013 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  Respect Jewish Dissent on Israel

  Throughout centuries of Jewish history, there has been a rich and wide-ranging debate over what constitutes Jewish values and how we might live them out as Jews. Talmudic tradition repeatedly makes it clear that this debate is in fact, a sacrosanct cornerstone of our spiritual heritage. Jewish Voice for Peace is proud to be part…

  By Brant Rosen Aug 23, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Waiting on Y.U.

  It is now eight months since the Forward reported allegations that two rabbis at Yeshiva University High School for Boys in Manhattan had sexually and physically abused students during the 1970s and 1980s, and that the Y.U. administration allowed the rabbis to go to other jobs rather than face prosecution. Eight months since the school…

  Aug 22, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Leo Frank Story

  The trial, conviction and subsequent lynching of Leo Frank a century ago is considered by some historians to represent a turning point in the history of Jews in America. In hindsight, we can acknowledge the irony in that assertion: A horrible incident of anti-Semitic injustice and violence led to a positive outcome, forging a powerful…

  Aug 21, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Newtown Gets Some Advice From Israel

  The people of Newtown have received plenty of advice on keeping children safe since their town was plunged into the national spotlight last December. Now, Israel is offering its best words of wisdom. “Awareness has become part of our DNA,” said David Rubin, a former Israeli government official. Rubin and a group of Israeli experts…

  By Johnna Kaplan Aug 21, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Hagel, the Israel Lobby and Kerry’s Peace Bid

  The Daily Beast just posted a magazine-length article by yours truly looking back at the Chuck Hagel confirmation battle and the role (or lack thereof) of the Jewish community and the notorious “Israel lobby” in the affair. What’s surprising about the whole affair, on close reexamination, is how absent the Jewish advocacy community was from…

  By J.J. Goldberg Aug 20, 2013 | 4 min read