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
Where Is the Good News in Pew Survey on #JewishAmerica?
Reaction to the Pew Research Center’s survey on American Jews is following its own version of the cycles of grief: first horror, then denial, then a shrugging acceptance. After the gloomy news reports of this first-ever independent survey, a second wave of commentators have focused on what they call the “good news”: the population numbers…
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Opinion Russian Jewish Region’s ‘Gay’ Flag Is Kosher!
The Kremlin’s self-styled flag experts have declared that the flag of Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region —which bears an uncanny resemblance to the rainbow gay pride symbol — is in fact 100% kosher, Buzzfeed World reported. The flag, designed in 1996 for the Birobidzhan region, boasts colorful stripes on a white background. It was under review…
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Opinion Send Us Your Forward 50 Nominations
Each year, the Forward publishes the Forward 50, which is our opinionated list of American Jews who made a difference in the preceding 12 months. Creating the list is a long process for the staff of the Forward. Each of us is required to propose names of candidates — and defend our choices in meetings…
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Opinion Jews Shape American Culture More Than Ever — Even as Pew Warns of Assimilation
When the results of the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey appeared, a sense of panic was quickly followed by a commitment to purpose. True, an intermarriage rate of 52%, later lowered in order to account for sampling difficulties, caused some to claim that assimilation was more destructive of Jewish life than Nazism was. But the…
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Opinion No Censorship at Theater J
A small yet vocal group seems to be holding the artistic and ethical sensibilities of the Jewish community of Washington, D.C. hostage, leading Theatre J to scale back its planned production of ‘The Admission’ by Motti Lerner. Theatre, like all arts, is meant to create dialogue as well as delight, foster intellectual discourse for new…
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Opinion Pew Stands By Sweeping Findings on #JewishAmerica in Face of Criticism
The Pew Research Center’s recent independent survey of Jewish America is the most comprehensive national poll of the U.S. Jewish population in more than a decade, and we are pleased that it has captured the interest of the American public, and beyond. Our survey builds on the Jewish community’s long and proud tradition of conducting…
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Opinion How We Cover Sammy Cohen-Eckstein’s Death
The morning after the funeral for Samuel Cohen-Eckstein, the Brooklyn teenager who was killed by a van just a month before his bar mitzvah, the leaders of his family’s synagogue wrote to me, extremely upset about our coverage. Since these are leaders I respect, who raised serious, vexing questions, I responded to them right away….
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Opinion News Quiz: Bageling, Polyamorous Jews and More!
Polyamorous Jews? They’re in quiz this week — and maybe even in your shul. If you’re ever bored, well, now you can look around for something besides who’s wearing the most sports-obsessed kippah. (And, by the way, why is that even kosher? What would Rashi say about a skullcap emblazoned “METS!”?) Also here: A bit…
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Opinion Pew Findings on Israel Show Criticism Has Entered Jewish Mainstream
The new Pew Center study on Jewish American life has been the subject of much handwringing since it came out last week, as the results show a weakening of connection to Jewish life among the non-Orthodox, as well as a weakening connection to Israel. For many years now, the lament of the organized Jewish community…
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Opinion Knesset Returns To Work — At Last
The Knesset returned to work today, after its exceedingly long summer break, and all indications are that we’re in for a session full of passion, arguments, and anger. The key issues on the table divide Israel along its various social and electoral cleavages: religious, ethnic, dove-hawk, and left-right on domestic matters. And of course, this…
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Opinion And Now for Some Good News About the Pew Survey
Initial reactions to the recent Pew Research Center’s study of American Jews have been almost knee-jerk in their pessimism. One commentator called the portrait a “grim” one. Another viewed the study’s results as “devastating,” with its evidence of “so much assimilation.” This rush to gloom brings to mind the old sendoff about the definition of…
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