Opinion

• Opinion

  British Zealot’s Libertarian Lipstick

  It was ever-so-slightly distressing to see an august community institution like London’s Jewish Chronicle granting a platform to Nigel Farage, leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), on Wednesday evening. As someone who dedicates a good deal of his days to fostering an unwelcome climate for the most vulnerable in society — tarting up…

  By Liam Hoare

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Trayvon Martin and the 55% Tragedy

  By now most of us have heard the big numbers involved in gun violence in this country. Given the anguished cries of protest following the acquittal of George Zimmerman, it’s time we started paying attention to some of the smaller numbers. In 2010 there were 31,672 deaths from firearms in the United States, according to…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 15, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Power of the Press

  Last December, when Forward staff writer Paul Berger was immersed in reporting allegations of sexual abuse at Yeshiva University’s high school for boys, I could see firsthand the toll it took on him. Our newsroom had been displaced by Hurricane Sandy, and we were temporarily working in a massive, open space without offices or cubicles….

  By Jane Eisner Jul 15, 2013 | 2 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 There’s a shocking new report on civilian deaths in Gaza. If only it were accurate.

  

• Nora Berman Is Netflix’s new show the most Jewish cartoon ever?

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s new gift to the far right could help end the Gaza war

  

• Emily Tamkin Entering motherhood — and an obsession with the works of an Italian Jewish literary hero

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman and Din Rodef

  It’s rare that Saturday nights and Sunday mornings in America are so focused on a court decision. But since last night’s acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of 17-year-old unarmed Trayvon Martin, it seems that all of America is talking about the verdict reached by six anonymous female jury members in Florida. Individuals and…

  By Forward Staff Jul 14, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why I Resigned From Claims Conference Board — And Why You Should Care

  After serving for a decade on the Board of Directors of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, I resigned in protest on July 10. The Claims Conference, as it is commonly known, was created in 1951 to secure some measure of justice for Jewish victims of Nazi persecution. Its staff of 400 administers…

  By Samuel Norich Jul 14, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Second Chances?

  Yes, America loves a second chance. Even politicians who have been scorched in a sex scandal — sex being far more problematic than money or violence when it comes to sin — often rise Phoenix-like to run another campaign and chase after redemption at the ballot box. Rewarding the Comeback Kid knows no partisan, geographic…

  Jul 12, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Could Settlements Ease Israel Housing Crisis?

  Two years after the Tel Aviv social protest movement was born out of anger at high property prices, Israelis have been told that they’ve misunderstood the problem all along. It is, the new Housing Minister insists, that there’s too little settlement activity. “The key to immediately stopping the rise in home prices is massive building…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 11, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  When ‘Little Rivka’ Marries Yitzchak

  I refuse to teach my 2-year-old daughter the story, in Genesis chapter 24-25, where the commentary Rashi describes 3-year-old Rivka marrying 40-year-old Yitzchak. The book “Kind Little Rivka,” which also chronicles the story of this underage marriage, is no longer on her bookshelf. I recently purchased the book on Amazon after a quick review of…

  By Eliyahu Federman Jul 11, 2013 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  News Quiz: Eliot Spitzer’s Return, Edward Snowden

  This week’s news quiz deals with obsessions political, sexual and Jewish. (You were expecting, maybe, Irish?) Plus, more anti-Semitism than you can shake a stick at — so don’t even bother looking for a stick.

  By Lenore Skenazy Jul 10, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Ramadan Arrives — With Unique Challenge for Israel

  Ramadan has just started, and an estimated 1 million Muslims from the West Bank will enter Israel to spend part of the holiday with relations here. The defense establishment has become more confident about giving access to Israel for Arab holidays — and for the main part things have been smooth. The opening of the…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 10, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Ignored Jewish Poor

  Forty years ago, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was founded in response to growing concerns that Jewish poverty was largely overlooked, something that was too taboo to discuss. We were all shocked when the 2002 Jewish Community Study first showed that there were 226,000 Jews living in poverty in New York City. Unfortunately the…

  By William E. Rapfogel Jul 10, 2013 | 3 min read