In the Forward’s opinion section, you’ll find analysis and essays from diverse corners of the Jewish world.
To pitch an opinion piece, email our Opinion Editor, Talya Zax.
Opinion
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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….
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Opinion Why American Jews Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Put Israel First
Now that distribution of its questionnaire has been canceled, the proposed poll of American Jews and Israeli immigrants to America, commissioned by a Los Angeles organization called the Israeli American Council with the initial collaboration of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, will presumably fade from the headlines. Yet the issues raised by it are real;…
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Opinion Editor’s Choice: 6 Million Recalled With Stamps
The Forward is partnering with other Jewish newspapers to offer our readers a peek at some of the best stories from around the country, as selected by the editors at those papers. We will offer a selection of unedited links with brief introductions from the editors of the papers. Stamping Out Intolerance By Melissa Gerr…
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Culture ‘My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish’ — the Knicks chant capturing New York’s soul
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Opinion The Iran war ended terribly for the US, and even worse for Israel
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Opinion Cultural boycotts of Israel just reached peak absurdity
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Film & TV In ‘Disclosure Day,’ Steven Spielberg finds himself at odds with Jewish thought about aliens
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Fast Forward Lahmeyer, pastor who says Antichrist will be Jewish, heads to Oklahoma GOP runoff
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Fast Forward Democratic socialist whose Israel criticism ignited Jewish leaders’ concern leads D.C. mayoral primary vote
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Fast Forward Toronto police say young people are being recruited online to shoot at synagogues
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Fast Forward Feds investigating antisemitism allegations at American Psychological Association