Opinion

• Opinion

  Family of the Wall

  Comedian Sarah Silverman is known for her outrageous shtick. But her sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman, and niece, Hallel, have become leading members of the Israeli activist group Women of the Wall, which fights for women’s rights to pray as they see fit at the Western Wall. The Silvermans are well known for their involvement in…

  By Harvey Stein

  < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  ‘Jewish’ Archbishop of Canterbury at Yad Vashem

  There was an unusual moment at Yad Vashem today. As virtually all foreign dignitaries do, the head of the Anglican church went to Yad Vashem during his visit to Jerusalem. And there, he encountered his own Jewish heritage in a stark and poignant way. As Archbishop of Canterbury, enthroned in March, Justin Welby leads the…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jun 27, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Bibi: Peace Essential, But Won’t End Israel-Bashing

  Haaretz reporter Barak Ravid writes that Secretary of State Kerry is arriving in Israel today amid “no signs” that he’s “nearing a breakthrough” toward peace talks. The funny thing is, it’s in the middle of an article that reports clear signs of a breakthrough. Specifically, he reports on a “senior Likud minister” telling him Netanyahu…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jun 27, 2013 | 2 min read

Columnists View All

• Alyssa Katz What I learned at a Holocaust survivors’ Purim party

  

• Rob Eshman Gavin Newsom isn’t waffling on Israel — he’s voicing sensible ideas in an era of outrage

  

• Dan Perry An abominable new Israeli law is a death warrant for democracy

  

• Emily Tamkin We must rewrite the rulebook for fighting antisemitism — or conspiracists like Joe Kent will win the narrative wars

  

• Jay Michaelson Passover’s 4 cups of meaning

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Anti-Israel Gay Group Stirs Toronto Controversy

  They’re back! And just in time for Toronto’s Gay Pride parade on Sunday, June 30. Who’s back? None other than Canada’s most high profile anti-Zionist gay organization — Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA). Formed by Toronto LGBT activists on the platform that Israel exists as an apartheid state and oppresses Palestinians — including LGBT Palestinians…

  By Lorne Opler Jun 27, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  ‘We Can Marry for Love’

  Big smiles and excited eyes were all around at one Greenwich Village synagogue on Wednesday noon. Members of Beit Simchat Torah, a congregation that has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights for four decades, were stopping by to congratulate each other and celebrate the historic moment. Two hours earlier, the Supreme Court delivered landmark…

  By Yermi Brenner Jun 27, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Mixed Blessing of Supreme Court’s Decisions on Gay Marriage and Voting Rights

  What does it feel like to be gay and Jewish, after the Supreme Court affirmed same-sex marriage? It depends on what being gay and being Jewish means. If these identities are like teams (or tribes) to which one belongs, then this last week was a glorious time to be gay, and a basically irrelevant one…

  By Jay Michaelson Jun 27, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Jewish Values Order Us To Protect Gay Marriage

  In the early 1970s, while I was CEO of the Seagram Company, public dialogue about gay rights was largely nonexistent in corporate America. Social discourse had not yet even evolved into the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ethos that dominated the following decades. Homosexuality was simply not discussed and therefore, by implication, was shameful. During that…

  By Edgar M. Bronfman Jun 26, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Echoes of Justice in Corners of American Life

  The shouting for joy over this morning’s Supreme Court decisions had barely subsided when a long ago memory flashed into my mind. Twenty-two years ago, my partner and I were on vacation in Pennsylvania with our daughter. My partner became ill and I took her to a nearby emergency room. In this smalltown hospital. they…

  By Ellen Lippmann Jun 26, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Jewish Blessings Greet Gay Marriage Ruling

  News of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to pave the way to gay marriage found gay Jewish leaders at the end of a meeting with two dozen Democratic senators on Capitol Hill. A staffer passed a note to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) reading: “DOMA is struck down” and the senator shared the news with the…

  By Nathan Guttman Jun 26, 2013 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  News Quiz: Alice Walker’s Book, Chief Rabbi’s Arrest

  What do Alice Walker, the Turkish prime minister and Hooters have in common? Aside from the fact they are all in this week’s news quiz? That is a good question. Feel free to tell us if you figure it out. Meantime, here goes after the jump!

  By Lenore Skenazy Jun 26, 2013 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Obama Tweets ‘Love Is Love’ on Gay Marriage

  President Barack Obama wasted no time hailing the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage. Within moments of the ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, the president Tweeted: Today’s DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for #MarriageEquality. #LoveIsLove. Obama later applauded the decision that makes married gay men and women eligible for federal…

  By Forward Staff Jun 26, 2013 | < 1 min read