Opinion

• Opinion

  Dinner with Ed Koch

  When Ed Koch died this morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement. “I will miss his friendship,” the 55-year-old governor said. Ed Koch thought that Andrew Cuomo was a schmuck. He said so on election night in 2010, in a conversation preserved in a new documentary about Koch’s life. Koch said what he…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  My Early Days with Ed Koch

  The first thing I learned about Ed Koch is how unusually accessible he was. It was September, 1977, and I was a new, eager student at the Columbia School of Journalism, passionate about city news and interested in learning photography. The school published a weekly newspaper at the time, and I wanted to be the…

  By Jane Eisner Feb 1, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Does Israel Need a Gay Lobby?

  The recent Israeli elections ended with a predictable scene: a victory speech delivered by Benjamin Netanyahu to hundreds of Likud party supporters. But if this moment of triumph appeared to be a foregone conclusion, there was much that was new — and alarming — about this recent election campaign. It saw the birth of a…

  By Ilan Manor Feb 1, 2013 | 3 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson Mamdani’s victory is an opportunity for Jews to relearn the art of disagreement

  

• Rob Eshman Want to understand what’s wrong with the ‘pro-Palestine’ movement? This Palestinian can help

  

• Nora Berman Did Netanyahu coerce Trump into attacking Iran? No — but he tried with Obama

  

• Dan Perry Trump wants to control the Israeli judiciary. Uh, good luck

  

• Emily Tamkin Zohran Mamdani’s victory proves it: The ‘gotcha’ mode of fighting antisemitism has to go

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  You’re the Rabbi; What Would You Do?

  When traditional Jewish law, or Halacha, hampers observance for congregants with disabilities, rabbis face tough questions. At a recent conference, Orthodox rabbinical students in Manhattan grappled with disability-related dilemmas. What would you decide? Step into the rabbi’s shoes and let us know what you think in the comments section. Question 1 Your impoverished and shrinking…

  By Susan Armitage Feb 1, 2013 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Can Labor Turn Defeat Into Victory?

  The leader of Israel’s Labor party, Shelly Yachimovich, met with President Shimon Peres, and reiterated her resolve to sit in opposition. “Our commitment to the national interest comes before all else, we are thinking of the good of the country and re-starting the peace process,” she told Peres, adding: “That support we will be able…

  By Nathan Jeffay Feb 1, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  4 Jewish Things at the Chuck Hagel Hearing

  Chuck Hagel will step into the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday morning to face what is expected to be the toughest grilling any Obama nomination has yet to encounter. It will be long, grueling, and could easily draw some sweat from the Vietnam veteran sitting across the room from his former Senate colleagues. But at…

  By Nathan Guttman Jan 31, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  How We Got It Wrong

  David Remnick wasn’t the only journalist to inaccurately forecast the outcome of the January 22 Israeli election, but because he is arguably one of the best practitioners of his craft, his mistaken prediction really stung. In a 9,000-word piece on the ascendant religious right, published in The New Yorker just before the election, Remnick confidently…

  Jan 30, 2013 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Hamas Accepts 2 States, ’67 Borders: Report

  Zvi Barel, Haaretz’s impeccably cautious Middle East commentator, reports (might be paywall; here is the Hebrew original) that Hamas secretary general Khaled Meshaal has agreed to accept a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel based on the 1967 borders. This follows talks in Amman this week between Meshaal King Abdullah of Jordan. Barel…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jan 30, 2013 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Jewish Day Schools Need Security Rethink — Now

  The horrific murder of 20 small children and six adults at an elementary school in the quiet suburb of Newtown, Conn., was a jolting reminder of just how vulnerable our schools remain. Practically overnight, parents around the country demanded that schools significantly improve their security, and administrators began the process of deciding what changes needed…

  By Joshua Gleis Jan 30, 2013 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Cartoon and Anti-Semitic ‘Mission Creep’

  When it comes to cartoons, it’s usually Muslim fundamentalists that throw hissy fits. But, in a turn of events, some of our storied communal defenders, Abraham Foxman and Marvin Hier among them, have been taking the lead. Indiscriminately tossing around accusations of anti-Semitism, our fearless leaders have attacked at least three editorial cartoonists over the…

  By Eddy Portnoy Jan 30, 2013 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  British Lawmaker’s Holocaust Day Shame

  Prior to Holocaust Memorial Day — officially commemorated across Europe on Sunday — a Book of Commitment was placed in the British House of Commons for Members of Parliament to sign. The purpose of this simple act is to “publicly commit both to remembering the Holocaust and to working towards a future in which prejudice…

  By Liam Hoare Jan 29, 2013 | 3 min read