Opinion

• Opinion

  Confronting Abuse

  This has been the year when the historically opaque veil of secrecy about child sexual abuse has been lifted. Thanks to courageous reporting by our Paul Berger and others in the Jewish and mainstream media, the belated activity of law enforcement officials and, most importantly, the willingness of victims to come forward, Jewish institutions and…

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  Kippah Controversy Erupts at Orthodox College

  How Orthodox should Israel’s Orthodox university be? There’s a major controversy at Bar Ilan University about the institution’s policy of compulsory yarmulke-wearing during Jewish studies classes. It has long been policy that male students should cover their heads when studying sacred texts, though many professors turn a blind eye when they don’t. However, a recent…

  By Nathan Jeffay Dec 13, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Why I Can’t Quit B’nai Jeshurun

  “You’re taking them to BJ after what the rabbis there did?” the text message from my ex-husband read. He was referring to the fact that I’d taken my two boys to Shabbat services that morning at the Upper West Side congregation B’nai Jeshurun. And he wasn’t the only one expressing disbelief. “If MY rabbis wrote…

  By Jordana Horn Dec 13, 2012 | 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 ‘Israel is seen as violent’ — and Israeli chefs, once global culinary icons, are feeling the heat

  

• 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

• Opinion

  Shining Light on ‘Dark Money’

  New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced plans to shed light on the so-called “dark money” groups that spent millions during the 2012 election cycle. The move follows demands for regulation by good government groups – and by this newspaper. A proposed rule change that could go into effect by the 2013 elections would…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Dec 12, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Eli’s Big Blue Boost for Charity

  In this week’s issue, we profile Nechama — Jewish Response to Disaster, a not-for-profit group from Minnesota that has been helping clear debris from buildings damaged during Hurricane Sandy. We didn’t realize that the little-known group had a famous friend in the form of football superstar Eli Manning. While Nechama volunteers were working in northern…

  By Seth Berkman Dec 12, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  South Africa’s ANC Lurches Into Anti-Semitism

  In October, the African National Congress dropped all pretense and announced its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. The declaration came at the third International Solidarity Conference, a conclave of left-wing groups that was hosted by the ANC in Pretoria and overwhelmingly endorsed the call. Baleka Mbete, ANC chairperson and former…

  By James Kirchick Dec 12, 2012 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Is It Palestine Yet?

  Is it “Palestine” yet? Following the November 29 United Nations vote recognizing Palestine as a non-member observer state, the Palestinian Authority reportedly decided to officially change its name, and from now on to be referred to simply as “Palestine.” The term Palestinian Authority is a product of the 1993 Oslo Accords in which Israel and…

  By Nathan Guttman Dec 12, 2012 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  More on Eli Valley’s Controversial Comic

  Eli Valley’s provocative comic about the controversy caused by Bnai Jeshurun’s rabbis continues to garner controversy of its own. I’ve been reading comments and posts like this one that are sympathetic to Eli’s scathing look at the rabbis and their stand on Palestinian statehood, and try to grapple with the larger issue of when and…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 11, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Pushing for Gay Marriage Across the Pond

  British Prime Minister David Cameron is setting himself up for a most almighty clash with the British religious establishment this week, as he prepares to amend the laws on marriage. The leaders of all three main parties support government plans to afford same-sex couples the right to civil marriage, plus permission to wed in churches…

  By Liam Hoare Dec 11, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Salary Shande

  The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of executives of not-for-profit institutions who earn more than a million dollars a year in total compensation is eye-popping. It includes the heads of major museums and cultural institutions, sprawling hospital complexes, and do-good organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Cancer Society. It’s…

  Dec 11, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Responding to Eli Valley’s Comic

  Eli Valley’s satirical drawings often elicit critical comments, but they usually come from the political right, his frequent target of ridicule. His latest comic, published on this blog the past Thursday, has drawn the ire of the political left. A basic journalistic calculation would say that Eli is just doing his job, with no fear…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 10, 2012 | 3 min read