Opinion

• Opinion

  Jewish Romney Voters Are Fig Leaf for Christian Right

  As William F. Buckley once reminded us, classical conservatives tended to be anti-Semitic. They looked down on Jews, blacks and immigrants, and had chauvinist ideas about women. It’s part of what being a conservative meant. That began to change 50 years ago, when neoconservatism — that is, Jewish conservatism — began to take hold. Neoconservatism…

  By Jay Michaelson

  5 min read
• Opinion

  The Forward’s Election Poll: The Big Issues

  What do you think about the presidential election? We want to hear your opinions on a number of topics, so answer today’s question and then check back Wednesday evening for the results. We’ll have a new question waiting for you each night this week and a final roundup blog post on Friday. Last night we…

  By Forward Staff Oct 23, 2012 | < 1 min read
• Opinion

  Chabad Post Jumped to Conclusions

  When I heard that the rabbi of a Chabad house on a university campus was in trouble for providing alcohol to students, I assumed that I didn’t need to hear any further details to understand what the story was. That led me to write this post. I approached the subject with prejudice and without a…

  By David A.M. Wilensky Oct 23, 2012 | 2 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson I supported Israel’s actions in Gaza in October 2023 — not anymore

  

• Rob Eshman The staggering hypocrisy behind Trump’s deal to free the last living American hostage

  

• Nora Berman How the Oct. 7 aftermath splintered the New York Dyke March

  

• Dan Perry It looks like Israel totally underestimated Trump

  

• Emily Tamkin This week proved it: Trump’s approach to antisemitism at Columbia is horribly ineffective

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Bibi’s Brazen Defiance

  With brazen defiance, just a day before he is due to meet with the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs Catherine Ashton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went over the Green Line and defended building there. “United Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital, we have a full right to build in it,” he declared today…

  By Nathan Jeffay Oct 23, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Tweeting the Boca Debate

  Monday night marked the final presidential debate of 2012. For those voters sad to wait another four years to hear their favorite talking points, we’ve captured the best reactions from the Twitter-verse on the action from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. Comedian David Wain, new to live-tweeting debates, was quick to catch on to…

  By Seth Berkman Oct 23, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Israel’s African Problem and Us

  About 60,000 African asylum seekers have entered Israel since 2005, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea. Many died along the way, of starvation or dehydration in Sinai. Many were tortured or raped by Bedouin criminal organizations. And many were immediately stopped at the border by Israel and sent back to Egypt, where they were then deported…

  By Maya Paley Oct 23, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Judging the Yad Vashem Debate

  The final debate is over — the last one ever for Obama and for us this election cycle — and it’s time for some flash judgment. Israel, Israel, Israel: As anyone could have predicted, Israel was mentioned a lot. As “true friend.” As “greatest ally.” I think I counted 6 mentions by the president to…

  By Gal Beckerman Oct 23, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Obama Won by Talking Like a Republican

  This late in the campaign, everything is about swing states – and the foreign policy debate was largely about Florida, where moderate Jews could well decide who gets the state’s 29 electoral votes. On those grounds, on the basis of issues important to Florida Jews, President Obama won this debate, but in a bizarre, looking-glass…

  By Jay Michaelson Oct 23, 2012 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  The Forward’s Election Poll: The Debate

  What do you think about the presidential election? For the next three days, we want to hear your opinions on a number of topics. First up, the latest presidential debate. Answer these two questions now, then check back Tuesday evening for the results. We’ll have a new question waiting for you each night this week…

  By Forward Staff Oct 23, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Leaders Must Speak Out on Wailing Wall Arrest

  Israel’s Declaration of Independence provides that “The State of Israel…will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex” and “will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture.” Last week, officials of the Jerusalem police violated Anat Hoffman’s most basic civil and human rights…

  By Menachem Z. Rosensaft Oct 22, 2012 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  What Is the ‘Jewish Vote’?

  No one can say whether the Jewish vote actually exists. Jews vote, but not as a block. Thus, the idea of a distinctly Jewish vote is, in a way, a mirage, more in our heads than in the heads of voters as they go to the polls. The Jewish vote is the accumulation of votes…

  By Shmuel Rosner Oct 22, 2012 | 4 min read