Opinion

• Opinion

  Remembering Noah Pozner With Tacos

  “You wanted to be a doctor, a soldier, a taco factory manager. It was your favorite food, and no doubt you wanted to ensure that the world kept producing tacos,” Veronique Pozner said in a eulogy for her son Noah at his funeral on Monday. Six-year-old Noah, who was murdered in the massacre at the…

  By Renee Ghert-Zand

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Right To Be Safe

  So many eloquent words have been written in the aftermath of the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. that there is no need to add to the expressions of pain and anguish we have all shared as citizens, as family members, as Jews. But another kind of expression escapes redundancy: The call…

  Dec 19, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  No Run-of-the-Mill Islamists

  Hezbollah and Hamas have been capturing the world’s headlines for nearly 30 years. These two notorious organizations share more than just an enemy in Israel and an ally in Iran. Hezbollah has also served as a model for Hamas, with similar political structures, terrorist and military tactics, propaganda apparatuses and social welfare systems. Cooperation between…

  By Joshua Gleis Dec 19, 2012 | 3 min read

Columnists View All

• Jay Michaelson What can really be done to prevent antisemitic attacks like Bondi Beach?

  

• Rob Eshman Australia shooting terrifies Jews worldwide — and strengthens the case for Israel

  

• Nora Berman Did crypto-Jews invent the modern tarot deck?

  

• Dan Perry The 3 responses to the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack that could make Jews safer

  

• Emily Tamkin The fundamental miscalculation behind the GOP’s antisemitism crisis

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Chuck Hagel, Israel’s Pentagon Nightmare

  A number of Jewish community activists are sending warning signals to the White House about a leading candidate to become President Obama’s choice for the next Secretary of Defense. Former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, who reportedly is President Obama’s top pick for replacing Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, has a long record of tensions with…

  By Nathan Guttman Dec 18, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Where Human Rights Treaties Go To Die

  Given all the bellyaching these days about the decrepitude of the United States Senate, I’d like to say a word in its defense. There’s never been a shortage of critics pouring bile on that august body, but lately the carping has reached a crescendo. A little perspective is in order. The current wave of vitriol…

  By J.J. Goldberg Dec 18, 2012 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  How #Jewish Brings Newtown Rampage Home

  Like thousands of others, I read the headlines and Tweets from the Forward and other Jewish publications about the Newtown school massacre. One read, “Rabbi consoles relatives of #Newtown shooting victims … fears one victim could be #jewish..” And I read replies on Facebook, which lambasted the paper for focusing on Jewish victims. They apparently…

  By Tanya Tolchin Dec 18, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  At Western Wall, Who Is the Zealot?

  The Orthodox rabbi who oversees the Western Wall has vowed not to soften his confrontational approach toward Jewish women seeking to pray at the holy site in Jerusalem. On Friday, police detained four women for wearing prayer shawls as they tried to start a prayer service. There have been numerous similar incidents in the past….

  By Nathan Jeffay Dec 18, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Hail to the Chief (Rabbi)

  As soon as I heard the name of Great Britain’s newly named chief rabbi, I knew it sounded familiar. I met Ephraim Mirvis back in 1986, when I was a foreign correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer based in London, and he was the relatively new chief rabbi of Ireland. I was young for my job….

  By Jane Eisner Dec 17, 2012 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Greek and Latin, Yes. Hebrew, No.

  Ancient Greek and Latin, yes. Hebrew, no. That’s the headline from a new British government proposal that excludes Hebrew from plans to encourage primary school children to learn a second language. The plan, which remains under discussion and would come into effect in September 2014 if implemented, would mandate that pupils aged 7 to 11…

  By Liam Hoare Dec 17, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Newtown Rabbi’s Prayer for the Fallen

  Rabbi Shaul Praver moved many to tears when he recited El Maleh Rachamim, a prayer of mourning, at last night’s vigil for those killed in the deadly rampage in Newtown, Conn. Today, he will oversee the funeral of Noah Pozner, the youngest victim of the shooting.

  By Forward Staff Dec 17, 2012 | < 1 min read
• Opinion

  Rabbi Pinto and the Sheens

  What do Charlie Sheen’s children, an Israeli gangster, and Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto have in common? They were all at one Los Angeles wedding. Pinto, who conducted the ceremony, is the kabbalist who was under house arrest in Israel this fall after allegedly bribing a police officer. The bride was C.C. Fontana, reportedly a former…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Dec 17, 2012 | < 1 min read