Opinion

• Opinion

  Dennis Ross on Mitt’s ‘Kick the Ball’ Policy

  The U.S.’s most experienced Mideast negotiator said Mitt Romney’s caught-on-camera admission that he sees little chance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could lead to a dangerous sense of “hopelessness.” Dennis Ross, a former advisor to President Obama and a top mediator between the Israelis and the Palestinians for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton,…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  Acknowledging Our Gravest Sin

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? Hardly anyone takes sin and atonement seriously anymore. Are we guilty of mistakes, errors, weaknesses and foibles? Sure. But sins? Hardly. We have come a long way from the world, which took a distinctly negative view of human nature — not…

  By Lawrence Hoffman Sep 20, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Words Do Matter

  The messy alteration of the party platform at the recent Democratic National Convention was a political embarrassment for Democrats and a rhetorical gift to Republicans. But did it mean anything? At a time when presidential candidates so powerfully shape their party’s personality, do these platforms even matter anymore? In the short term, the answer is…

  Sep 20, 2012 | 4 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 If war with Iran goes badly for the US, Jews will be the scapegoat

  

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

  

• Dan Perry For Trump and Netanyahu, statecraft is now synonymous with stagecraft

  

• Emily Tamkin Israeli leaders are using Holocaust comparisons to justify attacks on Iran. Is that kosher?

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Does a Child Know Guilt?

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? The term “atonement” seems, at first glance, more applicable to adults than to children. Yet children also show a sense of responsibility when they cause harm to others. They experience guilt and remorse, and they try to make amends through acts…

  By Carolyn Zahn-Waxler Sep 20, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  The Thrill of Repentance

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? The evidence is everywhere: Bernie Madoff announces that he is sorry to have caused his family pain, but then defends himself, saying that he only “made rich people richer;” Anthony Weiner first lies about his behavior, then admits his mistakes, but…

  By Louis E. Newman Sep 20, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Stick to ‘47%’ Argument, Mitt

  Palm Beach County Republican chair Sid Dinerstein hopes Mitt Romney sticks by the secretly recorded remarks that have shaken the political world this week. Dinerstein attended the now-infamous May fundraising event in Boca Raton but was not included in the exclusive $50,000-a-plate dinner at which Romney made controversial comments about the Middle East peace process…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Sep 19, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Owning Up to My Corrections

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? This might be the most beautiful sentence in the English language: “You were right; I was wrong.” Enjoy it now: You’ll seldom hear it again. And you’ll say it even less. Both lapses are unfortunate, but the latter is worse. Because…

  By Randy Cohen Sep 19, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Hitting the Moral Reset Button

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? Atonement, the practice of making amends for one’s sins, is a central component of many religions. Both Catholicism and Protestantism have forms of confession and reconciliation. Even Calvinism, which emphasizes a lack of control over one’s ultimate fate, depends on repentance…

  By Dan Ariely Sep 19, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  When You Don’t Want To Say You’re Sorry

  A series of writers answer the question: Do we still know how to atone? My mother said it every year to my sister and me when she was getting us dressed to go to High Holy Day services: “Apologize. Say you’re sorry for all the things you did wrong to each other this year.” Ever…

  By Rachel Shukert Sep 19, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Barack Obama Is ‘Citizenship’ President

  This week’s question and next week’s as well is why Obama. The first and most obvious answer is the precise opposite of what Romney supporters say when they are asked “Why Romney?” Their answer is that he is not Obama and Obama is plainly not Romney. But one wants to go beyond the negative argument….

  By Leonard Fein Sep 18, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Occupying Rosh Hashanah

  Jeanette Friedman looked over the crowd of hundreds of Occupy Wall Street supporters in Zuccotti Park on the evening of Sept. 16, and all she could do was gush about her son. “I can’t believe how many people are here,” she shouted to her boy, Dan Sieradski, who was helping to lead a Rosh Hashanah…

  By Ari Paul Sep 17, 2012 | 3 min read