Opinion

• Opinion

  France Confronts Sins of Past — And Present

  Despite its claim as une ville fleurie (city of flowers), Drancy is a dim and dreary northern suburb of Paris. This was fitting, however: President François Hollande was there in late September to address the town’s grim role as the transit camp for French and foreign Jews to Auschwitz, and the burden this past places…

  By Robert Zaretsky

  4 min read
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  Books

  Mulling Over Monica Lewinsky

  When word leaked out in late September that Monica Lewinsky was writing a tell-all book, the story shot to the top of the “most read” list on our website within hours. We reported that, according to the New York Post, Lewinsky — the world’s most famous, and infamous, White House intern — had secured a…

  By Jane Eisner Sep 27, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Bronx Cheer for Anti-Muslim Subway Ads

  A day after anti-Muslim ads appeared in 10 subway stations across New York City, they got the ultimate Bronx cheer. At least five of the ads, which read “Support Israel. Defeat Jihad,” were marked with stickers denouncing “racism” and “hate speech” on Tuesday. Critics of the campaign sponsored by Pamela Geller and the American Freedom…

  By Andrea Palatnik Sep 25, 2012 | < 1 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson American Jews were played — now what?

  

• Rob Eshman There’s a shocking new report on civilian deaths in Gaza. If only it were accurate.

  

• Nora Berman Is Netflix’s new show the most Jewish cartoon ever?

  

• Dan Perry Israel’s new gift to the far right could help end the Gaza war

  

• Emily Tamkin Entering motherhood — and an obsession with the works of an Italian Jewish literary hero

  

The Latest

• Opinion

  We Don’t Do Forgiveness Well

  The High Holidays don’t work for me. I know that Yom Kippur is supposed to be the holiest day of the year, and I’ve read and listened to many great ideas about how Yom Kippur is supposed to work on supreme spiritual issues and in sanctifying relationships and community. And I’ve been trying it out…

  By Elana Sztokman Sep 25, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Real Friends Are Honest — Even With Israel

  During his July experiment with international diplomacy, Mitt Romney’s encomium about the Israeli health care system provided a delicious illustration of one of our few remaining bipartisan sports: pandering to all things Israel. “Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of GDP in Israel? Eight percent,” Romney intoned. “You spend 8%…

  By Ken Schechtman Sep 25, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Devil You Know

  The Israeli government has approved 5,000 new work permits for Palestinians to work in Israel. The decision comes just a few days after the government released a report stating that permit allocation has increased by 40% over the last year-and-a-half, meaning that today 32,000 Palestinians earn their living in Israel. The ability of Palestinians to…

  By Nathan Jeffay Sep 25, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why Ban Kippahs, Madame Le Pen?

  Aside from the latent anti-Semitism that motivates the European political fringe, there are two possible explanations for why Marine Le Pen felt it necessary to explain that if France is to proscribe the hijab or chador in the public square as she favours, “it is obvious that we must ban the kippa.” She added that…

  By Liam Hoare Sep 24, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Sheldon’s Latke Envy

  What’s a few million among friends? Sheldon Adelson says he doesn’t remember the size of the first check he cut this election cycle. “I gave 5 million or 10 million – I forget – to Newt Gingrich,” the Jewish mega-donor told Politico in a rare interview published last night. (A reminder, Mr. Adelson: It was…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Sep 24, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Where Is Israel of the Campfire Songs?

  Several months before my 18th birthday, hoping to avoid military service in Vietnam, I went to see a rabbi known for counseling conscientious objectors. The conversation proved brief. He asked me if I would be willing to go and fight if Israel were in danger. Of course, I replied. Well then, he said, you’re not…

  By J.J. Goldberg Sep 24, 2012 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Randi, Rahm and the Chicago Teachers Strike

  The Chicago teachers strike ended with what many unionists see as a victory for a strategy of confronting strong-willed Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It also helped get national teachers union chief Randi Weingarten out of a tricky political jam. Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers and one of the nation’s top Jewish union…

  By Ari Paul Sep 24, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Swinging the Chicken for the First Time

  When I was growing up in the 1960s on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, “awe” was a word to be memorized for spelling tests. My High Holy Day memories were of new patent leather shoes, Lichtman’s round raisin challah dipped in honey and a synagogue service that was more “night at the opera” than a meeting…

  By Carol Ungar Sep 24, 2012 | 3 min read