Opinion

• Opinion

  (Political) Stars Come Out for GOP Coalition

  The Republican Jewish Coalition flexed its political muscle Wednesday evening when it attracted some 20 members of Congress and more than 100 supporters to a pro-Israel reception on the sidelines of the Republican convention in Tampa. It was an opportunity for sitting and aspiring lawmakers to tout their pro-Israel credentials and for the RJC to…

  By Nathan Guttman

  3 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Shelly Silver Dented in Albany Scandal

  New York State Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver is under fire over what the local tabloids are calling a “coverup” of sex allegations against a Brooklyn political boss. The Orthodox Jewish speaker of the State Assembly doesn’t usually get front-page play, despite being one of the two or three most powerful people in Albany. It’s likely…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Aug 29, 2012 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Krysten Sinema Wins Hot Arizona Primary

  Arizona congressional hopeful Krysten Sinema prevailed last night in a closely-watched Democratic primary against two Jewish opponents. With all precincts reporting, Sinema had 12,329 votes, or 42%, compared to 9,043, or 31% for David Schapira and 7,978, or 27% for Andrei Cherny. As the Forward reported last month, Sinema battled claims from opponent Andrei Cherny…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Aug 29, 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

  Mitt Romney Is Real Tikkun Olam Candidate

  Regular readers of these pages are most likely strong supporters in the safety net programs set up in the New Deal, Great Society and now Obamacare legislative eras. They hold these programs to be good examples of America’s capacity to care for the ill, the poor, the destitute and the aged. And they find in…

  By Noam Neusner Aug 29, 2012 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  GOP Platform Changes Little on Israel

  When it comes to Israel, the Republican Party platform is noteworthy for being more of the same. The key changes are in style and emphasis as the GOP (along with the Democrats) seek to woo pro-Israel voters. For example, the 2008 platform asserted Israel to be “a vigorous democracy, unique in the Middle East.” But…

  By Liam Hoare Aug 29, 2012 | 2 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Vote Romney — It’s a Real Mitt-zvah

  There’s an early entry in the category political pin of the year. Not sure how everyone missed this pun for the first eight months of the political year, but finally someone realized that Mitt Romney’s first name can be turned into a Jewish good deed without too much trying. As the Republican National Convention officially…

  By Seth Berkman Aug 28, 2012 | < 1 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Order the Veal, Sheldon

  Jewish Republicans closed Monday night at a fancy Cuban-style restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor City district. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson entered the Columbia restaurant accompanied by RJC director Matt Brooks and what appeared to be a bodyguard. Adelson, sporting a short sleeved shirt in an otherwise jacket and tie crowd, seemed at home with the many…

  By Nathan Guttman Aug 28, 2012 | < 1 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Do No Harm

  On September 13, the New York City Board of Health is scheduled to vote on a controversial proposal that would officially define an ancient Jewish ritual practice as dangerous to an infant’s life. It would require parents to agree in writing that the ritual about to be performed on their son could lead to brain…

  Aug 28, 2012 | 4 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Adelsons Heading for Tampa

  As Hurricane Isaac rumbled ominously off the coast, two of the Republican Party’s biggest supporters were expected to touch down in Tampa for the Republican National Convention Monday. According to CNN.com, Miriam Adelson will be in attendance for Mitt Romney’s speech and other activities this week, alongside her husband, noted Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. One…

  By Seth Berkman Aug 27, 2012 | < 1 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Soloveichik To Give GOP Invocation

  A fast-rising young Modern Orthodox rabbi who is in contention to be Britain’s chief rabbi will give an opening invocation at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik, the director the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University and a rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York, will speak…

  By Josh Nathan-Kazis Aug 27, 2012 | < 1 min read
• 
  Opinion

  Surviving Apartheid — and New South Africa

  My first visit to South Africa, and the impressions were jarring. I grew up in liberal America, where apartheid was a curse and a cause rather than a way of life. I knew very few South Africans, Jewish or otherwise. And then I moved to Israel, and then Nelson Mandela whooshed to president from prisoner,…

  By David Hazony Aug 27, 2012 | 4 min read