Opinion

• Opinion

  Introducing Forward 4.0

  What would Ab do? When faced with a great challenge, there’s the human tendency to launch a conversation with someone from the past whose leadership and vision would be so helpful today. At The Forward, that someone is Ab Cahan, our legendary founding editor, who oversaw half a century of innovative, impactful journalism. What would…

  By Jane Eisner

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  Raismans Go for (Viral) Gold

  Okay, we all know it’s not nice to judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, but it’s unlikely that most of us will have a daughter in the Olympics. Therefore, while judging is off-limits, we sedentary, computer-glued Americans are welcome to laugh uproariously at gymnast Aly Raisman’s parents as they watch their…

  By Simi Lampert Jul 30, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Sheldon Whiffs on Gordis, Loves Shwarma

  There are few people who have given more money to the right-leaning Jerusalem think tank the Shalem Center than Sheldon Adelson. In 2007, his family foundation bestowed $4.5 million on it. But Adelson didn’t have much to say about one of its best-known scholars. Several journalists awaited Adelson as he emerged from today’s fundraiser for…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 30, 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 The challah that changed everything: Tracing Jewish baking back to Poland

  

• Nora Berman The Kennedy Center canceled all its ‘woke’ programming — so why is this Jewish musical OK?

  

• 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

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  Opinion

  Small Talk and Big Hopes for Romney

  The gatekeeper hands a man two name badges, explaining that staff were unsure how he likes his name spelled so they made both. “Can I sell you one back for $50,000?” he asks with a smile, a reference to the price per couple at this exclusive fundraising breakfast with Mitt Romney. At that moment the…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 30, 2012 | 5 min read
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  Opinion

  Converts Who Changed the Church

  Fifty years ago this fall, Catholic bishops gathered in Rome for a council that would bring the church “up to date” by making it speak more directly to the modern world. After three years of deliberation, the bishops voted on and accepted statements that permitted the faithful to attend mass in their own languages, encouraged…

  By John Connelly Jul 30, 2012 | 7 min read
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  Opinion

  Mitt’s Note and a Prayer

  Most of the people wouldn’t have known who Mitt Romney was if wasn’t for the large entourage. But word travelled fast around the courtyard of the Western Wall that the Republican presidential candidate had arrived. The weather in Jerusalem is scorching and the atmosphere at the wall is intense, as people recite the special Afternoon…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 29, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Out Bibi-ing Bibi

  Mitt Romney has out Bibi-ed Bibi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is famous for saying that history is repeating itself. The way he tells it, we’re in the late 1930s, and today’s Nazis are the leaders of the Iranian regime, who threaten Israel’s future and perpetrate attacks like the recent one in Bulgaria through its…

  By Nathan Jeffay Jul 29, 2012 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  NYT: Health Law Worsens Doc Shortage…Not (Oops)

  Here’s an object lesson in the power of headlines to mislead: The lead headline in today’s Sunday New York Times, the paper’s most-read edition, warns: “Doctor Shortage Likely To Worsen With Health Law.” Sounds bad, right? Whatever you think of Obama and his Care, you can’t be happy if the reform results in fewer doctors…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 29, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Standing Up for Israel

  In recent days, Republican strategists and conservative mega-donors have lined up behind a campaign to distort President Barack Obama’s strong record of support for the state of Israel in hopes of winning over Jewish voters in a few swing states. I wonder what those critics would have said if they had been in the Oval…

  By Barbara Boxer Jul 29, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Stoking Fears of ‘Other’ Obama

  Obama the Foreigner: It began back in January, and sure enough, here it is again. This is Romney in January, celebrating his New Hampshire primary win: “This president takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe; we look to the cities and small towns of America.” And, “I want you to remember when our White…

  By Leonard Fein Jul 29, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  What’s Israel’s Capital, Jay?

  White House spokesman Jay Carney refused to reiterate the official U.S. position that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, sparking a mini-frenzy on the internet. When questioned by reporters during a press briefing, Carney dodged a reporter’s request to clarify the policy, the Times of Israel reports. In an exchange caught on video, Carney said:…

  By Blair Thornburgh Jul 27, 2012 | < 1 min read