Opinion

• Opinion

  Talkin’ Israel at the RNC

  For a convention focused on the economy and taxes at a time when foreign policy is hardly considered an issue, any mention of Israel at the GOP gathering is worth noticing. It may not amount to 15 minutes of fame, but a 95-second video in a tight convention schedule is also something. The video, titled…

  By Nathan Guttman

  2 min read
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  Opinion

  Mr. Tikkun Olam? That’s Rich.

  Of all of the tough sells in this election year, you have to hand it to former George Bush speechwriter Noam Neusner for coming up with one of the toughest. In an op-ed timed to coincide with the Republican National Convention, Neusner exhorts the largely Democratic, largely Jewish readership of the Forward : “Vote Mitt…

  By Bradley Burston (Haaretz) Aug 30, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Deluge of Dissent on War With Iran

  Benjamin Netanyahu has gotten himself in a real pickle as he prepares his nation for a showdown with Iran. He’s staked his career and Israel’s credibility on his vow to stop Iran from reaching nuclear weapons capability, no matter what it takes, with or without outside help. Israelis have learned from bitter experience, he says,…

  By J.J. Goldberg Aug 30, 2012 | 4 min read

Columnists View All

• Alyssa Katz What I learned at a Holocaust survivors’ Purim party

  

• Rob Eshman Trump is backed into a corner on Iran. Get ready for him to start blaming Jews

  

• Dan Perry Viktor Orbán may fall. Netanyahu should be next

  

• Emily Tamkin Hungary is poised to topple an authoritarian leader. American Jews have something to learn

  

• Jay Michaelson Passover’s 4 cups of meaning

  

The Latest

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  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 Aug 29, 2012 | 3 min read
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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