Opinion

• Opinion

  Bibi: Iran Making a Bomb. IDF Chief: No It’s Not

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to CNN: Sanctions “better work soon” — so far they “haven’t rolled back the Iranian program — or even stopped it — by one iota.” IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to Haaretz: The sanctions are beginning to bear fruit … CNN to Netanyahu: How do you know what they’re doing…

  By J.J. Goldberg

  < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Le Pen Is Real Winner in Vote in France

  Several years from now, historians may recount a conversation at the Elysée Palace, the residence of France’s president. While watching the returns of the first round of the presidential elections on Sunday night, Nicolas Sarkozy shrugs: “It’s a rebellion.” And an adviser, in turn, replies, “No, Monsieur le Président, c’est une revolution.” Or they may…

  By Robert Zaretsky Apr 25, 2012 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Expand Tax Breaks for Jewish Schools

  A day school education is the single best way to ensure that Jewish children understand the nuances of their religion and heritage

  By Melissa Langsam Braunstein Apr 25, 2012 | 3 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

  Orthodox Opposition to No-Names Policy

  Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes can usually count on the firm support of the ultra-Orthodox umbrella group Agudath Israel of America. While Hynes has been lambasted over the years by child abuse survivors and their advocates for his handling of sex abuse cases, Agudath has generally backed what it sees as his sensitive handling of…

  By Paul Berger Apr 25, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  An Israeli Ex-Pat Addicted to Grief

  On a day like today, an Israeli in the Diaspora needs his fix of grief and bereavement. Today is Israel’s memorial day, a unique and emotional time for all Israelis, as they remember and honor those who fought to protect the Jewish nation, and prepare for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. Remembering has a very…

  By Itai Elizur Apr 24, 2012 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Don’t Blame the Medium

  Facebook has been characterized as many things. It’s a rabbit hole into which free time can disappear. It’s a portal that can be used to dip into the past — hey, whatever did happen to that high school boyfriend? It can show a new dimension to an acquaintance, and it can allow people to share…

  By Jordana Horn Apr 24, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  CBS’s ‘Strategic Terror Attack’

  A controversial report aired by CBS News has pitted Israel’s top envoy to the United States against the network’s flagship news show and now has the Jewish community up in arms. The report by senior “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon, sought to explore the plight of Christian Palestinians, a dwindling population caught between the hardship…

  By Nathan Guttman Apr 23, 2012 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  The Message From Hamas

  The Forward’s exclusive interview with Mousa Abu Marzook, who is widely considered the second most important leader of Hamas, sends a message that is stunning and sobering. The very fact that the meeting happened will empower those who believe — or need to believe — that the terrorist organization is softening and maturing as it…

  Apr 23, 2012 | 5 min read
• Opinion

  Egypt: Gas Deal Cut Over Pay Dispute, Not Politics

  Israeli media, quoting government sources in Jerusalem, say the controversial cancellation of the Egyptian-Israeli natural gas agreement is not diplomatic in nature, but rather has to do with a commercial dispute between private companies and the Egyptian state energy company that is currently before the courts. Globes, the authoritative Israeli business journal, reports (in Hebrew)…

  By J.J. Goldberg Apr 23, 2012 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  What Stirred Hornet’s Nest?

  One positive thing you can say about Peter Beinart’s critics is that none of them has smacked him in the face with a rifle butt. Not yet, anyway. That might not be far off, though, judging by the overall tone of the published reactions to his new book, “The Crisis of Zionism.” I was going…

  By J.J. Goldberg Apr 22, 2012 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Is Our Tradition Liberal or Conservative?

  Is the Jewish tradition inherently liberal or inherently conservative? The answer to this much-debated question is in fact quite simple: yes. If by “the Jewish tradition” we mean the sacred texts of our people, they can be read to defend a very wide variety of approaches to the world of politics. You certainly won’t find…

  By Leonard Fein Apr 22, 2012 | 3 min read