Opinion

• Letters

  Bialystok Redux

  In her letter responding to my June 3 critical review of her book, “Jewish Bialystok and its Diaspora,” Rebecca Kobrin argues that I have “fallen into a classical trap” of assessing her book not on its own merits, but on those of the book I wish she had written, which she argues would have been…

  2 min read
• Letters

  Debating Peoplehood

  In his July 5 op-ed, “Funding Peoplehood,” Misha Galperin stresses the need to invest in projects that strengthen Jewish identity. He also underscores how Jewish organizations must agree upon a clear, collective goal for advancing “the peoplehood agenda.” But what’s missing from this piece is a more expansive, values-based understanding of how Jewish peoplehood is…

  Jul 13, 2011 | < 1 min read
• 
  Opinion

  We Can’t Say This

  We could get in trouble for this. Not in New York City, where this editorial is being written, because legitimate comment is protected under the First Amendment. But our editorials, along with many other stories and columns in the Forward, also appear every Sunday in the English edition of the Haaretz newspaper in Israel. And…

  Jul 13, 2011 | 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 Americans keep getting killed in the West Bank. Here’s how the US could fight that awful trend

  

• Nora Berman First Camp Auschwitz, now Alligator Alcatraz — why the right is obsessed with commodifying brutality

  

• Dan Perry What exactly is going on between Israel and Syria — and is the prospect of peace dead?

  

• Emily Tamkin Zohran Mamdani’s victory proves it: The ‘gotcha’ mode of fighting antisemitism has to go

  

The Latest

• 
  Opinion

  A Terrible Pledge

  Will abortion affect voters’ decisions in 2012? Probably not. As The New York Times reports, less than 1 percent told its nationwide poll this year and last that abortion was the top problem facing the country. But that hasn’t stopped the Susan B. Anthony List from demanding fealty to their extreme anti-abortion views from all…

  Jul 13, 2011 | < 1 min read
• Opinion

  Read it Here!

  Alert readers of this edition of the Forward may have noticed something new. A slightly different size to the page. Crisper printing. More use of color. That’s because, with this edition, the Forward is producing its entire national press run of both the English and Yiddish papers on presses owned by the New York Daily…

  Jul 13, 2011 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  In Sudan, Say ‘Never Again,’ And Mean It

  The special obligation of Jews to combat genocide and eliminationist politics, even injustice more generally — by now almost a cliché — is linked to Jews having been the victims of the Holocaust and of a long and bitter history of persecution. This call on Jews to urge the defense of the defenseless is pertinent…

  By Daniel Jonah Goldhagen Jul 13, 2011 | 5 min read
• Opinion

  Next for Knesset: Bill To Probe ‘Leftist’ NGOs

  Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party, flush from its victory in the boycott law debate, plans to bring another gag-rule bill to the Knesset floor for final vote next week, Ynet reports. The bill would create a Knesset investigative committee to examine the funding of “leftist” NGOs that “delegitimize” the Israeli army. Members of the Likud…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 12, 2011 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  A Levelheaded Israeli Calls Anti-Boycott Law ‘Fascism’

  I’m still reeling from the news yesterday that the Knesset passed the anti-boycott law. It’s reassuring to know that it’s not just Israelis on the left that are outraged by this. In this morning’s Maariv, Ben Caspit, one of Israel’s most prominent and influential columnists, tears into the new law, expressing much anguish — you…

  By Gal Beckerman Jul 12, 2011 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Can One Be an American Zionist Rabbi?

  The Jewish press has been abuzz in recent months with debate about the extent to which liberal-minded American Jews and, more specifically, their rabbis, are distancing themselves from Israel politically, morally or even religiously. In light of this situation, there is a growing concern among contemporary Zionists that liberal-minded Jews will soon find themselves with…

  By Benjamin Resnick Jul 12, 2011 | 3 min read
• Opinion

  Knesset Outlaws Boycotts of Israel or Settlements

  The Knesset gave final approval to the Boycott Bill after a stormy debate. Here is the Ynet.com report (in Hebrew). Here is the Jerusalem Post report (in English). The final vote was 47 to 38, according to the Haaretz.com report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not present for the debate or vote. Knesset speaker Reuven…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 11, 2011 | 2 min read
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  Opinion

  Why You Should Care About the Anti-Boycott Law (UPDATED)

  Even if you don’t agree with the aims of the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement, there is great reason to be concerned about what is transpiring in the Israeli parliament at this moment (for Hebrew speakers, live proceedings can be seen here). Debate is underway over a bill that would impose harsh punishment and financial…

  By Gal Beckerman Jul 11, 2011 | 2 min read