Opinion

• 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

  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

Columnists View All

• Jay Michaelson What can really be done to prevent antisemitic attacks like Bondi Beach?

  

• Rob Eshman Australia shooting terrifies Jews worldwide — and strengthens the case for Israel

  

• Nora Berman Did crypto-Jews invent the modern tarot deck?

  

• Dan Perry The 3 responses to the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack that could make Jews safer

  

• Emily Tamkin The fundamental miscalculation behind the GOP’s antisemitism crisis

  

The Latest

• 
  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
• 
  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
• 
  Opinion

  Man, Oh, Manischewitz

  “Holy Matzo!” a recent Forward headline read. The accompanying article announced the baking of the “world’s largest matzo” — 82 square feet — to mark the opening of the new Manischewitz matzo factory in Newark, N.J. The matzo proved ephemeral; it was soon broken up and distributed. What I found fascinating at the factory’s opening…

  By Jonathan D. Sarna Jul 11, 2011 | 3 min read
• 
  Opinion

  How the Flotilla Helps Hamas

  Chrisopher Hitchens, in a July 4 piece on Slate linked to on Tuesday by J.J. Goldberg, almost got it almost right. “It seems safe and fair to say that the flotilla and its leadership work in reasonably close harmony with Hamas, which constitutes the Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood,” he wrote. It’s unclear if…

  By Ezra Glinter Jul 7, 2011 | 2 min read
• Opinion

  Tammuz Tales: Taxes, Personal Income and Federal Debt (or: The Rich and the Rest)

  My current Forward column, “For Source of Debt Crisis, Look to the Tithes,” tries to make the simple point makes that we have a federal debt crisis because we have lowered taxes over the past 30 years and created a federal revenue base that’s simply not enough to pay our bills. My second point is…

  By J.J. Goldberg Jul 7, 2011 | 3 min read
• 
  Opinion

  My Commitment Ceremony With Obama

  I’m one of those Americans who pounded the pavement for candidate Barack Obama in 2008 but has since grown ambivalent about his presidency. He wasn’t pulling out enough troops from Afghanistan; he wasn’t working hard enough to push Israel to halt settlement building; the health care initiative turned into a disaster. And he wasn’t coming…

  By David Shneer Jul 6, 2011 | 4 min read
• Opinion

  A Way To Embrace Palestinian Statehood

  Few issues have so discombobulated the American Jewish community — to say nothing of the Israeli government — as the prospect of a United Nations vote on recognition of Palestine. Students of the matter debate whether such a vote would have any practical significance, but most Jews, as well as most Jewish organizations, have viewed…

  By Leonard Fein Jul 6, 2011 | 3 min read