Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of former U.S. president Barack Obama and his relationship to the Jewish community.
Barack Obama
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Opinion Can Barack Obama Turn Israel Into a Blue State — With Benjamin Netanyahu’s Help?
Of all of the gestures performed during Barack Obama’s trip to Israel, that of the president of the United States bowing to the president of the State of Israel as the former accepted the Presidential Medal of Distinction was among the more extraordinary. But even before that, there was another moment of symbolism when the…
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Fast Forward Jewish Groups Push for Immigration Reform on Passover Eve
An array of Jewish groups urged President Obama and Congress to ease the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Nineteen national groups and dozens of local groups and clergy signed on to a letter sent last Friday that was timed for Passover. “American Jews know too well the impact of restrictive immigration policies, and we…
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Israel News Will Barack Obama’s Speech Inspire a Generation of Israelis To Seek Peace?
Will the young Israelis that President Obama aimed his Jerusalem speech at become the “Obama generation,” in the same way that the youngsters who mourned Yitzhak Rabin after his 1995 assasination, became known forever as the “candle generation”? President Barack Obama’s March 21 address was an impassioned appeal to Israelis, especially the young, over the…
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Opinion Obama Seder Reflects Common Bond With Jews
Just before the doors of the Old Family Dining Room swing open to welcome Elijah to the White House Seder, Dr. Eric Whitaker, a friend of President Obama, reads aloud the Emancipation Proclamation. Last week, as I researched the Obama Seder (the only Seder hosted by a sitting President), I was struck by several things,…
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Fast Forward Barack Obama Leaves Trail of Shattered Arab Dreams for New Mideast Approach
President Barack Obama was greeted with calls of “We love you” when he visited Cairo in his first term, seeking to turn the page on the Bush era with talk of a new beginning for ties between the United States and the Muslim world. Four years on, Egyptians who attended the Cairo University speech feel…
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Fast Forward Barack Obama Plays Tourist-in-Chief in Visit to Ancient City of Petra
President Barack Obama marvelled at the sights of Jordan’s ancient city of Petra on Saturday as he wrapped up a four-day Middle East tour by setting aside weighty diplomatic matters and playing tourist for a day. The visit followed a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories that was capped by Obama’s brokering of a…
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Fast Forward Secretary of State John Kerry Tries To Build on Mideast Peace Momentum
Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman before flying to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Saturday as he seeks ways to revive long-stalled peace talks. Kerry’s back-to-back meetings will follow up on President Barack Obama’s visits to Israel and the Palestinian Territories this week…
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Fast Forward Barack Obama Jets Out of Israel on High Note After Surprise Diplomatic Win
President Barack Obama flew out of Israel in a duststorm on Friday, leaving behind a trail of symbolic gestures and fine oratory that should help preserve the status quo at a time of regional upheaval. In an unexpected diplomatic flourish, he also facilitated a surprise telephone call between the prime ministers of Israel and Turkey,…
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