This is the Forward’s coverage of former U.S. president Barack Obama and his relationship to the Jewish community.
Barack Obama
The Latest
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Opinion Rabbi Jonah Pesner Mulls Massachusetts Senate Run
A rabbi passed over last year for the leadership of the Reform movement thinks he might have better luck running for the U.S. Senate. Rabbi Jonah Pesner, a senior vice president at the Union for Reform Judaism, told the Boston Phoenix on January 7 that he is considering entering the special election to replace Senator…
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Fast Forward No More Mr. Nice Guy for Barack Obama
Just two weeks before his second inauguration, President Barack Obama is acting as if he believes he has a big mandate for his next term. The latest sign: his decision to defy a concerted campaign against his choice for defense secretary. The Democratic president, re-elected in November, unveiled a more combative approach during the end-of-year…
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Fast Forward Israel Steers Clear of Chuck Hagel Dispute
The Israeli government kept clear on Tuesday of a brewing battle in Washington over U.S. President Barack Obama’s choice for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, whose record on Iran and Israel is under scrutiny. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak offered no immediate comment on the pick, announced on Monday after being rumoured…
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Opinion Build on Gay Marriage Victories
It’s looking like 2013 will be the year of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court will decide on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (it’s up to Justice Kennedy) and California’s Proposition 8, both of which try to criminalize marriage that is not between a man and a woman. The Obama administration, already not…
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Opinion Raise Minimum Wage and Protect Workers Rights
The minimum wage was created in 1938 to help reduce poverty. Today that goal has been abandoned, as Congress has resisted raising the minimum wage to keep up with the cost of living, and millions of full-time workers are unable to make ends meet. A person paid the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour…
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Israel News Chuck Hagel’s Jewish Critics Relent After Nod
It’s a different ballgame now. After President Obama announced his selection of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, pro-Israel activists and mainstream Jewish groups toned down criticism of the controversial choice to lead the Pentagon, who analysts say is now a prohibitive favorite to win confirmation. Most Jewish groups have made clear they will not lobby…
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Fast Forward Chuck Hagel Would Be War Skeptic in Pentagon
A decorated Vietnam veteran acutely aware of the limits of military power, Chuck Hagel is likely to favor a sizable drawdown in Afghanistan, more frugal spending at the Pentagon and extreme caution when contemplating the use of force in places like Iran or Syria. Obama’s decision to nominate Hagel – a Republican former senator who…
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Fast Forward Chuck Hagel: ‘Total Support for Israel’
Pentagon nominee Chuck Hagel says he looks forward to facing his critics, especially from the pro-Israel community, who he said have “completely distorted” his record. The former Nebraska senator told the Lincoln Journal Star in his home state that his record shows an “unequivocal, total support for Israel.” A Republican with a reputation as a…
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Fast Forward Why some Satmar Hasidic leaders endorsed Zohran Mamdani as mayor, stunning many Jewish voters
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Culture Mamdani’s first statement on antisemitism as mayor-elect got some weird pushback
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News How Mamdani became New York’s next mayor, with Jews divided between fierce opposition and fiery support
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Culture Mamdani quoted Eugene Debs in his victory speech — there’s a long Jewish history there
In Case You Missed It
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News Scott Wiener, Jewish Democrat and critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, vies for Nancy Pelosi’s seat
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Opinion Why a concert hall should be the last place for a protest — particularly an antisemitic one like this
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Looking Forward What Hailey Bieber smoothies and instant matzo ball soup reveal about American Jewish taste
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Culture Mamdani’s first statement on antisemitism as mayor-elect got some weird pushback
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