Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on Jewish communities around the world.
COVID-19
The Latest
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Community Death over Zoom: a rabbi reflects on a year of loss
The call came from the family, asking me to visit their relative at a suburban hospital. I knew the congregant well and was devastated to learn she was dying. I was even more devastated to learn it was from COVID. Visiting would be out of the question. The woman, who was 98, died the next…
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News Germany’s pandemic protests are mainstreaming antisemitic conspiracy theories
Read this article in Yiddish. In the last months, neo-Nazis have become more brazen, demonstrating openly in public, particularly at anti-coronavirus rallies – or Anti-Corona-Demos, as we call them in German. The rallies aren’t just anti-lockdown, they tackle everything which has to do with the virus, including denying that it exists. Most of these demonstrations…
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Community A prayer for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine
Several doctors and nurses reached out to me to ask if I would compose a prayer for them to recite at the moment they received their COVID-19 vaccinations. It didn’t occur to me to write this prayer, but instantly I realized that it is a holy step, a blessing and a miracle of science. We…
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Community Perfume before Zoom, I presume
I’ve always loved perfume: the final touch of preparation for a day of work or an evening out. My habit is rooted in memories of my mother and the sweet scent of her beloved Miss Dior. She kept the bottle on her dresser, near a photograph of the woman who protected and inspired her during…
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News A year like none other, in 20 unforgettable headlines
The year 2020 has truly been one for the history books. It’s with that thought in mind that we’ve chosen to try and sum up the past 12 months in 20 unforgettable headlines, presented chronologically below. We can’t lie: They make for sobering reading. But there are glimmers of joy to be found even so,…
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Forverts in English The 20 best Yiddish words for discussing 2020
Click to hear this article read aloud. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us many challenges. But ironically, it’s also helped make 2020 a great year for learning Yiddish. The annual YIVO Yiddish summer program had so many registrants this summer — 60% more than last year — that administrators had to scramble to schedule more…
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Opinion The right demonized journalists. Now they’re turning on scientists.
I am no longer shocked when I receive an email with a photo of my face super-imposed on an image of crematoria; like many other Jewish writers, and many other women journalists, disgusting harassment is the norm. But now, it’s scientists who are becoming a primary target; a chilling new article in The Boston Globe…
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News COVID-19 is causing Jewish leaders to decline the White House Hanukkah party invite — with regrets
The coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on the White House’s annual Hanukkah party. “I’m not going. I’m not traveling. I’m 82 years old,” said Harvard Law Professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, who has been an unofficial advisor to Trump and attended last year’s party. “I would go, if not for the virus.” Jewish leaders have…
Most Popular
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Fast Forward Trump says Jews would deserve much of the blame if he loses
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Opinion This GOP candidate has always been antisemitic — so why are Republicans only panicking about him now?
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Opinion A daring attack on Hezbollah may reveal Israel’s strengths — and its most terrifying weakness
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Fast Forward Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf buddy when would-be assassin took aim, said they became friends over a ham sandwich
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion Donald Trump’s genius strategy to protect Jews? Scapegoat them
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News What to know about Josh Stein, the Jewish attorney outpolling Mark Robinson in NC governor’s race
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News Israel expels British Jewish activist who tried to immigrate under Law of Return
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Opinion One year later, why can’t the UN lay blame for Oct. 7 where it belongs?
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