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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News Camp Ramah in Wisconsin: need to raise $2M to ‘stay solvent’
One of the most prominent Jewish summer camps in North America is warning area rabbis that the camp faces an “existential threat” and might not stay solvent if they don’t receive a massive influx of donations. Without donations of hard cash, said Jacob Cytryn, executive director of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the camp would have…
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News NY Attorney General opens probe into NYPD COVID enforcement
New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday that she is looking into reports of unequal enforcement by the New York Police Department of social-distancing requirements due to coronavirus. In a May 8 letter to the police commissioner, James requested department policies and directives for enforcing the social-distancing rules, as well as the…
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Opinion What will the rabbinate look like after COVID?
In many ways, rabbis serve as the first spiritual responders for Jewish communities; we are often the first place people turn in moments of crisis. As the leader of the organization that represents Reform rabbis worldwide, I’ve seen firsthand the key role rabbis have played in leading Jewish communities nationwide as they adjust to radically…
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Fast Forward WATCH: Hasidic cantors, standing on cars, serenade medical workers with national anthem
Two Hasidic cantors sang the Star-Spangled Banner for medical workers outside NYU Langone Medical Center on 33rd Street on Tuesday, according to a video posted on Twitter by a Chabad spokesman. Aron Gerstel and Yaakov Lemmer, the two cantors, can be seen standing on top of Gerstel’s car and singing as medical workers and spectators…
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Fast Forward Shul that closed due to COVID punishes ‘rogue minyan’ members
A Florida synagogue that had shut its doors due to the coronavirus announced Tuesday that it was punishing members that arranged a “rogue minyan,” or prayer service, in defiance of rabbinic orders and medical advice. In concordance with directives issued by all of the major Orthodox Jewish synagogue associations, the Young Israel of Deerfield Beach…
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Opinion Letter | Don’t let COVID prevent you from crucial genetic testing
Dear Editor, Hawkin Miller’s recent article “Do Jewish genetic diseases increase the risk of COVID-19?” brought back memories of my work as a genetic counselor and care coordinator for patients with Gaucher and other diseases common in Jewish communities. Many people with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to infectious diseases and complications, and they…
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News High Holidays 2020: Rabbis start to think outside the synagogue
About 2,000 years ago, Judaism swapped animal sacrifice for prayer. This fall, it will face another challenge that, while not quite on the order of the destruction of the Second Temple, is still historic: How to conduct the faith’s holiest — and best-attended — services while maintaining enough physical distance between congregants to prevent the…
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Fast Forward Reform movement cuts staff by 20%, citing existential threat
The Reform movement — the largest Jewish denomination in the country — announced layoffs today in its main umbrella organization, the Union for Reform Judaism, citing an existential threat brought on by the coronavirus economic crash. “Unfortunately, we are now at the point that the long-term viability of the URJ is at risk if we…
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Fast Forward Trump says Jews would deserve much of the blame if he loses
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Culture Hitler is trending on TikTok again — and they’re trying to make him seem like a nice guy
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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
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion A maelstrom around Rashida Tlaib shows how broken discourse about the war has become
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Fast Forward Sitcom star encourages non-Jews like her to hang mezuzahs on their homes
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Antisemitism Notebook Why antisemitic politicians pose a quandary for Jewish leaders
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Fast Forward Trump said he wants to deport immigrants by ‘serial numbers’
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