Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on Jewish communities around the world.
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News Historic Park Slope synagogue establishes ‘emergency stabilization fund’
Congregation Beth Elohim, a historic Reform synagogue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has established an “emergency stabilization fund” to collect money from congregants and trustees after significant sources of revenue were eliminated during the coronavirus outbreak. “This is the most urgent message I have had to write as CBE’s president,” said president Rob Raich in a…
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News Amid COVID, Jews create a personal ad to make Bubbe blush — and laugh
“Stronger than your bubbe’s horseradish on Passover.” “Thicc as your bubbe’s matzah balls.” “Your bubbe’s wet dream.” You might think that this combination of sex and yiddishkeit belongs nowhere except the pages of a Phillip Roth novel. But it’s actually a huge part of love in the time of corona, at least for the Jews….
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News After devastating fires, Wilshire Blvd. Temple camps now face pandemic
For nearly two weeks in late November 2018, wildfires ravaged parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, much of the damage in and around the oceanside city of Malibu. The fires burned nearly 100,000 acres, destroying 1,643 structures and killing three people. Also left in the ruins were Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s two summer camps, Hess…
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Community ‘Normal’ life is usually not easy to start with for people on the autism spectrum — and this pandemic is making it even worse
The global coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world has taken the lives of many. But in addition to the massive loss it’s left in its wake, it has also illuminated exacerbated many preexisting conditions. Mine is one of them. As a public service during this pandemic, the Forward is providing free, unlimited access to all coronavirus…
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Community Sitting shiva via Zoom, it turns out, has its upsides
Last week, we buried my father in the Long Island cemetery plot that had been waiting three decades for him to arrive. When I recall my mother’s 1990 funeral, in the pre-COVID era, I can still feel the love that came from the crowd surrounding us, and the support I drew from the Hebrew prayers…
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Opinion Israel is ready to reopen. I’m not.
Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an easing up of restrictions. No longer confined to 100 meters, we can go out for the first time in ages. National parks are reopening and even malls will open later in the week. Nearly one in four Israelis are unemployed, up from a record low of…
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Fast Forward Pa. lawmaker compares governor to Nazi Germany over coronavirus handling
(JTA) — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker has compared Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s refusal to release some coronavirus data and information to Nazi Germany. Republican State Rep. Cris Dush made the statement during a House State Government Committee hearing on Monday, local media reported. He reportedly apologized after the hearing. It is another incident of the…
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Opinion I’m a statistician. Closing camp because of corona is a huge mistake
When the Reform movement announced that it would be shutting its camps for the summer, a rabbi friend broadcast on Facebook that he thought the decision, while regrettable, was nevertheless “prudent.” I disagree. A considered, well thought out decision has to think through both risks and rewards. It must grapple not just with possibilities but…
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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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Fast Forward Potential Trump visit to iconic Gottlieb’s deli has Hasidic world aflutter
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward New poll shows sharp differences in how Modern Orthodox and Haredi will vote
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Fast Forward From Hostages Square, High Holiday prayers aim to transcend Israel’s fractured politics
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Fast Forward Museum of the Bible unveils world’s ‘oldest Jewish book’ in new exhibit
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Fast Forward Rare document that shows contributions of Jewish financier to American Revolution up for sale
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