This is 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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Fast Forward Hillel International lays off, furloughs 20% of staff due to coronavirus uncertainty
(JTA) – With many of its normal activities interrupted because of the coronavirus pandemic, Hillel International, the umbrella organization for centers for Jewish student life on college campuses around the world, has laid off or furloughed 30 positions at its Washington, D.C., headquarters — over 20 percent of its workforce. The cuts were made last…
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Opinion In an era of social distancing, Yom Ha’atzmaut is an opportunity for connecting across the divide
Two years ago, standing on a stage in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by a crowd gathered to celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, we watched a beautiful display about Israel on the enormous screens. This year, the screen will be slightly smaller; I will be watching the celebrations from my 15-inch laptop. 2020 has not…
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Fast Forward Infowars lawyer: Nazis ‘sold’ concentration camps as quarantine
Robert Barnes, the lawyer who represented conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in a case against parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, likened the establishment of quarantine measures to Nazis rounding up Jews to bring them to concentration camps. “Know how the Nazis first sold concentration camps? They called it a quarantine. #ConstitutionOverCoronavirus” said…
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News As coronavirus closes borders, Jews in Asia ramp up community-building
Coronavirus has changed everything about life in Asia, including the lives of the Jews who live there. Case in point: for the first time, separate Jewish communities in China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore are coming together to co-host digital events. One of them, the upcoming Asian Limmud conference to be held online May 3-4,…
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Fast Forward Flatbush Jewish Journal publishes 50 pages of obituaries in most recent issue
The Flatbush Jewish Journal, a weekly Orthodox publication based in Brooklyn, published fifty pages of obituaries in its most recent issue. The obituaries painted a picture of a community devastated by coronavirus. Several pages were devoted to the Novominsker Rebbe and the Sasregener Rebbe, heads of two Hasidic dynasties who died of coronavirus in April….
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Community How I finally came to appreciate virtual Shabbat
Recently, I did two things I thought I would not ever be doing. I actually took time to read an article about why synagogues need to consider “virtual gatherings” during the current COVID-19 crisis, but at the same time the article emphasized that Jews should be sure to understand “what it means to come together…
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Opinion Israelis and Palestinians mourn our losses together on Yom Hazikaron
Fighting dangerous pathogens that rip through societies is not new to joint Israeli-Palestinian organizations like the Parents Circle-Families Forum and Combatants for Peace. Fear, hatred, and dehumanization, like viruses, are invisible. They are often asymptomatic in many and lead to senseless fatalities in others. COVID-19 and fear, hatred and dehumanization know no borders, religion or…
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Fast Forward U.S. cancels visa for Israeli who flew back and forth knowing he had COVID-19
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The United States reportedly has cancelled a work visa for an Israeli man who flew home from Newark, New Jersey, despite knowing that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The man did not notify the United Airlines crew that he had the virus when he boarded the fight, the Times of…
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Opinion Outrage over Nicholas Kristof’s op-ed on sexual assault of Palestinians is missing the point
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News They texted about Torah and mitzvahs. Feds say they were insider trading
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Culture At Eurovision, Israel’s near triumph shows the limits of tolerance
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Opinion I run The Jewish Theological Seminary. Here’s the real story about President Isaac Herzog speaking at our commencement
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Rep. Jared Moskowitz becomes latest Jewish lawmaker to reveal antisemitic threats
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Fast Forward Jewish groups denounce fatal shooting at San Diego mosque, say it proves need for security funding
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News Mamdani’s first Jewish Heritage event reveals a narrowed circle
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Culture The Israeli song that almost won Eurovision was about far more than the breakup of a love affair