This is the Forward’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on Jewish communities around the world.
COVID-19
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Culture My father’s sister died in the 1918 flu pandemic. He didn’t find her grave until 2011.
For millions of Americans, the history of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic has become, unfortunately, newly relevant. But for my family, the 1918 pandemic entered our lives in a very personal way less than a decade ago, in the spring of 2011, when my father, a retired physician, read John Barry’s book “The Great Influenza.”…
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News Martin Fox, 95, past president of JTA and Jewish Federation Of Greater MetroWest NJ
(JTA) — Martin Fox was a news junky who devoured the New York Times, following public affairs with a keen interest until his final days. He was also deeply involved in Jewish communal affairs, serving as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ (then known as the Jewish Community Federation of Metropolitan New…
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Community Passovers of long ago, reflected in this year’s celebration
We all know the story of Passover. Like most stories in the Old and New testaments, the Passover story is replete with lessons that are applicable to everyday life, even thousands of years later. We can debate the historical accuracy of any biblical event, but we usually agree on the metaphorical significance. Often there is…
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Culture Daily distraction: Take an art course from MoMA
Welcome to your daily distraction, our recommendations for ways to stay engaged and entertained while we socially distance ourselves to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. You can find our past recommendations here; many of the opportunities we’ve highlighted are ongoing. It’s the start of a new week. Many of us have now been practicing social…
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Opinion Wearing a face mask? You’re doing a mitzvah. Make a brachah!
Among the Jewish tradition’s most cherished values is the sanctity of human life. With a few notable exceptions, one must not endanger their life in order to fulfill a religious obligation. And one must violate even the most significant commandments in order to save another person’s life. Saving one life is regarded as the equivalent…
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Opinion The media’s latest hypocrisy: Blaming Orthodox victims of coronavirus
Orthodox Jews don’t use technology on the Sabbath or holidays. When two-day holidays fall on Thursday and Friday, as Passover did last week, it means three days off the grid. But when the peaceful three-day holidays drew to a close on Saturday night, I was filled with a sense of dread. I knew my inbox…
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News Life in the time of corona: L.A. portraits
No one has been left unscathed from the effect of the coronavirus, from storeowners to rock-and-roll guitarists. Los Angeles-based writer and photographer Ayala Or-El captured some of the stories shared by members of the L.A. Jewish community. Sean Hurwitz, guitar player for the band Smash Mouth The news that his livelihood is in jeopardy caught…
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Culture Daily distraction: National poetry month
Welcome to your daily distraction, our recommendations for ways to stay engaged and entertained while we socially distance ourselves to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. You can find our past recommendations here; many of the opportunities we’ve highlighted are ongoing. A quarantine haiku: Out of my window The streets below are empty Good; flatten the…
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Opinion Actually, Trump made things between Israel and Iran way worse
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Film & TV ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ sends The Thing to shul — and gives Jack Kirby credit
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Fast Forward As starvation mounts in Gaza, Jewish voices increasingly rise up in consternation
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Fast Forward Grossinger’s iconic rye bread rises again — and won’t require a Catskills trip to obtain
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