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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	Books She followed rookie doctors through the very worst of COVID
(JTA) — (New York Jewish Week via JTA) — For most New Yorkers, the early days of COVID-19 were synonymous with eerily empty streets, the constant wail of sirens, and the clapping and cheering for health care workers. But what was it really like for the doctors and other health care professionals who found themselves…
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	Culture Raves in the desert, secret parties in mansions — COVID couldn’t stop Israel’s underground party scene
In Israel, #hotvaxxedsummer is already underway; all restrictions have been lifted, bars are packed and parties are sold out. Hookup culture has come back to life, and people are beyond grateful to be out of their houses, finally seeing their friends and meeting new people. But not everyone actually stopped seeing people in the first…
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	Culture What will #hotvaxxedsummer look like? Israel beat us there
The U.S. is finally reopening. Nightclubs will soon be back in full swing, and people are predicting another Roaring ’20s era of debauchery and indulgence — dubbed, at least online, #hotvaxxedsummer. But not everyone is so excited. Some are anxious about how it will feel to be in a crowd after over a year of…
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	Fast Forward Palestinian Authority cancels deal for 1 million COVID vaccine doses from Israel
(JTA) — The Palestinian Authority canceled a deal that would have seen Israel give it one million COVID vaccine doses in exchange for a later shipment. The P.A. made the move because many of the doses were set to expire in the coming weeks, according to Haaretz. By time Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila announced…
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	Culture A requiem for the backyard minyan
The outdoor minyan was a symbol of Jewish resourcefulness and resilience
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	News Israeli man starts matchmaking service for non-vaccinated Jewish singles
Three decades ago, Israeli real-estate agent Daniel Michael was set up with his wife by a neighbor with a knack for matchmaking. Now, Michael is providing the same service, but for a niche demographic: Jewish singles who have opted not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to last month, Michael had little experience with matchmaking….
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	Fast Forward Brooklyn man seeks to mark each Jew who died of COVID-19
In March 2020, Tzali Reicher set out to track every Jew who died of the coronavirus. Now, his list has grown to include more than 1,800 names, a staggering number that still only accounts for a fraction of the total number of Jewish deaths. Reicher, who is 24 and lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was…
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	News When their season was cancelled by COVID, these college athletes found faith off the field
Like many Jewish college athletes, Kylie Hall had a lot of time on her hands when the COVID pandemic struck in March, 2020. The soccer player at Emory University saw games and practices cancelled. Into that void entered a campus rabbi who recruited athletes to an online educational program as a way to pass the…
 
Most Popular
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	Fast Forward Why some Satmar Hasidic leaders endorsed Zohran Mamdani as mayor, stunning many Jewish voters
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	Sports It’s so cool that Sandy Koufax was there for that
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	Opinion I’m an Israeli who lives in New York. Here’s why I’m voting for Mamdani
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	News Mamdani opposes Zionism, but wants New York public schools to teach about it
 
In Case You Missed It
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	Fast Forward Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall cancels annual Hanukkah concert, citing singer’s IDF ties
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	Opinion Will Israel ever have another leader who truly wants peace?
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	Fast Forward Yad Vashem says it has identified 5 million Holocaust victims with help of AI
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	Fast Forward 2 of NYC’s 5 public pension funds are vulnerable to a mayor-backed Israel divestment push
 
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