Opinion articles that represent the views of the Forward’s editors.
Editorials
The Latest
-
Opinion Who Shall Serve?
The issue of a citizen’s responsibility to serve his or her nation, in a military or communal capacity, for how long and under what circumstances, is fraught with both practical concerns and gigantic questions of meaning. As of this writing, Israelis are in full-throated debate over this issue. Americans ought to be. The Israeli debate…
-
Opinion Always a Difficult Balance
More than a dozen years ago, I wrote a plaintive column explaining why I was stepping down from a prestigious, demanding managerial position at a major newspaper to become a columnist and spend more time with my family. It was, I realize now, my Anne-Marie Slaughter moment. I wasn’t as famous as she, and I…
-
Opinion The Freedom Argument
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court drama over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is over, it’s time to reflect on what seems to be the fundamental complaint about President Obama’s signature domestic program — its encroachment on individual freedom. Liberals may fulminate about the ruling’s hidden consequences, conservatives may fume over what they…
-
Opinion What Would George Say?
George Washington’s iconic letter written to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, in 1790 is finally on public display after a decade in the shadows. The timing of its emergence as the centerpiece of a new exhibit at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia is exquisite. But then, it was bound to…
-
Opinion A Disastrous Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to let stand its disastrous 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission consolidated Sheldon Adelson’s position as the national leader of mega-donors in this year’s political races. He is so far in the lead that he has become the poster child for unprecedented, unfettered campaign spending, with promises…
-
Opinion The Undeserving Poor?
Americans have long debated whether the poor are worthy of our help. Most people don’t put it that way, of course, because it seems cruel or, at very the least, inappropriate. But the question flows through the public discourse whenever proposals for reforming public welfare come before Congress, or an extension of housing benefits is…
-
Opinion The Depths of Nixonland
Will the extent of our 37th president’s anti-Semitism ever cease to shock? Just when it seems we might have arrived at the last recorded utterance of “Jew boy” (sometimes said in front of Henry Kissinger, the Jewish secretary of state), there are new tapes to endure. The latest piece of evidence to add to the…
-
Opinion Cancel Putin’s Visit
It’s official. This summer, Russian president Vladimir Putin will be taking a trip to Israel, his first since 2005. It’s the consummation of a relationship that has been fostered by Israel’s Moldovan-born foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who also recently described Israeli-Russian relations — after 20 years of diplomatic contact — as “very positive.” That may…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion The group behind Project 2025 has a plan to protect Jews. It will do the opposite.
- 2
News Texas schools want to add Queen Esther to the curriculum. Here’s why Jews (and many Christians) are opposed.
- 3
Film & TV Bonhoeffer biopic tells of a pastor turned would-be Hitler assassin — but is the story true?
- 4
News What Mike Huckabee’s ‘Kids Guide to Israel’ says about his views
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion Israel’s boycott of Haaretz is straight out of the authoritarian playbook
-
Fast Forward Killing of Israeli rabbi in UAE could strengthen ties between Israel and Arab neighbors, experts say
-
Opinion Despair is not a strategy. Here are 4 things those mourning the election results can do right now.
-
Fast Forward Jared Kushner donates $1 million to Chabad of United Arab Emirates after rabbi murdered
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
