Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Jerusalem, the holiest city in Judaism and the capital of Israel.
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Fast Forward Orthodox Face of Women of the Wall
Earlier this month, while several hundred women held their monthly Rosh Chodesh prayer service at the Western Wall, a group of ultra-Orthodox men jeered loudly at them from across the barrier separating men and women. “Reform Jews, get out of here,” they shouted. “Reform Jews do not belong to the people of Israel. Reform Jews,…
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Opinion Reimagining the Kotel
We tend to think of the Kotel, the massive white stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, as a scene frozen in time, ancient and immutable — men praying on one side, women on another, a strictly Orthodox synagogue on Judaism’s holiest plot of land. But the mechitzah separating men and women has been there…
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News Real Battle Over Western Wall Is Just Beginning in Israel
American Jews and others pushing for religious pluralism at Judaism’s most accessible sacred space may have won a major advance for their cause with the new compromise proposal put forth by Natan Sharansky. But it is only now, in Israel, that the real debate begins. The Western Wall, or the Kotel, as it is known…
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News Natan Sharansky’s Historic Western Wall Compromise Still Faces Plenty of Obstacles
Natan Sharansky has presented what could be a historic proposal to add a space for egalitarian prayer to the Western Wall. Israeli religious pluralism activists, however, fear that the proposal will take years to implement and could face roadblocks that prevent it from coming to fruition. The proposal, first reported by the Forward, would expand…
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Fast Forward Israel Rejects Proposed $1B Arab Fund for Jerusalem
Qatar proposed on Tuesday the creation of a $1 billion Arab fund for East Jerusalem, which Palestinians say should be the capital of an independent state under any peace deal with Israel. Arabs fear that Israeli settlement building on land captured in the 1967 Middle East war, including East Jerusalem, has made a two-state solution…
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Fast Forward Barack Obama Visits Church of Nativity in Bethehem, Traditional Home of Jesus
President Barack Obama made a pilgrimage on Friday to the traditional birthplace of Jesus, receiving a subdued reception from Palestinians at the end of a Holy Land visit heavy on symbolism and lacking in practical steps toward peace. “Gringo, return to your country,” read a sign held by a small group of Palestinian protesters who…
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Opinion Why Obama’s Speech Was Historic
Barack Obama stepped down from the podium a couple hours ago after delivering what my gut tells me was a historic speech. I have two reasons for thinking this is true, but take these comments as a quick, first reaction. More than any other American president who has spoken about Israel and the conflict, Obama…
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Fast Forward Barack Obama Appeals Directly to Israelis To Think of Palestinians, Push for Peace
President Barack Obama appealed directly on Thursday to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognise that Jewish settlement activity in occupied territory hurts prospects for peace. In a showcase speech in Jerusalem to Israeli university students, Obama coupled his plea with an acknowledgement of the Jewish state’s security…
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Fast Forward In Tenafly, NJ, a crowd awaits the release of local son Edan Alexander from Hamas captivity
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Fast Forward Hamas and Trump say Edan Alexander to be freed from Gaza after US negotiates release
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Culture Should Diaspora Jews be buried in Israel? A rabbi responds
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