Forward | JLDR

Forward Longtime dean of Ziegler School retiring as Conservative seminary plots new course 22 Jan

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson's retirement marks a significant transition for the Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies in Los Angeles, which he helped shape in...

22 Jan

Forward Julie Menin wants to be a bridge in the Mamdani era 21 Jan

Julie Menin, the newly-elected Jewish Speaker of the New York City Council, aims to be a unifying force amid rising tensions, particularly surrounding issues...

21 Jan

Forward How an ‘all-American boy’ became a Mississippi synagogue arson suspect 21 Jan

Stephen Spencer Pittman's sudden shift from a typical all-American teen to an arson suspect has puzzled his community and investigators. Pittman, once an hon...

21 Jan

Forward Is the 'Board of Peace' just another Trump scam, or a real move toward Middle East peace? 21 Jan

Dan Perry critically examines Donald Trump's proposed "Board of Peace," involving figures like Benjamin Netanyahu and possibly Vladimir Putin. The initiative...

21 Jan

Forward Penn calls Trump administration demand for list of Jewish employees ‘disturbing and unconstitutional’ 21 Jan

In an ongoing legal dispute, the University of Pennsylvania has condemned a federal subpoena by the Trump administration demanding the contact information of...

21 Jan

Forward How a Persian Jewish immigrant became the rodeo king of California 21 Jan

David Halimi, a Persian Jewish immigrant, has carved out a unique American success story in Chico, California, as a rodeo producer and entrepreneur. Arriving...

21 Jan

Forward Mourner’s Kaddish for Bondi Beach victims recited in Australian parliament as tougher hate crime laws pass 20 Jan

Following a deadly attack during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead, Australian parliamentarian Mark Dreyfus delivered a...

20 Jan

Forward An activist criticized Miami Beach’s Jewish mayor on Facebook — then police came knocking 20 Jan

Raquel Pacheco, a local activist in Miami Beach, faced police questioning after critiquing Jewish Mayor Steven Meiner on Facebook for actions perceived as an...

20 Jan

Forward How the push to unionize at Breads Bakery became a debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 20 Jan

The attempt to unionize at Breads Bakery, an Israeli-owned business, has transformed into a contentious issue intertwined with Israeli-Palestinian politics. ...

20 Jan

Forward A Jewish lawyer sued Henry Ford and changed how we think about hate speech 20 Jan

Aaron Sapiro, a Jewish lawyer and labor leader, made history by suing Henry Ford for libel in a case that became America's first modern hate speech trial. Sa...

20 Jan

Forward How 'a bundle of letters' became a cornerstone of life advice for American Jews 20 Jan

A Bintel Brief, the advice column from the Yiddish-language newspaper Der Forverts (The Forward), celebrates its 120th anniversary as a significant element o...

20 Jan

Forward How Trump's first year back in office destabilized our country — and our Jewish community 20 Jan

Donald Trump's first year back in office has deeply shaken the American Jewish community, mirroring the broader instability in the United States. His adminis...

20 Jan

Forward His mother is Israeli, his father is Palestinian. His life? Complicated. 19 Jan

"In Between" is a one-man autobiographical show by Ibrahim Miari, exploring his complex identity as a person born to a Palestinian-Muslim father and a Jewish...

19 Jan

Forward There's a vicious antisemitic precedent for Trump's demonization of Renée Nicole Good 19 Jan

Emily Tamkin analyzes the Trump administration's unfounded efforts to link the shooting of Rene Nicole Good to George Soros, drawing parallels to antisemitic...

19 Jan

Forward Judd Apatow on why Mel Brooks' influence 'will last as long as our jokes' 19 Jan

Mel Brooks, at 99, remains a seminal figure in comedy, with his influence extending well beyond his jokes into cultural and social commentary. Featuring in a...

19 Jan

Forward I was in a high school production of ‘Anne Frank’ — today in Minnesota, I feel her fear more than ever 19 Jan

Jared Zeigler reflects on the current tense climate in Minneapolis by drawing parallels to his experience as a high school actor in "The Diary of Anne Frank....

19 Jan

Forward Black and Jewish people were allies once. Can they be again? 19 Jan

With increasing antisemitism and hate crimes targeting African Americans, the Rekindle Fellowship and initiatives like the Exodus Leadership Forum are revivi...

19 Jan

Forward Why is AIPAC targeting Trump’s ICE funding? 18 Jan

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is facing criticism for airing an attack ad against former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski, who is runnin...

18 Jan

Forward The Jewish women who kept Confederate graves from disappearing 18 Jan

The article delves into the historical efforts of Jewish women in Richmond, Virginia, who in 1866 established the Hebrew Ladies Memorial Association to care ...

18 Jan

Forward How the Israeli police’s first trans volunteer fought bigotry on the force 18 Jan

"The First Lady" documentary provides an intimate portrayal of Efrat Tilma, the first trans volunteer with Israel's police department. Through a mix of archi...

18 Jan

Forward The mysterious case of Barbra Streisand and the missing half-pound of Zabar's sturgeon 17 Jan

In a whimsical tale blending celebrity intrigue and culinary delights, Len Berk, the Forward's "lox columnist," recounts a charming encounter with Barbra Str...

17 Jan

Forward Nick Fuentes says his problem with Trump ‘is that he is not Hitler’ 16 Jan

Nick Fuentes, a notorious far-right figure and avowed antisemite, has criticized Donald Trump for not being extreme enough, asserting his admiration for Hitl...

16 Jan

Forward Larry Ellison once renamed a superyacht because its name spelled backwards was ‘I’m a Nazi’ 16 Jan

Larry Ellison, the Jewish founder of Oracle and a significant pro-Israel donor, once encountered an antisemitic snafu with a superyacht he purchased. Origina...

16 Jan

Forward Amid raids, vitriol and violence, the great replacement theory rears its head in Minneapolis 16 Jan

In Minneapolis, a crowdfunding effort for a controversial ICE agent, who killed a local resident, has highlighted the resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric tied...

16 Jan

Forward How Alvin Ailey’s 'Revelations' evokes Yom Kippur for me 16 Jan

Olivia Haynie explores the parallels between Alvin Ailey's renowned dance work "Revelations" and the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur. Despite the overt Chris...

16 Jan

Forward How the chicken man of Crown Heights became a Hasidic St. Francis of Assisi 16 Jan

Daniel Yeroshalmi, a 21-year-old member of Chabad in Crown Heights, embodies a modern-day Francis of Assisi through his unique urban homestead just 300 feet ...

16 Jan

Forward NYC’s first Jewish City Council leader could govern as a check on Mamdani. Here’s her plan to fight antisemitism 16 Jan

Julie Menin, New York City's first Jewish City Council Speaker, has launched a plan to address antisemitism through a comprehensive proposal that includes le...

16 Jan

Forward The Department of Labor told us to embrace 'Americanism.' What's that? 16 Jan

The article explores the ambiguous term 'Americanism,' which historically has lacked a clear definition and been co-opted by various groups from U.S. foundin...

16 Jan

Forward The ADL’s turn away from civil rights was years in the making — Oct. 7 accelerated it 15 Jan

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), traditionally a stalwart in American civil rights advocacy, has shifted its focus to primarily addressing antisemitism, esp...

15 Jan

Forward What Jackson, Mississippi's only synagogue means to its city — in the wake of arson, and beyond 15 Jan

Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, has a history of resilience and community involvement dating back to its founding in 1875. Despite being ta...

15 Jan

Forward Enjoy the Yiddish Book Center’s exhibit on your phone 15 Jan

The Yiddish Book Center has made its permanent exhibit, "Yiddish: A Global Culture, Virtual Exhibit," available online, showcasing a rich array of Yiddish cu...

15 Jan

Forward A Yale student returns to class, with a Jewish question (and answer) about why she's there 15 Jan

Mia Rose Kohn, a cartoonist and Yale junior, reflects on the Jewish perspective of education in the inaugural piece of her graphic column for the Forward. Th...

15 Jan

Forward He works at a Holocaust museum by day. How’d he end up in 'Marty Supreme'? 15 Jan

Isaac Simon, a Holocaust museum employee turned accidental actor, landed a role in the Oscar-nominated film "Marty Supreme" after being scouted at a baseball...

15 Jan

Forward Trump's new Gaza plan marks a radical break from Israeli policy — can it succeed? 14 Jan

In a pivotal shift, Trump's Gaza plan marks a significant departure from traditional Israeli policy by promoting the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA)...

14 Jan

Forward Deborah Lipstadt has second thoughts about tying Jackson synagogue arsonist to ‘Globalize the Intifada’ 14 Jan

Deborah Lipstadt, a former U.S. State Department special envoy for anti-Semitism, initially linked an arson attack on a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, to...

14 Jan

Forward In Jordan’s pick for the Oscars, a contradictory message about ethnonationalism 14 Jan

"All That's Left of You," Jordan's Oscar entry directed by Cherien Dabis, examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a testament of generational traum...

14 Jan

Forward American Jews can't agree about anything — except Iran 14 Jan

In response to the ongoing protests in Iran, initiated by economic turmoil and escalating into widespread anti-regime demonstrations, Jews worldwide have uni...

14 Jan

Forward Jewish creators made a satirical cartoon. Then the Mississippi synagogue arson supsect shared it 14 Jan

An arson suspect in Mississippi, Stephen Spencer Pittman, shared a satirical cartoon clip mocking Jews on the same day he set fire to Beth Israel Congregatio...

14 Jan

Forward Strong start for Virginia’s first Yiddish culture festival 14 Jan

The Richmond Yiddish Week festival enlivened the city with a vibrant celebration of Yiddish culture, music, and arts, attracting over 100 attendees and showc...

14 Jan

Forward In Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine,' echoes of Nazi justifications for aggression 14 Jan

Terrence Petty draws parallels between Donald Trump's foreign policy approach and the aggressive expansionist strategies of Adolf Hitler. In Trump's alleged ...

14 Jan

Forward The Holocaust Torah that survived a Mississippi synagogue fire was brought there by the state’s only survivor 14 Jan

The Torah from Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, showcases remarkable survival stories both past and present. Initially rescued from Prague, ...

14 Jan

Forward This California synagogue was just vandalized with anti-Zionist graffiti, one year after being destroyed by wildfire 14 Jan

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center in California, which was destroyed by the Eaton wildfire in January 2025, was recently vandalized with anti-Zionist gra...

14 Jan

Forward He sold a house to Justin Bieber. Now this LA investor has given Chabad $100M to build one of the world's largest Jewish centers. 14 Jan

Alon Abady, a Los Angeles real estate investor, has made a landmark donation of a $100 million office tower in Pico-Robertson to Chabad of California. This 1...

14 Jan

Forward How 'synagogue of Satan' went from New Testament phrase to antisemitic catch-all 13 Jan

The term 'synagogue of Satan' has its origins in the Christian Bible's Book of Revelation but has been repurposed in modern times as an antisemitic slur util...

13 Jan

Forward What the 'synagogue of Satan' slur tells us about Christian antisemitism 13 Jan

The term 'synagogue of Satan,' originating from the New Testament's Book of Revelation, has resurfaced as a slur used in contemporary antisemitic rhetoric. C...

13 Jan

Forward For 250 years, American Jews have answered prejudice with defiance 13 Jan

American Jews have long responded to prejudice with defiance, a theme illustrated by historical records from as early as 1778. During the American Revolution...

13 Jan

Forward As protests grip Iran, fears grow for a Jewish New Yorker held prisoner there 13 Jan

As Iran faces significant protests, concern rises for Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Iranian Jew with American citizenship from Great Neck, New York, who has ...

13 Jan

Forward As protests grip Iran, fears grow for a Jewish New Yorker held prisoner there 13 Jan

Amid the escalating protests in Iran, the Jewish community faces increased danger, highlighted by the plight of Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian Jewish New Yorker ...

13 Jan

Forward The synagogue means something special to Southern Jews — which makes the Mississippi arson that much darker 13 Jan

The arson attack on Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, struck at the heart of the Southern Jewish community's identity. In regions where Jewis...

13 Jan

Forward In a stylish mystery, Jodie Foster releases the dybbuk of French Jewish identity 13 Jan

In Rebecca Zlotowski's film 'A Private Life,' Jodie Foster stars as Dr. Lilian Steiner, an American-Jewish psychiatrist in Paris who becomes embroiled in sol...

13 Jan