The Jewish Week | Opinion

The Sins Of Pat Buchanan
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Menachem Z. Rosensaft | Special To The Jewish Week

Better late, even extremely, excruciatingly late, than never.  MSNBC’s decision to oust Patrick Buchanan as its arch-conservative political commentator last week was long overdue.

Cardinal Directions
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove | Special To The Jewish Week

Sitting alongside thousands of New Yorkers in St. Peter’s Basilica, I was filled with pride and affection as I witnessed His Eminence Timothy M. Dolan’s elevation to the rank of cardinal.  

For those seeking insight into Cardinal Dolan’s direction for the future, his remarks to the College of Cardinals last Friday are well worth reading. For the Jewish community of New York, his speech also provides an intriguing new possibility for Jewish-Catholic cooperation.

A Step Backward On The Gender Agenda
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | Francine Klagsbrun | Special To The Jewish Week

Think about this: Last week in synagogue we celebrated Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of Song. The name comes from the Song of the Sea the Israelites chanted after they miraculously crossed the Sea of Reeds. With joy and gratitude, they burst into song, and when the congregation as a whole finished, the women, led by Miriam, danced with their timbrels and sang the chorus again. Now, do you suppose the men turned their backs, so as not to see the women? Did they stuff their ears with sand, so as not to hear the women?

Recognizing Feminism’s Moral Claim
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky | Special To The Jewish Week

Rav Moshe Feinstein, widely regarded as the authoritative halachic authority for American Jewry until his death in 1986, was never known as a feminist. But he both understood and accepted feminism’s core moral claim.

Gaza Not Occupied, Says Hamas, So Where Is The UN?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | Elizabeth Samson | Special To The Jewish Week

In a stunning about-face, and after decades of violence justified by excuses of being under occupation, Hamas recently admitted that Gaza is not occupied by Israel. And yet, the United Nations, which has long been reluctant to acknowledge Gaza’s change in status, is still silent on the issue.

The Case For Ray Kelly
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 | Alan S. Jaffe, Michael S. Miller and David M. Pollock | Special To The Jewish Week

Since the founding of the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY in 1976, we have worked closely with law enforcement agencies charged with safeguarding New York’s Jewish community, especially the NYPD. Over that period there have been 10 police commissioners. Without a doubt, Raymond Kelly stands above the rest. The events of the past week reinforce that opinion.

A Call To Action On Energy Policy
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 | Steve Gutow and David Saperstein | Special To The Jewish Week

This month we celebrate Tu b’Shvat, the Jewish new year for trees. Building on this ancient celebration of nature, American Jews are, increasingly, expanding their observance by honoring our entire planet. Tu b’Shvat has become a time to reflect on Earth’s fragility, its dwindling resources and humankind’s impact on water, air and land, as well as on the people, animals and plants that dwell here.

Heroic Efforts Needed To Change Special Needs Stereotype
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | Sarina Roffé | Special To The Jewish Week

Overcoming attitudes and stereotypes that pervade the Jewish community can be an uphill battle. Just ask Jay Ruderman and others who attended the recent Jewish Special Needs Funding Conference that he helped sponsor. All of them want to get past the community-created obstacles to their vision of inclusion for Jewish individuals with special needs.

Unfortunately, the philosophy of separate but equal, similar to the platform of many pre-civil rights segregationists, is stubbornly in place throughout Jewish communal life.

Why Anti-Boycott Laws Are Democratic
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | Lisa Levy | Special To The Jewish Week

A recent wave of alleged “anti-democratic” bills is dominating much of the political debate in Israel and recently triggered U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express her concern about the state of the Israeli democracy. This recent “anti-democratic” wave, including bills such as the donation bill (aimed to limit donation to certain political NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and the anti-boycott law, unleashed severe criticism.

We Need More ‘Dirty Laundry’ Conversations About Israel
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 | Rebecca Neuwirth | Special To The Jewish Week

When I invite guests for dinner, I clean up my apartment, and put the dirty laundry in the closet. But it’s usually in full sight when I’m home with family.

Jews have traditionally acted similarly regarding Israel. In public discourse, support for Israel is forceful on issues related to war and peace. Within the family, though, there often is lively discussion of fears and hopes, with recognition that choices are very difficult and outcomes uncertain.