The English-Jewish Press By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ (Copyright, 1958, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.) The English-Jewish press in America is one of American Jewry's oldest instruments. Only the Bnai Brith, as an organized unit, exceeds it in age, and it is therefore not incorrect to view the Jewish press published in English as one of the most solvent symbols of Jewish life in this country. Yet, it is one of the most mis- understood, most misinterpreted and most maligned s e r vice media in our midst. * * * The Bnai Brith was organ- ized in 1840. The first English- Jewish newspaper appeared in 1849, and since 1856 there is one English-Jewish newspaper (Cin- cinnati Israelite) that has ap- peared uninterruptedly for more than 100 years. Now, it happens every Friday: in nearly three score Jewish communities such newspapers bring the local, national and world news into hundreds of thousands of Jewish homes. Our rabbis would be elated if the major instrument for Jewish survival, the synagogue, could possess such an appealing influ- ence as t h e English-Jewish weekly. Yet, this important instru- ment of American J e w r y is often mocked and maligned! Several months ago, a writer in a Catholic newspaper, while viewing the various publications in this country, launched a shocking attack on the English- Jewish weeklies. A few weeks later, at a sym- posium at the Theodor Herzl Institute in New York, view- points that were packed with misinformation were expressed regarding the Jewish weeklies. Why is it that this very im- portant instrument for Jewish service—nay, for Jewish survi- val in this country—is so mis- understood, in spite of the fact that our national organizations are spending exceedingly large sums of money to service these papers with weekly bulletins, with mats and feature articles? An often-used and frequently- misused term—vested interests —is in large measure respon- sible for this condition. Each of our national movements is so anxious for priority, for pre- ferred space, that it is con- cerned with little more than that it should receive preferred attention. Let the others paddle their own canoes! * * A sad condition affects Jew- ish life vis-a-vis our national organizations. Since nearly all of them have their national of- fices in New York City, they have assumed a policy of plac- ing greatest emphasis upon the amount of space they can secure for their releases in the two major New York City morning newspapers. When a public rela- tions executive has succeeded in inserting an item in one of these newspapers, he feels that he has triumphed. These very public relations directors fume and fret if an English-Jewish weekly does not use in totality all the stuff pro- duced in their publicity mills. But they never stop to analyze a vital existingsituation: that the few inches of space in a New York daily newspaper in the long run reaches only a fraction of the Jewish people. It may reach all the officers of their movements, but not their followers. * * • On the other hand, the Eng- lish-Jewish weekly reaches into all corners of Jewish life in America. There are more than 50 such weeklies published in this country today. They strug- gle, some of them have a bare minimum of national and for- eign news, but whatever Jewish news of importance is dissemi- nated among American Jewry is spread by these calumnied peri- odicals. Let us look at them. If Jewish life in communities throughout America is to be cemented into a cooperative unit, it must be done on a family basis. If our people, wherever they may be, are to be made aware of what is happening to their kinsmen everywhere else, they must be made aware at the outset of the value of their immediate existence as Jews in their re- spective communities. That is why the social note, the birth announcement, the wedding re- port, the news about synagogue services, in their combined form, are so vitally awaited by Jewish readers. That is why they are offered to their read- ers by t h e English-Jewish weeklies. Having reached their readers through such media, the weekly newspapers are able addition- ally to provide them with in- formation about Israel, Ameri- can and world Jewries; about the United Jewish Appeal and the Israel Bond drives; about the Bnai Brith and the NCRAC. * To belittle the local angles which provide means for sus- tenance for the English-Jewish weekly is to be blind to reality and to kill the goose that pro- tects the other eggs in Jewish life: the elements affecting the kinsmen of those who take an interest in their immediate neighbors. Let there be no misunder- standstanding: there is a group of Jewish weeklies that pub- lishes practically all the Jewish news, worldwide, that emanates over the wires of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. This cer- tainly is true of The Detroit Jewish News. It is true of Bos- ton's Jewish A d v o cat e, the Miami (Fla.) Jewish Floridian, the Philadelphia Jewish Expo- nent, the Los Angeles periodi- cals and several other news- papers. It is a tragic fact that the Yiddish press, for more than 60 years the basic factor in news gathering and distributing, is declining rapidly. It is a sadden- ing factor and is cause for deep concern and for lament. Yid- dish has given us a great litera- ture, splendid editorial opinions in the Yiddish newspapers, en- tertaining and informative read- ing. Only the English-Jewish press is in position to pursue the traditions of that good press. * * * Those who, unknowingly if not maliciously, malign the English-Jewish press would do well to study the weeklies' edi- torial columns. A new type of editor could, as it should, ren- der great service to American Jewry: provided there is suffi- cient encouragement. to this Jordan Bans U.S. Jewish Soldiers LONDON (JTA)—Jordan has refused to allow American Jews serving in the United States armed forces in Lebanon to enter Jordan territory for leave visits, Jordan newspapers reaching here reported. The Jordanian condition has snagged negotiations between the Jordanians and headquar- ters of the U. S. f or c es in Lebanon looking toward par- ties of American soldiers en- tering Jordan for tours of the Holy Places, the Jordan press said. press. Even the smallest of our communities in the South can proudly boast of possessing able interpreters of Jewish life. Sep- tuagenarian Jacques Back, edi- tor of the Nashville (Tenn.) Observer, writes as keen and as thought-provoking an editor- ial as is to be found anywhere. The Jewish Floridian of Miami, Fla., is an alert newspaper, and there are similar newsworthy and editorially-alive newspapers in other communities. This press can go far — as some already have. Some of our weeklies can afford to ignore the mocking that is done at the expense of their confreres by misinformed and uninformed national leaders. But there are many that can not afford it. Most of the smaller English- Jewish periodicals need the en- couragement of our national leaders. Let there be an end to the mockery that reacts dam- agingly to the entire Jewish community, and let there be a f uller understanding of the values of ._the Jewish weeklies. What American Jewry learns is that which happens every Fri- day—through the media of our English-Jewish weeklies. Let this . instrument become what it is destined to be—the great in- strument for the spreading of Jewish information and for keeping intact a great Jewish community. On the New Year 5119, we extend heartiest greetings to the entire Jewish community. May the New Year be one of joy, happiness and prosperity for all mankind. Abstract and Title Guaranty Co. 735 Griswold Detroit 26, Michigan WOodward 3-5810 11 Branches to Serve You The just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4 MOE LEITER At this time of the year, we, who have been privileged to serve so many of our people, extend our warmest greetings. Down through the years we have watched father, son, and grand- son re-affirm their own faith in the future by countless financial sacrifices. The New Year is a joyful occasion because it is a time for both celebration and dedication. Let us all renew our faith in ourselves and in our families because it is they who represent the future — as yet unseen. Let our work be purposeful, our disposition kind, and our abiding faith strong, A Happy New Year to You and Yours Moe leiter and Associates 1766 Penobscot Bldg. * YOUR FUTURE IS OUR IMMEDIATE CONCERN * 25-TH E DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Fri day, Se ptember 12, 1058 'It Happens Every Friday':,