THE JEWISH NEWS
In a Vise !
-
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1961
Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
Editorial Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7.
Second Class Postage Paid At Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ SIDNEY SHMARAK HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty•fourth day of Tishri, 5724, the following Scriptural selections will
be read. in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Gen. 1:1-6:8. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 42:5-43:10.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 11, 5:40 P.M.
VOL. XLIV. No. 7
Page Four
October 11, 1963
Newspaper Week and The Jewish Press
Having for its slogan this year "News-
papers Make a Big Difference in People's
Lives," National Newspaper Week, to be
observed Oct. 13-19, once again is certain
to create new interest in the press and in
its services.
People take their newspapers for
granted. Upon arrival home from his
office or shop, the man will ask "where's
the paper," without pausing to analyze
the purposes that are served by news-
papers in a democracy, the influence it
has upon the lives of people, the vital
need for a deep interest by readers in
the functions of a newspaper in order that
the reader might share with the reporter
and editor the responsibility for assuring
accuracy, reality, dignity in the making
of the history-creating printed pages.
If it is true, as one artist has indi-
cated, that "Most of the world lives in
darkness," then there devolves upon every
responsible person the duty to help bring
light to the world; and the newspaper
has the major responsibility for it.
Much is being said today about the
need for improved educational systems.
There is an even greater need for the
establishment of a vital press, for the
development of effective training methods
for reporters and editors who bear the
responsibility for honest collection and
responsible distribution of news.
There is also a duty upon the reader
to understand the function of the news-
paper and to share in efforts to make it
reach out to those who may, indeed, be
in darkness, and who need enlightenment
on the many issues that have shadowed
the lives of so many.
The Jewish reader's responsibilities
are, in a sense, greater than those of his
neighbor's. Jewish news is more special-
ized, world Jewish news is often more dif-
ficult to gather, and it needs better un-
derstanding because it is, so often, a bit
more depressing. That is why the Jewish
newspaper and its editor are compelled
to be more cautious and at the same time
more enterprising in securing the data
that makes a Jewish newspaper the cur-
rent history of the Jewish people.
The eminent columnist, Roscoe Drum-
mond, in an evaluation of the press, on
the occasion of National Newspaper
Week, prepared this statement:
More Americans are reading newspapers
more thoroughly than ever before.
There must be a reason.
Despite the decline in the total niunber
of newspapers, total newspaper circulation
in the United States today is at an all-time
high.
There must be a reason.
The reason must have something to do
with newspapers—and people.
There is a special affinity between
them, between newspapers and p e o p 1 e.
People must feel a great identity of interest
with their newspapers. One of the reasons
may well be that the printed word requires
more of its readers than any other media.
Readers get more out of newspapers be-
cause they put more of themselves—more
of their own thinking — into their news-
papers.
I do not speak disparagingly of other
news media; quite the opposite. I think
that radio and television reporting is a
tremendous boon to our democracy.
Radio and television reporting greatly
expand the depth of public knowledge.
The fullest, the most dramatic, the most
conclusive evidence that newspapers are
really crucial to the lives of most Ameri-
cans—and, indeed, to their very way of
life—is what happened in New York, Min-
neapolis and Cleveland when newspapers
strikes left these cities newspaper-less for
months.
Something very meaningful, something
taken for granted when it was presented
but greatly prized when, abruptly, it was
absent, went out of the lives of millions of
people in these communities when there
were no newspapers.
I believe the reason is that while the
printed word can be supplemented by other
media, it cannot be replaced as the most
reliable, the most accessible, the most
meaty and the most satisfying source of
information and insight in this very anxious
world.
During the long strikes the newspaper
was grievously missed—and nothing was able
to take its place.
That is what I mean when I say there
is a special affinity between newspapers—
between the printed word—and people.
Nothing could -take their place and it
is our duty to make newspapers continuously
better so that nothing can take their place.
Indeed, "Newspapers Make a Big Dif-
ference in People's Lives." They enrich
their lives. They lead them to a fuller
understanding of what is transpiring in
their communities. They make them
knowledgeable. Let this slogan lead to a
fulfillment of needs and to a betterment
of lives so that the newspaper may, in-
deed, serve democracy as effectively as
democracy serves the newspaper in an
exchange of freedom and in an assurance
of fair play for all peoples.
Wise Bar-Ilan Action
Bar-Ilan University's friends here
made wise choices in their selection of
Mesdames Joseph H. Ehrlich and Theo-
dore Bargman for honors at the annual
dinner to take place on Nov. 26.
Both have shown a keen interest in
the advancement of Jewish cultural
work in our community. Mrs. Ehrlich has
been among the most active supporters of
the United Hebrew Schools for many
years, and Mrs. Bargman's sponsorship of
the Midrasha lecture series has aided in
the continuation of a great cultural effort
here.
American Friends of Bar-Ilan Uni-
versity as well as the two distinguished
women are to be congratulated on the
Israel University's decision for this year's
honors.
Informative Zionist Paperback
'In the Dispersion'
Surveys and monographs on world Jewish affairs and on the
Zionist movement comprise the essays in the second of a series
of volumes, "In the Dispersion," issued in Jerusalem by the
World Zionist Organization.
In an explanatory note, the editor of this volume, A. Prag,
a member of the WZO research department, emphasizes:
"The basic thesis underlying all the essays published in the
following pages is that Zionists should be in the vanguard of
the efforts for Jewish survival in the diaspora. To achieve this
aim, it is, first of all, necessary to know the essentials of Jewish
life, to make a serious attempt at understanding the mentality
prevailing in the countries of Jewish dispersion, to recognize
readily their accomplishments in every sphere of activity and to
draw from all these phenomena the Zionist conclusions, however
cruel they may seem to be. Moreover, there exists a primary
obligation to bring home to the people of Israel—old and young—
the true facts of Jewish life in the diaspora."
With such an aim in view, "In the Dispersion" does, indeed,
emerge as a most impressive collection of data about Jews
throughout the world.
The section devoted to the United States contains two
articles—one by Rabbi Jay Kaufman on Reform Judaism and
another by Richard Yaffe on the continued threats from anti-
Semitism. In the latter there is reference to the point system
in Grosse Pointe. An appended quotation from an address
by Dr. Israel Goldstein states that "even in the United States,
the possibilities of widespread anti-Semitism are not very far
beneath the surface and may conceivably come to the surface
in the eventuality of a major crisis, be it economic or be it
military."
Latin American, Western and Eastern European, North
African and South African Jewries are subjects of essays by
authoritative writers who describe the status of numerous com-
munities.
There is a special article on the world Jewish press by Josef
Fraenkel and a personality sketch on one of the most distin-
guished forerunners of Zionism, Sir Moses Montefiore.
Of special interest is the first article in this book—the
open letter written Jan. 10, 1962, to Prime Minister David
Ben-Gurion by the former Israeli Premier Moshe Sharett, in his
present capacity as chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive.
It is a powerful defense of the Agency and a serious criticism
of the position of the Prime Minister.
There is an important article on the Jewish communities
and organizations that actively participate in the work of the
Zionist movement.
"In the Dispersion" is a very informative paperback.
Golden, Weidman Paperbacks
Fawcett World Library (67 W. 44th, NY36) has issued as a
paperback Harry Golden's "You're Entitle'," by Harry Golden.
The wit and wisdom of the popular Jewish writer now is available
in a popular priced form.
There are more than a hundred brief Golden items in this
paperback, which will make excellent reading for those who prefer
to pick up a book at random and find it a short story or a bit
of witticism that can be read quickly—for those who would like
to be reacquainted with the Jewish scene and be informed also
about other American and world affairs in a light vein.
Also issued as a paperback by Fawcett is the recent new best
seller by Jerome Weidman, "The Sound of Bow Bells," a story
about a chap who prefers to become a good writer instead of a
rich man.
Both books already were reviewed in The Jewish News upon
their appearance in hard covers.