111111111=1111M11111111111=111•1 1 ■ 1111. 18—Friday, April 14, 1967 Views and News by Boston Jetvish Advocate's Editor 'Hail to a Colleague' By JOSEPH G. WEISBERG (From Jewish Advocate of Boston, April 6, 1967 An institution is as good as its leadership. That is why The Detroit Jewish News, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary year under the editor. ship of its pub- lisher - founder. Philip Slomovitz,; is one of the best4: English - Jewish' weeklies in the United States. Every profession has its standouts and Jewish jour- nalism is no ex- ception. Phi 1 - p Slomovitz is an editor's editor, whose expertise is sought after by his colleagues in the craft and writing prowess acknowledged by Weisberg literati everywhere. But though he has carved his permanent niche in the byways of Jewish scholarship and Hebraism, more than even for his profound erudition and literary ability is Phil Slomovitz tops in our personal hook. As a close associate of his in the activities of the American Jew- ish Press Association since its founding, we esteem and hail him for his fearless championship of the independent Jewish press. Like the Jews themselves, who have perennially been the scape- goat for all manner of economic and scoial ills, the weekly Jewish press in this country is convenient- ly maligned for the shortcomings of the Jewish community itself. Whenever such an attack occurs, Phil Slomovitz leaps to the coun- terfray with his articulate voice and powerful pen. More than an apologist, he is a debunker of stale, canard. The weekly Jewish press is one of American Jewry's oldest instru- ments. Only the Order of Bnai Brith, as an organized unit. ex- ceeds it in age and it is therefore not incorrect to view the English- Jewish newspaper as among the most enduring symbols of Jewish life in this country. Yet it is mis- understood, misinterpreted a n d abused as no other service medium is. Why? Perhaps because in many com- munities the papers are small. Why are they small? Obviously because they do not receive sufficient advertising sup- port from organizations and firms which do not hesitate to request publication of their releases and free readers, as if to infer that these papers' subscribers are eager to read this kind of "news" but are not interested in reading ads. Phil Slomovitz has been quick to throw the spotlight on the strange paradox of national organizations spending very large sums of money to flood these papers with weekly bulletins, pictures and articles while depriving them of advertis- ing revenue by competing with them for national advertising. It is, of course, an unfair competition. The weekly newspaper must sell subscriptions; the national organi- zation gives its periodical away free to its members in the hun- dreds of thousands. The discrepan- cy in circulation figures cannot be overcome. House organs certainly have their proper place, but they should not subsist to the weaken- ing of the independent Jewish newspaper which is so essential for the preservation and determination of Jewish life in this country. It is because Slomovitz is so con- vinced of the indispensability of the independent English Jewish press in America and committed to Pioneer Physician Daniel Levy Maduro Peixotto, a est in organizational activities have been faithfully chronicled during 19th Century American Jewish phy- this quarter-century. The Jewish sician, was a founder of the Ameri- News has been a source of com- can Academy of Medicine and one REPAIR AND munal strength by instilling an of the first presidents of the New awareness of the crucial issues of York County Medical Society. INSTALLATION our time, and by mobilizing united efforts on behalf of programs nec- Quality Work at essary for Jewish welfare and Reasonable Prices! N.Y. publisher wants books on all sub. creative Jewish survival. jects, fiction, nonfiction. No fee for In similar measure have streams professional opinion. FREE: Brochures of information about national and that show how your book can be pub-1 lished, publicized, sold; tips and article , International Jewish concerns and reprints on writing, publishing, con- "Get Our Price Last" prospects flowed from your weekly tracts. Write Dept. 23-D. EXPOSITION 386 PARK AVE. S., N.Y.16 [, journal. On behalf of Congregation Shaarey Zedek as well as myself, it is. therefore, a great joy to ex- press the wish that you and your staff continue to win achievement by your service to the Jewish com- munity of Metropolitan Detroit, and your loyalty to Jewish values and aspirations. (All Areas) May you go from strength to strength in the years that lie We Will Work For You ahead. ■r. And With You RABBI IRWIN GRONER HOWARD SWARTZ STANLEY RACEY Congregation Shaarey Zedek (Thank you, Rabbi Groner, and LI 6-7668 our sincere appreciation for your good wishes expressed before a large Shaarey Zedek congregation. (And our sincerest thanks to the many scores of other rabbis, laymen, organizations—who have sent us congratulatory messages during the past week). • • • THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS personal life and episodes of inter- its survival that he was the first to caution against the growing trend among Jewish community federa- tions to take over and operate ex- isting privately-owned pap ers. There are at least five large com- munities where this has already taken place. In a salute to Slomovitz in the silver jubilee issue of The Detroit Jewish News, Boris Smolar, editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. declares: "It has long been my con- tention that a Jewish community has the kind of local English-Jew- ish newspaper it deserves. . . . To he a good editor of a Jewish pub- lication requires not only journal- istic ability, but also a good Jewish background and solid Jewish knowledge. . . . He must under- stand Jewish events and must fol- low general events related to Jew- ish interests. . . . He must there- fore understand world events no less than Jewish affairs and must be well qualified to interpret them clearly and properly to his read- ers. . . . Phil Slomovitz possesses all these qualifications." We subscribe to the belief of Phil Slomovitz that it is only when the proper recognition is given the independent weekly Jewish press serving American Jewry, providing for a reaching out into every nook and corner of this great land that we will see the emergence of a truly well-informed constituency. "These newspapers," says Slomo- vitz, "need subscribers. They need advertisers. They need the encour- agement that is so vital to sur- vival." Yasher koach, Phil Slomovitz. So be it ! More Greetings . . . .. More Thanks ABE KASLE: "Congratulations, and may you keep running this best Jewish weekly in America and to he able to celebrate your 50th anniversary." • * • SAM BROWN, Newark, N.J.: "May you live eternally by your words, deeds and contributions to all of Jewry and mankind." • • • Mrs. SAMUEL N. HEYMAN. San Francisco: "Having watched the first issue of The Jewish News come off the press, and cherishing one of the first issues to have been published, I share with you the Nachas of an historic event." • • • BERNARD ISAACS: "Hearty Mazel Tov . You have served us well . . . May you continue for many more years." • • • LOUIS LaMED: "Thank you for your great contribution to the cul- tural enrichment of our commun- ity. If our community is one of the best in the country and if the state of Jewish education here is much better than in other communities it is largely due to your constant teaching of great values . . ." • • • MILTON J. MILLER: "As presi- dent of the Jewish Community Center and in my personal capacity I would like to extend to you and to your entire staff my heartiest congratulations on the 25th anni- versary of the founding of your paper. I share with the rest of the community the feeling that we are indeed fortunate to have had for these many years the services of your pen, press and mind." • • • It is a pleasure for me to add my voice to the chorus of praise and tribute offered to The Jewish News on the occasion of the celebration of its 25th Anniversary. Events of joy and sadness in the LAWN SPRINKLERS WRITERS 527-5044 MAY WE SELL YOUR PROPERTY? RAC EY REALTY Let me add my voice to the many who have wished you good luck on the 25th anniversary of The Jew- ish News and to wish you also many more years of publishing. It is a proud occasion not only for you and those associated with you, but also for the Detroit Jewish community, which you have served with such devotion. It is not only the number of years that you have published but also the high degree of excellence and the lofty stan- dards of service which distinguish- ed your leadership on the paper and in the community, and as pre- sident of the American Jewish Press Association for many years. We of the Joint Distribution Committee are especially apprecia- tive of the understanding which you and your associates have pub- licized and interpreted the needs of impoverished Jews overseas. On behalf of JDC's officers and directors, may I extend my hearti- est congratulations to The Jewish News, to you, its editor and pub lisher, and to all who are associat- ed with it. I wish you all many more years of continued success and service. Sincerely, LOUIS BROIDO Chairman American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee • • It is with great pleasure and joy that I extend my congratulations to The Jewish News and especially to you personally, its outstanding editor, on the occasion of its silver anniversary. Your unerring pledge to present the most comprehensive and valid treatment of Jewish issues and news for the past 25 years, is wor- thy of the highest accolades that those of us who look to your publi- cation for these qualities, can of- fer. I am particularly pleased to ex- press my appreciation for the wide attention and sympathetic cover- age you have given to news from Israel. Your editorials and articles reflect an acute interest and knowl- edge of Israel and its position in our world. May your next 25 years con- tinue in the venerable tradition of their celebrated predecessors. With congratulations and warm- est regards. Sincerely yours, AVRAHAM AVIDAR Consul General State of Israel, Chicago, Ill. 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