56 Friday, January 21, 1977 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jewish Journalists Conference Has_Historic Roots By JOSEF FRAENKEL Jewish News Special London Correspondent — JERUSALEM Jewish journalists have founded the most impor- tant organizations of the Jewish people. Theodor Herzl, a contributor to the Neue Freie Presse (Vienna), was the creator of the World Zionist Or- ganization. In 1897 he opened the First Zionist Congress in Basle and among the delegates were dozens of jour- nalists, among them Max Nordau, Nahum Sokolow, Nathan Birnbaum, Israel Zangwill, Meir Ebner, Berthold Feiwel, Leib Jaffe, Theodor Zlocisti, Michael Berkowicz, Sig- mund Werner and many other famous men. At the First Zionist Congress a "Syndicate of Zionist Journalists and Authors" had already been established under the direction of S. R. Landau. Among the 36 members were Jacques Bahar (Echo de Paris), H. Duparc (Jewish Chroni- cle, London), David Farbstein (Zurich), Jacob de Haas (Jewish World, London), E. Ish-Kishor (Jewish Daily Express, London), Fabius Schach (Cologne), Heinrich Loewe (Nachrichten aus Palaestina, Jaffa), Ben Ami (Odessa), Nahum Sokolow (Hazefira, War- saw), Rosa Sonnenschein (American Jewess, New York), Adolf Stand (Przyszlosc, Lwow) and others. They undertook to honor the "Basle Program," to work for Zionism and ex- change information with fellow-members. They paid a yearly subscription of four shillings and re- ceived a monthly com- munique. The syndicate was, however, short-lived. S. R. Landau resigned from the editorship of the Zionist weekly Die Welt (Vienna) and from the chairmanship of the syn- dicate. Further attempts to establish a World Fed- eration were unsuccess- ful. Later, Hebrew jour- nalists tried to form an organization. Some 80 writers declared their willingness to join, but at subsequent meetings "linguistic" conflicts in- volving Yiddish, English JOSEF FRAENKEL and other languages arose, so that all the ef- New York), Joel Cang forts were in vain. (Jewish Chronicle, Lon- Rabbi Stephen S. Wise don), Mordechai (Al was editor of Opinion and Chalamish Nahum Goldmann began Hamishmar, Tel Aviv), to publish articles in the Isaac Eisenberg Frankfurter Israeli- (Haboker, Tel Aviv), Isaac tisches Familienblatt at Levinson (Johannesburg), the age of 13 under the • Isaac Remba (Herut, Tel pseudonym of "Ben Aviv), J. Schwarz (Mon- Koheleth". Both became the organizers and theorists of the World Jewish Congress. tevideo), Philip Slomovitz tee as well as Arye Federation. M. Asaf (Detroit Jewish News), Tsimuki and Michael opened the conference and Michael Solomon Asaf actively partici- Nahum Goldmann, then (L'Arche, Paris), H. Swar- gated in the preparations President of the Zionist sensky (Juedische for the conference. Organization, as well as Prime Minister David Wochenschau, Buenos In London, Joel Cang Ben-Gurion addressed the Aires), Marc Turkow (Di Yiddishe Zaitung, Buenos belonged to the en- opening session. Shalom thusiastic supporters of and Aires) Yedidyah (Tel Aviv). This this idea and we both pub- Both Ben-Gurion and writer was appointed li s hed and edited the Goldmann were ofthe Jewish Journalist, where opinion that a World Fed- chairman. articles in English, He- Societies of Jewish brew and Yiddish ap- eration Jewish Jour- nalists of could and would journalists from various peared. Among the au- strengthen Jewish unity. countries announced thors were Isaac Eisen- their agreement and arti- berg, David Pela, A. The closing sessin-I, Philip Iles appeared in Jewish Tsimuki, Moshe presided over by S. r papers expressing their Slomovitz, approval, though some Rubinstein, N. Sverdlin goshes, decided unan...,- ously to proclaim the voices were raised in op- and Melech Ravitch. foundation of the World position. In December, 1960 the Federation. Its World Of importance was the first World Conference Bureau was led by poSitive attitude of the took place in Jerusalem. Tsimuki, Asaf and Shaul Association of Israeli Journalists from all over Raz. Today Moshe Ron, Journalists. The Israeli the world came to discuss the general secretary, members of the commit- the creation of the World conducts its activities. • • ssin g Their Future i ry u Disc Canadian Jew • Quebec Under the French Separatists in In 1936 the founding 1 session of the WJC took --) Quebec government takes fuse to be a minority place in Geneva. Among tected any." By MICHAEL SOLOMON the delegates were a great A He said that great pres- an anti-Jewish position, it within an English minor- ---1 MONTREAL (JTA) — number of journalists: The 120,000 Jews in the sures could be expected will necessarily be op- ity. I wart to be a minor- ' t:1 Emil Ludwig, Robert province of Quebec were on those who wish to par- posed because we shall not ity within a majority. Rose said he had urged Stricker, S. Margoshes, urged last week to "face ticipate in Quebec public tolerate anti-Semitism in Laurin to enact legisla- Arie Tartakower, Dante the French fact" and "get life to do so in French. any form." Cotler added that "We tion to revise Bill 22 Lattes, Morris Myer, involved" in the political "Inability to speak Yizhak Gruenbaum, H. affairs of this province French will create dif- must let the French which requires all chil- Shoshkes, Henryk which faces major ficulties in communica- majority know that our dren to attend French Hesheles and dozens changes, including possi- tions with the French commitment to the state school' except those of more. ble separation from the majority," Goldbloom . of Israel is an'important English parents. He told the audience fact in our lives." warned. The Fourth Assembly rest of Canada. of the WJC took place in The appeal was made He said that the pro- Alan Rose, national that he had also met with Stockholm in Augusts by leaders of the Cana- jected referendum on executive director of the Levesque before the elec- 1959. This writer sent in- dian Jewish Congress, whether or not Quebec Canadian Jewish Con- tions and warned him vitations to all jour Jewish academicians and should separate from the gress, said that the CJC that Jews would leave nalists present to attend a former member of the Canadian confederation would react to any dis- Quebec, not because it is a meeting in the Quebec government who "will decide the future of crimination if its occurs. French but only if the Speaker's Office of the participated in a meeting this province" and he "We will have to test new government became , Swedish Parliament on Jan. 9 attended by 500 urged the Jewish popula- the Quebec government "uncivilized." He said he Aug. 9 to discuss the Montreal Jews at the tion to speak to their fel- by the way it treats the was convinced that if founding of a World Fed- Tifereth Beth David low Quebecers in French Jewish community," he Quebec separates "it eration of Jewish Jour- Jerusalem Synagogue in about the advantages of said. He said that Quebec could mean the end of nalists. Seventy jour- Cote St. Luc. living in one Canada. Premier Rene Levesque Canada." Rose said Levesque told Jean-Claude Lasiry, will appoint a liaison to The meeting was called representing nalists Jewish newspapers in to provide "a clear under- professor of psychology at the non-French com- him at their meeting that as a war correspondent he of munities. University many languages at- standing of the problems the Rose told the audience had visited Dachau two tended and at this and challenges facing Montreal, said there was writer's suggestion Meir Quebec's Jewish corn- a risk of a /hardening in that he had met with days after its liberation Grossman, . veteran munity" in the aftermath the Quebec 'line with re- Camille Laurin, Minister and was fully aware that Jewish journalist and co- of last November's elec- gard to "Francization" of of State for Cultural Af- extreme nationalism ends fairs, who told him that he with Dacuau-like trage- founder of the Jewish tion victory of the the province. "The province of Quebec would be glad to see ethnic dies. Parti Telegrafhic Agency, separatist But Rose predicted is a Canadian problem, not minority cultures flourish 0 presided. Quebecois. It was the first in a a Jewish problem and but did not promise any- that if Quebec separated, The view was expressed not only Jews but many that the World Federa- series of meetings ar- therefore we should react thing. Rose said he told the other ethnic groups, in- tion should include ranged for the purpose of to it as Canadians and not minister that "recogni- eluding French, would Jewish journalists irres- testing the awareness of as Jews," he said. Lasiry, the son of tion of nationalities must leave the province. He g pective of their political Quebec Jews to changed of conditions and their wil- Jewish immigrants from be mutual" and that "I said that "25,000 French and affiliations whether they wrote in lingness to defend their Morocco; observed that a am proud to belong to the Quebecers are now living great number of young Jewish minority but I re- in California." English, Hebrew, Ger- acquired positions. man, Yiddish, French or The discussion elicited Jews, both Anglophone White House Honors Fisher Spanish and it was imma- varying opinions from and Francophone, are in ,.. , terial whether they pub- knowledgeable Jewish favor of a ,separate 31F Quebec. lished their articles in leaders. Irving Cotler, professor Jewish or in non-Jewish Some viewed the possi- bility of a separate of law at McGill Univer- papers. Afte'r a lengthy and se- Quebec with no qualms. sity, said that "separa- rious discussion and ap- Others regarded such an tion is not inevitable but peals by Rabbi M. Nurock event as a disaster for if the dignity of Quebec- and Wolfgang von Weisl it Canada. ers cannot be realized but was unanimously decided Dr. Victor Goldbloom, as an independent to form a -committee of former Minister of En- Quebec, then let it be so." representatives consist- vironmental Affairs and In the future, he said, ing of Jewish journalists presently a Liberal (op- Quebec may become as in Israel, the United position) member of French as Ontario is En- States, Africa, South Quebec's provincial as- glish. / "Secularization of edu- American, Franc aid sembly, told the audience Great Britain with head- that important changes cation, health care and Detroiter Max Fisher, a friend, advisor and fund- vliacecse.is Iaflretandey ts aockiianl gserp h ave b een tai ing place Quebec quarters in London. government fol- raiser for President Gerald Ford, was recently honored since Ford 's White House staff "for his many outstanding The following were here since 1960, not i efforts on behalf of the American Jewish community." elected to the committee to the Nov. 15 elections. lows the line of its own de- "We have to watch care- derstand prepare for the world con- our it own Jewish Fisher, shown at right, with President Ford and Rabbi termination, must UP ference which was to be fully for any trend leading Israel Miller, former chairman of the Conference of held during the XXV to discrimination against determination as well," Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Zionist Congress in the Jewish community," was given a Steuben American Eagle by the White he said. . , Jerusalem: Samuel Cap- Goldbloom said, adding He warned thatIf the House staff. ... , : , . • ' . , "If Ian (Congress Bi-Weekly, that "So far I haven't de- . -