THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The Maturing of the American Jewish Press: The Editor Portrayed as Its Symbol of Growth By VICTOR BIENSTOCK • Former Executive Editor, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (Copyright 1982, JTA, Inc.) Was Franklin Delano Roosevelt the "Jew Rosen- feld" as the Nazis and his most rabid detractors (then and now) allege? President Roosevelt him- self said in a letter to Philip Slomovitz, editor and pub- lisher of The Detroit Jewish News, that he had never traced his ancestry further back than the Roosevelt who came to this country from Holland around 1648. But his ancestors in the dis- tant past, he said, "may have been Jews or Catholics or Protestants — what I am more interested in is whether they were good citizens and believers in God — I hope they were both." Publication of the FDR letter in The Jewish News in 1935 was a national news sensation at the time. It has been republished with background correspondence now in a little volume, "Purely Commentary," a selection of Slomovitz's col- umns by that name pub- lished by the Wayne State University Press in honor of the Jewish editor's 85th birthday and 60th anniver- sary as a newspaperman. With it appears, for the first time, a letter written by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise quot- ing Eleanor Roosevelt as declaring that the Roosevelts had a Jewish great-grandmother. Rabbi Wise marked the letter "strictly personal and confidential" and Slomovitz observed that confidence for 45 years. "I have until now refused to release this material," he writes in a preface, "but there is an historical tradition that such a document can be re- leased after almost half-a-century of anonymity." In his letter, Wise re- ported on a luncheon held at his home in honor of the President's wife. Wise was not present but said his wife, "who is very accurate," reported the conversation to him. "Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt said: 'Often Cousin Alice and I say that all the brains in the Roosevelt family come from our Jewish great- grandmother.' She added a name which, as I recall it, was Esther Levy. Then she said, 'Whenever mention is made of our Jewish great- grandmother by Cousin Alice or myself, Franklin's mother gets very angry and says, 'You know that is not so. Why do you say it?',' Mrs. Roosevelt spoke as with knowledge, conviction and authority," Wise added. "You must not, however, make use of this. I think it is best to let the matter die down now." And then Wise, who had had a long and often stormy relationship with FDR, readers and recognition by the general press as an au- thentic voice of the Ameri- can Jewish community. It became the exemplar for editors seeking to establish quality newspapers in other Jewish communities around the country. In one of the col- umns quoted in the book, Slomovitz describes the transformation of the American Jewish press from "schmuss gazettes" to newspapers, largely with the help of the JTA without which, he wrote PHILIP SLOMOVITZ in 1967, "the Jewish asked Slomovitz: "Do you world would be a desert not think that what lacking the basic cement President Roosevelt wrote — the rapidly developing to you is more or less the information through its statement of a man who news cables -- that binds knows what I have just Jews and Jewries to- written to be true but deems - gether." it wiser and more expedient Jewish leadership has not to make any public men- been notoriously prone to tion of it at this time?" neglect the vast importance The Roosevelt story of communications al- was one of many, many episodes in the long career of an enterprising, courageous newspaper- man. The "Purely Com- Since 1963, membership mentary" column was in the United Jewish Ap- but one part of the for- peal Young Leadership mula for producing a Cabinet has provided prom- high-quality American ising leaders of American Jewish newspaper, add- Jewish communities with ing to a careful selection opportunities for increased of world, national and responsibility, education, local news a running travel and camaraderie, commentary explaining, leading to a deepened com- elucidating and clarify- mitment to service on be- ing the major develop- half of the Jewish people. ments of the day as they Detroit has been particu- impinged on American larly active in the program, Jewry. The column, inci- providing chairmen for the dentally, was one of the national-level UJA Young best features developed Leadership Cabinet for two in the American Jewish successive years. Jewish press in the past half- Welfare Federation Trea- century. surer Stanley Frankel was Carol Altman Bromberg, chairman in 1979-1980, fol- who edited the collection, lowed by Lawrence Jackier, doubtlessly tried to make it a board member of Federa- a sampler of 60 years of col- tion and the Jewish Com- umns to show the breadth, munity Center, in 1980- depth and scope of the 1981. editor's interests in so many Currently, four De- areas of thought and action. troiters serve on the na- My choice of columns would tional Cabinet's executive have been somewhat differ- committee: Jackier; Dr. ent, but then, I assume, Richard Krugel, national every reader would have his campaign chairman; Peter own set of preferences. Alter, Detroit Area chair- When Phil Slomovitz man; and Mark Hauser, came into the Jewish press Region V chairman (cover- field after an apprentice- ing YLC groups in Michi- ship in the general press, gan, Ohio, Kentucky and American Jewish jour- part of Indiana). nalism (Anglo-Jewish was The idea of a young the term then in vogue) was cabinet was not held in high esteem. The leadership conceived in the early two great national week- 1960s by Rabbi Herbert lies, the American Hebrew Friedman, - then the and the Jewish Tribune, both of which had been the executive director of the reflection of powerful per- national UJA. He was sonalities, were already in concerned that younger their twilight and the Jewish Telegraphic Hospice Grant Agency, which was to revo- NEW YORK (JTA) — lutionize the American The Brooklyn Hospice of the Jewish press by providing Metropolitan Jewish dependable Jewish news Center has been speedily, was still struggl- Geriatric awarded a three-year ing for a foothold. $120,000 grant from the Slomovitz created The New York Community Detroit Jewish News and Trust to train hospital- built in into a solid, sub- based professionals in its stantial newspaper reflect- methods of meeting the ing high journalistic physical and psychosocial standards. It -earned the needs of terminal cancer confidence and respect of its patients. though, ironically, it is a field in which Jews play a great role and have been prominent ever since a German Jew, Paul Julius Reuter, founded 'the great British agency which still bears his name. It is only comparatively recently that the American Jewish press has been recognized as a force in the community. As a member of the JTA board for more than 30 years, Slomovitz had a major role in educating the American Jewish leader- ship to an appreciation of the American Jewish press. As a founder of the Ameri- can Jewish Press Associa- tion and by his own example with The Detroit Jewish News, Slomovitz has done yeoman work in creating American Jewish press standards. It is fitting that Bar-Ilan University, in set- ting up a chair of communi- cations as the start of a pro- gram in journalism, should name it after Slomovitz. What is the role of the American Jewish news- paperman? Slomovitz an- swers this question in a footnote to one of the col- umns reprinted in the col- lection in words that liter- ally describe the doyen of American Jewish jour- nalism: "The Jewish newspaper- man must view himself as the historian of his time. He is the fact-finder whose duty it is to speak the truth and experience of this challeng- ing period in history to Jews and to non-Jews as well. His efforts are the surest way to bring about the good-will and human decency for which civilized man as- pires." The man who has not learned to say "No" will be a weak if not a wretched man as long as he lives. Friday, January 22, 1982 61 a vy BLOCK ROSE POST AND AUXILIARY will have a joint meeting 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Home. Lipshaw-Hoberman and Green Auxiliaries also will participate. Dr. Lawrence Silverman of Wayne State University will be the guest speaker in the program entitled, "Doctors on Call." Prospective members are invited. For details, call Dorothy Goldberg, 548- 6850; or the JWV office, 559-5680. Rates Going Up JERUSALEM (ZINS) — New immigrants to Israel over age 60 may have trou- ble finding inexpensive health insurance. Private health insurance plans have been increasing their rates. The Absorption Ministry's health plan pro- vides full coverage for three years for a monthly fee. Young Leaders Cabinet Prepares for Future people were not being certain priorities," said velopment of the national brought in to replace the Jackier. The men are Hadracha young leadership leaders who had been called upon to travel to program, run by the local serving the Jewish com- meetings, participate in Federations. In Detroit, the first, Hadracha mission to munities since World War study missions overseas, represent the Cabinet as Israel was led by Dr. Krugel II. "Rabbi Friedman saw a speakers and work to- and Alter. The YLC con- ducts its own missions sev- need for a vehicle through gether to improve them- eral times a year. which to train and educate a selves as Jews and as re- Dr. Krugel said Cabinet new generation of Jewish source persons for the organized Jewish com- members give talks about leaders," said Frankel. the group, Campaign or The group of 46 men who munity. Formal and informal other areas of expertise cqmprised the first Cabinet included such later- meetings for members and as requested. They may prominent leaders as their wives are held be asked to appear at Herschel Blumberg and throughout the year by the meetings locally or in the region, usually requiring Irwin Field, the present-and local YLC groups, often in a maximum time com- former UJA national connection with leadership mitment of one day per chairmen. Three current development and education. Detroit chairman Alter month. Federation vice presidents Finding new members for are former Cabinet mem- said an important event the Cabinet is an on-going coming up for the Cabinet is bers as well: Dr. Conrad Giles, Thomas Klein and the third National Young responsibility for all cur- Joel Tauber, general Leadership Conference, rent participants. Alter said chairman of the 1982 Cam- March 14-16 in Washing- the next leadership de- paign. Other Cabinet toh, D.C. Expected to at- velopment meeting, 8 p.m. alumni represented on the tract over 2,000 young ,Saturday at Cong. Shaarey Federation Board of Gover- Jewish leaders nationwide, Zedek, will feature a talk by nors are Joel Gershenson, the biennial event will Senator Carl Levin on David Hermelin, Michael again include panel dis- "Jews and the American Maddin, Allan Nachman, cussions, workshop and Political Process." Details and Robert Slatkin. Today, study sessions on issues of on the upcoming National there are some 350 Cabinet concern to the Jewish com- Young Leadership Confer- members from communities munity. The topics will in- ence in Washington will be clude Energy and the World presented. Persons in- across the country. Picture, Soviet and South terested in attending the In the early days of the YLC, it was usually the sons American Jewy, U.S. Mid- s March event are invited to of prominent Jewish leaders dle East Policy and Ter- attend this meeting. They are asked to contact Sandra who were invited to partici- rorism and the PLO. - Cabinet members were Feuer at Federation, 965- pate, and members could remain in the group from responsible for the de- 3939. age 25 to 40. Frankel said participants invited today may be any young Jewish man who has demonstrated an active commitment to Jewish service, most often through involvement in his local Jewish Federation and Campaign. Since 1975, the Cabinet has limited members to four one-year terms, and the in- dividuals must re-apply for acceptance each year. Members serving on the executive committee are allowed an additional two- Members of Detroit's United Jewish Appeal Young Leadership Cabinet include, from left, seated: year term. Cabinet members are Dr. Richard Krugel, Peter Alter, Michael Feldman, expected to "re-organize Mark Hauser and Norman Pappas; and standing, their lives according to Lawrence Jackier, Dr. Dan Guyer and Dr. Mark Diem. .