50 THE JEWISH NEWS COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 1942-1992 TdEONZVERsy A critical approach makes for a healthier community. funds. Synagogues, JCCs, social welfare agencies, and the central Campaign routinely maintain com- petitive, sometimes tense, relationships. Where are the reports of those tensions, the turf battles, and most impor- tant, the deeper ideological conflicts over the most urgent communal priorities? The reasons for the largely uncritical approach of Jewish papers to Jewish organiza- tions are hard to fathom. One factor surely is commercial. Organized Jewry (federations, schools, synagogues, agen- cies) is, in effect, one of the largest advertisers in Jewish newspapers. Even so-called reputable national American news organizations have been known to pull their punches so as not to bite the adver- tisers' hands that feed them. Another reason for the wary treatment of our organized community may lie with our continuing insecuri- ty as Jews in America. One part of the American Jewish psyche sees us as embattled and besieged by adversaries, enemies and worse. The myths of Jewish unity and Jewish competence that might be tarnished by a more aggressive Jewish press are seen as powerful weapons in the arsenal to defend Jewish interests. Related to these concerns 32 are fears for the very vitality of Jewish life. All Jewish organizations contend with lack of committed and talented leadership. And all would fret over any exposure of incompetence of controver- sy that might well dishearten current or potential activists. Moreover, the currently dif- ficult task of recruiting and retaining top-notch Jewish professionals might be made harder still if they were sub- ject to the spotlight of a critical, inquiring and ag- gressive Jewish press. Last, part of the blame for the largely uncritical approach to Jewish communal life lies with the journalists themselves. For bet- ter or worse, re- porters and editors of local Jewish papers live in and among the Jewish commu- nity they cover as journalists. For the most part, they themselves are per- sonally committed to Jewish life. As such, Jewish journalists are not particularly eager to become alienated from their own community of family, friends and neighbors. Yet as difficult as they may find it, Jewish jour- nalists in the coming years need to become more adver- sarial and more controversial in their coverage of the organized Jewish community. One reason for doing so is to hold the community to higher standards of performance. Another, is to help make the community a far more in- teresting and exciting venture. American Jewish life is much more placid and har- monious than it was in the early part of this century, when Russian-born workers contended with German- THE JEWISH NEWS COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE American Reform moneyed leadership. Today, we are also far; less factionalized and passionate than were our predecessors in Eastern Europe (or other pre- American locations), where left-Zionists fought right- Zionists, both fought the bun- dists, and everyone fought the communists. In fact, one can argue (I do) that conflict and contention are prerequisites of commitment. The very quality that makes Metropolitan Detroit Jewry more cohesive, more unified, and, in some ways, teach its readers to take organized Jewry seriously. The collection of Jewish agencies is the functional equivalent of the Jewish government and should be treated as such, at least by the major Jewish publication in town. The professional and lay leaders of these agencies are the equivalent of public servants. As such, they are due the respect — and scruti- ny — afforded public servants in our national, state and local governments. A federation or synagogue that is unworthy of genuine come. My advice is that over the next 50 years (or at least the next 50 weeks), The Jewish News become less "defensive" and more "offen- sive" in its coverage of organized Jewish life. By becoming more adver- sarial and controversial, it will become more interesting and compelling. In so doing, it will help make the Jewish community more intriguing and attractive — both to the few who are already drawn to it, as well as the many who unfortunately now have little regard for the workings of synagogues, federations, social service agencies, JCCs, schools, and other organiza- tions that comprise the Kehillat Kodesh — the Holy Community — of Metro- politan Jewish Detroit. III more efficient than com- munities elsewhere also operates to submerge con- flicts and to effectively disen- franchise ideological dissi- dents. A free and spirited press can give voice to these minorities. It might even serve to bring them into the community rather than leave them muttering on the sidelines. A press that would treat Jewish communal life as a serious subject for investiga- tion, exposure, and criticism is a press that would take Jewish life seriously, and, in doing so, would implicitly criticism by the one publica- tion that specializes in local Jewish life is an institution that is also unworthy of gen- uine devotion and dedication. A rabbi or volunteer Jewish communal leader who occa- sions no controversy in the Jewish press cannot be taken seriously as a leader with vi- sion and something worth paying attention to. As The Jewish News celebrates its 50th anniver- sary, it behooves us to take stock of its current character and how it can best serve the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish community in the years to Newspapers run few reports on outright shortcomings in organizational life.