Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs
THE COMMUNICATORS AMONG US
Jews have been associated with journalism and the news media in impressive
numbers. All three of our country's major radio and TV networks were launched
or managed by Jewish executives. Given the vulnerability of their minority status,
our people seem to have developed a special affinity for the world of public
information. Becoming a major presence in publishing houses, newspaper offices
and TV studios may speak of a driving urge to protect freedom of speech for all--
the heartbeat of an open and accepting democratic society.
BARON PAUL JULIUS VON REUTER
• •
(1816-1899) b. Kassel, Germany News Agency
Founder Pioneered by a dreamer, the world's first
international news service took early wing with twenty
carrier pigeons bought with his life savings. Von
Reuter later settled in London in 1851 and soon
recognized the promise of telegraph lines and undersea
cables as conduits for a news transmission network of
global magnitude. Reuter's News Service, which be-
came the outstanding organization of its type in existence, consistently led in
spectacular "scoops" and earned great wealth, distinctions and honors for the
immigrant with a vision.
ADOLPH OCHS
• (1858-1935) b. Cincinnati, OH Newspaper Publisher
A printer's apprentice by early trade, he borrowed
$250 to gain control of the moribund Chattanooga
Times in 1878 which he transformed into one of the
South's leading newspapers. Eighteen years later,
again on borrowed money, the trailblazer purchased the
.7=-7
then faltering New York Times. A relentless foe of sen-
411
sationalism, Ochs stressed comprehensive, ethical and
impartial reportage "without fear or favor." He also coined the slogan, "All the
news that's fit to print" for America's paper of record, unequalled in global prestige
and power.
DAVID SARNOFF
(1891-1971) b. Uzlian, Russian Media Executive
His bold and decisive leadership forged radio and
television into prime vehicles for mass communication.
The young wireless operator who relayed the Titanic's
first S.O.S. signal was destined to be the industry's
pacesetter. After a meteoric rise to the presidency of
RCA in 1930, Sarnoff spun off an NBC subsidiary for
the company. Under his helm, NBC made radio a
coast-to-coast reality, while RCA achieved the same in TV broadcasting. "The
father of American television" further raised RCA's stake in color TV and built the
organization into the world's largest electronic media empire of its day.
- Saul Stadtmauer
"There is hardly a nation in the world where its Jewish citizens were not at the
forefront in carrying the banner of freedom and liberty. We, the Jewish people,
have bequeathed to history and the entire world: the Bible--the Book of Books, the
Prophets, the values of justice and morality."
- Yitzhak Rabin
COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field, Chairperson
Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson
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Benched
Visiting Oakland County judge suspended
as claims of favoritism are probed.
ALAN ABRAMS
Special to the Jewish News
IOC embers of South
Haven's tiny Jewish
community say they are
shocked at allegations
of favoritism brought against a retired
Van Buren County judge who had
been sitting as a judge on drug cases in
Oakland County Circuit Court.
Judge Meyer Warshawsky is accused
of helping Oakland County prosecu-
tors in drug cases by allegedly coach-
ing a police officer on how to testify
and by allegedly listening in on jury
deliberations and telling a prosecutor
to seek a mistrial when it appeared the
jury would acquit the defendant.
Warshawsky has denied the charges.
"I've known Meyer Warshawsky
since I moved here from Chicago in
1951," said South Haven's Esther
Price, whose son Louis is president of
the First Hebrew Congregation in the
western Michigan town.
"We think very highly of him, our
whole family does. He donated the
seats to be redone at our synagogue,
and we see him here every holiday,"
she said. "He has always helped within
the Jewish community. Where we are
concerned, he is a very good person."
Price said she has read some of the
allegations made against the 78-year-
old South Haven jurist and finds them
difficult to believe. "He is a family
man and I don't think he drinks," she
said in response to the allegation that
Warshawsky called female jurors and
asked them out for drinks.
Price estimated that there are only
45 Jewish families left in South
Haven, a once-popular summer-resort
destination for generations of
Detroiters.
Warshawsky practiced law in South
Haven before becoming a judge. He
retired in the mid-1990s and became a
visiting judge in Oakland County to
preside over drug cases in 1996.
Unpaid Leave
Warshawsky was suspended on unpaid
leave Aug. 8 from his $120,000-a-year
Oakland County judgeship. He met
with investigators from the Michigan
State Police and the state Attorney
9/8
2000
12
General's office last week in an
attempt to clear his name.
Warshawsky's attorney, former
Oakland County Circuit Judge
William Hampton of Bloomfield
Township, told the Jewish News: "We
contacted the state agencies and we
want to fully cooperate in the investi-
gation to clear the judge's good name."
Hampton declined to make his
client available for an interview, saying
he did not want to do anything to
hinder the investigation.
An Oakland County court clerk
alleged to Oakland County Chief
Judge Barry Howard that Warshawsky
obstructed justice and violated civil
rights. It was also alleged that in two
recent cases, Warshawsky allowed
police officers to stay in an outer office
of his chambers and view live testimo-
ny on closed-circuit television, despite
witnesses being sequestered.
"We must remember these are only
allegations," said Howard, "and the
presumption of innocence applies to
him in the same way as everyone else."
The allegations against Warshawsky
may throw the Oakland County
Circuit Court into turmoil as attor-
neys representing hundreds of cases
heard by the jurist are expected to ask
for reviews and even new trials. The
result could delay civil cases because
criminal cases have precedence in the
court system.
Warshawsky heard more than 940
cases during his four years on the
Oakland County bench. Of that num-
ber, 126 were jury trials. Court records
indicate the vast majority of the 940
cases resulted in convictions.
Howard said the court is busy for-
mulating a procedure, subject to
approval by his colleagues and the
Supreme Court administrator's office,
to deal with the expected flood of
motions for new trials. The idea is for
a new rehabilitation-oriented drug
court, headed by retiring Circuit Judge
David Breck.
"We are looking to bring in elected
judges to handle the increased cases,"
Howard said.
Meanwhile, 48th District Judge
Edward Avadenka of Bloomfield
Township has been appointed to tem-
porarily take Warshawsky's place in
Oakland County Circuit Court.
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