Editor's Notebook

The Jewish Press' Challenge

Boston

preeminent historian, scholar and thinker peered
into the periscope of U.S. history to pinpoint the ele-
ments that he believes would propel the Jewish press
into a position of helping invigorate the American Jewish
experience.
Every Jewish newspaper in America is struggling with how
to reach that lofty, urgent perch — with how to be vital and
vibrant amid the explosion of information overload.
Addressing 115 journalists last week at the American
Jewish Press Association's annual conference in this colonial
city where Paul Revere began his Revolutionary War ride,
Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University
harkened to Isaac Lesser, a 19th century
Jewish religious leader in Philadelphia,
coincidentally Dr. Sarna's birthplace.
Lesser, a cantor, was intent on parlaying
his monthly journal, the

A

Atlanta Jewish Times. Each week, our readers spend virtual
time together reading what is meant to inform, educate and
inspire from a Jewish perspective. We strive to shape com-
munity as well as enlighten. And we don't apologize for a
provocative edge at times. Admittedly, we should be even
more determined about tackling tough issues confronting
Jewish communal life — from needs to priorities and ethics.
Not surprising, many seemingly radical notions, like the
power of synagogue music or the pull of Jewish culture,
become what Dr. Sarna calls "conventional wisdom" once
they stand the rigors of time.
In 1879, nine young Jews founded the American Hebrew
in New York. That newspaper aimed to further awaken
Jewish America. The editors, said Dr. Sarna, "were particu-
larly influential in the establishment of the Jewish
Theological Seminary and the Conservative movement in
America."
In 2005, Jewish editors who seize that les-
son will be successful change agents in a

Occident and American
Jewish Advocate, into a
resource that would rouse
ROBERT A. Jews, educate Jews and cre-
SKLAR
ate a sense of community
Jonathan Sarna: "The
among widely dispersed
Editor
Jews. Those tenets played
search is on for new models
well in 1843 as Jews from Central Europe
flocked to America for the promise of its
of Jewish journalism."
bounty.
The tenets remain relevant.
"These should remain principal goals of
Jewish journalism," said Dr. Sarna, the Joseph
H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American
Jewish world adjusting to diversity and inclu-
Jewish History in the Department of Near
Eastern and Judaic Studies on Brandeis' Boston-area campus. siveness. Our publications have more stature than we think.
"More than we generally appreciate," Dr. Sarna said, "Jewish
"They hold the key to revitalizing American Jewish life."
journalism, even in recent years, has helped to transform and
I first met Dr. Sarna last June when he keynoted the
revitalize American Jewish life."
ordainment of the Reform movement's rabbinic class of
I want to believe he's right but only you, our readers, can
2004 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
validate that.
Religion in Cincinnati. He's engaging and eloquent — and
Dr. Sarna struck a chord in saying that Jewish journalists
unapologetic.
are
nervous — about too few younger readers, about heady
Lord knows the Jewish press must do something to help
competition
for advertising dollars, about the tricky but
free American Jews from the shackles of over-assimilation
essential business of making a buck on the World Wide
and Jewish ignorance. The good life we have found has
Web.
nipped hard at the heels of our faith.
"The search is on for new models of Jewish journalism,"
Lesser's revivalism as one of America's early Jewish editors
he said in an understatement.
still echo. As described by Dr. Sarna, Lesser sought to
A pillar of any new model surely will be embrace of the
"induce our brethren ... to throw off their long sleep, their
unaccountable apathy and prove to themselves and the world responsibility of community building. "Somebody has to
move in and create community," Dr.
that they love and esteem their sacred
Sarna said. "There is a vacuum."
birthright, that they feel the weight of
Distilling the essence of his talk, I
the obligation which the observance of
walked away believing there's a great
their religion places upon them and that
opportunity for Jewish newspapers to
they are fully aware of the exalted destiny
nurture a sense of community based not
of being the chosen servants of God."
Is the Detroit Jewish News
just on charitable giving, important as
That's rich prose and a compelling
central in your life as a Jew?
that is, but also on ideas that somehow
message.
make tradition and pluralism compatible
Lesser used his journal to stir, teach
Do Jews comprise more an
and Judaism widely pulsating and inter-
and bind far-flung Jews, deepening their
ethnic group than a religion?
active.
individual identity and common her-
Isaac Lesser made the Jewish press mat-
itage. No matter how physically or spiri-
ter in America. Modern Jewish newspa-
tually removed they were from a syna-
Is your Jewish interest reli-
pers must continue that pursuit.
gogue or each other, they plugged in to
giously or culturally centered?
"Remember," Dr. Sarna told the assem-
the culture of American Judaism through
bled journalists, "the Jewish newspaper is,
the pages of the Occident and American
Could Judaism survive the
in many ways, the public face of our
Jewish Advocate.
lack of a binding community?
American Jewish community."
That's precisely the role of the Detroit
Jewish News and its sister publication, the

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