Opinion

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A Journalistic Outrage

T

rying to make amends for what
they recognized as an historic
moral injustice, federal and state
officials recently offered apologies for
their predecessors' reluctance to vehe-
mently oppose slavery and lynching.
The apologies, however late, give
some solace to the survivors of those
who suffered through an era filled with
hatred and bigotry.
Perhaps. the New York Times ought to
consider some kind of apology to the
Jewish people — and the world — for
its culpability in "covering up" the
Holocaust. In almost ignoring the ulti-
mate in mankind's inhumanity to man,
the New York Times may be guilty of the
greatest moral lapse in journalism histo-
ry. Run by the Jewish Sulzberger family,
the Times published few stories on the
Holocaust, relegating those that made
the paper to the inside pages. One can
only speculate how many lives might
have been saved by political pressure had
the most powerful paper in the world

Berl Falbaum — an author,
Farmington Hills public relations execu-
tive and former political reporter —
teaches journalism part-time at Wayne
State University in Detroit.

highlighted regularly the atrocities of the
Holocaust on page one.
So the question is: Why did the Times
fail so miserably? The answer — not
very pleasant, indeed, ugly — comes to
us in a new book, Buried in the Times:

The Holocaust and America's Most
Important Newspaper, by Laurel Leff, a
journalism professor_ at Boston's
Northeastern University.
In her well-researched book, Leff not
only shows how the Times ignored the
Jews' plight, but also how its reporters
and editors — given Publisher Arthur
Hayes Sulzberger's policies — deliberate-
ly glossed over the actions of the Nazis.
Indeed, some of its reporters working
from Berlin were sympathetic to the
Germans.
Leff reports the Times publisher was
opposed to emphasizing the unique
plight of the Jews in occupied Europe, a
conviction that at least partially explains
the Times'tendency to place stories
about Jews inside the paper, and to uni-
versalize their plight in editorials and
front-page stories.
"The problem posed by the German
refugees constitutes a test of civilization
itself," Leff quotes a Times editorial,
which ignored the unique onslaught the

Israel Reaching Out To Non Jews

eal insights about a country, his-
torians tell us, are best absorbed
by observing and listening to its
people. Conversations with shopkeepers
and students, editors and engineers,
teachers and taxi drivers, parents and
politicians form a vividly textured col-
lage of beliefs, emotions, fears and goals.
Their voices — whether sharing impas-
sioned points, poignant reflections or
wistful dreams — blend into a chorus of
national identity. Through just such eye-
to-eye contacts during many trips, I've
gained meaningful insights about clnily
life and a deeper understanding of
Israel's social, political, economic, mili-
tary and religious challenges.
Enter Project Interchange, a nonprofit
institute of the American Jewish
Committee. Individual contributions as
well as family foundations and corporate
philanthropy fund the Project. I became
involved with it after my 1996 trip to

Real estate broker Nanci J. Rands is a
principal at Snyder Kinney Bennett
Keating in Birmingham, incoming
president of the Metropolitan
Consolidated .Association of Realtors
serving Oakland and Macomb coun-
I TN ties, and national vice chair of Project
Interchange.

7/ 7
2005

30

Israel where, by chance, I met Lois
Zoller of Chicago at the Western Wall
in Jerusalem. I learned about the donor-
supported organization she led as
national chair. Its mission of sponsoring
nonpartisan seminars to Israel for first-
time visitors, mainly non-Jews, was so
compelling, I joined the board within a
year. (Two other Michigan residents also
are Project Interchange board members:
Dr. Roberta Toll and Marlene Borman.)
In addition to setting policy, I now
help select participants for Project
Interchange trips. Participants include
up to a dozen business, governmental,
community or ethnic group leaders or
student leaders interested in gaining
exposure to differing views on issues
affecting Israel. Even short visits that are
part of an educational seminar equip
participants to place headlines and
newscasts into a more significant con-
text. Participants meet residents, includ-
ing Arab Palestinians and Israeli Arabs,
and leave with deeper appreciation for
the diversity, sacrifices and hopes that
shape the country born 57 years ago.
Myths and stereotypes are challenged.
College-age visitors with leadership
potential are selected for the weeklong
experience just as other participants are

Jews suffered in Germany. "It
it receives very explicit direction
has nothing to do with race or
— which it never did.
creed. It is not a Jewish prob-
Would the editorial depart-
lem or a gentile program ... it is
ment be willing to risk "objec-
a problem of mankind."
rive" coverage of Jewish causes
For instance, Leff writes that a
and Israel, while fearing that
warning about the potential loss
the World War II philosophy
of 250,000 Jews in Poland was
was still in place?
buried inside the paper while, in
It would certainly explain the
BERL
the same issue, the Times ran on
Times' policy toward Israel,
FALBAUM
the front page a story about
which was generally criticized
Communit
properly registering for gasoline
y for whatever actions it took
View
ration coupons.
during the last five decades.
Sulzberger also vehemently opposed
In an interview with this writer, Leff
Zionism for religious and political rea-
was "hesitant" to state the Sulzberger
sons; his antipathy only grew worse after policies continued to have an impact
a visit to Palestine in 1937. "I have tray- years after he served as publisher. She
eled pretty well over the face of the
agreed the policy Sulzberger personified
earth, but never have I felt so much a
is difficult to erase in an organization
foreigner as in this Holy Land," Leff
such as the Times. She would not be
,
quotes him as stating.
'surprised if some are still responding to
Leff's book, however, raises another
the Sulzberger dictates, but its hard to
indirect and vital issue: Did Sulzberger's say. It would not be in a conscious
policy influence overall reporting on
sense."
Jewish issues at the Times, including coy-
Regardless, the New York Times mi
erage of Israel even after Sulzberger's
consider an apology — it can call it an
administration? It would not be unfair
"explanation" if it wants to — for its
to conclude that once such a policy from failure during World War II. That would
"up high" creeps into the culture of an
fulfill a moral obligation, mark an offi-
organization such as the Times, it is hard cial end to the Sulzberger era and it
to exorcise.
would send an important message to
Even after power transferred, the edi-
Times staffers about their responsibilities
tonal staff may not be sure how the new as journalists. ❑
management views Jewish issues unless

nominated because of their influ-
ping and libations though
ence as public officials, civic fig-
this is not a vacation-style
ures, journalists, talk show hosts,
trip.
religious figures and ethnic group
Members of Project
leaders. Michigan alumni include
Interchange are not lobbyists
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S.
and the 23-year-old organiza-
Reps. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
tion is politically neutral,
and Candice Miller, federal
both in selection of partici-
Immigration Judge Elizabeth
pants and presentation of
Hacker, former state legislator R
views representing Israel's
ANCI J.
Robert Geake of Northville, TV
array of parties.
RANDS
broadcaster Amyre Makupson
This year, the organization
Corn munity
and former gubernatorial aide
will orchestrate visits by 20
View
Lucille Taylor.
groups, including one I'll
After orientation, seminar guests are
accompany. Seminar participants during
immersed in Israeli life for seven or eight 2005 will include congressional staff
clays at a much deeper level than casual
members, radio talk show hosts, student
tourists experience. Escorted by Project
leaders, Latino journalists, construction
Interchange's Israeli-based staff mem-
industry executives and interfaith dele-
bers, travelers meet with professional
gations.
counterparts at campuses, newspaper
Activities include continuing educa-
offices, government ministries, trade
tion programs for the 4,000 alumni of
associations, medical centers, municipal
Project Interchange. In March, Project
offices, military or law enforcement cen-
Interchange hosted a private briefing on
ters and other settings. They tour sites of Capitol Hill by Egyptian Ambassador
historic and religious importance to
Nabil Fahmy — which I chaired.
Jews, Christians and Muslims.
All these events, along with voluntary
In conference rooms and cafes, hosts
actions by Project Interchange alumni,
and visitors discuss domestic politics,
spread a person-to-person understand-
immigrant absorption, military service,
ing of Israel and its crucial ties to the
security concerns, economic issues, and
United States. It's an extraordinary
both cooperation and strains among the
experience with an eye-opening impact
region's neighbors. And yes, there are
that lasts a lifetime. ❑
brief snatches of time for music, shop-

Learn more atwww.projectinterchange. org