JN Publisher Arthur Horwitz

and Chaldean News
Co-Publisher Martin Manna

Two Newspapers,
Two Ethnic Journeys

at Wayne State'University's

Old Main in Detroit.

•

At the height of Hitler's madness in 1942, an impassioned journalist
left the Detroit Jewish Chronicle to share his vision for Jewish life in
America and a Jewish state in Palestine.
With financial backing, Philip Slomovitz found-
ed the Detroit Jewish News on March 27,
1942. In 1948, the outspoken Zionist rallied
T Ei E
around creation of the State of Israel.
Today, the JN continues to be published
with the same zeal for the Jewish
homeland that the founding publisher/
editor espoused for decades.
In March 1967, Slomovitz reflected on
the JN's first 25 years. He recounted its
role as a watchdog and fundraising force
for the Jewish state: "We have had a share
in the building of the prospering community
that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of
dispossessed and stateless fellow Jews."
In 1984, with the support of the Detroit Jewish community, Slomovitz
sold the JN to a partnership led by Baltimore Jewish Times owner Charles
A. Buerger. In 2000, the latter firm's Vice President Arthur Horwitz, who
had been the JN's hands-on publisher since 1986, acquired the paper in his
own right as the centerpiece of his newly formed Southfield-based company
Jewish Renaissance Media. Horwitz's JRM partners are New York philanthro-
pist Michael Steinhardt, New York journalist Seth Lipsky and Detroit busi-
nessman Don Lifton. For the past quarter-century, Horwitz has watched over
Israel and Detroit Jewry from his perch at the helm of the JN.
"Since its founding by Philip Slomovitz in 1942," Horwitz said, "the
Jewish News has embraced at its core the correctness and right of the
Jewish people to a state in their ancient homeland. In our paper's life-
time, we witnessed horrific episodes of anti-Semitism, the destruction of
European Jewry and the creation of Israel with the remarkable ingather-
ing of Jews from around the world.
"Today, Israel is a vibrant economic powerhouse and robust democracy.
However, there are still those who seek to delegitimize its existence and
seek to destroy it. The Jewish News and our Web site, thejewishnews.com ,
remain steadfast in our role as a rallying point – not for a political party
or religious sect – but for the idea and the reality of Israel."

building
community

C haldean News

and business-creation opportunities, this
initiative has the potential to enlarge the
options they have."
"Unlike previous efforts:' Manna said,
"the initiative will do more than just
scratch the surface. It will help break
down barriers, identify our similarities
and become a building block for future
partnerships between our communities."
Horwitz first met Manna and Mike
Sarafa, who would become a co-publisher
of the Chaldean News, at a meeting hosted
by Jewish businessman Gary Torgow of
Oak Park nearly eight years ago.
Horwitz characterized Manna and
Sarafa as "young, ambitious and vision-
ary guys who were interested in start-
ing a contemporary publication for
the Chaldean community" Torgow felt
Horwitz could help get them started.
"From that introduction:' Horwitz said,
"not only did Martin, Mike and their asso-
ciates bring the Chaldean News to life, but
they also provided an opportunity for
me to have a ringside seat — watch-
ing Martin help his community
establish itself as a force in com-
merce, politics and philanthropy
while being the consummate
family man. Martin is a dreamer
and doer, a combination in short
supply"
Manna, also executive
director of the Southfield-
based Chaldean American
Chamber of Commerce,
returned the compliment,
calling Horwitz a visionary.
"Arthur is more than a mentor
to me; he is a friend whom I admire and
respect:'
Horwitz is confident a mechanism
is in place to measure the success

of the "Building Community" initia-
tive. University of Michigan-Dearborn
researchers will gather credible data at
the start and at the close of the project.
Horwitz and Manna anticipate findings
that underscore statistically significant
improvement in what each community
knows and understands about the other.
They also hope to see the creation of new
business partnerships, mentoring rela-
tionships and lasting friendships as well
as many other fruitful interactions.

Along The Corridors
As with all groups of different ethnici-
ties and origins, lack of knowledge about
others breeds suspicion and conflict
— often blatantly exhibited in the public
schools.
Gary Faber, Ph.D., now retired, spent
10 years as principal of West Bloomfield
High School before he became the district's
superintendent. It was in the early 1980s
when he first noticed ten-
sion between the school's
Chaldeans and other ethnic
groups.
"First thing you have to
ask yourself, Am I going to
be the police, a cowboy or
an educator?"' Faber
Dr. Gary
recalled.
Faber
As an educator,
he had to think of something
that not only would provide a
learning tool for teachers, staff
students about multicultural-
ism, but also would instill harmony
and trust among all. The learn-
Gary
ing began, replete with panel
Torgow
discussions.
But what proved a turning point was

Well-Rooted on page 26

JN

Chaldean Connection
In comparison to the JN, the Chaldean News is still in its infancy.

In 2002, four young Chaldean professionals teamed up to fill a void in
their community – a publication that would give Chaldeans a voice in Metro
Detroit. Tony Antone was a partner at Kojaian Properties in Bloomfield
Hills; Vanessa Denha was a reporter and an anchor at WJR radio in Detroit;
Martin Manna was heading up the new venture Interlink Media; and Mike
Sarafa was president of the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers. In
2007, Sarafa formally joined the Chaldean News partnership.
While Antone, Manna and Sarafa were contemplating the launch of a
publication, Denha also was doing research on creating a new magazine
for and about the Chaldean community, primarily in Metro Detroit. She
had already met with community leaders, including church leaders, when
the group approached her about partnering. When Manna saw the Jewish
News, he knew exactly what the new publication should be modeled on.
The partnership was formed and, with the help of two investors,
the Chaldean News debuted in February 2004. "Because we launched
shortly after the 9-11 attacks, and the U.S. invasion of Iraq, our editorial
content was so heavily focused on our homeland," Manna said. "Over the
past seven years, we have expanded our coverage and have addressed
some sensitive issues in the community."
Two years before the launch of the Chaldean News, Denha began
exploring editorial content. Manna, through an introduction by Jewish
businessman Gary Torgow of Oak Park, struck up a relationship with
Arthur Horwitz, who served as a trusted mentor, and the business plan
began to develop. In 2007, Antone was bought out and another Chaldean
invested in the paper. Today, Denha, Manna and Sarafa are active co-
publishers of the Chaldean News [www.chaldeannews.com ]. While Manna
manages the business end of the operations, Denha oversees the edito-
rial content and Sarafa provides overall support.

❑

April 1 • 2010

25