The Success Of
America's Jews
into a "broadcast" medium
distributed via a "network."
The technology for mak-
hen I was a kid,
ing movies was invented
the prospect of
by the non-Jewish Thomas
catching polio was
Edison, the Lumiere broth-
terrifying. We could not dive
ers and others, but it was
into a public swimming pool
Jewish entrepreneurs who
for fear we would spend the
saw the potential to create
rest of our lives in an iron lung.
an industry, making feature-
Two Jewish doctors vanquished
Steven L.
length films, distributing
that disease and removed such
Pease
them internationally, and
fears forever.
Special
building and sustaining the
Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert
Commentary
studios. From that arose the
Sabin are but two of the Jews
vital role played by Jewish
we honor in celebrating Jewish
movie producers, directors and actors.
American Heritage Month each May.
In medicine, law, science, politics and
America has been blessed with many
education, the leadership, innovation
waves of immigrants from all over the
and hard work of Jews have benefited
world who have made our nation the
us all. And if they have been successful
most successful in history. This success
as entrepreneurs, disproportionately
has drawn immigrants with its promise
of living free and making one's own way, represented among the members of the
and perhaps achieving and contributing Forbes 400 and as CEOs of the Fortune
500, that achievement is outstripped by
great things.
the fact that in philanthropy — particu-
The first Jews arrived in 1654 flee-
larly for secular causes such as educa-
ing the Inquisition. They insisted on,
tion, medicine and the arts — Jews are
and were granted, full citizenship. One
even more philanthropic than they are
hundred of their successors fought
wealthy.
in the Revolutionary War and one
Finally, when the underprivileged in
— Haym Solomon — helped secure
America have needed help, Jews have
vital financing for George Washington's
been there. Julius Rosenwald, who built
Revolutionary Army.
Sears Roebuck, was responsible for the
Waves of succeeding Jewish immi-
grants helped build American industries construction of more than 5,000 schools
for blacks throughout the American
and culture, and our way of life.
South when he found conditions appall-
Jews built the majority of our great
ing.
retailing institutions, like Macy's and
That Jews were attracted to America
Bloomingdales. Even today, more recent
is a testament to its greatness and hos-
names such as Home Depot and Costco
pitality to all immigrants. That they
have their roots in Jewish merchants.
have repaid our welcome and relative
Our garment industry, with names
freedom from discrimination with
like Levis, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein,
great achievements and contributions is
Donna Karan and others, changed the
equally clear.
United States from a country in which
The huge premium Jews have placed
garments were made by hand, one at a
on education, on rearing strong families,
time, into the world's leader in ready-to-
their push for innovation and entre-
wear and high fashion.
preneurship, tolerance for differing
Our computers, with names like Dell,
opinions, accountability for one's per-
software from giants like Oracle, search
formance in this life, and their sense
engines like Google, and social media
of duty to help make the world better
like Facebook, share the legacy just as
(tikkun olam) are but a tiny sample of
Intel and Qualcomm chips and technol-
cultural values that they have added to
ogies are inside so many of our comput-
our melting pot. El
ers and cell phones.
The three largest broadcasting net-
Steven L. Pease, a venture capitalist and
works — ABC, NBC and CBS — were
community activist, is author of "The
built from the efforts of two visionary
Jewish entrepreneurs, David Sarnoff and Golden Age of Jewish Achievement: The
Compendium of a Culture, a People, and
William Paley. Sarnoff in particular saw
Their Stunning Performance." He is not
the potential to convert "wireless:' then
Jewish.
used for ship-to-shore communications,
Sonoma, Calif/JTA
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June 17 • 2010
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