From the DJN
Davidson
Digital Archive

Balfour Declaration

Detroit Jewish Chronicle and JN played
milestone anniversaries differently.

W

Arthur James
Balfour

Lionel Walter
Rothschild

Dr. Chaim
Weizmann

Detroit Jewish Chronicle editorial, Nov. 16, 1917

Detroit Jewish Chronicle, front page, Nov. 16, 1917

Detroit Jewish News, front page, Nov. 6, 1942

hile reviewing the pages
Herzl, who initiated the founding of
of the JN from 75 years
the World Zionist Organization at
ago, I keep my eyes open
the First World Zionist Congress in
for big stories. In this instance, I
Switzerland in 1897. Weizmann, first
looked for what I thought would be
president of the State of Israel, was
a big historical story on
a tireless Zionist, a founder of
the 25th anniversary of
Hebrew University as well as
the Balfour Declaration.
many other organizations in
Considering the impact the
Palestine — and the person
Balfour Declaration had
who persuaded Lord Balfour
on global Jewish affairs, I
of the righteousness of the
was a bit surprised at the
cause.
meager reporting in the JN.
There were thousands
But, of course, WWII was
of Jewish immigrants to
Mike Smith
the big story.
Palestine, especially after
This month, in 2017, we Detroit Jewish News the pogroms in Europe in
Foundation Archivist
are celebrating the 100th
the 19th and early 20th
anniversary of the Balfour
centuries, and after World
Declaration, a letter from British
War II. They worked the land and
Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur
established their homes there; they
James Balfour on Nov. 3, 1917, to
made the desert bloom. And they
Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild.
fought and died in the 1948 War of
Then, Great Britain still controlled
Independence.
an empire covering 25 percent of
The Balfour Declaration was one
the world’s territory, so the British
of the major stepping stones. While
Foreign Secretary was one of the
the predecessor of the JN, the Detroit
globe’s most powerful people.
Jewish Chronicle devoted a report
Rothschild was a wealthy business
about the Declaration on its front
magnate, philanthropist and Zionist, page, its editorial on page 3 was an
perhaps the most famous Jew of his
ambivalent endorsement, at best.
era.
In 1942, on the 25th anniversary
It was a very short letter, but it
of the Declaration, the JN did run
held this prophetic statement: “His
a brief story on page 3, but with a
Majesty’s Government accepts the
big headline: “Christians, Jews Hail
principle that Palestine should be
Achievements.” The story did indeed
reconstituted as the national home
praise Jewish accomplishments in
of the Jewish people.” Few written
Palestine, but did not report much
words have had a greater impact
more than that. However, World War
upon the world. After receiving
II was on the top of everyone’s mind,
the news from Rothschild, Chaim
a lot of Jewish men were fighting in
Weizmann, president of the Zionist
Allied forces around the globe, and
movement, wrote back, stating:
the Holocaust was raging.
“May I offer you our heartiest thanks
And, the Detroit Jewish News
— I am sure that when the history
itself was only a few months old. It
of this time will be written, it will be
was founded by Philip Slomovitz
justifiably said that the name of the
as a voice for Detroit’s Jews and as
greatest House in Jewry was associ-
a publication that would support
ated with the granting of the Magna
the Zionist cause. Over the past 75
Carta of Jewish liberties.”
years, the JN has proved itself true to
There were many steps on the
its roots. •
2,000-year path that ended in the
Want to learn more?
establishment of the State of Israel.
Go to the DJN Foundation archives,
There was the work of Theodore

available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

66

November 16 • 2017

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