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TBI SOUTHERN ISRAELITR
Frida)', Nov. 29, 1962
We Hug Illusions, Joe!
By JACQUES BACK
Editor and Publisher, Jewish Observer,
Nashville
It was "30” in mid-October for the New York
Mirror, second-largest newspaper—in point of
circulation in the world’s largest metropolitan
city. Whatever its news and editorial content, the
Hearst-owned daily grew to mighty stature since
it was founded some four decades ago.
Hefty deficits, cumulative over a number of
years, prompted the realistic decision It throws
the spotlight on an industry that has battled
heroically against constantly rising costs of ma
terial and labor and the formidable increase
of all the related phases of “overhead” expense
Numerous mergers and management con
solidations in the publishing field during the
recent past make the Mirror’s “folding" but an
incident—a rather regrettable incident, as one
considers cause and effect and the apparent in
stability of an honored profession.
Curiously, announcement was made last week
that “The Jewish Ledger,” New Orleans weekly,
published since 1895, also bids adieu to its readers
and the community it loyally served. It can hap
pen to a small paper. We sympathize with Abe
Slabot, the Ledger’s able and conscientous edi
tor. The question is natural and timely . .“Why?”
We quote a pertinent article . . . perhaps an
answer to the “why?”—which appeared in the
Boston Jewish Advocate—one of America’s larg
est and most influential Jewish weeklies. Written
by Joseph Weisberg, its editor and a past-presi
dent of the American Jewish Press Association,
it carries the—should we say, “comforting”—as
surance that the giants in the Jewish newspaper
brotherhood can—from their own experience!—
echo the fruitless plaint of the less pretentious . .
the little fellows who ask for a few slices of bread
and live on crumbs.
“If this can befall a goliath among journals,”
writes Joe Weisberg (referring to the Mirror)
“what of periodicals of much smaller readership
and proportionately lesser income? The English
Jewish newsDaper is the case in point.
“Certainly no medium of communication is
more essential to the existence, progress and
enlightenment of a people than an independent
and objective newspaper catering to its special
and total needs. In a culturally pluralistic society
in fact, such papers are not only needed, but in
dispensable for the preservation of the various
ethnic communities. In recognition thereof, the
Catholics and Negroes have each established a
powerful press.
“It is no less vital for the Jewish Community,
if it would endure with it myriad organizations,
institutions, denominations and movements, to
have a press whch serves all but is beholden to
none.
“Of course there must be house organs and
purveyors of partisan philosophy and particular
opinion. But these cannot fulfill the responsi
bilities and purposes of the untrammeled news
paper which owes only an obligation to ethical
journalism and the general public it serves.
“American Jewry has a marvelous opportunity
to develop a great press through some 60 week
lies already serving sizable communnities through
out the land. If all these publications are not
what they should be, it is not only themselves
they have to blame. For if the problems which
plagued the Mirror were gargantuan, those that
beset the Jewish papers are behemoth.
“From some intellectuals comes the complaint
that there is too much obsession on the part of
the paper with social items, yet these people rush
with their announcements for inclusion in the
Society Section of the New York Times, which
more often than not turns them down.
“From some non-subscribers comes the excuse
that the already receive a number of journals,
which they haven’t the time to read, as if any
one of these periodicals is a substitute for the
Jewish paper so vital to their Jewish self-interests
and communal prosperity.
“From some non-advertisers comes the dodge
that any advertising would only duplicate what
they place in the daily papers. And this, lament
ably from Jews, who do not hesitate to ask for
free publicity for themselves, their firms and
their products. The truth of the matter is that
the good Jewish newspaper is eagerly received
in most Jewish homes, read from front page to
last and is a logical, natural and relatively in
expensive method of conspicuously reaching the
worthwhile Jewish market.
“From some organizations comes the expressed
response to an occasional solicitation for a paid
greeting that this is a “holdup,” despite the fact
that these groups are not shy in their demands for
notices week after week, which cost money to
produce and by no stretch of the imagination can
be considered news.
‘These are only some of the impossible atti
tudes which Jewish newspaper publishers must
contend with today. That their papers persist is
a miracle of ingenuity."
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
and THE SUNCOAST JEWISH NEWS
Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, 19* Vomrx
land St, Nt, Atlanta *, Georgia, TR. TR. •-**4*. teeond
>i..■ postage paid at Atlanta, Ga. Yearly subscription fire dollars.
The Southern Israelite Invites literary contributions and correspond
mi*, but Is not to be considered as sharing the views expressed bj
writers. DEADLINE Is 5 P.M., FRIDAY, but material received earliei
will have a much better chance of publication.
Adolph Rosenberg, Editor and Publisher
Gustav Oppenheimer, Kathleen Nease, Jeanne Loeb
Gertrude Burnham
Georgia Press Association
EDITORIAL
NAjriftny
I a D ,c 6 t, 3 n
Jewish
Telegraphic
Agency
7 Arts Features
World Press
Dallas Drama:
Traumatic Tragedy
Tragedy at once sharpens the editor’s pen but bows down
his person with grief. How shall comment be put on the
stark drama which played out so climactically last weekend
in Dallas?
Condemn the assassin or praise the President? Sorrow
over the loss of so vital and dynamic a person, or rejoice
over the goodness which was ours while it could be shared
or over the ongoingness of the instrumentality known as
Democracy ?
Weep for the bereaved widow and children? Wince over
the expansion of the excruciating lawlessness represented by
the assassin and then the assassin’s assassin?
Humble and bewildered and revolted over such a clear-
cut example of violence begetting violence? Joyful over the
routine passage of power from one administration to another?
And while those who loved and cherished JFK never
sought the “Why’s” of our president in life; in death, we
dare to raise the point . . .
In this era of cold war, strife and turmoil, his dramatic
death brings into focus our times—its strengths and its weak
nesses, pointing up in this weekend in time and space the
values that are and the values which ought to be.
And each in our own way shall reach decision and con
clusions, each in the light of his own experience and back
ground, each of the 150 million thinking Americans and each
of the billions elsewhere who will react to the black Novem
ber weekend.
In a way Kennedy’s death can be more poignantly mean
ingful that thousands slain in battle, or millions in persecu
tion’s holocaust, for numbers stagger the imagination of
mortal man whose horizons are measured in terms of in
dividuals and not of masses.
The Kennedy assassination and seqella stand out in
sharp focus and positiveness can come of the confusion and
doubt. We pray that it will.
Atlanta’s Inimitable Hebrew
Academy Seeks Permanent Home
Currently the Hebrew Academy of Atlanta is engaged
in a $510,000 fund campaign for a permanent building and
facilities to continue its excellent work for Jewish education.
The Southern Israelite wishes to acknowledge support for
the campaign and the Academy itself and to urge city-wide
support of its efforts.
We have watched this institution flower virtually from
a single kindergarten class into its seven elementary school
status. This growth, the caution of the backers, the excell
ence of the staff and what is more importantly the qualita
tive development of its pupils have been inspiring and sub
stantial achievements.
Seldom has a movement been launched with such op
position as was the Hebrew Academy of Atlanta. And seldom
have the few proved the many so wrong as have backers
and pupils of this all-day school.
From the temporary quarters graciously permitted by
Shearith Israel Congregation to the space now made avail
able momentarily by the Jewish Community Center, the
Academy classes have progressed apace and with fruitful
results. Fear that the Academy might become a parochial
school has been overcome by the record and emphasis so
far and the superlative Jewish educational facilities provided
have won the support of all the rabbis of Atlanta and lead
ers from all shades of Jewish denominationalism and non
denominalism. These opinions are reprinted elsewhere in
this edition.
Even parents who would never send their children to
an all-day school acknowledge that its existence and pres
ence for parents who prefer its bi-lingual courses round-out
the community’s Jewish education opportunities in depth.
Their reaction follows closely the Jong-established opinion of
parents who would send their children only to a liberal arts
college and never to a technical college—or vice versa—while
never denying the importanc of their non-choice in the educa
tional scheme as a whole.
Beyond doubt, the Hebrew Academy has proven its
value and now deserves a permanent home of its own, facili
ties modem and adequate where the fullness of the program
can bo explored and developed.
We urge readers to furnish what is necessary in the way
of funds to create the necessary structure and facilities.
What the Press Is Saying
—WIJP—
A Digest of Contemporary Opinion
Call For Unity in American Jewry
The problem of organizing American Jewry
continues to agitate American Jewish leaders. In
fact, many claim that it is over-organized. Hut a
national democratic organization is lacking. Prac
tically every Jewish leader has called for such
an organization . Dr Mordecai M Kaplan .
has advocated an “organic” community for many
decades . . The latest advocate of some vague
form of united American Jewish community is
Philip Klut/.nick He would seek “a formula
which, while preserving the principle of volun
tarism, would spell out the path that the Ameri
can Jewish community could follow to function
generally in a more orderly and non-competitive
fashion in the areas where such ends are desir
able,” and would “regard the right of American
Jews to associate in any fashion which they deem
most desirable for purposes which they consider
constructive.” If Mr. Klutznick’s plan spells out
anything, it is the preservation of “voluntarism” or
the kind of chaos we have and which we are
trying to correct. Regrettably, he rules out the
Kehillah, one of the most fruitful forms of Jew
ish organization with a history of almost two
thousand years. The Kehillah was accepted “vol
untarily” and has shown its resiliency in vari
ous lands and under diverse political conditions.
Of the Kehillah, Mr. Klutznick is more than
merely critical. He argues that there is strong
negative feeling against such an organization and
fears the real disunity that could be generated
if an attempt to create it were seriously under
taken. . . . American Jewry is now experiencing
an awakening, a stirring of new impulses. There
is a need for greater Jewish substance ... A na
tional democratic organization is an important
means towards the implementation of a truly in
tensive cultural Jewish life . . .
RABBI S. JOSHUA KOHN,
The Jewish Spectator
Zeev Jabotinsky’s Will
Israel’s refusal to transfer the remains of Zeev
Jabotinsky from the United States is a dishearten
ing one. Jabotinsky, a revisionist Zionist, dedi
cated his life to the reemergence of a Jewish na
tional homeland in our time.
He died before the dream became a reality,
and he lies interred in a Long Island, N.Y. ceme
tery. Foreseeing the rebirth of Israel, he asked in
his will that the transfer be made at the appro
priate time.
Official efforts have since been operating to
block Jabotinsky’s wish as expressed repeatedly
by the Herut Party today, historic child of re
visionist Zionism, which is pressing for the trans
fer The politics barring the fulfillment of Jabot
insky’s fondest hope are petty and painful.
Even if Herut, contemptible in Mapai eyes,
is Jabotinsky’s true successor, this should hard
ly govern the decision. Similarly wide and al
most equally bitter political differences among
Mapai and other Israeli parties would not, we
believe, give rise to such a stiff-necked attitude
as exists in the case of Jabotinsky’s remains.
Fact is that Zeev Jabotinsky fought for the
rebirth of Israel. The Jewish State’s leaders to
day can hardly imagine that they are rewriting
history in barring his interment in the earth of
their nation. Or do they imagine they are?
JEWISH FLORIDIAN, Miami
Tragic Loss To All Men
No words can adequately express my shock and
sorrow over this tragedy. The U.S. has lost a great
President and the world an ardent and determined
fighter for peace. The death of President Kennedy
is a tragic loss to all men who want to live in
freedom. The people and the Government of Is
rael mourn this death together with all the world
. . I shall never forget the impact of his per
sonality when I was privileged to have a discus
sion with him last year. Our first thoughts are
for those of his family and for the people of the
United States . . .
GOLDA MEIR, Message to Secretary Rusk
JEWISH CALENDAR
•HANUKAH
Wednesday, December 11
(first day
•PURIM
’Thursday, Feb. 27, 1964
•PASSOVER
Saturday, March 28, 1964
(first day
Sunday, March 29, 1964
(second day)
•SHAVUOT
Sunday, May 17, 1964
(first day)
Monday, May 18, 1964
(second day)