Newspaper Page Text
N. V. Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Atlanta Constitu
tion, and the scores of other great daily newspapers—that does
not publish social news. Our coverage is proportionate to com
munity responsibility. What I said about the Nashville paper
applies to all of us. True: some papers, are poor in spirit and
coverage, but one does not denigrate a great instrument in
Jewish life, especially when it is the only means of making
American Jewry an informed constituency.
And since the survey under consideration brands some of
our papers as “dull,” let me ask: is the B’nai B’rith magazine
where the report is published less dull? Let me go further: is
Jewish life in America less dull? And if there is dullness, we
are here to study it and to make improvements, to get at the
root of shortcomings and to improve Jewish life. Make it pos
sible for our newspapers to gain new strength and you will
eliminate the dullness in Jewish life.
Ladies and gentlemen, the foundation of our newspapers
is the world’s first newspaper. The commencement of world
journalism will be found in the 52nd chapter of Isaiah whence
I quote:
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of the messenger of good tidings
That announceth peace.
What we have been doing in Atlanta this week, at our
convention sessions, is to retrace the “Feet of the messenger”
and together with our communities to build even better instru
ments for Jewish knowledgeability.
In more than a quarter million homes in this country in
which our newspaper enter “Every Friday” it is we, through
the English-Jewish weeklies, who attest to a unity that serves
as an incontestable force in American Jewry. What we provide
for you “happens every Friday”—and if our synagogues could say
it about our Sabbaths they would become mightier powers;
because, with regard to the totality of our religious life, the
best that our synagogues can say about ALL Jews is that it
happens but three times a year in our sacred portals.
The English-Jewish newspapers are, today, the only living
newspapers. A former era has vanished. A great Yiddish news-
A “Distinguished Service” Award was presented
to The Southern Israelite at the 40th Anniversary Dinner by
the Atlanta Jewish Community Council. Council President Max
Cuba is shown presenting the plaque to Editor and Publisher
Adolph Rosenberg.
I
paper history has nearly ended—in tragic and regrettable
fashion. Now we, the formulators of the living Jewish news
paper, come to you to remind you that it is only through our
media that Jewish readers of all ages can be reached, that only
through OUR columns is it possible to meet the communications
needs of the youth as well as their elders. The Living Jewish
newspaper serves to meet basic responsibilities in making the
proper approach to our position as Americans who are sharing
in a cultural pluralism.
We have been in Atlanta to provide the proper knowledge,
.o lessen apologetics and to increase the basic dignities that
mark our existence as American Jews.
Many problems afflict American Jew’s. They are not de
creasing. At times they are mounting. But whatever issues may
arise provide a need for proper knowledge—so that we may
understand and appreciate our tasks of continuing our func
tions as Jews within our ranks and so that, externally, the truth
about ourselves and our relations with the outside world should
not be misunderstood and misinterpreted.
This means a press responsibility. Without a responsible
press we may sink into an abyss of confusion. By creating a
strong Jewish press you assure security for Jews and Jewish
ideas. We invite your cooperation and we await a better under
standing for our press from American Jews.
But don’t expect your newspapers to perform miracles, to
make the progress envisioned for it, unless you encourage the
quest for courage and fearlessness, unless you back up the pub
lishing venture with subscriptions and with advertising. You
can make a newspaper stagnant with indifference; you can
strengthen it with confidence.
Unfortunately there is often in evidence a silent boycott
against the Jewish press by big business among Jews. I don't
know what they fear: space in our columns can help build up
their businesses. But big Jewish business has shunned us. There
by it has evaded a serious responsibility to one of the most vital
instruments for Jewish survival.
There is a famous Mark Twain story. The great humorist,
while editing a western newspaper, received this note from one
of his patrons:
“Dear Sir: When I opened my newspaper this morning
there was a spider inside; does this mean good luck or bad
for me?”
Mark Twain replied:
“Finding a spider in your paper did not mean either good
luck or bad for you. The spider was merely looking to see which
merchants advertised, so that he could go to the store of one
who did not do so, build his web orer the door, and remain
peaceful and undisturbed for the rest of his days.”
I hope this little story will help Leo Goldberger and Adolph
Rosenberg and all the publishers gathered here. They earn
and deserve “webless fronts.”
7 am confident that the presence of so distinguished an
audience tonight will cheer Leo Goldberger, will give new
courage to Adolph Rosenberg, will encourage them to greaUw
achievement, will add value to the effort to strengthen f i( ’
unity of our people. I wish the celebrants much luck in pur
suing, their tasks.
Wt^at I have said, my resort to a Mark Twain wittici '■
-has special meaning in our consideration of the status of 1 ' <'
English-Jewish press. If you are indifferent, a swan song th it
may lull us into permanent oblivion in everything we do 1 1
hope for in the Jewish commuity will follow the spinning 1
. a web by a spider who will settle in homes of unconcern >
indifference. But by evidencing a devotion to your newspap
you also show a loyalty to your community, you provide s' '*
vival to our faith and our people and you give assurance
the realization of the Prophecy of Habakkuk—Ve-Tzaddik 1
Emunato Yikhyeh—the righteous shall live by his faith.
The Southern Israc ■'<’
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