Newspaper Page Text
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 14, 1986 Page 3
Jewish author to give ‘good, bad news’
Charles E. Silberman, author
of the controversial bestseller,
“A Certain People: American
Jews and Their Lives Today,”
will lecture on Sunday, Nov. 23,
at 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Jewish
Community Center, 1745 Peach
tree Road. He has been invited to
deliver the Sidney Q. Janus
Memorial Lecture sponsored by
Leah Janus and family and the
Ahavath Achim Synagogue. His
topic will be “I Have Good News
and Bad News.”
Silberman’s last book, “A Cer
tain People,” is based on six
years of interviews, research and
writing. Among his conclusions
are:
•. Anti-Semitism is no longer
a significant factor in Jewish (or
American) life, as it was just a
generation ago. He claims that
Ethnic jokes called ‘unfortunate’
by Richard Bono
TSI staff writer
Observers believe it is an un
fortunate coincidence, not a trend,
that on two occasions last month,
two of Atlanta’s popular FM
radio stations aired ethnic jokes
that were anti-Semitic.
The latest incident occurred
on WKLS (96 Rock). During its
morning show, a comedian called
to tell a joke with the punch line
pun “Don’t trust a Jew when he
says the Czech is in the male.”
“I was very upset,” said Dr.
Greenberg, who contacted The
Southern Israelite about the
matter. “I just moved down here
from Detroit. In Detroit, you
don’t hear this kind of stuff at all.
It wouldn’t be tolerated for a
minute. The Jewish community
would put the station out of bus
iness. But, down here, people say
they don’t want to make waves.
Well, 1 just don’t buy that.”
Greenberg contacted the sta
tion manager of WKLS and even
called the Federal Communica
tions Commission in Washing
ton, D.C. He also notified the
Southeast Regional Office of the
Anti-Defamation League in At
lanta.
Michael Winograd. assistant
director of ADL, said, “The sta
tion manager of WKLS assured
us that it was no one from the
station that was making that
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remark. He did use the oppor
tunity to talk to station person
nel to remind them that this kind
of humor is inappropriate.”
Winograd added, “WKLS
would not air an apology, which
was their decision. We disagree
with that. But, besides that, ADL
is satisfied with the response. The
station is making the effort to do
something positive.”
Several people in addition to
Dr. Greenberg called the ADL
office about the ethnic joke aired
on WKLS, according to Wino
grad, who said that it is not a
frequent occurrence that anyone
calls his office with such com
plaints.
The previous airing of an anti-
Semitic joke on Atlanta radio
occurred on WSB radio during
Dale O’Brien’s morning show Oct.
3, the day that would begin Rosh
Hashana at sunset.
During a shtik similar to the
one on WKLS, a comedian called
WSB live. The gist of his joke
was that the Jewish New Year
begins at sunset because “that’s
when all the prices go down.”
WSB promptly aired an apol
ogy, stated that they regretted
the unscheduled ad lib and that
no malice was intended.
Greenberg said he was dis
couraged to learn from the FCC
that ethnic remarks told over the
nation’s airwaves are not illegal.
“You can go on the air and say
that all Jews should be hanged
on sight and go advise people to
do it and it’s not illegal,” he said,
adding, “I figure if we can’t do
anything about it, I’ll at least let
your readership know about this,
so they can adjust their listening
habits appropriately.”
America really is different from
any society in which Jews have
ever lived. Powerful forces built
into American society confine
anti-Jewish attitudes to the pri
vate domain and prevent anti-
Semitism from becoming official
policy.
• Judaism is stronger than
ever—despite widespread fear
among Jews is the very freedom
and openness of American society
would dissolve their willingness
to survive as a distinct group.
• Predictions that the number
of Jews are declining are grossly
overrated. The Jewish birth rate
is higher and the intermarriage
rate lower than is generally as
sumed and the consequences of
intermarriage appear to be far
less adverse to Jewish continuity
than had been thought. It seems
unlikely that intermarriage will
lead to more than a slight reduc
tion in the number of Jews, and it
could very well bring about an
increase.
• In occupations like educa
tion, law, politics and the corpo
ration, there is no doubt that
Jews remain in high positions.
Silberman is known also for
three significant and rather scho
larly earlier books: “Crisis in
Black and White” (1964), “Crisis
in the Classroom” (1970) and
Charles Silberman
“Criminal Violence, Criminal
Justice” (1978).
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he
was educated in the New York
City public schools, Columbia
College (A.B. 1946), and the
graduate department of econom
ics, Columbia University (1946-
1949). He is the father of four
sons and has two grandsons. He
and his wife, Arlene—also a wri
ter—live in New York City.
The lecture is open to the pub
lic and there is no charge. For
further information call 875-7881.
Size of British Jewry declining\
LONDON (JTA)—The Jewish community was the only
non-Christian community to shrink in Britain between 1980
and 1985, accordingto a report on the new 1987-88 UK Christian
Handbook in the Jewish Echo of Glasgow, Scotland. The
Jewish community—defined as those actively associated with
synagogues—decreased from 111,000 to 109,000.
During the same period, the Moslem population increased
by 250,000 to 852,000 and Christian churches have lost a half
million members. Sikhs increased by 30,000 to 180,000 and
Hindus by 10,000 to 130,000.
• birthday Parties .
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