Article: "The Jewish Daily Bulletin: Smallest Yet Most Effective Newspaper"
An outstanding achievement in the history of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is the publication in New York of the Jewish Daily Bulletin.
The Jewish Daily Bulletin, established by Jacob Landau, October 15, 1924, was the first Jewish daily newspaper published in the English language, devoted exclusively to the dissemination of Jewish news. William Z. Spiegelman has been the editor of the Jewish Daily Bulletin since its inception. In newspaper-ridden America, in the hustle and bustle of American life, the publication of a specially Jewish daily newspaper in a field totally unexplored was distinctly an undertaking of pioneers.
With the big metropolitan newspapers, splendidly equipped, as apparent rivals, the Jewish Daily Bulletin made its way to a successful reception and to a position of influence in the Jewish community through its being the smallest newspaper in the world.
Issued daily with the exception of Saturdays and Jewish high holidays, 10½ x 7½ inches in size, containing matter which requires only 10 minutes for perusal, the Jewish Daily Bulletin succeeded in filling every inch of its space with items of information of distinct interest, available through no other source, and of a brevity and precision that was widely approved and commended.
A glance at the date lines in one issue of the Jewish Daily Bulletin brings to its readers a roll call, as it were, not only of the capitals of the world's busy life, but also of the smaller centers where Jewish life is pulsating, where the struggle for existence is hardest and where Jewish contributions to the economic, cultural and political life of the world are being made. A glimpse into the contents of the Jewish Daily Bulletin brings the reader into contact with the various climes, political, social and economic conditions where Jewish life unfolds itself on the varying backgrounds of the different countries, all ringing out their messages in such varied tones.
The Jewish Daily Bulletin, in its nine years of existence, in addition to bringing the world's news from foreign countries in a nut shell, was a pioneer in directing daily the attention of its readers to American Jewish life. Through its news service it has established daily contact between the leaders of the Jewish communities scattered throughout the Union. Its accurate and speedy reports of the achievements of the various Jewish communities in their religious, communal, cultural, social and philanthropic activities has served as a stimulus for the leaders of other countries to do likewise.
In the many fund raising activities of American Jewry during recent years, in the lively discussions on American Jewish issues, in the presentation of the specific needs of the Jewish group, in portraying the progress of the good will movement between Christians and Jews, in following closely the march of events in the various communities and in American Jewry as a whole, the Jewish Daily Bulletin has proven itself to be of great service to the community at large.
Almost all of the leaders of the Jewish communities throughout the Union, all men of affairs occupying key positions in their groups and communities, are constant readers of the Bulletin and are eager for its continued success.
The Jewish Daily Bulletin is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Its officers are: Jacob Landau, President; John Simons, Secretary; S. Bienstock, Treasurer. Leo M. Grossman has been a member of the editorial staff since the beginning of the paper.
The list of subscribers to the Jewish Daily Bulletin reads like a "Who's Who of American Jewry": Dr. Cyrus Adler, Daniel Alexander, Luois Bamberger, James H. Becker, John L. Bernstein, David A. Brown, Fred M. Butzel, Rabbi Edward N. Calisch, Alfred M. Cohen, James davis, Hon. Abram I. Elkus, Dr. H.G. Enelow, Mrs. Mary Fels, Bernard Flexner, A.J. Freiman, Felix Fuld,
(cont.)
Reprint of Jewish Daily Bulletin for December 5, 1928
Article: "The Jewish Daily Bulletin: Smallest Yet Most Effective Newspaper" (cont.)
Harry Guggenheim, Rabbi Max Heller, Michael Hollander, Otto H. Kahn, Prof. M.M. Kaplan, Mrs. Rebecca Kohut, Max J. Kohler, Samuel C. Lamport, Herbert H. Lehman, Adolph Lewisohn, Louis Lipsky, Jacob M. Loeb, Hon Julian W. Mack, Louis Marshall, Henry Monsky, Henry Morganthau, Adolph S. Ochs, Hon. Jacob Panken, Dr. David Philipson, Julius Rosenwald, Mrs. Jacob Schiff, Mortkmer L. Schiff, Rabbi Schulman, Ben Selling, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, Judge Horace Stern, Nathan Straus, S.W. Straus, Miss Henrietta Szold, Isaac M. Ullman, Ludwig Vogelstein, Felix M. Warburg, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Rabbi Louis I. Wolsey, etc.
Article: "A Lighthouse for Israel: Education -- A Striking By-Product"
The service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, important as it is in reporting Jewish events and conditions to the non-Jewish world, is perhaps of even greater importance to the Jewish communities themselves. "Know thyself" is, in truth, not one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses at Sinai, but as a maxim of life and as a guide to determining one's own position and direction, it is as important and might well be classified as the Eleventh Commandment.
It is not long since the knowledge of one community of what was taking place even in communities not so remote met with so many obstacles that almost complete confusion and disturbing misconceptions arose. In the nature of things Jewish, an occurrence in one community has an effect upon the rest of the Jewish communities. The responsibility of the Jewish community as a whole for the actions of individuals affiliated with it, or for smaller groups within it, though never fixed in a legal sense, is none the less a fact, the implications of which have to be taken cognizance of. Apart from this, when one community acts in its own behalf, trying to grapple with its problems, if no information is available, it may often waste its labors in solving the very problem which is common to all and in the solution of which must experience has been gained in other localities. The division along religious lines within American Jewry and the more aggravating division along lines of origin, east or west, north or south, add to the confusion.
The dissemination of news concerning the activities of the Jewish communities, no matter what their type of religious affiliation, the reporting of the events within and outside these communities, the presentation of new ideas devised by one group to cope with this or that particular problem, the form of organization adopted by one or another group for any particular purpose, the change in approach which arose out of the necessity of spiritual or cultural adjustment, is a valuable help to these communities in their efforts to continue Jewish life, to enrich it, to normalize it, and to perpetuate it.
Linking the Scattered Communities
Take, for instance, the question of Jewish education. Education and Judaism are almost synonymous. It was not long ago that one of the wittiest students of mankind's history observed that the Jews are the only people living on the globe today who have not stopped reading or writing for the past two thousand years. None the less, the question of Jewish education as it presents itself to American Jewry today is a grave one. It is no longer a question of securing secular education for Jewish children who are thoroughly imbued with their Jewish knowledge, but rather to secure, choose if you please, a maximum or minimum of information that is to make the child's Jewish education and thus train it for affiliation with the Jewish community, or to muster it as a guardian for the continuity of Jewish life in the United States.
(cont.)
Letter from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
Article: "A Lighthouse for Israel: Education -- A Striking By-Product" (cont.)
Education
Whatever view one would take of this Jewish education, whether it be ultra-orthodox, consisting of the study of the Talmud and the Codes; or Zionistic, insisting on the national aspects of the modern movement; whether it be Conservative and insist on the cardinal principles of catholic Israel or it be liberal or Reform, limiting the Jewish education of the child to a Sunday School instruction in Bible stories and an explanation of the monotheistic doctrine of Judaism and the moral teachings of Prophetic Judaism -- all are agreed that a knowledge of the Jewish present is of inestimable value to this effort.
The interest of American children, who are used to an active life, cannot be held merely by the recitation of dates and details of events which occurred in history. Their interest and attention are rather engaged by a contact with present-day Jewish life and an observation of the workings of Judaism in the trials and tribulations, successes and failures of today.
In this respect the service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in gathering and distributing the news of Jewish life and presenting it in an attractive form has been recognized as of the greatest value. For instance, a number of schools for Jewish children have adopted the reading of the Jewish Daily Bulletin in the current events clubs. The Commission on Religious Education of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Bureau of Jewish Education recommend the use of the Bulletin for this purpose.
"During the past ten years," Dr. S. Benderly, Director of the Bureau of Jewish Education, writes, "the study of Jewish current events has taken its place in the curriculum of many schools. Teachers, however, have found considerable difficulty in obtaining material for this study. They had to spend considerable time in looking over many periodicals before they could find the appropriate news. This difficulty, however, has been removed since the beginning of the publication of the Jewish Daily Bulletin.
"The Bureau of Jewish Education has made an experiment in the teaching of Jewish current events with the help of the Jewish Daily Bulletin and found the Bulletin exceedingly helpful."
Palestine
A distinctive service to the Jewish community is rendered by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in its information service from Palestine.
Palestine is to Zionist and non-Zionist alike a place of inspiration, hope, devotion or cultural, political or religious interest, in accordance with the views held by the section of the Jewish people to which the individual belongs. The problem of rebuilding Palestine in accordance with the Mandate of the League of Nations and with the international peace treaties, is emerging from the stage of a disputed theory and is becoming a task above discussion.
Since the early stage of this development and particularly following the close of the World War, the interest of Zionist and Non-Zionist, Jews and Gentiles alike, has been centered in the ancient country which by force of events has been transformed from the distant, unknown and mysterious Holy Land into a country closely connected with present-day civilization and interest where a pioneer movement is at work struggling against difficult odds. In cutting this distance and in spreading accurate information day by day on the conditions in Palestine, the successes as well as the failures, the progress as well as the setbacks, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is rendering a service which is much needed.
To accomplish this task, the Palestine Telegraphic Agency, an associate company of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, was formed. Its task is of a two-fold nature: to inform public opinion at large and Jewish public opinion in particular, throughout the world of what is going on in Palestine, to throw light on the new economic and cultural values which are evolving in the process of a Jewish rebuilt Palestine and, on the other hand, to inform the inhabitants of Palestine and neighboring countries on world events and on the happenings in the Jewish world which is the closest in its interest in the Palestine development.
In Palestine, the service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is not limited to the gathering of Jewish news in the strict sense of the term but to the gathering and distribution in Palestine and the Near East news in all fields of life, the conception being that all events and all phases of life that pulsate in that region of the world affect the foundation upon
(cont.)
Article: "A Lighthouse for Israel: Education -- A Striking By-Product" (cont.)
which the Zionist builds his aspirations, the non-Zionist pins his interest, the devout Jew his prayer, the politically minded his calculations.
Another aspect of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency work in Palestine is that which brings out there, in a calm way, the general principle underlying the J.T.A. work all over the world. It is the principle of international fellowship and understanding among the races. In bringing to the Jewish community of Palestine authentic information on events in the Arab and Muslim world and, on he other hand, informing the Arab and Muslim press of the true facts and the significance of the events in Jewish life in Palestine, it facilitates the establishment of a cordial understanding between the two peoples of the Mandated territory.
To this task the telegraphic service available to the Hebrew and Arab press and the Palestine [Daily] Bulletin, the only English daily published in Palestine, is devoted.
Article: "Carrying America's Name to Distant Corners: East is East and West is West -- But They Meet"
One aspect of the work of the American branch of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is of particular interest to American Jews.
A superficial knowledge of Jewish history suffices one to know that the centers of Jewish life in the part two thousand years have been shifting from empire to empire and from state to state as the trend of mankind's history proceeded. Observers of Jewish life in the Post-War period have reached the conclusion that the cultural, religious and philanthropic center of Jewish life has been transferred to America.
The American Jewish community today, numbering over four millions, emerging from the initial stages of adjustment to the environment of the New World, is the leading Jewish community in the world. All projects, all plans, all ideas, depend in their success or failure on the support of American Jewry. The eyes of the Jews of the world are focused on the Jewish activities of American Jews. The precarious position in which many Jewish communities in Europe, Asia and Africa have found themselves following the World War is due to the fact that they could not discover, as speedily as necessary, the formula of adjustment which became essential due to the fundamental changes in the structure of the commonwealths with the changes wrought by the cataclysm.
The strides in the direction of cultural, economic and social adjustment made by American Jewry in the past decades is of tremendous constructive value to the Jews of the world.
The manner in which American Jews have coped with the problem of social service, their incomparable contribution toward social welfare through the Federation system, their helpfulness introducing into American life the Community Chest idea, their unparalleled per capita contribution to philanthropic causes, their world-wide interest in humanitarian effort, their attempt at solving the Jewish education problem, their contributions to the economic upbuilding of the Republic, their leadership in civic affairs -- are an outstanding example to Jews and non-Jews the world over, which, if properly known and emulated, would solve many perplexing problems of the so-called national, religious or ethnic minorities.
Since the principle of religious and personal liberty was incorporated into the Declaration of Independence, America has become the world's leader not only in reiterating this ever-true principle, but in including it as an integral part of the basic law
(cont.)
Article: "Carrying America's Name to Distant Corners: East is East and West is West -- But They Meet" (cont.);
and by making the government the guardian for its application.
Max. J. Kohler, prominent New York attorney, in a conclusive study submitted recently to the Judeans, showed in detail how America influenced Europe in embracing this principle. The spirit of equal opportunity to all men, the principle of fair play, the total lack of discrimination against Jew as far as the branches of the government are concerned, the atmosphere of American life comparatively free of anti-Semitism -- equipping the Jew with freedom in all branches of life and receiving in exchange most valuable contributions in all fields of human endeavor -- is an inspiring tale which is daily broadcast to all parts of the world by the service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
This service brings the name of America into every distant corner of the world. Jewish leaders in all countries eagerly absorb the description of events in America, the achievements of American Jews, their large-scope plans to alleviate human suffering, their cooperation of non-Jewish Americans in these endeavors, the attitude of the United States government in this matter, the growth of the Jewish communities, the results of Jewish research, the conclusions of Jewish studies, the spirit of helpfulness and understanding which prevails.
Due to the effort of the effort of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, no detail of this absorbing story, standing out unique in the history of the Jews, is lost to Jewish readers in all parts of the world. In the service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, it is not subjected to the perchance picking up which must unavoidably by marked by inaccurate translations, distortions and misunderstandings.
The American branch of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency tells the majestic story, daily, through trained, efficient writers and observers of life, thoroughly familiar with international conditions, thus preventing the possibility of American events being viewed through "European" eyes and European events being viewed through "American" eyes, guarding the proportion and the color of the occurrences described.
Article: "A Medium for International Understanding: Misconceptions Disappear When Light is Shed"
Much of the blame for the calamities that befall the world is often placed by the semi-informed on the press of the world. The press, instead of being seen as a reaction to the life of the people and nation, is often presented as the cause which shapes the life. Generally it is unjust to blame the press for events which it records. There are, however, cases in which the press is not free from blame. This pertains to international, inter-racial and inter-group relations in which the guilt of the press lies not so much in promoting hatred, but rather in its lack of effort to prevent or limit it as much as possible by the spread of exact information.
Unlike other news agencies, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has no political axe to grind. Its purpose in inter-group and inter-racial relations is to disseminate truth and to prevent, as far as is humanly possible, the spread of false reports which give rise to unjustified hatred, to bigotry and misunderstanding.
No group has suffered as greatly as a result of this failing of human nature -- prejudice, hatred, bigotry and malice -- as have the Jews.
However, prejudice and malice are not necessarily synonymous. A spirit of kindliness might dictate the opinion that prejudice is possibly due to ignorance. Ignorance of the law, it is true, is not an exonerating circumstance before a court of law. However, ignorance of fact is an exonerating circumstance before a court of public opinion, particularly when this public opinion is based on what is supposed to be facts. When no opportunity is af-
(cont.)
Illustration/clippings: "J.T.A. in Press Abroad"
Article: "A Medium for International Understanding: Misconceptions Disappear When Light is Shed" (cont.)
forded to present the facts properly without bias, without fear and without favor, how can the court of public opinion be constituted?
In certain sections of the globe where discerning judgment is not as highly developed as might be desired, and in certain portions of many nations in which strata education has not reached the level to which many as aspiring, not WHAT HAS HAPPENED matters, not the FACT is important, but what is
said to have happened or what is
believed to have happened matters.
This circumstance is of particular interest to the Jew, who has many a bitter experience because of it. Many a misconception concerning the Jew has been floated in the mind of humanity, many a prejudice has been deeply rooted due, a spirit of kindliness might say, not to malice, but to prejudice resulting from misinformation or from the total lack of information.
The situation with regard to the Jew among the nations is still more aggravated, in addition to the natural lack of information and the natural suspicion of the unlike, by the existence of clearly defined factors which are interested in spreading misinformation and are active in multiplying confusion so that prejudice might be created.
In this situation the service of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is of particular value and falls in line with the intentions and the plans of the best representatives of human thought and human aspirations. It lends direct assistance to those great leaders of the enlightened Christian churches and societies who have initiated the goodwill movement, which had its noblest expression in the memorable meeting for Jewish relief held December 5, 1926, in the cathedral of St. John the Divine under the leadership of Bishop William T. Manning, General John J. Pershing, Louis Marshall, Major General John F. O'Ryan and Dr. S. Parkes Cadman.
Article: "Can Anti-Semtic Propaganda Be Neutralized? Yes, Indeed, When Facts Drive Out Bias"
Also, in this regard, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is not engaged in the propaganda of counter-action. It limits itself to a presentation of the facts, which indirectly neutralize the propaganda disseminated by the anti-Semites. In this the Jewish Telegraphic Agency must guard itself against any taint of a suspicion that it presents the facts with a Jewish bias. One outstanding example would be of interest here.
In the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia when the simultaneous international concert of anti-Semitic propaganda was started, the charge was frequently made in the anti-Semitic press that Jews and Bolsheviks were synonymous, alluding probably to the participation of several Jewish Communists in the Soviet Government. When the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported daily the actions of the Soviet authorities in persecuting Russian Jews en masse for engaging in merchandising, when the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported the continued confiscation of synagogues by the Soviet authorities, the charge that "Bolshevik" was synonymous with Jew obviously became ridiculous.
A Factor for Protection
Another phase of this situation should be not overlooked: the protective character of the existence of such a service.
A public opinion armed with facts as they really are is the strongest weapon against the commission of unjustifiable acts of malice or violence. On the authority of James N. Rosenberg, vice-chairman of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee,
(cont.)
Illustration/clippings: "The Power of Truth"
Article: "Can Anti-Semtic Propaganda Be Neutralized? Yes, Indeed, When Facts Drive Out Bias" (cont.)
who spent some time in Europe for the Committee, the following incident was publicly related.
One of the governments in Eastern Europe had issued a decree ordering several thousand Jewish refugees, who had no place to go, to leave the country within three days. The calamity that would have pursued them and the lament with which this decree was received by the Jews were indescribable. The correspondent of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, who was there, as Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondents are to be found on every spot where Jewish news is breaking, cabled these facts to the American branch. The report of the threatened expulsion, giving the correct number, exact location, quoting chapter and verse of the decree, was published in the American press. The reaction to the publication of this report was the immediate "change of mind" of the government concerned. It was unwilling to incur the disfavor of public opinion in the United States and relinquished this plan for the "disposition" of the Jewish refugees.
On the other hand, the responsibility resting on the J.T.A. in such emergency cases cannot be overstressed. It is obviously responsible to both the government concerned and to the Jewish and non-Jewish public.
A striking demonstration of the possible result of an inaccuracy in such an emergency case was recently related by Louis Marshall, who was largely responsible for the clauses included in the Treaty of Versailles for the protection of the national minorities in Europe. The incident Mr. Marshall speaks of occurred prior to the existence of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency service.
The report reached the Jewish leaders who had come to Paris to plead with the statesmen of the world for the protection of Jewish rights, that several hundred Jews were killed in an anti-Jewish massacre in Vilna. Alarmed, the Jewish leaders appeared before the responsible statesmen. How weakened was their position when it was learned that the number was not several hundred but only a score or more. This gave the government the opportunity of denying flatly the entire report, without stating how many were really killed.
Another example of the far-reaching importance and the protective value of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's news service was demonstrated recently by an occurrence in Yugoslavia.
In that country an attempt to revive the ritual murder accusation was made by a group of benighted and malicious persons. An entire Jewish community was thrown into jeopardy. The speedy action of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in detailing its Belgrade correspondent to the spot of the outbreak and the swift publication of all details proving the groundlessness of the rumor in the West European and American press contributed in no little measure to the energetic action taken by the local authorities to squelch the agitation and protect the innocent Jewish community.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has made it a point to report not what is believed to have happened but what actually has happened.
(End of part 2.)
