Gary Rosenblatt, was the editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York for more than a quarter of a century, until 2019. Before he accepted the dual position in New York, Rosenblatt had edited and entirely revised for the same publishing ownership, the Baltimore Jewish Times, The Jewish News of Detroit, and the Atlantic Jewish Times.
In the world of the Jewish Media and Press, Rosenblatt is revered as a living legend whose work was the reflection and embodiment of the Jewish values by which he lives. In the world of the general media and press, he is widely regarded as an astute and insightful editor as well as a wise publisher. Although Rosenblatt is retired from full time editing and publishing, he continues to publish columns occasionally under the moniker Between the Lines, on Substack. His columns and observations are consistently smart, worthy reading.
Last week, in his column, Rosenblatt paid thoughtful, reflective tribute to the late Senator Joe Lieberman. He noted – and lamented – how the American body politic has changed since 2000, when Lieberman was Al Gore’s running mate for top office. “Many Americans appreciated a candidate faithful to the tenets of his religion, that rare politician respected for his authenticity and integrity. And, though anticipated, there was little sign of anti-Semitism during the three months of the 2000 national campaign,” Rosenblatt wrote.
“How sad, frightening and still bewildering,” Rosenblatt continued, “that 24 years later, blatant and widespread anti-Semitism – sometimes violent – has become commonplace in the Land of the Free.”
But true to form, Rosenblatt did not leave the lament as the last thought on the emergence of anti-Semitism, especially on campuses. Before he returned to the tribute for the late Senator Lieberman, Rosenblatt wrote prescriptively about dealing with the anti-Jewish feelings. Of course, his “prescription” applies equally here as it does anywhere and everywhere young Jews feel vulnerable because they are Jews.
“In the last century, many American Jews shed much of their religious identity and tradition in the hope of being accepted. But since October 7, we’ve come to learn, as European Jews realized too late, that secular or observant, Zionist or not, we are one in the eyes of our enemies: Jews.
“We have no solution for anti-Semitism because we aren’t the problem; the problem is the haters, not us. Our response should be to do all we can to sustain, deepen and expand Jewish life in ways that have helped our people survive for several thousand years. (Our emphasis)
“The message for Jews on campus is not so much to try to counter “the tsunami” of anti-Semitic sentiment, but “to build your own strong ark” based on the wisdom of the ages, steeped in ritual, ethics and community, according to Sarah Hurwitz, who has been visiting college campuses on behalf of Hillel over the last several months.
“A former speechwriter for both Barack and Michelle Obama during their White House years and author of an enlightening book about her transformation, in her mid-30s, from lapsed to engaged Jew – “Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There” – Hurwitz said her experience in talking to Jewish students at more than two dozen campuses has been “sobering, horrifying.”
“Every campus is different, she told me, “but the bad ones are really bad, and no campus I’ve visited has had zero problems” for Jewish students these last six months.
“…Hurwitz asserts that the search for Jewish meaning and fulfillment can be found in the words of our sages, modern as well as ancient.
“Study is the most important form of Jewish worship,” she said, adding that she tells students today to “live your Jewish story.”
It is not difficult to grasp why Rosenblatt included advice from Hurwitz to young Jews in his column of tribute for the late Senator. Rosenblatt knows how important her message is today, to them in a world so very different than the one in which Joe Lieberman ran to be Vice President of the United States. Hurwitz is telling our youth: “Know yourself. Believe in yourself. Go. Study. Discover. Be Jewish.” Rosenblatt is telling our youth: Heed Hurvitz’ advice. That is how you will thrive.”
GAJE is telling our supporters that Hurwitz and Rosenblatt provide the path for all of us – young and old – standing against the haters of Israel and of Jews. That path, of course, in their words and in ours, is one that is paved upon lifelong Jewish education.
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Rosenblatt’s article can be found at:
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June 11, 2024 has been set for Ontario’s appeal of the 46-page decision by Judge Eugenia Papageorgiou denying the province’s request to dismiss GAJE’s application for fairness in educational funding before it has actually been argued in court. If the appeal fails, the application proceeds to a hearing on its merits. If the appeal succeeds, GAJE will appeal.
If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit, please click here.
For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of underwriting the costs of the lawsuit.
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Shabbat shalom. Am Yisrael Chai.
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
April 12, 2024
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 