Orthodox College Students to Launch Newspaper; Unique Effort to Counter Left

A project unique in the annals of Jewish Journalism is being launched by a group of Orthodox Brooklyn College students, it was announced here today. Elly Rosen, executive director of the Jewish Cultural Institute at Brooklyn College, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that there has been a “lack of a sounding board for the views and activities of Orthodox youth on campus.” Of a student body of 27,000 in Brooklyn College, 18,000 are Jewish and 5,000 of these are Orthodox, Mr. Rosen said. The forthcoming publication of the “pilot” issue of the newspaper is to be written by, and aimed specifically at, Orthodox college youth. “Bas Kol,” is to have an initial publication of 25,000 copies and will eventually be distributed in all the colleges of the City University system. It will be edited by Yitta Halberstam, 19-year-old sophomore at Brooklyn College and Yossi Templeman, 24-year-old graduate of Brooklyn College and doctoral candidate at City College. Mr. Templeman, a student activist on the Brooklyn College campus for many years, has appeared on radio and television programs on several occasions and is a frequent contributor to a New York based Anglo-Jewish weekly.

Miss Halberstam, a graduate of Beth Rivkah H.S. where she was English Editor and Drama Head, has had her writings published in various publications since the age of nine. She was recently hired as a reporter at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency as part of the JTA’s national apprentice program. Her articles have also appeared frequently in the Anglo Jewish press. Mr. Rosen stated that the purpose of “Bas Kol” was to “record the views and promote activities relevant to Orthodox college youth.” He noted that there is not even one column in any of the Brooklyn College papers devoted to their needs or interests. “It’s about time they were represented.” he said. Mr. Rosen also added that the growing number of publications of Jewish radical papers on campuses across the nation during the past year prompted his group to present an Orthodox paper on the “college scene.” “Bas Kol” is to be financed entirely by the Jewish Cultural Institute which is receiving financial and advisory assistance from the American Zionist Youth Foundation, an arm of the Jewish Agency.