Smolar Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism Established by CJF

The Smolar Award for Excellence in American Jewish Journalism has been established by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, it was announced today by Max M. Fisher of Detroit, Council president. Fisher said the award, named in honor of Boris Smolar, noted journalist and writer and currently Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, will recognize each year outstanding writing and reportage dealing particularly with American Jews and American Jewish communal developments. The awards will honor the more than half-century of distinguished service rendered by Smolar to the American Jewish press and the American Jewish community. The award will be presented at the CJF’s General Assemblies. The specific procedures and eligibility standards for the Smolar Award will be determined by a committee to be designated by the Council. The membership of that selective committee, shortly to be announced and comprising leading representatives of Jewish and general press, arts and letters, communal leadership and the CJF Board, will determine the award recipients. Smolar, whose latest book, “Soviet Jewry Today and Tomorrow” – observations based on a recent visit and his long familiarity with the Russian scene – will soon be released by MacMillan, is also the author of a number of books and writes the widely read column, “Between You and Me” which is syndicated by the JTA to the American Jewish press and appears overseas. He also writes a Sunday feature for the Jewish Dally Forward.