The Jewish Daily Bulletin yesterday entered the family of full-size metropolitan dailies published in English when Professor Albert Einstein set the first type for the newspaper. The scientist made a special trip from his home in Princeton New Jersey, to visit the plant of The Jewish Daily Bulletin at 221 Centre Street and later attended an inaugural luncheon of which he was guest of honor. Messages from other distinguished figures, including President Roosevelt, Governor Lehman, former Governor Alfred E. Smith and Mayor F.H. LaGuardia, felicitating the new daily, were received at the luncheon.
The unusual sight of a scientist whose theories as to planetary movement and the size of the universe have made him one of the foremost thinkers in the world, seated at a linotype machine poised over its keyboard, opened the ceremonies Dr. Einstein, accompanied by his wife, Erau Einstein, who looked up with at the machine which shapes these words into lead mould, arrived at The Bulletin offices before noon. Accompanied by Jacob Landau, publisher of The Bulletin, he inspected the plant and editorial rooms. He shook hands individually with members of The Jewish Daily Bulletin staff and took a moment to say a word of greeting to the elevator boy who promised to tell his grandchildren about it.
NEWSPAPER MEN AUDIENCE
Newspaper men and camera men, together with a detail of ten policemen directed by Deputy Inspector James Wall and Captain Daniel O’Hearn, of Police Headquarters, crowded the composing room of The Bulletin plant to watch Dr. Einstein operate a linotype.
Another detail of patrolmen guarded the entrance of the Turnbull Bailding which houses The Bulletin plant and offices. Dr. Einstein was impressed with the facilities of the printing department of The Bulletin, which is equipped to turn out thousands of newspapers at high speed.
LUNCHEON AT COMMODORE
The luncheon at the Commodore was attended by a host of distinguished leaders in public life who came to pay respects to the inception of the enlarged daily.
The gathering hailed the venture with predictions that it will meet with success. Speakers applauded the enlarged daily, alluding to it as a “unifying influence for Jewish life”. Mr. Landau received a tribute for his efforts. Herman Berstein, who last week became the editor of The Jewish Daily Bulletin, received encomiums. Dr. and Frau Einstein were warmly commended for their presence and their active interest in Jewish affairs. The scientist was showered with plaudits and was termed “the most beloved leader of Jews everywhere.”
NEED FOR DAILY STRESSED
The keynote struck by speakers emphesized the need for a daily newspaper which might be read by all classes of Jews and which might serve as a non-partisan periodical reflecting affairs of Jewish interest in every nation in the world.
Frank L. Weil, the toastmaster, affirmed his conviction that the enlarged daily “has come of age” and predicted its success. He read telegrams from the President, the Governor, the Mayor, Rabbi Stephe S. Wise, former Judge Proskauer and farmer Governor Smith.
Bernard S. Deutsch, Aldermanic president and president of the American Jewish Congress, who represented the Mayor, spoke of the “crying need of unity in Israel” and described The Jewish Daily Bulletin as a “means to fulfill that need.” He voiced the hope that conditions make it possible for The Bulletin to report “not the agonizing facts of Jewish persecutions and repressions, but the dawning of a brighter day for Jews all over the world.”
Rabbi Louis I. Newman spoke of the need for symbolic unity among Jews. Three contributing factors tend to the achievement of this end, he said, faith of the Hebrews, the medium of the book and journalism.
“The Jewish Daily Bulletin is serving to meet this last need for the unifying influence of journalism,” he said. “I can remember when the Bulletin first appeared in mimeographed pages, then as the four-page sheet, and then its flowering into a Weekly edition. It is a genuine achievement by its founder to succeed in publishing a full-sized newspaper.”
Dr. Newman referred to the presence of Dr. Einstein as “a fine augury for the future of the newspaper.” He echoed the view that there is a “deep need for an impartial daily” with a broad and com prehensive policy “for which the Daily Bulletin has always been known.”
“As a representative of every point of view held by Jewish people in all corners of the earth, this newspaper represents the rebirth of Jewish Jourialism which had begun to lose its influence,” continued Dr. Newman. He described the loss of such influence as a “casualty” and with conviction sounded the belief that The Bulletin will “make up the loss.”
REPORTS “UNSPARINGLY”
Quoting the words of the late Louis Marshall who once acclaimed The Bulletin, saying that if it did not exist, it would be necessary to establish such a periodical, Max J. Kohler, attorney and well-known writer and authority on immigration problems, praised The Bulletin for reporting “unsparingly” Jewish events which are generally overlooked by other dailies. He said that the readers of The Bulletin in clude a considerable number of persons interested in learning about matters of immigration, among them being many non-Jews.
“I find it necessary to skim The Bulletin every morning if I want to keep abreast with Jewish current events,” he said. “I consider reading this newspaper as important as reading my own mail.”
Mr. Kohler approved the choice of Mr. Bernstein as editor of The Bulletin, calling him “an authority of first importance.”
Morris. Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America, made the observation that Professor Einstein is symbolic of “the self-reverence the Jews must necessarily manifest if they are to take their place, their proper place, in the esteem of mankind.”
“The gratifying occasion today signifies the extension of a service to the Jewish people which is vitally important,” he said. “It is made the more notable by the presence of Dr. Einstein. The abnormal state of affairs of the Jewish people establishes the need for a medium such as The Jewish Daily Bulletin which must acquaint Jews of the facts of other Jews’ activities.”
Mr. Rothenberg deplored the inhibitions and fears which he said persist among many of the Jewish faith. The Bulletin, he reflected, has helped bring about an “enlightened public opinion.”
He lauded with enthusiasm the position as editor which Mr. Bernstein is to hold with the new daily.
A CHALLENGE
James Marshall, to whom Mr. Weill referred as “repreesnting the Jewish youth of America”, hailed the advent of the enlarged Bulletin as “a challenge to those who would defy liberty and demolish democracy.” He said that the enterprise is “most auspicious because of the struggle going on to preserve the freedom of the press.”
The senior Henry Morgenthan, father of the Cabinet member, drew a striking analogy between the new edition of the Bulletin and the birth of a child. He amused his hearers with the remark that “we today celebrate both a wedding and a birth, as well as a coming of age.
“The birth of the new enlarged Daily Bulletin will give the Jews a mouthpiece such as they never have had,” he said. “Now that the paper has come of age, it is time that the Jews stick together more firmly than ever before. We should learn to take our blows standing up.”
The speaker lauded those present for “rendering service if by their very presence”. He complimented Mrs. Einstein, who was seated at the dais with the speakers, saying that “she represents Jewish womanhood, glory to her.”
EXPRESSED GRATITUDE
The toastmaster described Mr. Landau, the next speaker, as “the dynamo who has made the Jewish Daily Bulletin what it is.”
Mr. Landau expressed gratitude for the allegiance and fealty of correspondents of the Jewish Daily Bulletin and Jewish Telegraphic Agency, parent organization of the daily. He was lavish of praise for Professor Einstein whose presence and good advices, he said, “make him the godfather of The Jewish Daily Bulletin.”
“Dr. Einstein is endeared to the heart of every Jew”, said Mr. Landau. “As a humanitarian and as an advocate of peace he has made himself all-important not only as scientist but as a lover of mankind as well.”
The speaker pledged the policy of The Bulletin to be one of continued “impartiality”, and said that the editors will make an attempt “as heretofore” to be a faithful mirror of Jewish life.
At no time was the force of enlightened public opinion so vital for the Jewish people as at the present moment “when millions of people located in a European nation are trying their utmost to battle against the lofty traditions of intellectualism and humanism.”
Mr. Landau’s particular acclaim went to Boris Smolar, chief correspondent in the Berlin Bureau of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency who for eight months has with courage and daring and with faithfulness reported the developments in Germany.”
The publisher of The Jewish Daily Bulletin praised the State
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
