On My Mind
Executive editor — issues and opinionsWhile Looking For The Great Depression, I Found Hebron
One of the great things about having a long-standing news presence is that the newspapers produced by the Jewish Times are ostensibly historical reflections.
On September 24, the JT will be 90 years old.
So as an editorial department project, we’ve been looking at what might be the 90 most important news stories covered over the years.
You are invited to send us what you think might qualify as a top-90 story. We’d love to know what you think. Just respond to this blog.
With 90 years to choose from, I started my search with the 1929 editions. The reason was simple, with the recent recession we are either still in or pulling out of, I wanted to see how the Great Depression was covered by the Jewish Times.
Interestingly enough, there was little written on the news or editorial pages about the greatest economic dark period of our nation’s history. The only way one would have really know that something was going on was through a series of advertisements from banks and savings loans assuring Baltimore Jewish Times readers that their funds were safe and that Baltimore wasn’t like New York. There was plenty of money to lend, according to the ads.
While, however, looking for these economy-related pieces, I came across the first-hand stories of quite another important dark period in our peoples’ history. This being the massacre of 67 Jewish Hebron residents by Arabs on August 23-24. The killings, done mostly with knives and machetes, were described in horrific detail. The editorials and opinions of condemnation were came from all over the world.
Reading these articles came for me on the eve of the 80th anniversary of these terrible events in Israel. It was difficult enough to read these articles. They obviously didn’t have the technology of satellite news images or digital photography to bring the devastation into our living rooms. The words were enough.
Also, these articles from the 80 years ago provide a platform of perspective and information on history being made and history yet made. The reasons why Hebron has remained an important issue in the day in the life of the State of Israel, can be gleaned from the articles written some 80 years ago.
And after 90 years, 80 years in this case, some stories are as important as ever.
Again, if there are stories you feel need to be recognized in our 90 years of reporting the news, please respond to this blog or email your ideas to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
