Ail-American Hebrew

Until four months ago two publications in the U. S. could properly boast the description "national Jewish weekly." One was the Jewish Tribune, the other the American Hebrew. The Tribune, founded by the late famed Nehemiah Mosessohn. was published by his sons until last April when lack of funds forced its suspension.

Its editors announced plans to change the Tribune to a monthly, but it has never appeared.

Like the Tribune, the American Hebrew was partially subsidized by race-proud Jews. Its advertising revenue nearly met expenses until the current Depression. As advertising fell off, the editorial content grew sloppy. Publisher Bernard Edelhertz worried himself ill over the problem, went into his closet and hanged himself (TIME, July 27). The magazine's president & editor, Isaac Landman, editor-in-chief of the forthcoming Jewish Encyclopedia, already had accepted a call to return to the rabbinate. Who, then, could take the American Hebrew's burden upon his shoulders and lead it out of its wilderness? He should be a man respected within and without his race and faith; a man with shrewd business sense, a knowledge of publishing and the ability to raise money in large sums. Last week the American Hebrew announced that such a man, David Abraham Brown, was henceforth president & publisher, and that Rabbi Landman would continue as editor.

Of David Abraham Brown, onetime banker, onetime publisher (associated with James Schermerhorn in the Detroit Times'), president of Manhattan's Keystone Transportation Co. (taxicabs) it is said that more money has been raised for charitable causes under his leadership than under any other man's--some $100,000,000. He once raised $5,000,000 for famine sufferers in Ireland. In 1922 he went to Central Europe and Russia in the interest of the American Relief Administration and the Joint Distribution Committee. Four years later he headed the United Jewish Campaign to raise $25,000,000, and in 1929 the Palestine Emergency Fund. At present he is national chairman of China Famine Relief. When he arrived in Manhattan two years ago from Detroit to engage in banking, he was welcomed with a testimonial dinner attended by 2.000 businessmen, including onetime Jew-Baiter Henry Ford. Than David Abraham Brown, the American Hebrew could have found few backers more popular and therefore potent among Jews of all classes.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.