Recalling the Jewish Student Network Newspapers

Jonathan Braun writes:

"The newspapers, which were funded by the American Zionist Youth Foundation and other groups, played pivotal roles in organizing and mobilizing Jewish college student support for Israel.  Attached, a photo of The Flame’s editorial board interviewing Yitzhak Rabin when he was Israel’s Ambassador to the US. 

We interviewed him at CCNY. Imagine that happening today! Pictured from left to right: Zvi Lowenthal, Rabin, Marty Kaplan, me, Jeff Maas. All of us, ex-Betarim, except Marty, who in his HS years identified with Betar and attended some events but never formally joined the movement. 

We enjoyed unusual access and influence because of our role in combating New Left  anti-Israel propaganda.  At a subsequent event, for example,  I was a member of a panel representing several campus based Jewish student groups/publications that interviewed PM Golda Meir … on a stage in Madison Square Garden. Incredible, now that I think about it."

Bobby Brown notes

"AZYF - USD was the sponsor of just about all Jewish Student Newspapers. About 10,00 copies were produced of DAWN by a staff of about 6 between 1970-1973. I still have copies of the issues of "DAWN" founded by me and put out by myself and Steve Leibowitz at Long Island University by the Jewish Student Union. We distributed it to 11 universities in the New York area. It was based on the ideology of Betar and named for Jabotinsky's Rasviet. It was in part paid for by the Student Authority of the Noar ve Chalutz Department of the Jewish Agency, also partly by LIU Student Government, and partLy by we fundraising."

Mel Laytner remembers:

"I've kept at least some (yellowed) copies...somewhere. After I was approached by Jerry Fisher, who I had known from HaShomar Hatzier, to help start the JSU, we agreed on the importance of having our own newspaper. After all, we were defining Zionism as the national liberation movement of the Jewish People -- and every revolutionary movement needs a newspaper (!).  I came up with the name, "The Flame," to consciously mimic Lenin's revolutionary party newspaper, "Iskra". Alas, we didn't have Google translate back then. I mistranslated Iskra to "The Flame". It really means "The Spark."

 

We had a core of experienced student journalists to draw on: Jonathan Braun, Zvi Lowenthal, and myself. Jeff Maas joined us the following year when returned from his year abroad in Israel. We had two things in common: We had all worked on the George Washington High School newspaper together for 2-3 years.  We were also all alumni of Betar."

Braun adds:

"Whenever I was asked about the origin of the name I replied that it was a reference to the Hannah Senesh poem, Blessed is the Match. After the first one or two issues, The Flame’s Betar ideological influence was quite pronounced, including references to Jabotinsky, Shir HaDegel, etc."

For general background, see:

here; here; here; and from p. 155 and from page 254 here.

And after perusing those sources, you'll understand the importance of this blog.

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