Algemeiner Journal

The ''Algemeiner Journal'', known informally as ''The Algemeiner'', is a newspaper based in New York City that covers American and international Jewish and Israel-related news.

History

In 1972, Gershon Jacobson founded the Yiddish-language ''Der Algemeiner Journal'', after consulting the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.Tzivia Jacobson
"The Rebbe’s Advice on Opening a Yiddish Newspaper,"
''Chabad.org'', December2014, January 2015. Jacobson served as the paper's editor and publisher from its inception until he died in 2005.

Der Algemeiner Journal Corporation published the inaugural issue on February 23, 1972. The ten-page paper was priced at 25 cents. Twenty thousand issues were printed. ''Der Algemeiner Journal'' intended to fill the gap after the daily Yiddish paper ''Der Tog Morgen Zhurnal'' closed in 1971. Jacobson had earlier written and served as its city editor."Yiddish Journalist Gershon Jacobson, 71"
''The Forward'', June 3, 2005. The largest-circulation Yiddish weekly in the United States, ''Der Algemeiner Journal'' emphasized Jewish community news, with a politically independent viewpoint, including reporting on tensions between rival Hasidic sects. Although Jacobson was a Lubavitcher Chasid,Chaim Miller
"Turning Judaism Outward: A biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, page 208"
''Turning Judaism Outward: A biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe'', p.208, copyright 2014. according to ''The New York Times'', he "defied easy categorization."

At its peak, ''Der Algemeiner''s circulation neared 100,000. In 1989, in response to the increasing marginalization of Yiddish in the Jewish community, ''Der Algemeiner Journal'' began printing a four-page English supplement in the middle of the paper, attracting a more diverse Jewish audience.

''The Algemeiner''s Advisory Board was chaired by Nobel laureate, writer, and activist Elie Wiesel.

In May 2005, after Gershon Jacobson died, his elder son, Simon Jacobson, became the publisher of ''Der Algemeiner Journal''. He founded the Gershon Jacobson Jewish Continuity Foundation (GJCF), a Jewish media organization with the mission to serve as a voice for Jews and Israel. In 2008, he reconceived ''Der Algemeiner Journal'' as an English-language publication, replacing the Yiddish "Der" in its title for "The". That year, Dovid Efune became the editor-in-chief of what was called ''The Algemeiner'' and Director of the GJCF. Efune left his position in November 2021 to join the ''New York Sun'', but remained on the board.

In 2012, the GJCF launched the website Algemeiner.com.

Content and circulation

''The Algemeiner''s print edition is published every Friday, except during Passover and Sukkot. Its circulation is between 18,000 and 23,000. It is sold at newsstands internationally and available for subscription. It can also be viewed as an ePaper on Algemeiner.com. The vast majority of ''The Algemeiner'' readership and content is online.

During the United States presidency of George Bush, Sr., ''Algemeiner'' had among the harshest editorial lines on the Bush administration's efforts in the Israel-Palestinian peace process to roll back settlements. The publication called Jewish-American supporters of the delegation "Baker's apostates", comparing them to Jews who joined the Spanish Inquisition. This perspective placed the publication outside the Jewish mainstream at the time.

In 2020, Reuters reported that ''Algemeiner'', along with the ''Jerusalem Post'', had published op-eds credited to the author "Oliver Taylor", who did not exist. The author photograph proved to be computationally generated, a deepfake, and the author's educational details not validated by the universities. Opinion articles by this fake author largely made untrue claims and smears about the Palestinian human rights activist couple Mazen Masri and Ryvka Barnard.

As of 2020, ''Algemeiner'' had very little advertising, and editor in chief Dovid Efune said the site was largely supported by many small donors who support the site's message.

Annual events and lists

''The Algemeiner'' began hosting its "Jewish 100" gala in 2014, an elaboration on its annual dinner. Donald Trump and Melissa Rivers headlined the 2015 event, presenting short speeches and accepting awards for ''Algemeiners recognition of their support of the Jewish people and Israel.

See also

* ''The Forward''

References

External links

Official website

{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States

Newspapers published in Brooklyn
Jewish newspapers published in the United States
1972 establishments in New York City
Publications established in 1972
Yiddish-language newspapers published in the United States