The American Hebrew

The American Hebrew was a weekly journal which began publication on November 21, 1879, in New York City. It was founded by F. de Sola Mendes and its publisher was Philip Cowen. The weekly's publisher was The American Hebrew Publishing Company.

Its third issue declared its policy: "It is not controlled by one person, nor is it inspired by one. Its editorial staff comprises men of diverse shades of opinion on ritualistic matters in Judaism, but men who are determined to combine their energies for the common cause of Judaism." To maintain impersonality pertaining to the paper, the names of board members were never been published. The turn-of-the-century Jewish Encyclopedia also says that, "Editorially, The American Hebrew stands for conservatism in Judaism. Nevertheless, the columns of this journal are ever open to the discussion of views with which it can in no way accord, but which may be of interest to its readers. Nearly all the prominent Jewish writers and communal workers in the United States have been contributors to its pages."^[1]

The periodical launched the writing career of poet Emma Lazarus, who later became famous for her sonnet The New Colossus, which was inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty in 1912.

Timeline

Over the years, the journal experienced a number of mergers and changes of name.^[2]

The English Language Jewish weekly first it appeared as The American Hebrew from Nov. 21, 1879 to Dec. 26, 1902.
After merging with The Jewish Messenger, it next appeared as The American Hebrew & Jewish Messenger from Jan. 2, 1903 to April 21, 1922.
It then reappeared as The American Hebrew between Apr. 28, 1922 and Jan. 29, 1932.
After merging with the New York Jewish Tribune, it appeared as American Hebrew and Jewish Tribune from Feb. 5, 1932 to Oct. 24, 1935.
It again reappeared as The American Hebrew between Nov. 1, 1935 and Sept. 14, 1956.
Following its merger with The Examiner (Brooklyn), it dropped its specifically Jewish title and was re-named the American Examiner; it continued publishing from Sept. 20, 1956 to Oct. 15, 1970.