Using Media to Shed a New Light
Publications
The Jew Man: 1927
Republication of a 1927 booklet of historical interest
In the 1920s Henry Ford was sued for his antisemitic activities. These included promoting The Protocols of the Elders of Zion through his newspaper The Dearborn Independent and the book, The International Jew: The World’s Foremost Problem. During the lawsuit, there was a boycott of Ford products.
Suffice it to say that in all of us, the memories of the people, even of our great minds, are entirely too short. Otherwise the horrible bloodshed of the World War would be a big enough warning for all mankind to do away with prejudices, and be as loyal to humanity in time of peace, as we show loyalty to our country in time of war. -- The Jew Man, 1927
Eventually, to settle the lawsuit and end the boycott, Henry Ford sent a public letter of apology to the president of the Anti-Defamation League and shut down his Dearborn Independent newspaper.
The Jew Man was published in the aftermath of the Henry Ford lawsuit and apology in 1927 by the cantor, religious scribe, and Hebrew teacher David Lieber, who had immigrated 15 years earlier. It is 54 pages of reflections on Jews, antisemitism, Henry Ford’s views, and the Ford apology, including this one.
Marcus Kalisch said, “Forgive his faults, but do not forget them.”
Henry Ford and Hitler admired one another, and Mein Kampf mentions Henry Ford favorably twice. In 1927 The Jew Man included this prescient passage.
“Jewish-European babies, yet unborn in the Ghettos, still uncreated, are not improbably destined to be torn to pieces on account of being Jewish,” said Zangwill.
LMG-NFP is developing The Jew Man for republication for historical purposes for scholars, libraries, and the interested public. It provides a unique window on Jewish differences of opinion of pre-WWII antisemitism.
This new edition will add a brief introduction to the Henry Ford trial for today’s readers, a biography of the author, and comments about the relevance of the publication today.
Teachers' Guide for Rumbula's Echo
A teachers’ guide, with lesson plans and student projects, is being developed to accompany the release of an educators’ version of the forthcoming documentary, Rumbula’s Echo. Scholar and Holocaust Studies Professor Dr. Elliot Lefkovitz has performed initial work on this publication.