Jewish Chronicle, The:

By: Richard Gottheil , Joseph Jacobs

Oldest and most influential Anglo-Jewish newspaper; published in London, England; next to the "Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums," the oldest Jewish newspaper in existence. It first appeared Nov. 12, 1841, under the editorship of D. Meldola and M. Angel, in quarto, which was soon changed to octavo. On Oct 18, 1844, under the editorship of Joseph Mitchell, it took the title of "The Jewish Chronicle (New Series) and Working Man's Friend"; it appeared only fortnightly till July 9, 1847, when it became a weekly; from Aug. 18, 1854, it was edited by M. H. Bresslau, who changed the title to "The Jewish Chronicle and Hebrew Observer." From Jan. 12, 1855, A. Benisch assumed the editorship, which he retained till April 2, 1869, when Michael Henry took charge of the paper until his death. Benisch then resumed the editorship (June 18, 1875), which he retained till July 21, 1878. He bequeathed the paper to the Anglo-Jewish Association, which, however,sold the proprietary rights to Asher I. Myers, Sydney M. Samuel, and Israel Davis.

Asher I. Myers was the managing editor till his death in 1902. Under his editorship the paper obtained a very influential position in the London community by its prompt publication of news, its reports of important public meetings, its correspondence from leading members of the community, and by the growing practise of publishing all family notices in its advertising columns. "The Jewish Chronicle," under his direction, was also one of the earliest Jewish newspapers to resort frequently to illustration. On his death the managing editorship was assumed by M. Duparc, and the newspaper itself became the property of Israel Davis, who had survived his two associate owners.

The newspaper throughout has been conservative in tendency, though admitting correspondence on various reforms. A special feature has been made of book-reviews, a running column of which is (1904) contributed by Israel Abrahams under the caption "Books and Bookmen." On the occasion of the paper's jubilee in 1891 a separate jubilee number was issued, to which most of the prominent writers and authorities in the Anglo-Jewish world contributed.