An urgent note to our readers and community

We usually write to you, our readers, at Rosh HaShanah and comment on the year that’s ending and the new one about to begin. Today, at the start of the secular year, we feel a sense of urgency to reach out to you again as we face unprecedented financial and other challenges in 2019.

For the world of journalism, 2018 was another difficult year. Not only have journalists been physically attacked, but their work is being dismissed as fake news. Trust in institutions is waning. And Jewish journalism is surely not immune — we face many of the same pressures as well at a time when we believe our work is more important than ever. New Jersey Jewish News (NJJN) seeks to reach and help connect an increasingly fractured Jewish community where disagreements are entrenched and too often
toxic.

Throughout its 70-year existence, NJJN has striven to be both a primary source of quality journalism and a community builder. We aim to inform and even inspire our readers in order to foster conversation and begin to build bridges.

Our partnership with The New York Jewish Week enables NJJN to supply our readers with expanded coverage of national and international Jewish news. In addition, educational programs for both teens and adults bring these efforts directly into the communities we serve. Through our NJJN forums, and those of The Jewish Week in New York City, thought leaders, authors, religious figures, artists, and politicians have joined us in sometimes sharp but always respectful conversations about the challenges we face in our local communities, in Israel, and around the world.

Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

A major challenge that we and other journalists face is the fact that the cost of creating quality newspapers and websites has outstripped the traditional revenue sources we depend upon. Advertisers are cutting back just as costs to write, print, and mail our newspaper increase. Full subscriptions are increasingly difficult to secure as readers seek free content.

So, we turn to you, our readers and our community, for support. It’s a simple proposition: Without supplemental support from those who want to ensure continued, thoughtful, independent Jewish journalism, we will have trouble surviving.

There are many ways to support NJJN and The Jewish Week:

• Make a minimum contribution of $52 to Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ, or the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks to receive a subscription to what we believe is the best weekly read in Jewish life. 
• You are invited to join Jewish Week readers at a celebratory dinner on Jan. 17 prior to a timely and engaging community forum (with former Sen. Joseph Lieberman and former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in conversation with Abby Pogrebin on “The State of Our Union Today”). Click on jewishweekmediagroup.com/reception.
• We ask that you visit njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/donate and click the green “Donate” button at the bottom. In addition to supporting award-winning coverage of Jewish news, some of our educational programs, such as Write On For Israel and Fresh Ink for Teens, enrich the lives of Greater MetroWest students. You can also mail your donation to The Jewish Week, 1501 Broadway, Suite 505, New York, N.Y. 10036.

Please act now to support NJJN and The Jewish Week and add your voice to those who want to ensure that independent Jewish journalism continues to thrive and help unite us.

With thanks and with hope for a peaceful and prosperous 2019.

Stuart Himmelfarb
President

Peter Wang
Chair of the Board