Gary Rosenblatt to Step Down as Editor, Publisher of New York Jewish Week

Gary Rosenblatt, the Baltimore-born editor and publisher of the New York Jewish Week, the nation’s largest Jewish publication, recently announced he is stepping down at the end of September. He is considered by many in the field “the dean of Jewish journalism.”

“Forthe last 26 years I’ve been so fortunate to fulfill a dream in covering andbeing a part of the greatest Jewish community in the world, working with suchtalented and caring colleagues on both the staff and board of the paper,”Rosenblatt wrote in a memo to the JewishWeek’s lay board. “And now it’s time for me to make room for newleadership.”

Rosenblatt,72, came to the Jewish Week in Juneof 1993. Previously, he served as editor-in-chief at the Baltimore Jewish Times for 19 years, recruited by the publication’slate publisher, Charles A. “Chuck” Buerger. Together, they expanded the publication’scirculation base, page count and scope, while creating what was at that time widelyconsidered the nation’s premier Jewish publication.

In 1985, Rosenblatt was named one of two Pulitzer Prize finalists in the category of special reporting for his article, “The Simon Wiesenthal Center: State-of-the-Art Activism or Hollywood Hype?” The article examined if the Los Angeles-based human rights organization was truthful in marketing itself as a non-sectarian, humanitarian institution in order to receive state taxpayer funding.

It marked the first timethat a Jewish publication was cited in a Pulitzer competition.

Rosenblatt also received theUniversity of Maryland’s Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in 2000. Thatsame year, he received both praise and criticism in the Jewish community forhis series on Rabbi Baruch Lanner, an Orthodox Union educator accused of decadesof sexually harassing teenagers. Lanner was eventually convicted of sexuallyabusing two teenage girls.

Rosenblatt is the chairman of the Jewish Week Investigative Journalism Fund. Under his stewardship, the Jewish Week in 2002 started Write On For Israel, an educational/advocacy program to prepare high school students for the Middle East debate on college campuses, and in 2005 The Conversation, a retreat to discuss major issues facing American Jewry.

Rosenblatt grew up in Annapolis and graduated from the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. He lived with his maternal grandparents in Baltimore on weekdays from seventh through twelfth grade while attending T.A.

Rosenblatt is also a graduate of Yeshiva University, and he earned a master’s degree in journalism from the City University of New York. He worked at TV Guide prior to moving back to Baltimore.

Rosenblatt’s father, Rabbi Morris D. Rosenblatt, served as spiritual leader of Congregation Kneseth Israel in Annapolis for four decades until his death in 1985. His mother, Rebbetzin Esther Friedlander Rosenblatt, a beloved figure in the Annapolis Jewish community, died in 2009.

Theboard of the Jewish Week announcedthat Rich Waloff, the publication’s associate publisher and chief revenueofficer for the past 25 years, will succeed Rosenblatt as publisher.

RobertGoldblum, managing editor of the JewishWeek for the past 26 years, will continue in his position. Goldblum workedwith Rosenblatt in Baltimore from 1991 to 1993 before joining him at the Jewish Week.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work as a team withRich and Rob for all these years,” Rosenblatt said. “They are the best at theirjobs of anyone I know, and like brothers to me. I am so glad they will carry onin serving our readers and community.”

Anew Jewish Week editor is expected tobe announced in the coming weeks.

Stuart Himmelfarb, president of the publication’s board ofdirectors, called Rosenblatt “the premier Jewish journalist in America. Hiscombination of editorial and reporting skills, and commitment to strengthenJewish life has enabled us to achieve The JewishWeek’s dual mission of journalistic excellence and community building.

“His retirement is bittersweet for us all: while we wishhim all the best as this new chapter begins and express our deep thanks for allhe did as editor and publisher, we will miss his steady hand, sense of humor,moral compass and leadership.”

Rosenblatt will continue contributing to the Jewish Week through writing occasionally and his involvement with the publication’s educational projects.