Simon Gilbert

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English journalist and leader writer (born Simon Gelberg); on the staff of The Jewish Chronicle in 1897–1921 and 1931–46, signing "Watchman"

Simon Gilbert

Born 1869
Died October 1946
Occupation Journalist; leader writer; film industry worker
Known for Leader writer and associate editor of The Jewish Chronicle; the "In the Communal Armchair" column as "Watchman"
Education Stepney Jewish Schools; Jews' College; University College London

Simon Gilbert (born Simon Gelberg; 1869 – October 1946) was an English journalist who worked on The Jewish Chronicle from 1897 to 1921 and again from 1931 until his death. He was the paper's star reporter and leader writer in the years of the campaign against the Aliens Act, and from 1931 its associate editor, writing most of the leading articles and the weekly column "In the Communal Armchair" under the pseudonym "Watchman".[1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

Cesarani writes that Gilbert was an East Ender who was educated at the Stepney Jewish Schools, Jews' College and University College London, where he took a BA in Semitics; he gives his dates as 1869–1946.[1] The 1949 centenary volume says he changed his name from Gelberg to Gilbert "during the first world war".[3] It describes him as a product of the Stepney Jewish Schools and Jews' College who, after taking his degree at London University, concluded that he had no real bent for the ministry and determined to go into Fleet Street. He approached Lucien Wolf, "the most prominent Jew in English journalism at the time", who could see no reason for helping him; Israel Zangwill gave him an introduction to Ernest Parke, editor and proprietor of the Star, who commissioned him to write some of its editorials, and later an introduction to Asher Myers at the Chronicle.[3][5] Cesarani says Zangwill "spotted his talents and propelled him into journalism" and that Gilbert was for several years a leader writer on the Morning Leader, the Daily News and the Star, and stood as a Liberal candidate for the London County Council.[1]

The Jewish Chronicle, 1897–1921

Cesarani dates his first period on the Chronicle from 1897 to 1921.[1] As Simon Gelberg he was a young reporter who in 1901 covered the first meeting of the British Brothers' League, questioning its chairman, Sir Howard Vincent MP; Cesarani says his "incisive analysis of anti-alienism" soon appeared in the editorial columns.[6][7] In January and February 1904, on the instructions of Morris Duparc, he provided weekly reports from the East End showing that immigration was declining and pressure on housing easing.[8] The 1949 volume says that "a leading part" in the paper's campaign against the Aliens Bill of 1903 and Act of 1905 was taken by Gelberg, and that he fought a long struggle with the proprietor Israel Davis, who did not share his "fire and fury against the anti-alienists".[3][5]

When the Act came into force in 1905 Davis, according to Cesarani, wanted the paper to accept defeat, but Gelberg refused to write the necessary leading article and offered his resignation; Davis relented and the paper said that the Act "should be fought as Church-rates were once contested".[9][10] The 1949 volume tells the story in similar terms, adding that Davis "knew that he was receiving first-class service at almost sweated rate".[5]

Film industry and return

Cesarani says that Gilbert then left journalism for the film and entertainment industry and returned to the Chronicle in 1931.[1] The 1949 volume says there was an interlude from 1918 to 1931 during which he was busy in the film world and ceased all contributions apart from occasional signed letters, and that on his return, after thirteen years' absence from the staff, he disposed of his film interests, "anxious to return to his old craft", and rejoined as associate editor, writing most of the leading articles and notes.[11][12][4]

Associate editor, 1931–46

Because Jack M. Rich "was no journalist", Cesarani says, the leading articles and "In the Communal Armchair" were entrusted to Gilbert.[1] The 1949 volume says he signed the weekly column "Watchman", taking the place of Leopold Greenberg's column signed "Mentor"; it says that when Ivan Greenberg became editor in 1936 Gilbert continued as leader writer and associate editor, and Cesarani likewise says he continued as associate editor, writing the leading articles and "In the Communal Armchair".[4][2] Cesarani says that in the 1930s Gilbert and Rich were "moderates" on Zionist politics, dismissing Vladimir Jabotinsky's challenge as "one of those harmless fireworks intended for indoor use".[13] Cesarani describes Gilbert as believing that religion and tradition inevitably set Jews apart and that it was futile to strive for total acceptance, and as favouring, in August 1934, the deployment of Jewish anti-Fascist speakers at Speakers' Corner; in June 1936, Cesarani says, he "galvanised the defence debate" with an article on "The Question of Self-Defence".[14][15] He wrote of the Board of Deputies in April 1934 that it was losing influence over "the new Jewry that has arisen in what is loosely called the East End".[16] Cesarani records that after the war it was revealed that he and Ivan Greenberg were among those on a blacklist compiled in 1940 by the Nazi security police of people to be arrested at the first opportunity.[17] In 1946 the editorials on Palestine were, Cesarani says, "written by several hands, including Simon Gilbert, until his death in October 1946".[18]

Death

Gilbert died in October 1946, according to Cesarani and the 1949-volume note recording his death.[18][11] The 1949 volume adds that "experts claimed to be able to recognise his contributions" by their incisive style and mordant wit, "so often leavened by vivid personal recollections of the former days in Anglo-Jewry".[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 143.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 158.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Jewish Chronicle 1841–1941: A Century of Newspaper History (London, 1949), p. 119.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Jewish Chronicle 1841–1941: A Century of Newspaper History (London, 1949), p. 169.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Jewish Chronicle 1841–1941: A Century of Newspaper History (London, 1949), p. 120.
  6. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 74.
  7. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 75.
  8. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 97.
  9. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 99.
  10. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 100.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 The Jewish Chronicle 1841–1941: A Century of Newspaper History (London, 1949), p. 132.
  12. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle 1841–1941: A Century of Newspaper History (London, 1949), p. 168.
  13. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 147.
  14. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 148.
  15. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 150.
  16. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 145.
  17. ↑ David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 168.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 David Cesarani, The Jewish Chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841–1991 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p. 193.
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