Ayelet Brinn, "Government Censorship and Surveillance of the American Yiddish Press During World War I"

Ayelet Brinn, "Government Censorship and Surveillance of the American Yiddish Press During World War I"

From Frankely Judaic: Explorations in Jewish Studies by University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

May 14, 2026 · 16 min

About this episode

Historian Ayelet Brin discusses government censorship and surveillance of the American Yiddish press during World War I.

Historian Ayelet Brin discusses her research on the American Yiddish press during World War I, focusing on government censorship and surveillance. She highlights the immense influence of the Yiddish press, the broad powers of the Espionage Act and Trading with the Enemy Act, and the role of the Bureau of Translation. Brin also examines the complex dynamics between newspapers, the government, and perceptions of Jewish loyalty in the United States, as well as the broader implications for American Jewish history and the relevance of these events today.

People in this episode

Guest: Ayelet Brin

Topics covered

  • government censorship
  • Yiddish press
  • World War I
  • Jewish loyalty
  • American Jewish history
  • surveillance

Keywords

  • censorship
  • Yiddish press
  • World War I
  • Espionage Act
  • Jewish history
  • surveillance
  • government
  • loyalty

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American Yiddish press, Bureau of Translation, Espionage Act, Trading with the Enemy Act

Places: United States

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