American Jewish Committee Convinces World Book Publishing to Eliminate Slang Use of 'jew'

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 26 February 2001

The World Book Publishing Company, responding to the American Jewish Committee, has deleted the use of the word "jew" as an intransitive verb. World Book is the distinguished publisher of encyclopedias, dictionaries, CD Roms, and other learning materials for home and school.

In a letter to the president of World Book Publishing, Dr. Murray Friedman, AJC's Middle-Atlantic States Regional Director wrote, "If you look at other contemporary standard references, you will not find the word "jew" listed as a verb at all. While we prefer such a practice, we could be understanding if you wanted to keep this antique usage of the term, but in that event, you certainly must designate it not only as slang, but as a deeply offensive usage, much as most dictionaries refer to other such regrettable terms in the English language, such as "nigger."

In a response from World Book, managing editor Maureen Liebenson thanked Dr. Friedman "for calling this issue to our attention."

The offensive tenor has been already removed from the World Book Dictionary. It will also be removed from the next print edition. Ms. Liebenson said that World Book, as a result of AJC's input, has searched their entire databases for other archaic and possibly offensive references and have targeted them for deletion as well.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org