Commentary Inc.

History

Commentary magazine was founded in November 1945 by the American Jewish Committee, an international advocacy organization for the Jewish people, with Elliot Cohen as its founding editor. From its founding, Commentary was meant to serve as an expression of beliefs, especially as it regards the idea of the United States, America’s role in advancing Western civilization, and the continued existence of the Jewish people. Cohen called the magazine “an act of faith in our possibilities in America.” ³

Originally a left-of-center publication, Commentary later became a flagship journal of neoconservatism in the 1970s and claims to have produced articles that have been both controversial and hugely influential, influencing debates and discussions in universities and among policy analysts, activists, and serious thinkers around the world. ³

Commentary continues its singular approach to the considerations of Judaism, Jewish life, and the traditions of Western civilization. Under subsequent editors, Norman Podhoretz, Neal Kozodoy, and John Podhoretz, Commentary remains committed to sustaining the future of the Jewish people, calling attention to anti-Semitism while defending Zionism and the State of Israel, and protecting the ideals of the West. ³

Contemporary Writings

In an April 2023 article, Commentary writer James Meigs was critical of the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, which would allocate billions of dollars to build new microchip factories in the U.S. The article called the Act a “disaster in the making” that will fail and pointed to the failure of most top-down industrial-policy programs, the potential for the program to become an insider racket, and flaws in the administration’s ideologies about how the economy and private enterprise work. The article suggested that the U.S. semiconductor industry is not in fact challenged by a lack of capital, but instead by cumbersome regulations that block or deter the construction of new plants as well as outdated regulations that prevent the mining of mineral resources required for making microchips. ⁴

Commentary published several articles following Israel’s November 2022 election that saw Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu return to power at the head of a right-leaning coalition. The articles primarily focused on the hysterical reaction and protests of Israelis and American Jews to the victory of Israel’s new coalition government. Commentary editor John Podhoretz stated that Netanyahu’s coalition planned to enact an activist agenda, which angered, scared, or alarmed those who did not vote for parties of the right, but that the reactionary protests of the left are self-righteous. Podhoretz went on to say that the new government came to power in a legitimate election and that although the new government had mistakenly made some hasty decisions, it was the protesters who have behaved in unprecedented ways and are upsetting the ideals of a proper democratic process. ⁵

Funding

Commentary is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While Commentary does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Jewish Communal Fund ($137,300 in 2016), ⁶ the Tina and Steven Price Charitable Foundation ($25,000 in 2019), ⁷ and the Thomas W. Smith Foundation ($25,000 in 2017). ⁸

People

As of 2023, John Podhoretz was the editor of Commentary. ¹

As of 2023, Commentary Inc.’s board of trustees included Michael Leffell, Daniel Benson, Steven Price, Dan Senor. ¹ Michael Leffell is the chair of the board of Commentary and a trustee of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America. ⁹ Daniel Benson is a lawyer involved in commercial litigation. ¹⁰ Steven Price is a trustee of the Tina and Steven Price Charitable Foundation and formerly sat on the board of UJA Federation of New York. ¹¹ Dan Senor is a trustee of the Paul E. Singer Foundation. ¹²

Other members of the board include Paul J. Isaac, Liz Lange, Jay Lefkowitz, Gary L. Rosenthal, and Michael W. Schwartz. ¹