The Chicago Jewish Star was founded in 1990 by Douglas Wertheimer, editor and president of Star Media Group Inc., and Gila Wertheimer, associate editor, with its first issue appearing February 22, 1991. It entered a Chicago Jewish newspaper field dominated by the Jewish Federation-run, controlled-circulation JUF News (founded in 1972), and the long-running independent weekly The Sentinel (founded in 1911)."'Chicago Jewish Star' Begins Publication," San Diego Jewish Times, March 14, 1991, p. 30; Editorial, "The Chicago Jewish Star," Intermountain Jewish News, March 15, 1991, Section A, page 28; Erin Alexander, Jeff Borden, Alex Chun and Lisa Collins, "Street Talk: A Star is born," Crain's Chicago Business, March 25, 1991, p. 10. The Jewish Star was the first new Jewish newspaper published solely for the Chicago area in nearly 75 years.In the period from 1918 – when the bi-weekly Chicago Jewish Chronicle first appeared (American Jewish Year Book, Volume 51, 1950. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1950, p. 492) – to 1991, there were several monthly or less frequently appearing Jewish publications, but no new newspapers. The National Jewish Post, of Indianapolis, began a Chicago edition edited by its Indianapolis editor, Gabriel M. Cohen, in 1953 (American Jewish Year Book, Volume 56, 1955. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1955, p. 552); see also Chicago Jewish Star, Feb. 22, 1991, p. 4.
