Jewish Currents
Template:Short description Template:Italics Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox magazine Jewish Currents is an American progressive Jewish quarterly magazine and news site whose content reflects the politics of the Jewish left. It features news, political commentary, analysis, and Jewish arts and literature.
Publication historyEdit
The magazine was first published in November 1946 by the Morning Freiheit Association under the name Jewish Life<ref name=":2" /> and was associated with the Communist Party USA. In 1956 it broke with the Party and took its current name. From 1959 to 2000, it was edited by Morris U. Schappes.<ref name=":1" /> Following Schappes' retirement in 2000, Editor Emeritus Lawrence Bush grew and sustained the magazine for almost two decades, writing columns such as "Religion and Skepticism," contending playfully with many manifestations of the "spirituality" of contemporary American culture. Other regular columns under Bush's tenure included "Jewish Women Now," "It Happened in Israel," "Inside the Jewish Community," "Our Secular Jewish Heritage," "Around the World," and "Mameloshn: Yiddish Poetry." From March–April 2005 until the March-April 2009 issue, Jewish Currents was distributed to all members of the Workmen's Circle as a benefit of membership.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2018, the magazine hired a new editorial team composed entirely of millennial Jews.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As of 2022, the magazine had 5,200 print subscribers and more than a million online readers each year.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Its budget is $1.6 million, drawing on its $1 million endowment as well as contributions from individuals and foundations to support 12 full-time staffers.<ref name=":0" /> Arielle Angel is editor-in-chief.<ref name=":0" />
In 2021, the magazine apologized to readers for running an advertisement for the Dorot Fellowship, a leadership training program in Israel for American Jews. Some on the left said the ad was proof that the magazine was secretly Zionist.<ref name="Apology">Template:Cite news</ref>
Editorial positionEdit
Concentrating on breaking news, analysis, culture, art and more, the magazine is aimed at progressive Jews, and to be the voice of that community in the broader American left. Jewish CurrentsTemplate:' relaunch in 2018 resulted in the rapid growth of the magazine and its community across the US and internationally.<ref name=":1" /> Bernie Sanders wrote an essay for the revamped magazine on his relationship with Judaism.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alongside a book review by Judith Butler, the magazine drew attention with pieces by these high-profile individuals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The magazine emerged as a leading voice of the American Jewish left. Its editorial voice, led by contributors such as Peter Beinart, is strongly critical of Israel and advocates positions such as the Palestinian right of return, and boycotting Israeli businesses in the occupied West Bank.<ref name="Apology" />
See alsoEdit
- Institute for Nonprofit News (member)