''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 history

The magazine was first published in November 1946 by the Morning Freiheit Association under the name ''Jewish Life'' and was associated with the

Communist Party USA The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, also referred to as the American Communist Party mainly during the 20th century, is a communist party in the United States. It was established ...

. In 1956 it broke with the Party and took its current name. From 1959 to 2000, it was edited by Morris U. Schappes. 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 The Workers Circle or Der Arbeter Ring (), formerly The Workmen's Circle, is an American Jews, Jewish nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic justice, Jewish community and education, including Yiddish studies, and Ashkenazi Jews, ...

as a benefit of membership. In 2018, the magazine hired a new editorial team composed entirely of millennial Jews. As of 2022, the magazine had 5,200 print subscribers and more than a million online readers each year. 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. Arielle Angel is editor-in-chief. 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.

Editorial position

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 Currents'' relaunch in 2018 resulted in the rapid growth of the magazine and its community across the US and internationally.

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician and activist who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from the state of Vermont. He is the longest-serving independ ...

wrote an essay for the revamped magazine on his relationship with Judaism. Alongside a book review by

Judith Butler Judith Pamela Butler (born February 24, 1956) is an American feminist philosopher and gender studies scholar whose work has influenced political philosophy, ethics, and the fields of third-wave feminism, queer theory, and literary theory. In ...

, the magazine drew attention with pieces by these high-profile individuals. 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 The Palestinian right of return is the political position or principle that Palestinian refugees, both Immigrant generations#First generation, first-generation refugees ( people still alive ) and their descendants ( people ), have a right to ...

, and boycotting Israeli businesses in the occupied West Bank.

References

External links

* {{Organized Jewish Life in the United States Modern liberal magazines published in the United States Jewish magazines published in the United States Jewish magazines published in New York (state) Quarterly magazines published in the United States Jewish anti-Zionism in the United States Secular Jewish culture in the United States Jewish socialism Magazines established in 1946 1946 establishments in New York (state)

Publication history

Editorial position

See also

References

External links