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October 1, 2004/Tishri 6 5765, Vol. 57, No. 5
Magazine aimed at Jewish life to debut
STEPHANIE N. HENSCHEL
Staff Writer
American Jewish Spirit, a Jewish lifestyle magazine published by Phoenix-based Jewish Spirit Media, will debut in January.
The magazine, on the drawing board since March, will take a more personal approach than many Jewish publications, according to Rabbi Zvi Holland of the Phoenix Community Kollel, executive director of the magazine.
Jewish Spirit Media is a Torah-based media company whose goal is to produce outreach publications for all kinds of Jews. It was Holland who came up with the concept.
"There's a tremendous positive energy in the Jewish community that's not common," Holland said. As the community focuses on more communal issues in an attempt to "fix the world," other more personal issues get lost.
"There are hundreds of thousands of Jews involved in Jewish education organizations across the country, and these people are looking for meaning," Holland said. "I thought it would be a no-brainer to get all these organizations together."
The magazine will be geared toward those who are "actively involved in the search for Jewish meaning and Jewish living," Holland said.
Robin Meyerson, publisher of the magazine, said she became intrigued with the idea when she traveled to Tucson with Holland for a speaking engagement at the University of Arizona Hillel. She told the students that she had left her career in publishing, marketing and sales to stay home to take care of her three children and to learn more about Judaism.
On the return trip to Phoenix, Holland asked Meyerson if she would be interested in getting involved with a magazine geared toward individual issues. "It was such an exciting idea, and I could use my experience in publishing," Meyerson said.
Meyerson said that no other publication focuses on the personal issues of what it means to be a Jew.
"While there are dozens of Jewish content publications in print in the U.S., none are dedicated exclusively to the Jewish individual seeking wisdom and inspiration for living a successful, meaningful and joyous life in the spirit of Judaism," she said. "This magazine is not touching on politics, it's not touching on controversial issues."
The magazine will hold its launch party in late October in New York at KosherFest, an international trade event for the kosher food and food service industries. Sample issues will be available at the event before the magazine makes its first distribution to 200,000 Jews across the country in January. Meyerson said the launch is to let potential subscribers and advertisers know the magazine will be available. The publication will be printed eight times annually.
Meyerson said that local residents most likely will find American Jewish Spirit at area congregations, organizations and stores. Subscriptions are $18 per year. Single issue cost will be $3.95.
To learn more or to subscribe, visit www.ajspirit.com.
Contact the writer here
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