WELCOMING OUR NEW WORKMEN'S CIRCLE READERS

Beginning with our March-April, 2005 issue, Jewish Currents has been coming into the homes of all members of the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring as a benefit of membership. Our bimonthly magazine's circulation thus has jumped more than 500 percent to 16,000, which has opened up wonderful new opportunities for expanded impact as a Jewish journal of politics and culture. The Workmen's Circle, in turn, has gained decision making influence through the addition of four members of the organization to our Editorial Board, which meets twice monthly, and the eventual doubling of the membership of our Editorial Advisory Council, which meets four times annually.

This new relationship is the result of two years of intra- and inter-organizational soul-searching, made possible by the ascent to leadership, within both organizations, of a younger generation that is intent on remodeling the future for secular and progressive Jews. By coming together in a creative partnership, we are healing a fractured political past that was very real and painful for many of our parents and grandparents but has very little relevance, thankfully, for the future of either the Workmen's Circle or Jewish Currents.

That future only stands to gain from our working together and seeing one another as trustworthy landslayt from the land of yiddishkayt. We therefore warmly welcome our new readers from the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring. We hope that each of you will find in Jewish Currents a reflection of your own political and cultural heritage and identity, as well as a stimulating, challenging mix of voices, images, information and ideas. We hope, too, that you will find the magazine worthy of 105-year-old legacy of your organization and will respond with letters, gift subscriptions, and the tsedoke that we need to serve this enlarged readership.

As for our veteran readers, we urge you to celebrate the expansion of Jewish Currents into a new realm of relevance. We are gaining, in the Workmen's Circle, a partner worthy of the loyalty and dedication that you have shown to our magazine. Now 60 years old, Jewish Currents has always been a "work-in-progress" — progress towards a shenere un besere velt. Let us continue that work, with renewed strength, together.