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Editorial
About two years ago the
first issue of the
European-Jewish magazine "GOLEM" was published - a venture . The name
Golem therefore stands not for foolishness, but metaphorically for an open,
creative process of Jewish culture in Europe.
A lot has happened since the first issue was published. The great resonance
encouraged us to try to create a firm finanical footing for "GOLEM " and to
intensify our cooperation with related Jewish initiatives in
Europe.
"GOLEM" now will be published by the Philo-Verlag. One can subscribe to the
magazine or buy issues individually. The magazine is published in three
languages (English, French, and German) to express a pan-European approach.
The point of departure for this magazine is a pluralistic and polyphonic
understanding of Jewish life in Europe. Equal space is given to different
forms and developments in Sephardic and Ashkenazi life in Eastern and Western
Europe. New Jewish networks between European capitals started forming in the
1990s. They focus on fine arts, literature, religion, philosophy and politics.
The magazine "GOLEM", published by the Berlin group of artists known as
Meshulash, sees itself as part of this network and would like to to offer a
platform for these networks. It wants to offer a forum for initiatives that
express European Jewish identity through specific projects. This is why this
publication series has an open character -- editors of the group "MESHULASH"
will create three issues while the fourth magazine will be open to an
editorial staff of a different European-Jewish initiative.
In addition to the magazine "GOLEM" we are also looking for contacts in other
realms,such as fine art, film or music in order to carry out collaborative
projects in various European cities. If you would like to help us or have
concrete suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The following magazine issues will be published as part of the series in
2001/2002 volume:
Paradiso@Diaspora: Influences and interactions
The first European-Jewish Diaspora was on Italian soil. This topic provides a
platform for showing various ways in which Jewish culture and its neighboring
cultures influenced each other. This can be reflected in various areas of
life, including cuisine, music, language, literature, architecture,
psychoanalysis or philosophy.
GOLEM: Re-Generations
Re-Generation has a constant theme in European Jewish life. Some questions
that contributors may wish to answer are:How does Jewish life in Europe
regenerate itself after the break caused by the Shoah? Which new
constellations exist for European Jewry after the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Which post-war discontinuities have influenced Jewish life in Europe today?
The current issue of "GOLEM" is
dedicated to the "family". The first issue of "GOLEM" asked the question:
"What is Jewish identity in Europe today?" Now we are taking an inward look,
the links between modern and ancient Jewish life.
Telling history in the form of stories
has always been a very important part of Jewish tradition. Poems,
documentations, short stories, jokes, photographs and art give an intimate
insight into Jewish family life. The concept of family life today ranges from
the traditional to the non-traditional, through East- and Western Europe to
the New World and Israel. All this and more is to be found in this issue.
One example of the pluralistic outlook
of "GOLEM", within the theme of family, is the text "Black
and white and color" by
Toby Axelrod. In her text, the author describes her two grandfathers who
represent two very different positions -- diversity within one family,
standing for the diversity within
Jewish culture.
Michael Frajman
Translation: Toby Axelrod
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