Nothing brings to life Jewish culture more than Shabbat. My fondest memories from Jewish elementary school are of my first grade teacher handing out challah every Friday as the class gathered around to hear the weekly parsha before joining the rest of the school for Kabbalat Shabbat services.
Shabbat dinner in my family means cousins and friends coming together, gathering close around a Shabbat table candlelight, an out of tune Shalom Aleichem, the Kiddush, and the blessing over the Challah. After sharing the latest life updates, catching up on the latest shows, and perhaps a bit of kvetching, the conversation almost always turns to politics. I credit these dinner debates to my keen interest in current events. Nowadays, these conversations seem less like friendly debate and more like divisive conversations. Nonetheless, every Shabbat and holiday dinner still involves sharing a meal with those of opposing views. No matter the political disagreements of those around the table, we all appreciate being together to celebrate what is most important to us: Jewish culture.
At a time when Jewish identity is so highly politicized, illuminating the breadth of Jewish culture and the depth of its richness is Nu’s central mission. Nu Magazine unites creative, intellectual, and passionate Jewish students from across a spectrum of identities—from shomer Shabbat to secular, cultural to traditional, politically active and neutral. At Nu, we explore historical and present day Jewish culture, people, and events in Montreal and beyond, while reflecting on our own Jewish identities and experiences. Our weekly meetings are filled with laughter and our writers interrupting each other with one sentence overlapping with the next, as Jewish culture invites. As a student run magazine, it is the enthusiasm of our participants that allows us to thrive. And I hope the ruach this year grows tenfold.
During my first year at McGill, I felt ostracized from campus journalism, and that my Jewish identity was defined purely by politics. The space created by Nu Magazine remedied both of these feelings. Starting as a staff writer for Nu’s inaugural semester last fall, I was delighted to have found a publication where I could write, and crucially, where my Jewish identity was just about being Jewish. The meetings and launch parties brought me dear friendships, while the weekly publication of four articles cemented Nu as a campus paper that is here to stay.
In this second year of Nu Magazine, I am excited for a new year of writing, cultural exploration, and friendship. I hope to see our comedy section expanded, because what would Jewish culture be without humour? With a growing team of writers and illustrators, I also look forward to more introspective articles and creative pieces. Another goal is to continue fostering a safe environment for Jewish culture that invites student creativity to flourish. Mostly, though, I hope that more students are drawn to the unifying Jewish cultural hub and soul of Nu Magazine, and that its second year sees more submissions sent, more articles published, and more copies read.
Thank you to all of the students who contribute, the Jewish Studies Professors, and McGill staff who support us. Thank you to the individuals and organizations who have recognized the importance of Nu’s mission. Your support is essential to our growth and the building of something that has already positively influenced the university experience of so many McGill students.
Sincerely,
Sophie Block
Powered by Froala Editor
