Outlook Magazine is an independent, secular Jewish publication with a socialist-humanist perspective. Outlook was founded in 1962. It is published 6 times per year. The magazine has collectives in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
Editor: Carl Rosenberg
Managing Editor: Sylvia Friedman
Circulation: Harold Berson
We accept articles related to our mandate. Original articles may be printed in whole or part, with permission of the editor, provided proper credit is given. Articles are typically between 1000 - 1500 words. We recommend contacting the editor with your ideas before completing an article to ensure that it is suitable for the magazine.
Following is an appeal given by Seemah C. Berson, a member of the Vancouver Outlook Collective, at the annual Vancouver Fundraiser for Outlook Magazine, Sunday March, 26, 2000.
Not having a building, we knew the annual Lasagna Supper was out. However, to forgo a gathering at this time of year was not acceptable to our Collective's collective mind. Getting together communally is a very cultural sport, don't you think? Almost a challenge of sorts when you get to my age. The breaking of bread and bending the elbow crets a tremendous snese of well-being within and amongst us. So L'Chaim!
It is the end of Purim, and now we run headlong towards Passover, and for those who celebrate this festical in minutae, it means endless cleaning and getting rid of all the chumetz, the bread-related morels-the detritus of everyday living. It would be wonderful if we at Outlook could at this time just sweep away our debts and start out with a clean page; appeal to you for funds to do exciting things in our magazine, instead of merely keeping our heads above water. But alas, life doesn't work that way, and to put out one issue of Outlook costs over $5,000, just for printing costs.
With Pesach approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to ask you the fir kashes, the four questions.
My first comment: If we had a gazillion subscribers across the continent, ALL paid up to date, could we say Daiyenu (it is enough)?
If we had a gazillion paid-up subscribers and no salaries to pay, and no office expenses, could we then say Daiyenu?
If we had a gazillion paid-up subscribers, no salaries, and no expenses, free publishing, could we then say Daiyenu?
If we had all of the above and no appeal for funds, could we realistically say Daiyenu?
Volunteerism can only go so far. It cannot pay for the nitty-gritty, everyday running of a magazine. Therefore, we cannot, in good conscience, say Daiyenu.
Dear people, this year it is MY unhappy task to reiterate the litany of financial woes Outlook Magazine faces each year without the continued support of all our friends and readers. Our subscription rates are not sky-high, we are putting out a very credible magazine, kudos come in from all quarters-particularly now that we have moved to 40-page issues. People look forward to receiving their Outlook and hunker down for a guaranteed good read.
But I am preaching to the addicted. I feel confident that you will give generously to ensure the continuation of Canada's finest and only Jewish secular magazine which covers the world. What more can we ask for?
Thank you very much.