It’s been more than five years since my friend and Jmore’s editor-in-chief, Alan Feiler, called me with some news.
He told me that Dr. Scott Rifkin along with three managing partners — Jonathan Oleisky, John Coulson and Lauren Esakoff — were planning to start a new Jewish media outlet, something I would have thought was impossible until receiving the call.
After all, didn’t everyone know that community journalism was dying? As for Jewish community journalism, wasn’t it already dead?
Who would be brave enough to do something so meshuga?
Nevertheless, Alan went on to tell me that he had been tapped to be the publication’s editor-in-chief. He was calling to see if I had interest in being involved in some way. There would be freelance opportunities, but that was also the position of associate editor — Alan’s second-in-command.
Recently, I had started my own writing and communications business and was pleased with how my small company was growing. Still, Alan and I worked well together at another company and I had always hoped for the opportunity to be his partner in crime.
Now that the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t say no.
Alan told me that he before he could offer me the position, I would have to meet with “the two Johns.”
Within a week or so, I met with Oleisky and Coulson. I felt immediately comfortable with them and they seemed to feel similarly about me.
One evening soon after my interviews, I was out for dinner in Hampden with some friends, when Alan called. “You got the job,” he said.
It was customary, I knew, to ask for a few days to think the offer over. But I was so thrilled that I didn’t want to take any chances on losing the opportunity.
So, there was no negotiating and no sleeping on it. I accepted the job right on the spot.
In the five years since becoming Jmore’s associate editor, I’ve never looked back. I’ve learned a tremendous amount about editing from Alan and have enjoyed writing about anything that piques my interest. I like to think that my skills as a writer have matured during my years at Jmore and I continue to be amazed at how the Jewish community provides so much grist for the mill. There’s always something going on that warrants our coverage.
I’m not going to lie. When Jmore began, I wasn’t sure if there was room for another Jewish publication in Charm City. I’ve been perpetually amazed at the reception the publication has enjoyed from the community. I am grateful to Scott Rifkin for giving the staff and management of Jmore the chance and the support to thrive. Fifty issues later, I am proud to be part of this fine media platform.
Where would I like to see myself in five years? Right here with Alan and the rest of Jmore’s incomparable staff. Here’s to Jmore and the community that makes it all possible.
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