Introducing: The Cholent
Let me fill your void.
Welcome to The Cholent, currently the only independent Jewish news source in greater Seattle.
I’m Emily. You might know me from Jewish in Seattle magazine, or before that, the JTNews. I’ve lost two Jewish journalism jobs in 10 years due to lack of revenue. There are lots of reasons for this: the decline of traditional journalism, the rise of social media, the hollowing out of the print advertising industry, general lack of community support, and the final nail in the coffin: Covid. I’m launching this Substack newsletter because I still think there is a need for local Jewish journalism, and this is the easiest, lowest overhead way to do it.
Even though we have media coming at us from every direction, I believe we need a central place to get stories and interviews from around the community. Without a central news source, we are left to rely on event calendars and synagogue and organizational newsletters. Those are perfectly fine things, but I fear over time we will drift further into our own comfortable corners of information and conversation.
Also, I missed writing for and about my community. There are tons of interesting people living in and connected to Seattle. I am working on some reported pieces, but most of these posts will be interviews, as they take less time (yet, still, so much time!). Just call me the Joe Rogan of Seattle Jewish newsletters.
Finally, I had been thinking for a long time about having the freedom to write what I want, to tell stories that are timely, compelling, and maybe difficult. I want to share my own opinions, when appropriate. I want to share my own opinions when not appropriate.
I hope that this is not the end of the road for Jewish journalism in Seattle. I hope it changes, evolves, that Jewish in Seattle magazine comes back, or that someone gets up enough energy to start a legit news site.
Until then, subscribe! Content, for now, will be free, but subscriptions are available starting at $5/month. Think of it as a new way of signing up for a newspaper (let’s imagine that’s still a thing!). More funding means more content and maybe more writers. Paid monthly subscribers will get periodic perks, including access to a shoutout/community announcement section AND a free half-dozen bagels from Zylberschtein’s (once a year offer, with purchase). Founding members ($180) can sponsor a newsletter with a message of their choice, have access to the shoutout/announcement section, AND get two babka buns or slices of cheesecake at Zylberschtein’s (one-time offer, with purchase).
Have an idea/want to reach me? Shoot an email to thecholentseattle@gmail.com.