Survive.

It is a word each and every human has felt at some point in their story and often it shapes us. Our Winter issue came to be very quickly and effortlessly through a phone call with our managing editor mentioning the word survive—and 30 minutes later we knew who and what this issue had to include and why these stories needed to be told.

One thing you will note from cover to cover is orange—both the fruit and the color. Throughout history orange has been significant in many cultures and customs, in sales and marketing, and is internationally the color that warns us of imminent danger and to keep us safe. In recent years our family started to include a single orange on our seder plate. That orange represents the fruitfulness for all Jews and the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ people and women within the Jewish community. The color also symbolizes rebirth, renewal, optimism and warmth. Orange is used symbolically in countries such as the Netherlands, where it is the national color symbolizing unity. In Japan it means happiness, love and courage; and in Hinduism it is the most sacred color, representing fire and purity. Buddhist monks wear this color not only for purity, but to be one with earth.

Every story told in this issue has courage, happiness, renewal and strength somewhere. It is inherent in each of us to survive even in times when we might not. That survival is something we fight for every day and sometimes even minute by minute. Acknowledging it exists gives us the power and fortitude to “recycle pain into purpose,” as Leanna Chroman (our cover person) says in her own tale of survival. It is about finding a way out and a way up.

For me personally, it is about generating moments for us to move forward in this time when our rights as women are being stifled, when our human compassion gets lost, and when we must make the most of our ability to lean into our life with dignity and pride while others may not be able. This issue is personal to me as I feel heavy emotions across every page. I leave this issue with hope and optimism that we will survive to thrive with hope and resilience.

With gratitude and hope, 
Jennifer L. Rubenstein, 
Editor in Chief

photograph of Jennifer Rubenstein: Marissa Mollo