This is the interesting and provocative magazine of “progressive” Jewish thought. While it’s not always right on the mark it does provide a contemporary voice for Jewish life in Canada and the world. Ironically, it is the articles and book reviews that focus on Jewish history that most intrigue me, such as S. Anski’s “Encounters in Czarist Russia” and the profile of Jose Marti, a Spanish lawyer who fought for an independent Cuba and was a great friend to Jews in the late 19th century. I guess I’m reacting to the more ardent tone of the current events articles, as well as acknowledging that for better or worse contemporary North American Jewish life often seems distilled and unauthentic. I think Outlook could probably use a slightly less intellectual focus — even their movie reviews sound like critical essays — and might try to engage with present day Jewish culture with a bit more verve. Still, it is one of the few main-stream Jewish magazines worth reading.
magazine / Jan/Feb 96, 32 pages / publisher: The Canadian Jewish Outlook Society / main creator: Henry Rosenthal (editor) / $3.75, 8 for $30 / #3-6184 Ash Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3G9