This is the time of the year when I take a deep dive into Google Analytics and take a look at what you, faithful readers of TC Jewfolk, chose to read. I’ve got to say I legitimately forgot some of these stories were this year. That’s what life since Oct. 7 has been like for so many of us, particularly those of in the Jewish news business.
But thanks to you, our readership has increased more than 20 percent from last year. We’ve published more than 380 pieces of content on the website alone this year, more than we ever have before.
We do this not because the work is easy; it’s not. The emotional swings are wild at times. I wrote about meeting the 8th-grade class from the Suburban Detroit day school I went to – including the grandson of my middle school Hebrew teacher – on the edge of Ramon Crater in Israel. And then hours later writing about the passing of beloved Rabbi Sim Glaser, and updating the story with quotes from his colleagues while sitting on a bus somewhere in the Negev.
But this is what being the Twin Cities’ indispensable source of local Jewish news is about. Telling the stories that inform, connect and engage. Some are stories that uplift. Some are stories that enrage. Some tell hard truths when we don’t want to hear them. But all are a part of the fabric that makes our Jewish community what it is.
So without further ado, here’s the most-read new content each month:
January: Bet Shalom Hosting Sing-A-Long Of Debbie Friedman’s Music
February: Orono Mayor Minimized Holocaust; Council Member Fundraised For Proud Boys
March: Holocaust, Genocide Education Mandate Passes First Hurdle
April: Temple Israel Announces Passing Of Rabbi Sim Glaser
May: Sophie Stillman’s Journey From Minneapolis To The IDF
June: Talmud Torah of St. Paul Closes Its Day School
July: ElMar’s Bagel Pop-Ups Taking Off In Plymouth
August: Near-Death Experience Leads To Family Forcing Legislative Action
September: Holocaust-Denying School Board Candidate Shows Up At TC Synagogues
October: Netta Epstein, Former Herzl Camper & Ozo, Killed In Hamas Attack
November: Mitchell Hamline School of Law Facing Calls Of Antisemitism
December: Minneapolis’ Leslie Fhima Not Chosen In Emotional ‘Golden Bachelor’ Finale
Most Listened to Podcasts
The Jews Are Tired: Babka Social (with Serge from Babka)
Not Your Bubbe’s Nosh: Jewish Fusion And OMG! Yummy (with Beth Lee)
This was a big year for the Jewfolk family, formally launching our Cincy Jewfolk platform and bringing on Sam Fisher as our editor in the Queen City. TC Jewfolk also won three Simon Rockower Awards for Jewish Journalism at the American Jewish Press Association’s annual conference this summer in New Orleans, competing in a category against the largest digital Jewish media organizations in the country:
- First place: Award for Excellence in Feature Writing: ‘Jewish Geography Gone Wild’: How An Informal Network Of Russian-speaking Jews is Helping Ukrainians, by Lev Gringauz
- First place: Award for Excellence in Writing about Seniors: Nursing Homes Will Fail Without State Help, Sholom Says, by Lev Gringauz
- Second place: Award for Excellence in Writing about Social Justice and Humanitarian Work: ‘We Won’t Go Back’: Thousands March on Capitol for Abortion Rights, Access by Lonny Goldsmith.
Thank you so much for your support. Whether it was reading, listening, donating, commenting or sharing, we really appreciate you being a part of our community. Your donations are vital to our ongoing success and have enabled us to reach so many of you, whether online or in real life.
And whether you’re a daily reader, catch up in our weekly newsletter, listen to our podcasts or engage with us on social media, you are a part of the Jewfolk community, a reason why we’re able to grow and get better each year. We thank you for your contributions and conversations and just generally being part of our world. We’re honored that you made us part of yours.
Thank you for being an important part of the Twin City Jewish community. I enjoy reading the news,the commentaries and many pieces you offer. It’s truly a great publication