Your Hold is Ready! (11.26.23)

November 26, 2023

Hello all!

It’s a struggle to know even where to begin with this newsletter, because so much has happened since the end of last month. First and foremost, I suppose, is to mark that the genocide of Palestinians continues after more than six weeks of misery, temporary cease-fire (in effect as I write this) notwithstanding. I have been heartened by collective participation in actions, support circles, special issues/publications, and other acts of solidarity and care in the face of unimaginable pain. I join many others –– including fellow antizionist Jews, who carry embodied & enminded memories of genocide and feel called to speak out against the violence committed in our name –– in calling for an end to the occupation of Palestine and the abolition of the state of “israel.”

This stance, growing ever-more popular as more of us become aware of the conditions under which Palestinians have been living and dying under british and then israeli occupation, has caused instability and numerous forms of loss for many outside Palestine, too. Just today (as I write this), three Palestinian students were shot in Vermont. Activists and scholars are losing their lives and livelihoods for coming out in public support of Palestine, and facing threats to their and their families’ lives and safety.

In the grand scheme of all of this, I’m relatively fortunate. I have lost my shul community, but maintain and am gaining community with other Jews who share my values. As many of you have likely heard, I resigned in early November from my position as associate editor at Frontier Poetry in response to their “neutrality” on Palestine, following Sarah Ghazal Ali’s courageous resignation from Palette Poetry.

I am writing to inform you of my design to resign from Frontier Poetry, effective immediately, due to Discover New Art’s incompatibility with my ethical commitments as a leader, as an artist, and as a person. While my brief time at Frontier has afforded me the opportunity to work with colleagues I deeply value and writers I admire, Frontier’s neutrality on the genocide of the Palestinian people, and the ongoing occupation of their land, is a position that I cannot abide. As a Jew, I believe firmly that the devastation being committed in my name must be condemned on no uncertain terms. I cannot continue to work with an organization that fails to do this. I hope that you will, in the future, consider the opportunity to offer sincere apologies and material reparations to the Palestinian community, and recognize that genuine freedom of expression is only possible under material conditions of safety from confinement, famine, and militarized terror. Sincerely, Sarah Cavar

Both publications are among those managed by Discover New Art. It was in some ways a difficult decision –– to leave a paying gig at a well-regarded entity is never easy –– and in others, a no-brainer, because I still need to sleep at night. I think that that is the calculation many of us are making as we leave organizations and positions that are neutral/supportive (and in this case, there is no difference) of the occupation and genocide. I hope more will follow suit, and that we are able to find spaces better aligned with truth, justice, and peace.

In semi-related news, both of the conferences that I mentioned in the last newsletter went excellently, and both spaces became sites of connection not only around our existing work, but also around the work of decolonization. In the case of the American Studies Association conference, we collectively chose to take Saturday, Nov. 4 off to attend a pro-Palestine demonstration in Montreal. An unexpected, positive side-effect of that is that my panel, which was scheduled for that day, ended up being pre-recorded. You can watch it on YouTube (with me, in my pajamas, as ad-hoc moderator) here (link is to my talk!).

Over at manywor(l)ds, we’ve also got some exciting stuff brewing. We made a formal statement in solidarity with Palestine and all communities currently facing genocide. Over on twitter (sigh) I’ve compiled a list of 100+ magazines and presses that have expressed formal support for Palestinian liberation. If people are interested, I can make a list of some of my favorites and publish it here? It would probably be paid subscriber only, at least at first (obligatory: consider throwing a few dollars a month at me! I just left one of my jobs!)

Some more literary news! Part 2 of the beestung special issue I edited, TRANS IS THE FUTURE / THE FUTURE IS TRANS is now live! See part 1 here. manywor(l)ds also has a new issue out, and submissions are open again on Dec. 1.

Lastly, I’m guest editing a special issue of Sinister Wisdom, a longstanding and iconic lesbian+ literary magazine (and one of my first-ever publications back in 2017!). It’s called Mad Dykes, Queer Worlds, and it’s going to be awesome. Submissions are open now. I’ll be taking over SW’s Instagram page the week of Dec. 3, too, so come check out some Mad their/herstory, book and publication recs, and more over there.

Thanks for sticking with this very long preamble. As I said –– a lot’s happening, and that’s not even touching my own dissertation stuff, plans to travel back to visit family, me completing my first 5k ever (!!!) and more.

But you’ve read enough about me already. It’s time for some recommendations.

Today’s Recs:

Books:

Podcasts

Poetry & Prose & In-Between:

Essays and Articles:

My Recent Work: