Announcing Dreamers Magazine Issue 17…
Welcome to Issue 17 of Dreamers Magazine. I am continually amazed by how stories and poems can open our minds, touch our hearts, and make us see the world differently. In Dreamers Magazine Issue 17, our feature story, “The Bar Mitzvah Boy” by Shalom Camenietzki, brilliantly showcases this transformative power. Phil McNichol, retired newspaper reporter, current Dreamers reviewer, (and my dad), insightfully reflected on it, saying:
“The Bar Mitzvah Boy is thought provoking, to say the least. At first reading I confess to being disappointed by the ending: it seemed anti-climactic, leaving the rest of the story – once the door was opened – untold. But on further reading, and reflection, I can understand why Shalom left it to the reader to go further, or not. It is after all, up to the reader to dare to be open to the spiritual challenge and where it may lead; or to be appalled and angry, like Jerry’s father, Irwin and several of his friends. The story ends with Irwin’s extraordinary thought: Will his faith be weakened, even abandoned, or will it be re-affirmed and strengthened? I hope I’m right about this, and not getting carried away, but I found myself thinking this is the crucial question facing Judaism and other religions at this most critical moment, including Christianity and Islam: are they capable of evolving and growing to meet the challenge of a deeply troubled world? I thought of ‘The Book of Job,’ and a lecture by Prof. Wagner at what was then called Waterloo Lutheran University, now Wilfrid Laurier University. That was many years ago, but I’ve always remembered it. He explained ‘The Book of Job’ was an important, evolutionary moment in Judaism: Job dared to hold God to account, and ultimately his faith was reaffirmed, and stronger.”
Additionally, this issue is particularly exciting as we announce the winners of our “Stories of Migration, Place and Home” Writing Contest. Tying for first place are two stories: “Children of the Border” and “The Arrival”. Both works beautifully explore the themes of displacement and belonging, resonating deeply with our readers and adding significant depth to our ongoing discourse on human connections and the meaning of home.
This issue also includes the winners of our micro-nonfiction contest, as well as a variety of poems and stories that reflect on personal experiences and shared truths. Dive into these pages and let the power of stories enrich your perspective.
Issue 17 features:
- Winners of the 2024 Stories of Migration, Sense of Place & Home Contest.
- Winners of the 2024 Micro Nonfiction Story Contest.
- “For the Seagulls (Journal, Notebook #44)”, a poem by Wess Mongo Jolley.
- Shalom Camenietzki’s fiction story, “The Bar Mitzvah Boy”.
How to Get Issue 17 of the Dreamers Magazine
Are you a Dreamers magazine subscriber yet? Subscribe once and your magazines will just keep coming and coming and coming! You can also buy just Dreamers Magazine Issue 15 on its own. We have digital editions and print editions available. *The print edition is only available while supplies last!
Don’t wait, order today before we run out of copies forever…
*If you decide to make a purchase, then on behalf of the Dreamers team, thank you!
Enjoy issue 17, and remember, keep dreaming!
Dreamers is a heartfelt literary organization and writers retreat near Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada. Our magazine is published tri-annually and sent to hundreds of subscribers across North America and Europe.