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June 22, 2012
A literary mosaic panorama
Wendy Marcus is the editor-in-chief of Seattle’s Drash magazine.
OLGA LIVSHIN
A trip to Seattle earlier this month started with a visit to a bookshop, Third Place Books, in the charming Ravenna neighborhood. I love bookshops, and this one didn’t disappoint. It features a large selection of books in all genres, both new and used, a pub and a nice surprise – a “sell your own used books” counter. On June 3, the shop hosted a literary reading, with writers who contributed to the sixth volume of Seattle literary magazine Drash: Northwest Mosaic, reading excerpts from their works.
Drash is unusual in that it is one of the few, if not only, literary magazines that organizes public reading for its writers. From its conception six years ago, Drash has been holding such readings a few times a year, in various locations. Published out of a Seattle synagogue, Temple Beth Am, its editor, Wendy Marcus, is a professional musician as well as a writer, and she works as Beth Am’s music director.
At the start of the June 3 reading, Marcus greeted guests in the impromptu auditorium, set up in the non-fiction nook of the store. More than 30 people gathered to listen, and writers and readers from all over the Pacific Northwest mingled in the lively atmosphere.
The pieces presented were as eclectic as is the region, illustrating how Drash has become a mosaic panorama of the area, a verbal picture of the Northwest with a Jewish lilt. Lyrical, contemplative poetry followed a funny essay of a Judaic convert; a hilarious memoir of a former actor balanced a politically charged short story. The listeners seemed to welcome each presenter with equal enthusiasm.
After the reading, Marcus spoke with the Independent.
“Drash means a commentary in Hebrew,” she explained. “It’s the third level of the Torah study, the level of stories…. Everybody has a story. That’s why we called our magazine Drash, to give voice to all the stories. Our magazine is unique. It’s the only publication that combines literary, Jewish and Northwestern content. We’re not a religious magazine, and some of our writers are not Jewish, although many are. We publish poetry and essays, memoirs and short fiction.”
While Marcus steered the conversation toward Drash and its writers, she did share some details of her own story.
Marcus didn’t start out as an editor. As a student, she began as a music major at the University of Washington studying violin, but decided she would not pursue becoming a professional classical musician and switched her major to journalism. Upon graduation, she worked as a reporter for six years for various Northwest publications, including the Seattle Times. “I loved it,” she recalled.
She craved more creativity than journalism allowed though, and wanted more music in her life. “There was a dead place inside of me,” she said of that time period. “I’m such a person, I need both words and notes.” To fill that space, she turned to klezmer music.
“I learned klezmer. Then I learned Hebrew and Yiddish,” she said. In 1983, she and Rabbi James Mirel co-founded the first Northwest klezmer band, the Mazeltones, which performed for more than a decade.
“I’ve been teaching Jewish music for 28 years,” Marcus said. “I conduct a youth orchestra and a choir in our synagogue.”
Wanting to add back some writing to her life, in 2009, Marcus published her first book, a selection of short stories, Polyglot: Stories of the West’s Wet Edge.
Drash became another facet. “I wanted to offer people an opportunity to get published, a venue for the local writers to express themselves. There are so many talented writers here in the Northwest,” she said.
From the first issue, the magazine has been an endeavor of love for Marcus and her cohorts, she said. Although the quality of stories and poetry clearly propels the publication into the professional league, only two of the magazine team are paid for their efforts. The rest, including reviewers and Marcus, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, are volunteers.
For Marcus, Drash is a beloved hobby that consumes a huge amount of her time every year. But she is happy to donate her time, she said. “The best thing about Drash: it creates a community. Some people started out reading our stories or writing for the magazine and then they come to the synagogue to organize a bar mitzvah for their son or to listen to the Torah study,” she explained. “During the readings, it’s rewarding to witness people engag[ing] with the written word. They laugh, they actively participate in the discussions. It’s electrifying.”
Drash is available in several bookstores in the Seattle area, or visit templebetham.org/music/Drash.
Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
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