Calul Journal is a new journal of poetry and art. “Hakol Calul” in Hebrew means “everything is included.” Calul poets make up an inclusive and expansive community. At Calul they begin in a place of Jewish humanism and branch out to the world. Each week they pair and publish one poet and one visual artist together in a feature speaking to the concerns of the day. “Calul is a place to be different, to be controversial, to think deeply and outside the boxes of what everyone else is thinking. Calul is a place to feel. Calul is a inclusive space for poets and those who love poetry to come for solace in difficult times because we believe that God looked into the Torah and created the world, and that every poem, every piece of art and every poet and artist are touched by that divine.”

I wondered how and why this journal came to be, so I asked founder and editor Rachel Neve-Midbar some questions to find out. See my interview with Neve-Midbar and a link to their submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: How/why was Calul Journal originally started? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: Calul was started just a few months ago in response to other journals that had become sectarian and proprietary about including poets from certain spaces. We felt the need for a home of beauty that welcomed all. There is a Biblical story from Genesis where Abraham and Sara built a tent with four doors, each one facing in another direction, so that all who passed, no matter from where by felt welcome to enter and take solace and nourishment. Calul is built on that same concept.

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: Anyone openhearted who loves poetry and art.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: We are open to poetry from all poets no matter their level, publication background or cultural experience. Content can be about any subject.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: If a poem works, it works when the personal becomes universal, when the poem awakens us and we can each see ourselves within it. We think this is in most poems and those are the poems we love to publish.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

NEVE-MIDBAR: SWIMM, Plume, diode, Beloit, Crab Creek Review, etc.

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with the Calul Journal?

NEVE-MIDBAR: We are happiest when we’ve published and the feature is being read and we get feedback from the Calul community.

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: At Calul Journal we accept the poetry from all poets no matter their level of experience or background.

We will toggle between weekly features and the occasional folio around a timely topic, holiday or event.

All submissions should be sent to caluljournal@gmail.com

For a feature please send 5-8 unpublished original poems or translations. Please include your bio, two photos (an author photo and one more casual photo of you doing something you love) and information about your most recent book (if there is one).

Translations: Please include written permission to publish the translations with a bio for both the poet and the translator and photos of both. There is no need to send the originals of the poems.

For folios: Please check here and on social media for calls for specific folios. Then send 2-5 original unpublished poems that speak to the topic.

All submissions should be sent to caluljournal@gmail.com

We look forward to reading and sharing your poetry! Submit today!

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you? 

NEVE-MIDBAR: Email Rachel at caluljournal@gmail.com

• • SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Always open
  • FORMAT: Substack (online on Sundays) 
  • SUBMISSION FEE: None 
  • PAYMENT: None
  • ISSUE FREQUENCY: Weekly
  • AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 4 months minimum 
  • SUBMISSION METHOD: Email
  • SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes but please let us know when a poem has been taken and we will probably ask you to withdraw and resubmit
  • FORMS: Poetry
  • SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook – Instagram

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