For thousands of years Jews all over the world have faced eastward during prayer, towards Israel and the rising sun. At the same time, the Jewish people has envisioned itself as a dynamic and forward-moving nation, engaging daily in challenges of survival and growth in the modern world. “Kedma” (lit. Eastward) comes from the Hebrew root kedem, which means both “east” and “forward” – and indeed, the journal aims to embody this progressive and creative thinking. Kedma is a forum for innovative thinking about Jewish culture and arts, and diverse Jewish communities and trends in the United States, Israel, and around the world. Based in the vibrant community of the University of Pennsylvania, Kedma hopes to encourage intellectually rigorous and varied conversation on campus and beyond.