The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute launched a new online bi-monthly magazine last week to spark discussion on Jewish topics among women ages 20 to 40.The publication, titled 614: HBI eZINE, was born out of the Institute's desire to reach a wider range of women. "We need to communicate HBI's ideas in another way," said Prof. Shulamit Reinharz (SOC), the Institute's founder.

The publication, like the Institute, intends to empower and educate Jewish women about the world around them, Reinharz said.

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Cove wrote in an editor's note in the first issue that the publication's name originated from a Jewish belief that Jews are expected to follow 613 commandments, with the 614th representing the notion that there is always room for innovation and exploration.

The online format of the magazine will allow readers to interact with each other in an online community, Cove said. In the near future, Cove said she hopes readers will be able to discuss issues brought up in the publication.

Cove said she plans to expand the publication's staff to include student writers.

Contributors to the first issue came from as close as Brandeis and as far away as Israel, Cove said. Over time, Cove and her staff hoped to receive contributions from experts and best-selling authors.

The magazine will introduce new ideas to readers without overwhelming them, Cove said. The first issue has only four articles, and Cove said she does not want to see more than eight in one issue.

The articles included in each issue have to do with one central theme. This month's theme is "the surprising power of Jewish names." Cove and her staff solicit articles from those who are experts or have special experience in the field.

Next issue's theme will relate to "must have books," Cove said. The next issue's contributors will recommend their favorite Jewish books right now. The staff is already contacting best-selling authors to write for the issue.