Gantseh Megillah (roughly, The Whole Story) an online magazine with weekly and monthly editions, was launched by Montrealer Michael D. Fein four years ago as his contribution to "keeping Yiddishkeit alive on the Web." 

It was from the outset a labour of love.  It contains no advertising and subscriptions are free.  The most commercial it gets is a "tzedakeh box" for voluntary contributions to help defray Fein's costs. 

From word-of-mouth alone (mainly the electronic variety) Gantseh Megillah has developed into a haimish meeting place for Jews around the world who like the gentle humour and common-sense wisdom of  its columnists - all unpaid - as well as its feature stories, commentaries on topical issues, trivia, and book and theatre reviews.  There's even a Hollywood gossip column focusing on Jewish entertainers.

Despite the name, the magazine is in English, but it is liberally sprinkled with Yiddish expressions. 

The weekly edition, added more recently, consists of synopses and links to the original articles of Jewish interest Fein has read and put on the site.

Today, the magazine has about 1,500 subscribers, mostly in North America, but also in Israel and places such as the Czech Republic, Russia and Japan.  Many more visit the site who do not bother to sign-up as subscribers.

"It's like one big family," says Fein.  "From the beginning I wanted to make Gantseh Megillah 'of the subscribers.'  It belongs to them."

There is an intimacy to Gantseh Megillah.  Readers are encouraged to send in stories or thoughts related to Jewish culture.  Often these read like personal letters that share events in their lives.

"I hope to develop a close-knit, online shtetl, where people can express and exchange ideas as well as learn from each other's experiences," Fein said .

A photo album was recently added and subscribers are invited to submit pictures of themselves.  There is also a discussion forum linked to the magazine where subscribers can chat.

Fein typically signs off messages to readers with "much love to all of you." 

The affection is returned.  Correspondences have developed and some true friendships have been formed. 

"Many people communicate with me like a family member.  I get about 100 emails a day, and a third of them relate to the Megillah.  I answer every one of them personally," he said.

Fein has been visited in Montreal by readers from Oklahoma and Texas, and he has visited others in New York. 

Fein, a native New Yorker who has been living in Montreal for 18 years, had no intention of starting an online magazine.  He is a former singer and stage performer who performed at many Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskills under the name Dave Michaels.  His show biz career began in the 1950s when he was just five years old. 

Gantseh Megillah sprang up from a short piece reminiscing about the Catskills he wrote for another Web site that otherwise has no Jewish content.

"I had used a number of Yiddish terms to add flavour, but it was pointed out to me that many people wouldn't know what they meant," Fein said.

He added a short glossary and soon emails were coming in with people suggesting additions.  Today, the Yiddish glossary, which is linked to the Gantseh Megillah, has more than 1000 entries.  The magazine, which had its first issue in December 1999, is an offshoot of the glossary. 

The approximately 50 people who signed on as "charter members" were asked to suggest a name.  All the submissions were then published and a vote was taken.  Gantseh Megillah was the overwhelming favourite. 

In the same inaugural issue, Fein invited members to "submit anything you feel would be appropriate on the subject of Yiddishkeit. Stories, pictures, opinions, questions, recipes... absolutely anything you judge as being suitable for your online publication."

From this appeal he has built a stable of regular columnists

Although holidays are highlighted through the year, Fein stays away from religion as such.

"It is not my intention to preach religion or to take on the role of teacher.  To me Yiddishkeit is purely cultural.  I personally know many people who are not Jewish and yet embrace Yiddishkeit to one extent or another."

Fein reads between 150-200 articles in online publications and Web sites each week looking for items for the Weekly Gantseh Megillah, particularly unusual or thought-provoking stories that are not in the mainstream media or that come from the foreign press. 

A recent edition had stories about nine Indian couples celebrating Jewish weddings in Israel; the movie The Hebrew Hammer, about a Jewish superhero; Jewish cadets at West Point; growing fears among Israelis that their country is becoming a "leper state;" and the discharge of a Jewish couple from the U.S. Army for celebrating the High Holy Days. 

Putting out Gantseh Megillah is a perfect vocation for Fein, who had to give up his career as an entertainer because of health problems.  He is disabled and has limited use of his legs.  Outdoors, he uses a wheelchair. 

He works out of his home with his office functioning as a command centre as he sits surrounded by two computers and a large-screen television.  Technical matters are handled by his partner Arnold Hanna, a Web site designer. 

"The world comes to me. I don't have to leave the house,"  Fein said.

You can read Gantseh Megillah at www.gantsehmegillah.com. Netscape users without Flash player can access it through this link: www.pass.to/tgmegillah/webtv1.htm.