The search is on for a new editor of the venerable cultural journal, the Jewish Quarterly, after the resignation of Rachel Lasserson, the present holder of the post, who ran the JQ for seven years.

Ms Lasserson stepped down to “seek new challenges”, according to the JQ’s joint chair Mark Goldberg.

Her departure leaves a vacancy at the helm of a publication celebrating its 60th anniversary. A guest editor will be taken on for the anniversary issue in October.

Mr Goldberg acknowledged that Ms Lasserson’s resignation created some uncertainty around the journal, but insisted that he was “very committed to carrying on” with the magazine despite difficult conditions that currently see print outlets “under siege”, from new media.

He said he remained determined to fulfil the Quarterly’s goal of challenging Orthodoxy and promoting “a Judaism that opens conversations rather than closes them.

Our goal is to open conversations not close them’

“We don’t shrink from the challenge because we think that the Jewish Quarterly is a very worthwhile asset for the community. It concentrates on a combination of ideas and fine writing that we think is a valuable contribution.

“With the web-based version and app, we’d hope to see our circulation increase significantly over the next few years.” It currently stands at 2,000 copies.

He added: “What we really hope to continue to do is present leading-edge thinking and fine writing for the next 60 years.”