Alexander Peli
Encyclopedia
Alexander Peli was the supervising editor of the Encyclopaedia Hebraica
. The project began using his mother
's publishing house in 1946 with Peli supervising. The last volume was published in 1996.
to Meir and Bracha Pilipovetsky
(born Kutzenok). The parents had married the year before against the Kutzenok family's wishes. The Pilipovetskys moved at the age of six and he went to high school in Herzliya
. In July 1921 his family were early settlers in the new city of Tel Aviv
in Palestine (the land that was to become the State of Israel). He attended the University of Jerusalem graduating in History and Philosophy. He had been brought up with encyclopedias. His mother published the eight volume General Enclopedia. Peli's dream was to create a new encyclopedia in the language of Hebrew.
In 1944 a committee was formed to work out the aims and objectives of a project to create an encyclopedia in Hebrew. In 1948 work was started and Chaim Weizmann
was the first President of the project. He was also to be the first President of the new state of Israel. Peli was appointed supervising editor and the first editor was Prof. Joseph Klausner
The plans were drawn up and the first volume covered from Aleph
to Australia.
The introduction to the first volume boldly announced that it was planned to complete the encyclopedia project in "five to six years". The breadth and depth of the project was large. One entry for Israel took up a complete volume. When Peli's first editor died, he appointed Benzion Netanyahu
in 1948. Netanyaho had been recommended by Klausner, before his death. The enclopedia continued to be firmly an Israeli publication. Netanyahu who was to remain editor until 1962 was the father of a future Israeli Prime Minister.
The third editor that Peli appointed was possibly the most controversial. Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz
caused some delays with his arguments about content, although Leibowitz was difficult outside as well as within the project team.
It was not until 1980 that another editor, Professor Prawer, managed to declare the encyclopedia as complete. Even after that date it took five years to publish an index and there was always a need for amendments.
In 1986, Peli's mother who owned the publishing house died. She left half the business to Alexander and half to his sister's family. The businesses did not prosper and the rights to the encyclopedia was sold in 1997.
Encyclopaedia Hebraica
The Encyclopaedia Hebraica is a comprehensive encyclopedia in the Hebrew language that was published in the latter half of the 20th century.-History:...
. The project began using his mother
Bracha Peli
Bracha Peli was the owner of Massada, a publishing company in Israel, and the driving force behind the publication of The General Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia Hebraica. She is credited with starting Israel's annual Hebrew Book Week. The Encyclopaedia Hebraica project began using Bracha Peli's...
's publishing house in 1946 with Peli supervising. The last volume was published in 1996.
Early life
Alexander Pilipovetsky was born in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
to Meir and Bracha Pilipovetsky
Bracha Peli
Bracha Peli was the owner of Massada, a publishing company in Israel, and the driving force behind the publication of The General Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia Hebraica. She is credited with starting Israel's annual Hebrew Book Week. The Encyclopaedia Hebraica project began using Bracha Peli's...
(born Kutzenok). The parents had married the year before against the Kutzenok family's wishes. The Pilipovetskys moved at the age of six and he went to high school in Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
. In July 1921 his family were early settlers in the new city of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
in Palestine (the land that was to become the State of Israel). He attended the University of Jerusalem graduating in History and Philosophy. He had been brought up with encyclopedias. His mother published the eight volume General Enclopedia. Peli's dream was to create a new encyclopedia in the language of Hebrew.
In 1944 a committee was formed to work out the aims and objectives of a project to create an encyclopedia in Hebrew. In 1948 work was started and Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Azriel Weizmann, , was a Zionist leader, President of the Zionist Organization, and the first President of the State of Israel. He was elected on 1 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952....
was the first President of the project. He was also to be the first President of the new state of Israel. Peli was appointed supervising editor and the first editor was Prof. Joseph Klausner
Joseph Klausner
Joseph Gedaliah Klausner , , was a Jewish historian and professor of Hebrew Literature. He was the chief redactor of The Hebrew Encyclopedia...
The plans were drawn up and the first volume covered from Aleph
Aleph
* Aleph or Alef is the first letter of the Semitic abjads descended from Proto-Canaanite, Arabic alphabet, Phoenician alphabet, Hebrew alphabet, Syriac alphabet-People:*Aleph , an Italo disco artist and alias of Dave Rodgers...
to Australia.
The introduction to the first volume boldly announced that it was planned to complete the encyclopedia project in "five to six years". The breadth and depth of the project was large. One entry for Israel took up a complete volume. When Peli's first editor died, he appointed Benzion Netanyahu
Benzion Netanyahu
Benzion Netanyahu is an Israeli historian and a professor emeritus at Cornell University. He is a specialist in the golden age of Jewish History in Spain, and is known for his opus, the Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth Century Spain...
in 1948. Netanyaho had been recommended by Klausner, before his death. The enclopedia continued to be firmly an Israeli publication. Netanyahu who was to remain editor until 1962 was the father of a future Israeli Prime Minister.
The third editor that Peli appointed was possibly the most controversial. Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Yeshayahu Leibowitz was an Israeli public intellectual and polymath known for his outspoken opinions on Judaism, ethics, religion and politics.- Biography :...
caused some delays with his arguments about content, although Leibowitz was difficult outside as well as within the project team.
It was not until 1980 that another editor, Professor Prawer, managed to declare the encyclopedia as complete. Even after that date it took five years to publish an index and there was always a need for amendments.
In 1986, Peli's mother who owned the publishing house died. She left half the business to Alexander and half to his sister's family. The businesses did not prosper and the rights to the encyclopedia was sold in 1997.