Jewish Publication Society of America
Encyclopedia
The Jewish Publication Society (JPS), originally known as the Jewish Publication Society of America, is the oldest nonprofit, nondenominational publisher of Jewish works in English. Founded in Philadelphia in 1888, by reform Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf among others, JPS is especially well-known for its English translation of the Hebrew Bible
, the JPS Tanakh, today regarded as the authoritative Jewish translation.
As a nonprofit publisher, JPS continues to develop projects that for-profit publishers will not invest in: significant scholarly projects that may take years to complete. The JPS Bible translation is used in rabbinical and Christian seminaries, on hundreds of college campuses, in informal adult study settings, in synagogues, and in Jewish day schools and supplementary programs. It has been licensed in a wide variety of books as well as in electronic media. Other core JPS projects include the ongoing JPS Bible commentary series, books on Jewish lifestyle and customs, new JPS Guides, and its many Bible editions and Bible study resources.
Beginning in 2012, JPS will be distributed by the University of Nebraska Press
.
The 1880s saw an “awakening of interest in Judaism and Jewish culture of the part of young Jews… [and a] growing sense of American Jewry’s destiny on the world Jewish stage.” In response to the growing need for English-language Jewish texts, rabbis and lay leaders of the American Jewish community met on June 3, 1888 at a national convention in Philadelphia to discuss the re-founding of a national Jewish publication society. That day, after many squabbles, debates, and political maneuverings, the Jewish Publication Society was “gaveled into being.”
As JPS moved into the 20th century, membership grew rapidly. After years of meetings, deliberations and revisions, the entire translation of the Bible was finally completed in 1917. This crowning achievement was put to use at the start of World War I
, when young Jewish men were given prayer books and Bible
readings as they marched off to war.
As Hitler and the Nazi party rose to power during 1930s, Jews in America resisted anti-Semitism through the power of words. Works such as The Decay of Czarism and Legends of the Jews became staples of Jewish literacy and helped to preserve the legacy of European Jewry. JPS also assisted the war effort by supporting refugee
employment and resettlement, and by printing pamphlets that were dropped behind enemy lines, at the request of the American government.
During the latter half of the 20th century, JPS published a revised translation of the Bible, books detailing both war atrocities and triumphs, and books with a new-found focus on the State of Israel. Works such as The JPS Commentary Series, The Jewish Catalog and The K’Tonton Series were tremendously successful. In 1985, the newly translated three parts of the Bible (the Torah
, Prophets
, and Writings) were finally compiled into what is now known as the JPS Tanakh (or NJPS, New JPS translation, to distinguish it from the OJPS, or Old JPS translation of 1917).
In September 2011, JPS entered into a new collaborative publishing arrangement with the University of Nebraska Press
, under which Nebraska purchased all of JPS's outstanding book inventory, and will become responsible for the production, distribution, and marketing of all JPS publications, effective January 1, 2012. JPS said that it would reduce staff but continue its operations from its Philadelphia headquarters, emphasizing the development of new projects, including an electronic version of the JPS Bible.
Past editors-in-chief include Henrietta Szold
(1893-1916), Solomon Grayzel (1939-1966), and Chaim Potok
(1966-1974).
Chaim Potok was significantly involved in JPS's publication activities for 35 years, serving as editor for 8 years, secretary of the Bible translation committee for the Writings (Ketuvim) for 16 years, chair of the JPS Editorial Committee for 18 years and literary editor to its Bible program for 18 years.
Dr. Ellen Frankel
was editor-in-chief since 1991 and CEO since 1998. Frankel retired in October 2009 and is now Editor Emerita of the Society.
Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz became the CEO in 2010, when he came to JPS from Congregation M'Kor Shalom
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
, where he served as senior rabbi for 11 years. Rabbi Schwartz served on the board of several nonprofit social justice organizations, and is especially active in Jewish environmental work.
Carol Hupping is COO and Publishing Director.
In February 2005, JPS discovered that Jews entering American military service were offered only the Christian Bible as their “standard-issue Bible.” JPS responded by partnering with the Jewish Welfare Board and launching the JPS Mitzvah Project Campaign to raise money to send free copies of the JPS Torah and Book of Psalms to Jewish service personnel around the world.
Since launching its Mitzvah Project for the military, JPS has received requests for books from communities around the world. And so it expanded its program to meet their needs as well. JPS has sent books for free to nonprofit organizations, prisons, hospitals, Christian seminaries, and Jewish day schools in North America, Israel, and Europe, as well as to underserved Jewish synagogues in Ghana, Nigeria, China, India, and South America.
JPS’s goal for 2010 is to reach at least 50 communities with at least 5,000 pounds of free JPS books.
Past Mitzvah Project recipients include:
Projects in the United States:
Projects abroad:
2001:
2003:
2006:
2007:
2009:
2009:
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
, the JPS Tanakh, today regarded as the authoritative Jewish translation.
As a nonprofit publisher, JPS continues to develop projects that for-profit publishers will not invest in: significant scholarly projects that may take years to complete. The JPS Bible translation is used in rabbinical and Christian seminaries, on hundreds of college campuses, in informal adult study settings, in synagogues, and in Jewish day schools and supplementary programs. It has been licensed in a wide variety of books as well as in electronic media. Other core JPS projects include the ongoing JPS Bible commentary series, books on Jewish lifestyle and customs, new JPS Guides, and its many Bible editions and Bible study resources.
Beginning in 2012, JPS will be distributed by the University of Nebraska Press
University of Nebraska Press
The University of Nebraska Press, founded in 1941, is a publisher of scholarly and popular-press books. It is the second-largest state university press in the United States and, including private institutions, ranks among the 10 largest university presses in the United States...
.
History
The first Jewish Publication Society was founded in 1845 in Philadelphia, but was dissolved years later after a fire destroyed the building and the entire JPS stock.The 1880s saw an “awakening of interest in Judaism and Jewish culture of the part of young Jews… [and a] growing sense of American Jewry’s destiny on the world Jewish stage.” In response to the growing need for English-language Jewish texts, rabbis and lay leaders of the American Jewish community met on June 3, 1888 at a national convention in Philadelphia to discuss the re-founding of a national Jewish publication society. That day, after many squabbles, debates, and political maneuverings, the Jewish Publication Society was “gaveled into being.”
As JPS moved into the 20th century, membership grew rapidly. After years of meetings, deliberations and revisions, the entire translation of the Bible was finally completed in 1917. This crowning achievement was put to use at the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when young Jewish men were given prayer books and Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
readings as they marched off to war.
As Hitler and the Nazi party rose to power during 1930s, Jews in America resisted anti-Semitism through the power of words. Works such as The Decay of Czarism and Legends of the Jews became staples of Jewish literacy and helped to preserve the legacy of European Jewry. JPS also assisted the war effort by supporting refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
employment and resettlement, and by printing pamphlets that were dropped behind enemy lines, at the request of the American government.
During the latter half of the 20th century, JPS published a revised translation of the Bible, books detailing both war atrocities and triumphs, and books with a new-found focus on the State of Israel. Works such as The JPS Commentary Series, The Jewish Catalog and The K’Tonton Series were tremendously successful. In 1985, the newly translated three parts of the Bible (the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, Prophets
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
, and Writings) were finally compiled into what is now known as the JPS Tanakh (or NJPS, New JPS translation, to distinguish it from the OJPS, or Old JPS translation of 1917).
In September 2011, JPS entered into a new collaborative publishing arrangement with the University of Nebraska Press
University of Nebraska Press
The University of Nebraska Press, founded in 1941, is a publisher of scholarly and popular-press books. It is the second-largest state university press in the United States and, including private institutions, ranks among the 10 largest university presses in the United States...
, under which Nebraska purchased all of JPS's outstanding book inventory, and will become responsible for the production, distribution, and marketing of all JPS publications, effective January 1, 2012. JPS said that it would reduce staff but continue its operations from its Philadelphia headquarters, emphasizing the development of new projects, including an electronic version of the JPS Bible.
Leadership
JPS is governed by a Board of Trustees, headed by Board President David Lerman.Past editors-in-chief include Henrietta Szold
Henrietta Szold
Henrietta Szold was a U.S. Jewish Zionist leader and founder of the Hadassah Women's Organization. In 1942, she co-founded Ihud, a political party in Mandate Palestine dedicated to a binational solution.-Biography:...
(1893-1916), Solomon Grayzel (1939-1966), and Chaim Potok
Chaim Potok
Chaim Potok was an American Jewish author and rabbi. Potok is most famous for his first book The Chosen, a 1967 novel which was listed on The New York Times’ best seller list for 39 weeks and sold more than 3,400,000 copies.-Biography :Herman Harold Potok was born in The Bronx, New York City, to...
(1966-1974).
Chaim Potok was significantly involved in JPS's publication activities for 35 years, serving as editor for 8 years, secretary of the Bible translation committee for the Writings (Ketuvim) for 16 years, chair of the JPS Editorial Committee for 18 years and literary editor to its Bible program for 18 years.
Dr. Ellen Frankel
Ellen Frankel
Ellen Frankel was the editor-in-chief of The Jewish Publication Society from 1991 until 2009, and also served as CEO of the JPS for 10 years. She retired in 2009 to pursue her own writing and scholarly projects, remaining with JPS as Editor Emerita.-Biography:Frankel received her B.A. from the...
was editor-in-chief since 1991 and CEO since 1998. Frankel retired in October 2009 and is now Editor Emerita of the Society.
Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz became the CEO in 2010, when he came to JPS from Congregation M'Kor Shalom
Congregation M'Kor Shalom
Congregation M'Kor Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue located on 850 Evesham Road in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.Founded in 1974, M'Kor Shalom has over 1,000 members and is affiliated with the Reform Movement.-Mission Statement:...
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, where he served as senior rabbi for 11 years. Rabbi Schwartz served on the board of several nonprofit social justice organizations, and is especially active in Jewish environmental work.
Carol Hupping is COO and Publishing Director.
Recent publications
- 20th Century Jewish Religious Thought By Arthur A. Cohen, Paul Mendes-Flohr ISBN 9780827608924
- American Jewish Fiction: A JPS Guide By Josh Lambert ISBN 9780827608832
- Celebrating the Jewish Year By Paul Steinberg, Janet Greenstein Potter ISBN 9780827609020
- The Commentators' Bible (Leviticus) By Michael Carasik ISBN 9780827608979
- Elvina's Mirror By Sylvie Weil ISBN 9780827608856
- A Heart Afire By Netanel Miles-Yepez and Zalman Schachter Shalomi ISBN 9780827608849
- The Jerusalem Crown (Keter) Bible ISBN 9780827609129
- Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices—Power By Elliot N. Dorff and Louis E. Newman ISBN 9780827608627
- JPS Illustrated Children's Bible By Dr. Ellen Frankel ISBN 9780827608917
- Maimonides By David Hartman ISBN 9780827609112
- Naomi's Song By Selma Kritzer Silverberg ISBN 9780827608863
- Subversive Sequels in the Bible By Judy KlitsnerJudy klitsnerJudy Klitsner is a contemporary Bible scholar, author and international speaker. She is a senior faculty member of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem , where she has taught Bible and biblical exegesis for more than twenty years...
ISBN 9780827608887 - Kings of the Jews By Norman Gelb ISBN 9780827609136
- The Life of Gluckel of Hameln By Herself, Translated and Edited By Beth-Zion Abrahams ISBN 9780827609143
Audio Bible
The JPS TANAKH: The Jewish Bible, audio version is a recorded version of the JPS TANAKH, the most widely read English translation of the Hebrew (the Jewish) Bible. Produced and recorded for The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) by The Jewish Braille Institute (JBI), this complete, unabridged audio version features over 60 hours of readings by 13 narrators.Mitzvah projects
From its earliest beginning in the late 19th century, JPS was committed to giving away a portion of its books to those in need.In February 2005, JPS discovered that Jews entering American military service were offered only the Christian Bible as their “standard-issue Bible.” JPS responded by partnering with the Jewish Welfare Board and launching the JPS Mitzvah Project Campaign to raise money to send free copies of the JPS Torah and Book of Psalms to Jewish service personnel around the world.
Since launching its Mitzvah Project for the military, JPS has received requests for books from communities around the world. And so it expanded its program to meet their needs as well. JPS has sent books for free to nonprofit organizations, prisons, hospitals, Christian seminaries, and Jewish day schools in North America, Israel, and Europe, as well as to underserved Jewish synagogues in Ghana, Nigeria, China, India, and South America.
JPS’s goal for 2010 is to reach at least 50 communities with at least 5,000 pounds of free JPS books.
Past Mitzvah Project recipients include:
Projects in the United States:
- Aleph Institute, Northeast Regional Headquarters
- Jewish Women International
- JWB Jewish Chaplains Council
- VA Hospitals and Nursing Homes in Miami, FL, Phoenix, AZ, and Bremerton, WA
- American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism
- Synagogues, schools, and community centers in need across the country
Projects abroad:
- Jews of NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
- LembaLembaThe Lemba or 'wa-Remba' are a southern African ethnic group to be found in Zimbabwe and South Africa with some little known branches in Mozambique and Malawi. According to Parfitt they are thought to number 70,000...
of Northern South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and BotswanaBotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966... - Sefwi Jewish Synagogue, GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
- AbayudayaAbayudayaThe Abayudaya are a Baganda community in eastern Uganda near the town of Mbale who practice Judaism. Although they are not genetically or historically related to other ethnic Jews, they are devout in their practice of the religion, keeping their version of kashrut, and observing Shabbat...
, UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by... - Shandong UniversityShandong UniversityShandong University is a public comprehensive university in Shandong, China. It is one of the largest universities in China by student population and is supported directly by the national government....
Book Project, China - Bnei MenasheBnei MenasheThe Bnei Menashe are a group of more than 9,000 people from India's North-Eastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram who claim descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. The claim appeared after a Pentecostalist dreamt in 1951 that his people's pre-Christian religion was Judaism and that...
, India - The Jade Bar Shalom Books for Israel Project
- Seminario Rabinico, Argentina
- Bristol Jewish Society, University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and University of Western England
Awards
In the past 20 years, JPS has won many National Jewish Book Awards, an achievement matched only by major presses such as Random House, Doubleday, Yale, Princeton and Oxford University Press.National Jewish Book Awards (since 2000)
2000:- Synagogues without Jews, Ben-Zion and Rivka
2001:
- Forged in Freedom, Norman Finkelstein
- The Rebbe’s Daughter, Nehemiah Polen
- Etz Hayim, ed. David Lieber
2003:
- To Do the Right and the Good, Elliot Dorff
2006:
- Folktales of the Jews: Tales from the Sephardic Dispersion, Dan Ben-Amos
- Lilith’s Ark: Teenage Tales of Biblical Women, Deborah Cohen
2007:
- Inventing Jewish Ritual, Vanessa Ochs
- The Power of Song and Other Sephardic Tales, Rita Roth
2009:
- JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible, Ellen Frankel, Illustrated by Avi Katz
- Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Spring and Summer Holidays: Passover, the Omer, Shavuot, Tisha B’Av, Paul Steinberg, Janet Greenstein Potter, Editor
- Subversive Sequels in the Bible, Judy Klitsner
Children's Book Awards
- Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust, Eve Bunting (A Notable Children’s Book in the Field of Social Studies)
- The Jewish Kids Catalog, Chaya Burstein (National Jewish Book Award)
- The Castle on Hester Street, Linda Heller (Parents’ Choice Award)
- In the Mouth of the Wolf, Rose Zar (Association of Jewish Librarians Best Book Award)
- The Power of Song and Other Sephardic Tales, Rita Roth (National Jewish Book Award)
- Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding, Johanna Hurwitz (Nominated for the Texas Blue Bonnet Award: A Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies)
- Haym Salomon: Liberty’s Son, Shirley Milgrim (National Jewish Book Award)
- Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks, Amy Schwartz (National Jewish Book Award and Association of Jewish Librarians Best Book Award)
- Clara’s Story, Clara Isaacman (Sydney Taylor Honor Book)
- Lilith’s Ark, Deborah Bodin Cohen (Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens)
- Of Heroes, Hooks and Heirlooms, Faye Silton (Winner of Sydney Taylor Manuscript Competition)
- A Coat for the Moon and Other Jewish Tales, Howard Schwartz (Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award and Storytelling World Magazine Award)
- David and Max, Gary Provost and Gail Levine-Provost (Notable Children’s Book in the Field of Social Studies, Skipping Stones Honor Award)
- Potato Pancakes All Around, Marilyn Hirsch (Children’s Choice Award)
- JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible, Ellen Frankel(National Jewish Book Award and Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Readers of All Ages)
- Naomi’s Song, Selma Kritzer Silverberg (Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor for Books for Teen Readers)
- Elvina’s Mirror, Sylvie Weil (Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Older Readers)
Other recent awards
2008:- Skipping Stones Honor Award--A Shout in the Sunshine, Mara Cohen Ioannides
2009:
- Sophie Brody Medal--From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, Arie Kaplan
- Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth Winner--From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, Arie Kaplan