Romm publishing house
Encyclopedia
The Romm publishing house was a famous publisher of Jewish religious literature, especially known for its 1886 Vilna Talmud
, which still serves as a definitive edition.
Romm was founded in 1789 in Grodno, by Barukh ben Yosef Romm. It moved to Vilnius
in 1799, where it expanded greatly under the ownership of Barukh's son, Menahem Mann Romm (d.1841). Initially publishing halakhic and homiletic works, in 1835 it caused a stir by publishing an edition of the Talmud
, whose publication had previously been undertaken by the Shapira family of Slavuta
. After fierce controversy over whether this new edition was permitted by rabbinical law, with rabbis on each side unable to reach agreement, the death of a worker in the Slavuta factory during the controversy led to the Russian government intervening (Vilnius was at the time in the Vilna Governorate
of the Russian Empire
). The Slavuta publishing house was shut down, and to instill order amongst the Jewish publishers, the Russian authorities instituted a formal publishing monopoly, which Romm successfully bid for.
The Romm factory burned down in 1840, but was soon rebuilt, and prospered through both its monopoly privileges and the rapidly increasing Jewish population of the region. Upon the death of owner David Romm in 1862, the company was, unusually, taken over by his widow Deborah, and renamed to the "Widow and Brothers Romm". It was under this name that it produced a highly regarded new edition of the Talmud, completed in 1886, which is still widely used.
The firm's last Talmud edition was printed in 1897, after which the rise of Zionism
shifted Jewish publishing. Deborah Romm died in 1903, and after several of her sons emigrated to the United States
, the firm was sold in 1910 to David Günzburg
. It continued to print both Hebrew and Yiddish works until it was destroyed in 1940, following the Soviet invasion
.
Vilna Edition Shas
The Vilna Edition of the Talmud, printed in Vilna , Lithuania, is by far the most common printed edition of the Talmud still in use today as the basic text for Torah study in yeshivas and by all scholars of Judaism....
, which still serves as a definitive edition.
Romm was founded in 1789 in Grodno, by Barukh ben Yosef Romm. It moved to Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
in 1799, where it expanded greatly under the ownership of Barukh's son, Menahem Mann Romm (d.1841). Initially publishing halakhic and homiletic works, in 1835 it caused a stir by publishing an edition of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, whose publication had previously been undertaken by the Shapira family of Slavuta
Slavuta
Slavuta is a city in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine, located on the Horyn River. Serving as the administrative center of the Slavutsky Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located approximately 80 km from the oblast capital,...
. After fierce controversy over whether this new edition was permitted by rabbinical law, with rabbis on each side unable to reach agreement, the death of a worker in the Slavuta factory during the controversy led to the Russian government intervening (Vilnius was at the time in the Vilna Governorate
Vilna Governorate
The Vilna Governorate or Government of Vilna was a governorate of the Russian Empire created after the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795...
of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
). The Slavuta publishing house was shut down, and to instill order amongst the Jewish publishers, the Russian authorities instituted a formal publishing monopoly, which Romm successfully bid for.
The Romm factory burned down in 1840, but was soon rebuilt, and prospered through both its monopoly privileges and the rapidly increasing Jewish population of the region. Upon the death of owner David Romm in 1862, the company was, unusually, taken over by his widow Deborah, and renamed to the "Widow and Brothers Romm". It was under this name that it produced a highly regarded new edition of the Talmud, completed in 1886, which is still widely used.
The firm's last Talmud edition was printed in 1897, after which the rise of Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
shifted Jewish publishing. Deborah Romm died in 1903, and after several of her sons emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the firm was sold in 1910 to David Günzburg
David Günzburg
Baron David Goratsiyevich Günzburg , 4th Baron de Günzburg, was a Russian orientalist and Jewish communal leader. He was the son of Baron Horace de Günzburg...
. It continued to print both Hebrew and Yiddish works until it was destroyed in 1940, following the Soviet invasion
Battle of Wilno (1939)
The Battle of Wilno was one of the major battles during the Soviet invasion of Poland that accompanied the larger German invasion. During 18-19 September, Soviet forces approached and occupied the city of Wilno...
.