Jewish Publication Society


The Jewish Publication Society, originally known as the Jewish Publication Society of America, is the oldest non-profit, non-denominational publisher of scholarly works covering the academic field of Jewish studies. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1888 by Reform Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf and lay leaders of the Jewish–American communities, JPS is especially well known for its English translation of the Hebrew Bible, the JPS Tanakh. Since 2012, JPS publications have been distributed by the University of Nebraska Press.
As a nonprofit publisher, the Jewish Publication Society develops projects that for-profit publishers will not invest in, significant projects that may take years to complete. Other core JPS projects include the ongoing JPS Bible commentary series; books on Jewish tradition, holidays, and minhagim; the history of Judaism; Jewish theology, ethics, and philosophy; midrashim and rabbinic literature; and its many Bible editions and Bible study resources.
WWW jps.org

History

The first Jewish Publication Society was founded in 1845 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States, but was dissolved six years later after a fire destroyed the building and the entire JPS stock. A second, founded in New York in 1873, ended in 1875.
In response to the growing need for English-language translation of Jewish texts, rabbis and lay leaders of the Jewish–American communities met on June 3, 1888 at a national convention in Philadelphia and refounded the Jewish Publication Society. As JPS moved into the 20th century, membership grew rapidly. After years of meetings, deliberations, and revisions, the entire JPS translation of the Hebrew Bible was finally completed in 1917. This crowning achievement was put to use at the American entry into World War I, when young Jewish–American men drafted into the U.S. Army were given prayer books and readings from the Tanakh as they marched off to war.
As Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power in Weimar Germany during the early 1930s, American Jews 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 the employment and resettlement of Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe in the United States, and by printing pamphlets that were dropped behind enemy lines, at the request of the U.S. federal government.
During the latter half of the 20th century, JPS published a revised English translation of the Hebrew 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. From 1975 to 1978, A. Leo Levin was its President. In 1985, the newly translated three parts of the Hebrew Bible were finally compiled into what is now known as the New JPS Tanakh.
In September 2011, JPS entered into a new collaborative publishing arrangement with the University of Nebraska Press, under which the University of Nebraska purchased all of JPS's outstanding book inventory, and is responsible for the production, distribution, and marketing of all JPS publications, effective January 1, 2012, while JPS headquarters remained in Philadelphia.

Leadership

JPS is governed by a Board of Trustees, headed by its Board President Gittel Hilibrand. Past editors-in-chief include Henrietta Szold, Solomon Grayzel, and Chaim Potok. Potok was involved in JPS's publication activities for 35 years, serving as editor for 8 years, secretary of the Bible translation committee for the Ketuvim for 16 years, chair of the JPS Editorial Committee for 18 years, and literary editor to its Bible program for 18 years.
Ellen Frankel was editor-in-chief from 1991 until October 2009. She is now Editor Emerita of the Society. Carol Hupping was managing editor from 1991 until her retirement in March, 2016. Joy Weinberg succeeded her as managing editor in April 2016.
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 had served as senior rabbi for 11 years. Rabbi Schwartz served on the board of several nonprofit organizations, and is especially active in environmental work.

Notable publications

The JPS Torah Commentaries The JPS Bible Commentaries Outside the Bible: Ancient Jewish Writings Related to Scripture, Louis H. Feldman, James L. Kugel and Lawrence SchiffmanThe JPS Commentary on the Haggadah, Joseph TaboryDictionary of Jewish Words, Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen ScolnicThe Jewish Bible, The Jewish Publication SocietyCelebrating the Jewish Year in 3 volumes, Paul Steinberg, Janet Greenstein PotterThe Commentators' Bible , Michael Carasik JPS Illustrated Children's Bible, Ellen FrankelChanting the Hebrew Bible, Josh JacobsonJewish Publication Society SeriesWho Are the Jews - And Who Can We Become?

Awards

National Jewish Book Awards (since 2000)

2000:
  • Synagogues without Jews, Ben-Zion and Rivka
2001:
  • Forged in Freedom, Norman H. Finkelstein
  • The Rebbe’s Daughter, Nehemiah Polen
  • Etz Hayim, ed. David Lieber
2003:
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
2011:
2014:
  • Outside the Bible: Ancient Jewish Writings Related to Scripture, Louis Feldman, James Kugel, and Lawrence Schiffman

Children's Book Awards

  • Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust, Eve Bunting
  • The Jewish Kids Catalog, Chaya Burstein
  • The Castle on Hester Street, Linda Heller
  • In the Mouth of the Wolf, Rose Zar
  • The Power of Song and Other Sephardic Tales, Rita Roth
  • Anne Frank: A Life in Hiding, Johanna Hurwitz
  • Haym Salomon: Liberty’s Son, Shirley Milgrim
  • Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks, Amy Schwartz
  • Clara’s Story, Clara Isaacman
  • Lilith’s Ark, Deborah Bodin Cohen
  • Of Heroes, Hooks and Heirlooms, Faye Silton
  • A Coat for the Moon and Other Jewish Tales, Howard Schwartz
  • David and Max, Gary Provost and Gail Levine-Provost
  • Potato Pancakes All Around, Marilyn Hirsch
  • JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible, Ellen Frankel
  • Naomi’s Song, Selma Kritzer Silverberg
  • Elvina’s Mirror, Sylvie Weil

Other 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