The Jewish Publication Society: JPS at 120 Years

JPS at 120 Years

We are getting close to reaching our goal of raising $300,000 to support JPS good works and important book projects! Join us!

As we begin our 120th year, Henrietta Szold, the first editor of The Jewish Publication Society, has just been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. In the 23 years that Szold dedicated to JPS—1893 to 1916—she set an exacting standard for the fledgling society. Since Szold first took on the task, JPS has matured into a vibrant publishing house.

From its beginnings in the late 19th century until now, JPS has regularly produced classic works and landmark titles, from Graetz's History of the Jews and Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, to the critically acclaimed JPS Torah Commentaries, The Jewish Catalog, and the JPS Tanakh (in 2 translations and over 35 editions). And we remain committed to sustaining the legacy of our founders, publishing high-quality Jewish books, and now expanding into new media, with print-on-demand books, and e-books soon to become available via our website.

There is a Jewish saying: "May you live to be 120," to Moses's ripe old age. We have now reached that ripe old age and are still going strong. Join us over these next 12 months as we honor our past and celebrate our future. Visit our website frequently to see news of anniversary events; interesting facts about JPS and Jewish history and culture; and of course, descriptions of the fine new books we're publishing this special year.

The JPS Charter

In 1888 a group of visionaries founded JPS, knowing that Jews needed books in English to succeed in America. They started a nonprofit society of subscribers whose dues supported its work and subsidized the distribution of free books to the poor. Now, 120 years later, we still depend upon the generosity of the Jewish community to produce quality works and to fund our The JPS Mitzvah Project, which provides free JPS books to the military and disadvantaged communities worldwide. If you're not already a JPS member, become one; and if you are, please make a special anniversary gift to JPS this year, to further support all our good works.

Thank you for making 2008 a banner year for JPS and a true celebration of Jewish learning and culture!

Carol Hupping
COO and Publishing Director