Archive for category Publishing

The Gift of Books

Posted by Rachel Broder in Publishing on December 18, 2011

ebookanoid.com

I went to the bookstore to buy a book for a friend today. I had to weave through people, ask employees to look for a copy of the book in the back room, and then wait in line. I’m used to wandering into the store on Sunday, lazily combing through the aisles and then easing up to counter and out the door without having to say “excuse me” once. I go to the bookstore almost every weekend. Usually I like the peace and quite of the bookstore, but today’s buzz and borderline chaos were unexpectedly pleasant. The combination of the holiday shopping season and the closing of Borders earlier this year created what was my most hectic bookstore experience in a long time.

I’ve read countless articles this year about the predicted extinction of books, but also of the book world going full circle from small bookshops, to retail, back to small. I read the articles and compared them to my own experiences with the closing of the Borders in the city and the two near my parents’ house in the suburbs, realizing that the book world was certainly changing whether I liked it or not. I’ve felt a shared sadness with other book lovers over the past year, searching for a way to keep the love of literature alive so that books can be available to younger generations. I’ve felt a different kind of sadness as e-Books have taken storm and the Nook and Kindle became more prevalent around me on my morning commute to work. Today was the first day I didn’t feel any of that sadness when I was in the bookstore.

What I realized today is that books are still among the most popular gifts. Books appeal to a variety of people in ways that few other objects can- they’re living, breathing pieces that readers ingest and interpret in their own way. Books are durable in material and wisdom, traits that few toys or sweaters can boast. It made me so overwhelmingly joyous to watch shoppers select books for others based on preference, popularity, or mere chance. Though the future of books is certainly still daunting for me, today’s experience in the bookstore set my mind at ease. When the cashier asked me if I needed a gift receipt for my book, I told her absolutely not for I was sure that I had made the right choice.

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A Poetry Contest With A Powerful Subject

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Books, Jewish Innovation, Jewish Knowledge, Publishing on January 17, 2011

Are you a poet? A historian? A social activist? The Forward is holding a commemorative contest that you might be interested in. From now until February 14th, The Forward is accepting poems that reflect on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

Nearly one hundred years ago, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City caught fire. While the source of the blaze is still a topic for debate, the outcome was tragic from any viewpoint. With 146 people killed, the Triangle Factory disaster remains the deadliest industrial accident to occur in New York.

In the aftermath of the fire, a lot of questions were raised about the rights of American factory workers. After all, most of the victims of the fire died because their only exit had been locked to prevent people from leaving their posts early. Worse, the workers on the upper floors had no warning, as the building had no alarm system.

Morris Rosenfeld, known as the “poet laureate of the slum and the sweatshop,” wrote a poem to express the grief of the city. The Jewish Daily Forward published it, running it down the length of the paper’s front page. The press was key in initiating a lawsuit against the factory owners, which in turn pushed the nation to demand safety regulation in industry.

One century later, what difference has the Triangle Fire made? What was the tragedy’s legacy? Did it facilitate change, or did the country only react superficially?

The Forward is seeking original, unpublished poems reflecting on these questions. Entries can be in Yiddish or English, and must be submitted by February 14th, 2011 at 5 pm EST. Please see the above link for rules, terms, and conditions.

You can find out more about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory here. For inspiration, here’s Morris Rosenfeld’s original poem. Spread the word, and best of luck to all who choose to submit their work!

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Introducing our new CEO, Barry Schwartz!

Posted by admin in Publishing on July 14, 2010

The Jewish Publication Society has named Rabbi Barry Schwartz as our new Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining JPS, Rabbi Schwartz spent 11 years serving as the senior rabbi at Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In addition to his rabbinical work, he served on the board of several nonprofit social justice organizations, where he was active in Jewish environmental work, and authored four books, a prize-winning short story, and scholarly articles that have appeared in the Journal of Reform Judaism, American Jewish History, and the Hebrew Union College Annual.

Q: What made you want to enter the publishing world and to work for The Jewish Publication Society?

A: I’ve loved JPS books since I was a kid. In my 1500 volume Judaica library, place of pride belongs to many wonderful JPS books. I strongly believe in our mission, and hope to help guide the transition to our future.

How will you translate your skills and experiences as a Rabbi to being the CEO of JPS?

It’s all about building and sustaining relationships. As a congregational rabbi for the past 25 years, I know my way around the Jewish community. We need to reach out to the community far and wide. Educators, rabbis, donors, and of course, book lovers all have a crucial role in our future success.  I hope to share my passion for life long Jewish learning in a way that will help enhance Jewish literacy in general and JPS in particular.

What do you hope to accomplish at JPS and what are your long term goals?

The three words I think express my hope are: affirmation, imagination, and collaboration. We need to affirm JPS’ mission of publishing books of enduring worth that will stand the test of time. Yet in the digital era, we need imagination in order to innovate in ways that will excite a new generation. And I know that our future is linked to partnerships. Few of us in Jewish publishing will be able to go it alone in the years to come.

I am devoting this year to a non-stop series of conversations about our future, and I welcome anyone to join the conversation. Who are we, where are we going…and what is “the next big thing” for JPS?

What do you think is the greatest challenge in the publishing industry right now?

The short answer: how to make money from e-books. The bigger challenge: how to harness emerging technology for quality learning. The biggest challenge: how to combat the culture wide decline in “deep” reading.

Where do you see JPS in 5 years?

Five years is an eternity in publishing right now. At the same time, as I told an interviewer recently, the monuments of Judaism that endure are not buildings, but books. Great books will continue to convey the wisdom and beauty of our heritage, and one way or another I hope JPS will be part of that!

Related Interest:

The Jewish Exponent: Pulpit to Publishing: A New Leader for JPS

Jewish Community Voice: Rabbi Barry Schwartz to head The Jewish Publication Society

-Jill Finkelstein

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Jews in the World Cup

Posted by admin in Publishing on June 24, 2010

Four years ago, I watched the World Cup matches on a huge outdoor screen on the beaches of Tel Aviv. This year, though I’m in the states, I’ve still been able to take some Jewish pride in watching the games. Thanks to a report by Ron Kaplan at New Jersey Jewish News, I’ve learned that there are three Jews on the US squad:

Both Bornstein and Feilhaber, who happen to be old friends and roommates, played in yesterday’s winning game. The Jewish Journal recently interviewed the two players on their connection to Judaism. Here are a few highlights:

Feilhaber said that he and Bornstein “definitely had a special connection” because of their religion. Plus, he said, “it was easy being friends with him because he scored all the goals so I passed him all the balls.”

“My father is Jewish, and I have a connection with Judaism through my father and my grandparents. I know our history as a people and embrace being Jewish myself,” Feilhaber said. “Of course, my proudest moment as a Jew was having my bar mitzvah in front of all my family and friends.”

Bornstein’s relationship with Judaism also stems from his father, a Jew born into an Orthodox family in New York. While Bornstein did not have a bar mitzvah and doesn’t consider himself observant, he did grow up celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Passover with relatives. And he credits his experience representing the United States in the Maccabiah Games in 2005 with reinforcing his Jewish identity.

“It was an amazing experience. I loved it, and not just because I got to play soccer in Israel. It made me realize how fulfilling and enriched Jewish culture really is,”Bornstein said.

Click here to read the full article.

For further reading about Jewish sports stars, check out these great resources:

-Jill Finkelstein

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June is Audiobook Month! Who Knew?

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Publishing on June 17, 2010

Audiobooks have been around in the US since 1930. Their original purpose was to provide the blind with access to books that weren’t printed in Braille. In fact, we recently collaborated with the Jewish Braille Institute to produce an audio version of the JPS Tanakh.

Over time, audiobooks have become an important media of their own. Many audio books enlist actors and add soundtracks to make the listening experience as engaging as possible. Now, audiobooks represent an industry worth almost 900 million dollars. From long car trips to preschool classrooms, audiobooks have become an entertainment staple. They even have their own award!

The Audies are awarded every spring by the Audio Publishers Association to recognize distinction in spoken-word entertainment. A frequent winner (and now a Hall of Fame member) is the Harry Potter series, narrated by the iconic Jim Dale. His brilliant narration and voice acting has brought the books to life for children all over the world. His work is an excellent example of how the audiobook has evolved: far from simply reading the text, Dale has created 146 unique character voices for his recordings. This year’s Audiobook of the Year went to Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales, which featured the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Mirren, Don Cheadle, and Alan Rickman.

To learn more about audiobooks and the Audio Publishers Association, check out http://www.audiopub.org.

Also, check out Associated Content’s article on the positive impact audiobooks have made around the country.

Happy listening!

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Summer Reading Roundup

Posted by admin in Jewish Books, Link Roundup, Publishing on June 11, 2010

School may be out for summer, but don’t underestimate the fun of curling up in the warm weather with a good book. We’ve rounded up the best of the web to get you excited about summer reading!

1.     Joanne Meier blogs about the benefits of reading during the summer on Reading Rockets’ Sound It Out blog. According to a new study, simply giving kids books may actually be as effective as summer school. Summer reading also helps kids retain what they’ve learned throughout the school year.

2.     Many book stores are offering incentives to kids for reading. This summer, with through Barnes & Noble’s Passport to Summer Reading program, when kids read 8 books, they can earn a free book of their choice. The program also offers downloadable activity kits for parents and educators. At Borders, kids under 12 can earn a free book when they read 10 books through their ‘10 Summer Double Dog Dare reading program.

3.     Know of any good books? Now you can share your summer reading recommendations or search for the perfect title on Twitter by using the hashtag #sumread10.

4.     Participate in a summer reading program! Visit http://www.cslpreads.org for a list of reading resources (for children and adults) and find out if your local library is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program.

5.     E-readers are great for tossing into your beach bag, but if you’re thinking about buying one, check out this article from The New York Times to find out which one best suits you.

If you know of any other great reading programs or summer reading recommendations you would like to share with other readers, let us know in the comment section. Happy reading!

-Jill Finkelstein

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Happy 122nd Birthday, JPS!

Posted by admin in Jewish Books, JPS Books, JPS History, Publishing on June 4, 2010

June 3, 1888, was “a great day in Philadelphia Judaism,” when 100 of the leading Jewish intellectuals in America met in Philadelphia to found the Jewish Publication Society. Fast forward 122 years and JPS is still going strong!

The amazing thing about working for the Jewish Publication Society is learning about how much historical significance the organization has within American Jewish history. In response to a large wave of Jewish immigration in the United States, the society was founded to educate the American-born children of Jewish immigrants about their heritage and unite American Jews. Still to this day, JPS’s mission is to provide literary content to those interested in many aspects of Jewish life.

Every day when I enter the office, I walk past a bookshelf filled with JPS books dating back to the late 1800s and I’m always awestruck. I feel honored to work for an organization that has had important Jewish figures like Henrietta Szold and Chaim Potok serve as Editor-in-Chief and has published works from noted scholars and literary greats like Isaac Bashevis Singer, S.Y. Agnon, Yehuda Amichai, Saul Bellow, Martin Buber, Hillel Halkin, and Abraham Joshuah Heschel. Despite all these great factors, the Jewish Publication Society would never have been as successful throughout the years without the help of you, our readers. Thank you for your continued support of JPS and here’s to many more years of providing new and exciting Jewish content.

-Jill Finkelstein

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Delayed E-Book Releases – Smart or Annoying?

Posted by Sarah in Jewish Books, Publishing on January 5, 2010

No one can deny it. The e-book is here and it’s here to stay. Whether you’re for or against the e-reader doesn’t change the heart of the matter. The question now is how will the publishing industry adapt to the advent of such a new and exciting technology?

Many are concerned that as devices like Kindle, Nook, and the Sony Reader continue to take over the reading world, printed books will cease to exist. A very scary thought.

So, what is the publishing industry to do?

Well, if you’re Simon & Schuster, you’ve already thought of a solution. The question is, is it the right one? In an effort to address new technologies while continuing to sell printed materials, Simon & Schuster has decided to delay the sale of their publications’ e-books, only making them available four months after the initial hardcover release. And, they’re not the only ones, with companies like HarperCollins and Hachette Book Group following suit.

So, is this an ingenious plan or a childish antic?

Some believe that this makes sense. Wait a few months, let the printed version sell, and then release the e-book for those who desperately want it for their electronic devices. That way, everyone wins. As Simon & Schuster spokesman Adam Rothberg states,

We understand that there is an urge with digital media to have it more, faster, now. We’re trying to hit upon a happy medium.

But, some don’t agree. They argue that waiting to release an e-book version doesn’t cater to what the public wants most. Instead, these people believe that publishers are sticking to an antiquated system of scheduled releases (hardcover first, paperback second, etc) that doesn’t fit with the public’s desire. And, after all, aren’t the customers’ needs supposed to be priority #1?

Whether you agree with the publishers’ plan or not, be prepared to wait a little while for the e-book version of some of 2010’s exciting new releases. And remember, it’s not so bad. Reading print books is still an experience all its own!

-Sarah

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Easy-to-Keep New Year’s Resolutions!

Posted by Sarah in JPS Books, Publishing, Uncategorized on December 29, 2009

New Year’s – one of those really big flashy holidays where everything glitters. Literally. People sit around with bubbly champagne, crazy hats, and a list of things they plan to do differently in the coming year.

That’s right, the infamous list of New Year’s resolutions. The things each person wants to change, but rarely does. So, maybe it’s time to find some New Year’s resolutions that you can easily accomplish! Need some help? Here are some easy resolutions just for you, from JPS:

1. Read a book that you’d never think to read – Ever get too caught up in the things you know you like and forget about trying something new? The New Year is a perfect time to branch out and read a book that is totally out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s a New York Times bestseller, a used out-of-print novel, or a JPS title , I can guarantee you that the books you may be least likely to read are sometimes the ones that surprise you most. So, take a chance!

2. Comment on a blog – whether you’re a fan or not, blogs are here to stay (woohoo!), so you might as well take part in the action! Bloggers, myself included, love to hear what readers have to say. I mean, after all, it IS an interactive community, meaning we thrive off comments and discussion. Even if you disagree with what’s being said, tell us! It spices up the conversation.

3. Try an e-book – Yes, I know I’ve made it clear that I’m not entirely sold on e-readers and e-books, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see what they’re like! Got an iPod touch? Or a friend with a Kindle? If so, take some time to check out a device, and then let us know what you think! We’re always interested in hearing more about the print vs. e-book debate.

Try out these simple resolutions, and start out the New Year on a high.  Good luck!

-Sarah

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Jews and Christmas music – not such an unlikely mix!

Posted by Naomi in Jewish Knowledge, JPS Books, JPS History, Publishing on December 20, 2009

IrvingBerlin2It’s no secret – I love Christmas music.  I adore it!  Heck, I love it even more than some of my Christian friends do.  You can bet your buttons that when December rolls around, I’m tuning my radio to a 24/7 Christmas music radio station.   And of course, people are always asking me, “Naomi, why do you love Christmas music so much?  Why don’t you find it irritating like the rest of us do?  And… come on, seriously, you’re Jewish!”  True, true.  I suppose there’s something nostalgic about the music, the bells, the thought of chestnuts roasting on an open fire while the weather outside is frightful…

I think that the best answer is probably that there’s no accounting for taste.

That being said, you could argue (though it’s a stretch) that I love Christmas music because much of it was actually written by Jews.  This fun fact is no secret, either.  A recent article from InterFaithFamily.com points out that in this year’s American Society of Composers and Publisher’s 25 Most Popular Holiday Songs list, more than half were composed, co-written, or performed by Jews.  We all knew that Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas”, but did you ever think that “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” would be a member of the tribe?

Well, doesn’t it seem a bit strange that so much of this music has been written by Jews?  Perhaps it’s not so strange if you think about the phenomenon in its historical context – and this is what’s argued by David Lehman, author of A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs. In an October interview with Smithsonian magazine, Lehman explains how between WWI and the mid-1960s, in the wake of the hardships of life in Europe, Jewish songwriters “reinvented America itself as a projection of their ideals of what America could be,” essentially creating a religion of “American-ness”.  Perhaps this is what the holiday songs were all about: the portrayal of a joyful, nostalgic America, centered around hearth and home. They saw America as a place of comfort, and sought to reflect that feeling in their music.

So there you go, that brings it back to the nostalgia argument.  Now that we’ve cleared that up, I’d like to wish you all (in the wake of this recent brutal nor’easter), a wonderful, warm week – and if you’re celebrating it, a lovely, nostalgic Christmas.

Naomi

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