Brandeis Jewish Book Trade conference

to cover the field of Jewish publishing

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

WALTHAM - An opportunity to mingle with publishers, writers and book distributors within the field of Jewish publications will be offered this Monday at the Jewish Book Trade Conference, to be held at Brandeis University. The conference, which is free and open to the public, will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and will include lunch.

“Attendees will be able to learn more about getting published, and explore issues involved with the sale of books,” said organizer Rosie Rosenzweig, a Resident Scholar in Women’s Studies, who will give introductory remarks at the event, which will cover all aspects of the trade.

A morning session, led by Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History Jonathan Sarna, who is also the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, will precede presentations by Phyllis Deutsch of the University Press of New England, Ellen Frankel of the Jewish Publications Society, David Behrman of Behrman House, and Stuart Matlins of Jewish Lights Publishing. An afternoon session will follow, led by Jacob Potofsky Professor of Sociology Shula Rheinharz, who also directs the Hadassah International Research Institute on Jewish Women.

Carolyn Hesse of the Jewish Book Council and Avrum Fox of Rosenblum’s Jewish Book Store in Chicago and Alljudaica.com will discuss issues regarding Jewish bookstores, which will include distribution, promotion and shelf space. Arthur Kurzweil, Jewish Interest Editor for Jossey-Bass, a division of Wiley, and Yosi Abramovitz of Jewish FamilyLife will address technological topics.

“The goal of this program is to explore the publishing and distribution of Jewish books in the United States in the 21st century,” said Sarna. “To that end, we have invited representatives from many different types of Jewish publishers, a Jewish book store, and an internet distributor.

“A second goal of this program is to introduce our community, especially graduate students, to the world of Jewish publishing,” he continued. “They can explore such issues as how to get ‘happily published’, what kinds of books publishers are looking for, how to approach presses and which presses to approach, and how Jewish books today are being distributed and marketed.”

Publishing representatives from Jewish Lights Publications, Jewish Publication Society, University Press of New England, John Wiley & Sons, and Behrman House will present and hold informational question and answer sessions. The Jewish Book Council and Alljudaica.com will join the publishers in covering the issues of distribution, promotion, and bookstore shelf space.

“The idea began with an invitation I sent to Stuart Maitlins,” said Rozenzweig, who also serves as Publications Chair of the Scholars Program in Women's Studies at the Women's Studies Research Center. She, Reinharz and Sarna then convened and created a list of invitees. The response was enthusiastic.

"Many of us who are involved with Jewish publishing know each other and have individual friendships, but we rarely have an opportunity to gather together to share experiences and talk about mutual concerns,” said Kurzweil. “I expect that at this conference, we who are presenting will receive at least as much as we will give."

“We hope that this program will attract a diverse group of faculty, students, and community members, and that it will shed broad light on an important and fast-changing aspect of American Jewish cultural life,” said Sarna.

Space is limited. For further information on the May 5 Jewish Book Trade Conference at Brandeis University, please call 781-736-8100, or rsvp to Ceagan@brandeis.edu.