Kehot Boasts 246,000 Books

The Kehot Publication Society’s production department, at its end-of-year meeting, has released some figures for the outgoing year of 5772.

“Between new titles and reprints we published some 246,877 volumes,” says production coordinator Rabbi Mendel Laine. Breaking down the numbers: “we published 36 new titles and reprinted 78 old titles.”

A quick calculation reveals that three new books were published every month, and one reprint every few days.

A major achievement was the completion of Kehot’s unique interpolated “Rebbe’s Chumash” which presents tens of thousands of insights by the Rebbe on Chumash.

Also of special significance is the reprinting of the entire 26-volume set of Chasidic Discourses by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. This was made possible by a grant from Rabbi and Mrs. David Fischer in honor of the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Alter Rebbe.

Kehot editor Rabbi Avraham D. Vaisfiche reported on some upcoming projects including the publication of Letters by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in English, Studies in Rashi by the Rebbe on Chumash Shemot, and several new titles in the highly-popular Chasidic Heritage Series.

Rabbi Yirmi Berkowitz, liturgy department director, reported on additional milestones including the digitally enhanced releases of the classic Chabad Tehillim and Tehillat Hashem Siddur and the new Machzor im Pirush Meshulav. “Other siddurim are in the pipeline, like the Hebrew/English linear siddur, a Hebrew/English siddur with interpolated commentary and a Hebrew version of the Annotated Siddur.”

A major effort is now underway to publish the complete set of the writings by the third Rebbe, the “Tzemach Tzedek.” “This prodigious body of work is entitled Ohr Hatorah and comprises 40 volumes,” said senior editor Rabbi Dovid Olidort. “This is in addition to the ongoing program of to publishing newly annotated editions of the Chasidic works of the fifth Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, such as Sefer Hama’amarim Eter (discourses delivered in 1910) and the famed Ayin Beis series of discourses which is already appearing in booklets (4 as of year-end),” adds Olidort.

“Despite the overall reduction in the purchase of consumer goods due to the lagging economy,” says sales and distribution director, Rabbi Avraham Holtzberg, “Customers continued to enrich their lives by purchasing Kehot’s fine, life-giving publications. For this we are humbled and very grateful.”

Rabbi Yosef B. Friedman thanked Kehot’s supporters who continued, despite the harsh financial climate, to partner with Kehot and dedicate new publications. “The Rebbe has indicated that the publication of a Torah book is the ultimate way to celebrate a festive family occasion and the finest memorial one could establish for a dear departed one,” says Friedman.

Indeed, with Kehot’s ongoing prodigious schedule of publications—dedications are always available.