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GALE® ACQUIRES A CULTURAL TREASURE
Gale to publish The Encyclopaedia Judaica - first new edition in more than 30 years
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN -- (July 29, 2003) Gale® has acquired rights to publish the second edition of The Encyclopaedia Judaica - the landmark encyclopedia introduced in 1972.
The first edition was published by Keter Publishing House, a leading publisher in Israel. With the 2nd Edition, Gale will be working hand-in-glove with Keter to create an equally rich yet more robust version. Gale's revision - to be published under its Macmillan imprint - will be the first completely updated print edition in 30 years, said Allen Paschal, president of Gale. "Jewish studies have transformed significantly since the original edition. We are working with Keter to line up an editorial board of Israeli, U.S., and European Judaica scholars that reflects the state of Jewish studies today."
In addition to giving due attention to important Judaica subjects of recent decades, the Gale edition will introduce a key improvement: seamless integration of the base set, supplements, updates from the CD-ROM, and new content.
The Encyclopaedia Judaica is considered a cultural icon in Israel and throughout the world and is universally acclaimed as the definitive reference source on Jewish life, culture, religion and history. "The reverence for this book is apparent when watching political coverage on Israeli television where it's common to see the first edition of The Encyclopaedia Judaica located near officials' desks," Paschal said. "It's a symbol of learning and culture."
Marketplace conversations with librarians have indicated that a single, synthesized version of The Encyclopaedia Judaica would be a valuable improvement over the current formats. Subject areas likely to be targeted in the new edition include events of the last 30 years; the State of Israel today; bibliographies; archaeological discoveries; new areas of scholarship; and the Holocaust studies.
The 2nd Edition, is a highly anticipated publishing event. Library product reviewers are eager for a new edition. In the January 2003 issue of Booklist, before the industry even knew Gale was negotiating with Keter, Mary Ellen Quinn wrote, "Now that New Catholic Encyclopedia, also published by Gale, has been reanimated, we'd like to see a twenty-first-century version of this monumental resource (Encyclopedia Judaica)."
Come 2006, The Encyclopaedia Judaica's target publication date, Quinn will have her wish.
About Gale
Gale® (www.gale.com), a part of The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by consumers, students and businesses in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. Gale is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs - from homework help to health questions to business profiles - in a variety of formats - books, Web-based solutions and microfilm.
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