Jewish Publication Society

What Jewish Publication Society does

The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit book publisher founded in 1888 and headquartered in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania (mailing address), with its operating base in Philadelphia. It publishes Jewish scholarship, religious texts, Bible commentaries, history, philosophy, and literature for the English-reading Jewish community and adjacent academic audiences. Its flagship product is the JPS TANAKH, the English translation of the Hebrew Bible recognized as the most authoritative in its category, available in hardcover, paperback, pocket, deluxe, student, and gender-sensitive editions; companion lines include the five-volume JPS Torah Commentary, the Commentators' Bible (Rubin JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot), the Scholar of Distinction series, JPS Guides, and a children's/young adult catalog.

JPS operates as a small editorial organization with 1–10 employees, outsourcing manufacturing, fulfillment, and global distribution to the University of Nebraska Press and Longleaf Services, with international partners Ampersand (Canada) and Mare Nostrum Group (EMEA). Revenue comes from one-time book sales across formats (print and ebook) and recurring donations/support under its 501(c)(3) status; pricing is set by the publishing partner and varies by format. The organization sells primarily to individuals (general Jewish readership), academics and scholars, rabbis and Jewish educators, and gender-inclusive readers, supported by marketing through its website, email newsletter, X (Twitter) and Instagram, the JPS Blog, the JPS Authors Bureau, and study guides.

Name

Jewish Publication Society

Legal name

The Jewish Publication Society

Website

https://jps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Jewish Publication Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit publisher founded in 1888 that produces the JPS TANAKH and authoritative Jewish scholarship, Bible commentaries, and reference works for the English-reading Jewish community, scholars, and rabbis, distributed globally via the University of Nebraska Press.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL), Religious Nonfiction & Theology Publishing (Apologetics, Doctrine, Ethics) (MPAJAHAG), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD)

Keywords

• Jewish book publishing
• Bible translation
• Biblical commentary
• Religious publishing
• Jewish scholarship

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: JPS generates revenue through the sale of books distributed via its publishing partner, the University of Nebraska Press. Books are sold in various formats including hardcover, paperback, large print, pocket editions, and ebooks.
2. Donations and Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, JPS accepts donations to support its mission of promoting Jewish literacy through book publication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is a nonprofit publisher of Jewish books, producing the JPS TANAKH (the most authoritative English translation of the Hebrew Bible), Bible and Torah commentaries, scholarly works, and Jewish cultural literature. JPS distributes publications through its publishing partner, the University of Nebraska Press, in physical and ebook formats to individual readers, scholars, clergy, and educators.

Product overview

The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is a nonprofit publisher specializing in Jewish scholarship and religious texts. Its core product is the JPS TANAKH, the most widely read English translation of the Hebrew Bible, available in multiple editions (Hebrew-English, English-only, pocket, deluxe, student, and gender-sensitive). JPS also publishes award-winning Bible commentaries including the five-volume Torah Commentary series and the Rubin JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot (Commentators' Bible), which presents medieval commentaries by Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and others. Additional offerings include the Scholar of Distinction Series, JPS Guides reference books, Children & Young Adults titles, and the JPS Audio Bible produced in partnership with The Jewish Braille Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JPS TANAKH (Hebrew Bible) The flagship English translation of the Hebrew Bible, recognized as the most authoritative and preferred English translation. Available in multiple editions including Hebrew-English, English-only, pocket, deluxe, student, and gender-sensitive versions, in hardcover, paperback, large print, and ebook formats.
• JPS Bible Commentaries Award-winning, accessible commentaries by today's top scholars covering books of the Bible including Ruth, Jonah, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Song of Songs, Haftarot, Psalms, and 1 Samuel.
• JPS Torah Commentaries Five-volume commentary series covering Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, providing line-by-line commentary of the original Hebrew Bible text with vocalization and cantillation marks alongside the JPS English translation.
• The Commentators' Bible (Rubin JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot) English edition of the classic Miqra'ot Gedolot featuring translations of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Nahmanides, Rashbam, and other medieval commentators with explanatory notes for lay readers.
• JPS Audio Bible Complete, unabridged audio version of the JPS TANAKH featuring over 60 hours of readings by 13 narrators, produced in partnership with The Jewish Braille Institute.
• JPS Scholar of Distinction Series Collection of works by distinguished JPS scholars including Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Nahum M. Sarna, and Moshe Greenberg.
• JPS Guides A series of guides including The Jewish Bible Guide, American Jewish History, American Jewish Fiction, Jewish Traditions Guide, Dictionary of Jewish Words, and JPS Guide to Jewish Women.
• Children & Young Adults Books Books for children and young adults including titles like JPS B'nai Mitzvah Torah Commentary, Lilith's Ark, and various biographies and fiction.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of Nebraska PresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe University of Nebraska Press serves as JPS's primary publishing partner, handling distribution, order fulfillment, and retail sales of JPS publications. All book orders placed through the JPS website redirect to the University of Nebraska Press.
• Longleaf ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongleaf Services handles phone orders, email orders, and fax orders for JPS books as part of the University of Nebraska Press fulfillment operation.
• The Hebrew University Magnes PressflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPS announced a new partnership with The Hebrew University Magnes Press, representing a significant expansion of collaborative scholarly publishing efforts in Jewish studies.
• Ampersand (Canada)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian distribution partner handling JPS book distribution in Canada.
• Mare Nostrum Group Bookshop (Europe, Middle East, Africa)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for JPS books covering Israel, Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions.
• Jewish Braille InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish Braille Institute produced and recorded the JPS Audio Bible, a complete unabridged audio version featuring over 60 hours of readings by 13 narrators.
• SefariaflagshipTechnology or IntegrationJPS Bible Translation entered the digital era through a partnership with Sefaria, making the JPS Bible translation available in digital format as part of Sefaria's open-source library of Jewish texts.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schocken Books: Schocken Books is a longtime publisher of Jewish literature, including Bible translations (Soncino Talmud, Jewish philosophical works). It is a direct peer in Jewish book publishing with overlapping audiences and authors.
• Koren Publishers Jerusalem: Koren is a Jerusalem-based publisher of Jewish texts including prayer books, TANAKH editions, and rabbinical literature. It directly competes with JPS in English TANAKH translation and Jewish religious publishing.
• Maggid Books / Toby Press: Maggid Books publishes Jewish thought, Bible commentary, and contemporary Jewish scholarship. It overlaps directly with JPS's catalog of Jewish nonfiction, theology, and rabbinic literature.
• Jewish Lights Publishing: Jewish Lights Publishing (now part of Turner Publishing) specializes in Jewish spirituality, history, and thought for general and Jewish audiences. It is a direct competitor in the Jewish nonfiction and inspirational publishing space.
• Hebrew University Magnes Press: Magnes Press, the publishing arm of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, publishes Jewish scholarship and now has a flagship partnership with JPS. It directly competes in academic Jewish publishing while also partnering with JPS for cross-market distribution.

Others

• University of Nebraska Press: University of Nebraska Press is JPS's core distribution and publishing partner. While not a direct competitor, it co-publishes and distributes JPS titles and operates its own Jewish studies imprint (JPS Essential Reference Library), making it closely comparable as a Jewish-content publisher.
• Jewish Book Council: Jewish Book Council promotes Jewish literature and runs the National Jewish Book Awards. It is an ecosystem enabler that influences consumer discovery of titles like JPS's, rather than a direct publishing competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Yale University Press: Yale University Press publishes the Yale Anchor Bible series and broader religious/academic works. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with JPS's Bible commentary and religious scholarship lines, though it operates across many fields beyond Judaism.
• Oxford University Press: Oxford University Press publishes religious texts, scholarly monographs, and reference works including Jewish studies titles. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with JPS's scholarly Bible commentary and Jewish history offerings.

Emerging players

• Sefaria: Sefaria is a digital, open-source library of Jewish texts including the JPS Bible translation. As a free digital resource, it is an emerging player and partial substitute for printed editions, and currently serves as JPS's flagship digital partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jewishpub
• Instagraminstagram.com/jewishpublicationsociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/jewishpublicationsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-jewish-publication-society-jps-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jewish Publication Society