Maurice Jacobs - - Symbol of Multilingual
American Jewish Publishing Ventures

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

(A Seven Arts Feature)

Linotype ope r at or s routinely
work automatically: from copy to
keyboard.

At the press of Maurice Jacobs
.
.
in Phi l ade l phia it is an en Uru y
different operation. There the skill
of linguists, of experts in a variety
of fields involving ancient lore
linked with modern technology.
have helped elevate a printing
plant into one of the most creative
literary centers.

This is exactly what Maurice
Jacobs. the man who mastermind-
-
-
-

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ed a vast publishing system, has Maurice Jacobs. It dates hack to
1935 when, as executive secretary
created .
The imprint Maurice Jacobs for of the Jewish Publication Society,
many years represented the guar- 1 he went to Phi Epsilon Pi Frater-
antee that Hebrew and related lan- nity's college dormitories through-
guage classics could be published out the land. With the introduction
in an American plant, There is of that project in the 32 Phi Epsi-
soundness to this business venture lon Pi Fraternity houses Jacobs
that has lifted it above the mere established a tradition that has set
commercial. Maurice Jacobs as a the pace for the extension of Jew-
publishing imprint represents the , ish knowledge among college stu-
glory of America's greatest pub- dents.
lishing accomplishment.
As early as 1914, as a sophomore
Maurice Jacobs. the person who
created that plant whence have at the University of Maine. Jacobs.
emanated the most important Jew- together with Philip W. Lown, who'
ish classics, has just reached re-; later was to assume a major role;
tirement, but his plant carries his in American Jewish educational
'Ian
; circles, founded a Menorah Society.
Jacobs and Lown continued a life-
long friendship in Phi Epsilon Pi,
. of which they were the earliest
presidents and Menorah. which
preceded Hillel as the Jewish stu-
, dent movement on American cam-
puses.
When the history of Hillel Foun-
dations will he written, the name
Maurice Jacobs will figure there.
too. in a pioneering role, since.
the master printer-publisher had
traveled to assist in creating stu-
dent interest together with the Ell-
lel founder, Rabbi Benjamin Fran-
kel.

In the process of encouragin,
Jewish literary efforts in American
colleges. Jacobs also turned his
attention to the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations and Temple
Brotherhoods. As a leader in Phi
Epsilon Pi he induced the frater-
nity to establish a 310.000 grant fur
MAURICE JACOBS
scholarships at National Farm
name as an uninterrupted mark of School. Ile became secretary of
glory to the man who has guided the Jewish Publication Society in
the world famous printing estab- the mid-I930s and he contributed
lishment into an institution of towards advancing the needs of this
marked significance in our literary J e w i s h-Book-of-the-Month Club
spheres.
After 14 years with JPS. Jacob
An author whose works include turned to publishing, through the,
Greek. Arabic, Latin, Aramaic and Hebrew Press, which published
other languages in addition to He- JPS books and the eventual Mau-
brew must of necessity turn to rice Jacobs. Inc. firm to which
Maurice Jacobs Inc. That is why ! authors turn to have works pub-
the "English-Yiddish Yiddish-Eng- lished when Hebrew, Greek, Ger-
lish Dictionary." edited by the late
man, Arabic, Syriac, Amharic, '
Prof. Uriel Weinreich. was such a Cyrillic-Russian, Latin and other
notable publishing as well as liter- language characters must be used.
ary triumph. Without the experts,'
Some of the outstanding publica-
the highly qualified linotype and' tions of the American Jewish His-
monotype operators who are equal- torical Society. American Jewish ;
ly as skilled as linguists, this suc- ' Archives. Hebrew Union College,
cess would have been impossible.
American Academy of Religion,
All of it is the result of the ex- and other Jewish and Christian
pertise of Maurice Jacobs who institutions have come off the
now is retiring from the business . Maurice Jacobs Press.
but who leaves behind him the
Jacobs has published such works
firm name that glorifies him and as the 11-volume "Tosefta" of
retains the legend of highly quali- Prof. Saul Lieberman, the 10
fied publishing as a mark of real- volumes of Prof. Harry Austryn
ity.
Wolfson's "Averroe's Commentary
on Aristotle," the Greek New
Dr. Jacobs has so many cita-
Testament of American Bible So-
Hons, his affiliations are so exten-
ciety and so many more that could '
sive, that to list them would re-
not possibly be fully enumerated
quire a ream from his vast store
here.
of paper. His interests have been
He has played numerous editorial
primarily
in
the
educational •
roles for organizational annuals
spheres. He has been an adviser tc
and other publications and in an
Hillel Foundations, the Reform'
advisory capacity; as a leader in
Union of American Hebrew Con-
the Chautauqua Society and many
gregations, the Orthodox Yeshiva
other causes, as a leader in Re-
University Graduate School of
form Jewish ranks and in historical
Education. Conservative J e
movements, Jacobs' role is that of
projects. Brandeis University, etc.,
major significance in Jewish ranks.
etc.
In the publishing field he has
A native of Lawrence, Mass..
earned the rating of a pioneer and
where he was born Dec. 25, 1896,
as such the Maurice Jacobs name
he was graduated from the Univer-
serves as a guide to authors, pub-
sity of Maine where he also receiv-;
lishers and those striving to perpe-
ed a doctorate in 1965. He also has
tuate the best in Jewish literary
an honorary doctorate from lie- ! treasures.
brew Union College.
A glorious chapter in university
literary affairs is to the credit of

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A con- Joseph Gross Center of Yeshiva
tract has been signed for the pur- University.
chase of a 5-acre tract of land
in the Bayit Vagan quarter of
Jerusalem on which the local
branch of the Yeshiva University
of New York will be built.
Construction will begin as soon
as the building plans are approved.
Land acquisition and building
of the university complex are be-
ing handled by the Caroline and

FENBY - CARR
EDDIE SCHICK
WARNEY RUHL
JOE ODDO
STEVE MOORE
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