Kehos
Kehos Publishing House is the official publishing organization of Chabad Chassidus.
About the Publishing House[edit | edit source]
The name "Kehos" is an acronym for "Karnei Hod Torah" (Rays of Torah's Glory). Additionally, it represents the year 5505 (1745) when the Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad Chassidus, was born.
The department was established in 5702 (1942) by the Frierdiker Rebbe. He appointed the Rebbe as the organization's director, and the first sefer published was the second edition of the Year Book[1].
In the organization's early years, the Rebbe oversaw and personally edited seforim[2]. After accepting the nesius (leadership), the Rebbe gradually transferred the editorial and operational responsibilities to his chosen staff.
Kehos is the world's largest publisher of Jewish literature in terms of volume. Their seforim have been published in Hebrew, Yiddish, English, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Persian, and Arabic.
Kehos has publishing divisions in Eretz Yisroel, Argentina, France, and other locations.
Several organizations received the Rebbe's permission to publish their seforim under the Kehos imprint, primarily Vaad L'Hafotzas Sichos, which the Rebbe appointed to manage all Chabad publishing. This includes seforim from Vaad Hanachos B'Lahak, Machon Levi Yitzchok, Heichal Menachem, and others.
After World War II[edit | edit source]
After the end of World War II, the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Dovid Bravman as the executive director of Kehot (publishing house) in Europe, with the goal of taking advantage of the low printing costs across Europe and particularly in Germany, which was significantly cheaper than in America following the events of the war. After various searches and inquiries, Rabbi Bravman chose to print the books in a printing house in Munich[3], and in this printing house many foundational Chabad seforim were printed, such as the first edition of Sefer HaTanya that was printed under the instructions of the Frierdiker Rebbe (Admo"r HaRayatz), Siddur Tehillat Hashem, Sefer HaMaamarim Yiddish, Sefer HaMaamarim 'Ateret Rosh' (by the Mitteler Rebbe), Torah Or and Likkutei Torah, Shaarei Orah, the set of Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, the maamar 'Kinyan HaChaim', Shut Tzemach Tzedek, and more.
After the value of the German currency rose, it was no longer worthwhile for Kehot to continue printing the seforim in Germany, and in the year 5711 (תשי"א/1951) the Rebbe informed Rabbi Dovid that his mission was completed, and he could make aliyah to the Holy Land.
Characteristics of Chabad Publishing[edit | edit source]
The Rebbe established unique publishing standards while directing Kehos:
- Detailed indexes are emphasized. The Rebbe personally created general indexes for many Chassidic seforim, including subject indexes, Torah source indexes, and name indexes. The Torah source indexes for Likkutei Sichos alone span two volumes.
- Comprehensive bibliographies and printing histories, documenting various editions. Each sefer includes a list of its printings and editions. The Tanya, Chabad Chassidus's foundational text, lists over 7,000 printings worldwide.
- Detailed sources and cross-references are provided for every quote.
Kehos Store in Crown Heights[edit | edit source]
Reb Yaakov Reich established the Kehos bookstore on Eastern Parkway, opposite 770, with help from Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gourary, managing it for several years.
In 5744 (1984), Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Isaac Chodakov wrote that both had permission to print Kehos seforim.
In 5754 (1994), Kehos management arranged for Rabbi Reich's departure from the store he had founded and devotedly managed.
Kehos Branch in Eretz Yisroel[edit | edit source]
In 5715 (1955), a branch was established in Eretz Yisroel under Rabbi Avrohom Paris. After his passing in 5732 (1972), Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wolf was appointed as director.
Beyond distribution and sales, the branch independently publishes seforim. Since its establishment, it has published dozens of seforim, printed at the Yad HaChamisha printing press as per the Rebbe's instructions.
Today, the main Kehos store is located in the basement of the 770 building in Kfar Chabad.