Over half a century ago, master typographer Eliyahu Koren produced the Koren Tanakh, the first Jewish Bible edited, designed, produced and bound by Jews in nearly 500 years. Mr. Koren considered the precision of every letter, the placement of every word on every page. He created a new font to ensure maximum clarity and to reflect the renewal of ancient Hebrew in modern times. The Tanakh's textual accuracy, pioneering design and superior quality won it worldwide acclaim. Under Mr. Koren's leadership, Koren Publishers Jerusalem went on to produce other exceptional editions of traditional Jewish texts. The Koren Siddur, published in 1981, featured a newly designed font and an insightful graphic layout that, in Mr. Koren's words, "encouraged the worshiper to engross the mind and heart in prayer." Like so many Koren titles, it became a classic.
Today, Koren Publishers Jerusalem proudly carries on Mr. Koren's legacy. It maintains an unrelenting commitment to intellectual rigor, textual purity and thoughtful design. From halakhic research to literary scholarship, typographic design to final production, Koren Publishers Jerusalem upholds the highest possible standard. Koren brings people to the heart of the Hebrew sources as it makes those sources meaningful to an ever-expanding audience. It respects the rich body of Jewish thought as it offers wisdom from today's leading Jewish thinkers.
1962 Eliyahu Koren publishes first edition of the Koren Tanakh, which wins worldwide acclaim.
All soldiers in the IDF begin to receive a Koren Tanakh upon their induction, a tradition that continues to this day.
1981 First Koren Siddur released to the Israeli market.
1998 Eliyahu Koren awarded the Jerusalem Prize, the city's most prestigious award.
2006 Inauguration of Maggid Books, a new imprint for Contemporary Jewish Thought.
2009 Publication of the Koren Siddur in Hebrew/English, translated with commentary by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
2010 Hebrew Talmud of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (Even-Israel) now published under Koren Publishers.
2011 Koren Sacks Rosh HaShana Mahzor is released, to acclaim, winning the National Jewish Book Award.
2012 The companion Yom Kippur Mahzor is released.
2012 Noé Edition of Koren Talmud Bavli with English translation and elucidation are published, based upon the edition of Rabbi Steinsaltz.
2014 First ever Hebrew/Amharic Siddur published for the Ethiopian Community.
Koren books use two fonts created by Koren Publishers Jerusalem founder, Eliyahu Koren: Koren Tanakh Font and Koren Siddur Font. Koren Tanakh Font, created for the purpose of printing The Koren Tanakh in 1962, is used for Koren biblical texts. Koren Siddur Font, created for The Koren Siddur in 1981, is used for other texts. Mr. Koren studied and re-studied Hebrew manuscripts and early printing types, consulted with ophthalmologists, and took a sensitive approach to modernization, to create fonts of ultimate legibility and beauty. Both fonts are © Copyright Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.