'People of the Book' project launched

To mark Israel's 60th year, a series of 24 books is being released by Yediot Aharonot and Bank Hapoalim.

books 88 (photo credit: )
books 88
(photo credit: )
To mark Israel's 60th year, a series of 24 books is being released by Yediot Aharonot and Bank Hapoalim that includes the most important Jewish and Hebrew books of all time. Over the course of a year, the books will be distributed individually every two weeks in a single format. Included in the "People of the Book" rereleases are the Bible, the Mishna, the Babylonian Talmud, Maimonides' compilations, the Zohar and works by Shalom Aleichem, Bialik and S.Y. Agnon. The books were chosen by a panel composed of secular and religious Jews, rabbis, researchers and literary figures. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, A.B. Yehoshua, Dr. Gadi Taub and Nahum Langenthal were among those on the board. Each edition is accompanied by an introduction that puts the work in historical, cultural, Jewish and Israeli contexts. The books are being released in their original versions, aside from those not initially written in Hebrew. Distribution will begin in November, and the books will run NIS 35 each.