U.S. Jewish Book Publishers Sending Delegation of Four and an Exhibit of 200 Jewish Books to Moscow

The Association of Jewish Book Publishers has disclosed it was sending a delegation of four persons and an exhibit of more than 200 Jewish books, published in the United States, to the first International Book Fair scheduled in Moscow Sept. 6-14.

Jacob Steinberg, Association president, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the announcement had been withheld until the delegation members had received their visas and until the books were shipped to Moscow. Steinberg, founder of Twayne Publishers and now with Bobbs-Merrill Co., and David Olivestone, senior editor of the Hebrew Publishing Co., head the delegation. Steinberg said the names of the other two members were being withheld for the present.

Some of the publishers whose books were shipped to Moscow for the fair are the Jewish Publication Society, Schocken Books, Bobbs-Merrill, Ktav Publishing, the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The latter is the central agency for Reform synagogues.

Steinberg said the exhibit was meant to exemplify the wide variety of books of Jewish interest published in this country and to provide a basis for the discussion of publishing rights and related matters with publishers in the USSR and other countries to be represented at the fair.

He said that, according to the Moscow fair rules, the exhibits will be open to the general public as well as to publishers, librarians and other professional book personnel. He said the American delegation will leave Sept. 3. Steinberg said the Association did not expect any problems in regard to acceptance of the Jewish books it had sent for exhibit. He said the Association’s exhibitors will observe the Sabbath and the High Holy Days in Moscow and hoped to attend synagogue services on those days.