April 8, 2009
A fresh challenge to ArtScroll dominance
Had to bring this one to our readers' attention. This is from the JTA:
In May, Koren Publishers Jerusalem will release the first English edition of its popular Hebrew siddur featuring a commentary and translation by the chief rabbi of England, Sir Jonathan Sacks. And the Orthodox Union has launched a new publishing arm, which its backers describe as filling a “niche” in the Orthodox world, principally through the publication of the writings of the late Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, the leading thinker of Modern Orthodoxy.
“It is almost like the ArtScroll siddur is a household word,” said Carolyn Hessel, director of the Jewish Book Council. “The Koren siddur is really remarkable, but it's going to take a long time until they meet the marketing expectations that ArtScroll has already achieved.”
I have to agree. I think ArtScroll has achieved a lot because, frankly, they make a good product. It's going to take a lot to convince me to part with my Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur (hardcover, of course).
For more news about Jewish books, sign up for Jewish Literary Review's email alerts.
I hope that the Koren edition has the prayer for the state of Israel and for the Israel defense forces which the Art Scroll does NOT. For that reason alone I won’t use Art Scroll anymore.
Good point. At my conservative shul, we use Art Scroll siddurim and we say the prayer for the state of Israel and the prayer for our country. I think it comes right around Yikum Pirkon. We don’t say a prayer specifically for the IDF unless current events warrant it, as they did back in December and January.