Ktav Publishing House

KTAV Publishing House

Company type	Private
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1921
Founder	Asher Scharfstein, Feiga (Fannie) Scharfstein
Headquarters	Brooklyn, New York , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Moshe Heller (owner and CEO)
Products	Judaica, Jewish education materials, textbooks, siddurs, academic works, books on spirituality
Website	www.ktav.com

KTAV Publishing House is a publishing house located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1921 by Asher and Feiga (Fannie) Scharfstein, it has become a prominent publisher specializing in Judaica and Jewish education materials since the mid-1900s. The Hebrew word "Ktav" translates to "to write." In recognition of its impact on educational publishing, Ktav was honored with the Parents' Choice Award in 2004.

History

Founded in 1921, the company adopted the name Ktav during the late 1920s when it started manufacturing notebooks. The founders’ sons, Sol and Bernie Scharfstein, eventually assumed joint ownership. Throughout its history, Ktav has operated from several sites, including Manhattan’s Canal Street, Hoboken, Jersey City, and presently Brooklyn.

By 1992, Ktav was part of a publishing and novelty enterprise generating $3 million annually. The textbook division was directed by Sol Scharfstein, while Bernie managed administrative duties and scholarly publications. At that time, the company’s catalog featured more than 700 titles encompassing textbooks, siddurs (Jewish prayer books), academic works, and books on spirituality. In 1992, approximately 25 new titles were released each year, decreasing to about 15–16 titles annually by 2008. Sales volumes varied significantly depending on the publication.

As of 2014, Moshe Heller holds the positions of owner and CEO. Heller is also the founder of Urim Publications, an independent publishing house established in 1997 with offices in both Jerusalem and New York.

External links

• Ktav Publishing House homepage