Keter Publishing House
An Israeli publishing and printing group with roots in scientific translation, encyclopedias, Hebrew literature, children's books and general trade publishing.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Keter Publishing House is an Israeli publishing and printing business founded in Jerusalem in 1959. It began as the Israeli Science Translation Factory, an initiative associated with Teddy Kollek that was intended both to support academic immigrants from Eastern Europe and to provide scientific translation services for overseas institutions. The organization initially translated scientific material, particularly from Russian into English, for clients in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. In 1961 it became a government company under the name Keter Publishing Factory Ltd. and operated from the Givat Shaul industrial area in Jerusalem. During the 1960s, Keter expanded from commissioned translation into publishing. It produced books for free distribution, began publishing original scientific works by Israeli authors, and in 1966 assumed responsibility for publishing Encyclopedia Judaica. That sixteen-volume reference project became one of the company’s defining undertakings and required a substantial investment over several years. Keter also developed Hebrew-language scientific publishing, helping make technical and reference material available to Israeli readers. The company’s direction changed after financial difficulties in the mid-1970s. In 1975, it decided to become a broader Hebrew publishing house rather than remain primarily focused on science translations and encyclopedias. Its first Hebrew literary publication was a children’s book by Ephraim Sidon, illustrated by Yossi Abolafia. By the late 1970s Keter was issuing dozens of Hebrew titles annually, and by the mid-1980s it had become one of Israel’s largest book publishers. Its list covered literary fiction, nonfiction, educational works, children’s and young-adult books, illustrated albums, encyclopedias, Judaica and translated popular literature. The company was also an early Israeli publishing business to invest heavily in computerized operations, marketing, public relations and modern printing infrastructure. Keter expanded through acquisitions and adjacent retail activities. In 1984 it acquired Shikmona, which continued under its own imprint and was associated with travel guides, books about Israel and illustrated publications. During the 1980s Keter also built a bookstore chain, beginning with a Jerusalem store and later adding locations around the country. Its large Dizengoff Street flagship in Tel Aviv included a café and was promoted as one of the region’s largest bookstores. The retail chain grew substantially but suffered losses, was sold in 1991 and eventually disappeared after operating for a period under the Granit-Keter name. Ownership and corporate structure changed repeatedly. After a major loss in 1989, Clal sold a controlling interest to Macmillan in 1990 while retaining a minority stake. Asher Reshef, through Arledan Investments, acquired Macmillan’s shares in 1992. Keter later reached an arrangement with Sifriat Maariv under which it managed that publisher’s activities. In 2005, publishing operations were reorganized into Keter Books, initially a joint venture involving Keter Publishing and Steimatzky. Steimatzky later sold most of its interest, and in 2016 Keter sold Keter Books to Modan Publishing while retaining printing and distribution operations. Keter’s shares were delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange later in 2016 following takeover activity involving the Reshef family. Keter’s modern identity therefore combines a publishing imprint and a substantial production-services business. Its publishing history includes influential Israeli authors and a broad range of domestic and translated books, while its printing plant has also served other publishers. The company remains associated with Israel’s book industry, although its publishing activities have been separated from the retained printing and distribution operations.
History
Keter was established in Jerusalem in 1959 as the Israeli Science Translation Factory. The initiative, associated with Teddy Kollek, sought to create employment for academic immigrants from Eastern Europe while supplying scientific translations to institutions abroad. Its early work included translations from Russian into English for clients in North America, Britain and Scandinavia. In March 1961, it was converted into a government company named Keter Publishing Factory Ltd. and operated from the Givat Shaul industrial district. The organization gradually moved beyond contract translation. In 1964 it began translating books for free distribution without relying solely on commissioned assignments, and in 1965 it published original scientific works by Israeli authors. A major early achievement came in 1966, when Keter took over publication of Encyclopedia Judaica. The sixteen-volume encyclopedia occupied the company for approximately five years and represented a large investment, even though Keter expected that the project might not recover its full cost. The company subsequently expanded Hebrew translations of scientific titles. Financial pressure became severe in the mid-1970s. Ownership was shifted within the Clal corporate structure, and in 1975 management decided to transform Keter into a Hebrew publishing house with a much wider editorial mandate. Its first Hebrew book was a children’s title by Ephraim Sidon, illustrated by Yossi Abolafia. Keter soon added literary fiction, nonfiction, educational books, children's and youth titles, albums, encyclopedias and Judaica. By the mid-1980s it was publishing roughly 120 original books annually and was regarded as Israel’s largest book publisher. It also invested early in computerization, sales promotion, public relations and a modern printing facility. Keter acquired Shikmona in 1984. The imprint continued to publish travel guides, Israel-related albums and other titles, including the Lapid travel-guide series. Keter also pursued retail expansion. A bookstore opened at Jerusalem’s Clal Center in 1980, and the chain grew to twenty stores by 1988. Its prominent Dizengoff Street store in Tel Aviv opened in 1988 with three floors, a café and a design by Ada Karmi-Melamede. By 1989, including stores operated inside other retail and entertainment venues, Keter was associated with more than thirty bookstores. The chain proved unprofitable, however, and was sold in 1991 to investors connected with the Granit chain. It operated for a time as Granit-Keter before eventually closing. Corporate ownership also changed. Following a reported loss in 1989, Clal sold 51 percent of Keter to Macmillan in 1990 while retaining a minority holding. Asher Reshef acquired Macmillan’s interest through Arledan Investments in 1992. Keter entered an agreement with Sifriat Maariv in 2002 to manage that company’s publishing activities. In 2005, Keter Books was established as a subsidiary and the publishing business was transferred to it. The initial ownership included Keter Publishing and Steimatzky; after Steimatzky reduced its holding in 2008, Keter became the dominant owner. In March 2016, Keter sold Keter Books to Modan Publishing. Keter retained printing and distribution, preserving its role as a production-services provider to the book industry. Later in 2016, its shares were delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after takeover activity involving the Reshef family. Across its history, Keter has published or supported works by prominent Israeli writers including Amos Oz, David Grossman, Batya Gur, A. B. Yehoshua, Shulamit Lapid, Alona Kimhi and others. It also created a separate Shahaf imprint for translated romantic and pulp fiction, allowing the company to serve a mass-market segment without changing the positioning of its main literary list.
- 2016
Keter Books sold to Modan Publishing
[1]Keter sold its publishing subsidiary while retaining printing and distribution activities.
- 2016
Public shares delisted
[1]Keter’s shares were removed from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange following takeover activity.
- 2005
Keter Books established
[1]Publishing operations were transferred into the newly established Keter Books subsidiary.
- 2002
Agreement with Sifriat Maariv
[1]Keter agreed to manage Sifriat Maariv’s publishing activities.
- 1992
Arledan Investments acquires Macmillan stake
[1]Asher Reshef acquired Macmillan’s shares through Arledan Investments.
- 1990
Macmillan acquires controlling interest
[1]Clal sold a controlling stake in Keter to Macmillan after Keter reported a substantial loss in 1989.
- 1984
Shikmona acquired
[1]Keter acquired Shikmona, which remained an imprint for travel guides, Israel-related books and albums.
- 1980
Bookstore chain launched
[1]Keter opened its first bookstore at Jerusalem’s Clal Center.
- 1975
Strategic shift toward Hebrew publishing
[1]Keter decided to develop into a broad Hebrew publishing house rather than focus mainly on science translation and encyclopedias.
- 1966
Publication of Encyclopedia Judaica begins
[1]Keter assumed publication of the sixteen-volume Encyclopedia Judaica project.
Products and positioning
A broad-based Israeli publishing house combining literary, educational, reference and children's publishing with in-house printing and distribution capabilities.
Reference publishing · 1966
Encyclopedia Judaica
Keter took over publication of this major sixteen-volume Jewish reference work in 1966. The project occupied the company for several years and became one of its most prominent early publishing commitments.
Trade publishing · 1975
Hebrew literary and general books
From the mid-1970s, Keter developed a broad Hebrew-language list spanning literary fiction, nonfiction, educational works, children's and young-adult books, albums, Judaica and translated literature. Its authors included several leading Israeli writers.
Travel and illustrated publishing · 1984
Shikmona imprint
After its 1984 acquisition, Shikmona continued as an imprint associated with travel guides, books about Israel and illustrated albums. Its list included the Lapid guide series.
Printing
Commercial printing services
Keter owns and operates printing capabilities that have supported its own publications and provided production services to other publishing houses. Printing and distribution were retained after the sale of Keter Books.
Brand decisions
2016
Sale of Keter Books to Modan PublishingM&ABackground
Keter separated its publishing operation from its production infrastructure.
Action taken
Keter sold Keter Books to Modan Publishing and retained printing and distribution activities.
Aftermath
The transaction left Keter primarily associated with printing and distribution rather than direct trade publishing.
2005
Creation of Keter BooksStrategyBackground
Keter’s publishing activities required a separate operating structure from its printing operations.
Action taken
Keter established Keter Books and transferred publishing activities into the subsidiary.
Aftermath
Keter Publishing continued to manage printing, while the subsidiary became the principal publishing vehicle.
1984
Acquisition of ShikmonaM&ABackground
Keter sought to expand its publishing range and strengthen its presence in travel, Israel-related and illustrated books.
Action taken
Keter acquired Shikmona and continued using it as a publishing imprint.
Aftermath
Shikmona remained associated with travel guides and albums about Israel.
1975
Broaden from scientific translation into Hebrew publishingStrategyBackground
Financial difficulties and a changing business environment prompted Keter to reconsider its concentration on scientific translations and encyclopedias.
Action taken
The company adopted a wider publishing strategy centered on Hebrew literature, children's books, nonfiction, educational titles and related categories.
Aftermath
Keter became one of Israel’s largest publishers by the mid-1980s.
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