Am Oved

Am Oved is an Israeli publishing house established in Mandatory Palestine in 1942 by Berl Katznelson under the auspices of the Histadrut, Israel's national trade-union federation. Its name, which can be translated as “Working People,” reflects the institution's original Labor Zionist mission: to widen access to serious Hebrew-language literature and learning among workers while helping build the cultural foundations of a Hebrew-speaking society. Although it began as a workers' publishing enterprise, Am Oved developed into one of Israel's important literary and cultural publishers, with a catalogue spanning fiction, poetry, nonfiction, social thought, memoir, children's literature, youth books, translations, reference works, and academic or scholarly series. The proposal for a Histadrut-backed publisher had been discussed during the 1930s, but financial constraints and political concerns delayed implementation. Some members of the labor movement feared that such a venture would serve the interests of Mapai rather than the entire Histadrut public. Katznelson continued to advocate for the project, arguing that workers engaged in the practical struggles of daily life also needed access to books that could expand their intellectual and cultural horizons. After approval of the plan, the publisher was granted editorial autonomy and operational independence even though it was owned by the Histadrut. Its first public announcement appeared in the Histadrut newspaper Davar on 1 April 1942. Am Oved's early programme was organized around libraries for children, youth, and adults. The children's and youth lists emphasized educational value and often reflected Zionist and socialist ideals, while the adult programme combined original Hebrew writing with translated literature, history, political thought, philosophy, and social analysis. Katznelson sought high standards of editing, typography, and Hebrew usage. In its first year the house issued 36 books, and during its first full year it distributed approximately 150,000 copies in a Jewish community of roughly 450,000 people in the Yishuv. This early combination of cultural ambition, affordable pricing, and organized distribution through workers' institutions became central to the brand's identity. Katznelson died in 1944 after only about two years at the helm, leaving the publisher in financial and managerial difficulty. Am Oved reduced its staff and struggled with the Histadrut's reluctance to provide additional funding. The organization later regained momentum, particularly after former Israeli prime minister Moshe Sharett became chief executive in 1956. In 1959, the Yalkut publishing operation of the Haifa Workers' Council merged with Am Oved, broadening its institutional base. The publisher's best-known long-term vehicle has been Sifriya La'Am, or the People's Library. Relaunched and renumbered in 1958 after an earlier launch in 1955, it offered original and translated fiction and nonfiction at prices intended to make books widely affordable. By the 1960s, the series had sold more than one million copies, and workers' committees helped guarantee distribution by purchasing books in advance for their members. Am Oved also established Sifriyat Afikim, or the Horizons Library, in 1969. Originally focused on contemporary social problems, the series expanded into the social sciences, humanities, and reference publishing. In later decades Am Oved broadened its commercial and cultural activities. It published major Israeli writers alongside international authors, maintained children's and youth lists, issued science-fiction translations, and between 1994 and 2014 worked with Compedia on children's computer games based on David Grossman's Itamar character. In 2002, its sixtieth-anniversary activities included a reader poll conducted with the Steimatzky bookstore chain, followed by reissues of selected popular titles. The company has also faced the structural pressures affecting Israeli publ…

Am Oved emerged from the Hebrew labor movement's belief that books were essential instruments of social and national development. Histadrut leaders discussed creating a publishing house during the 1930s, but the project was delayed by budgetary concerns and disagreement over whether it would represent the whole federation or mainly Mapai. Berl Katznelson, a leading Labor Zionist thinker and editor of Davar, continued to promote the idea. Approval was eventually secured, and Katznelson was given editorial authority with assurances that the publisher would remain independent in its day-to-day work. The publisher's first public notice appeared in Davar on 1 April 1942. Its initial programme included separate libraries for children, youth, and adults. Children's and youth books were selected partly for their educational contribution and often expressed Zionist or socialist values. The adult list emphasized original Hebrew literature by writers connected with the labor movement and the Jewish settlement, while also including history, political thought, philosophy, biography, and selected translations. During World War II, a series devoted to frontline experiences and wartime testimony addressed subjects such as the London Blitz and Jewish life during the Holocaust. Katznelson wanted Am Oved to do more than satisfy market demand. He believed the publisher should provide works that readers needed for intellectual growth, even when they were not commercially obvious. He also sought to maintain high standards of Hebrew editing, printing, and design. In its first year the company published 36 titles, and its subscription and distribution arrangements enabled it to circulate about 150,000 copies during its first full publishing year. The scale of that distribution established Am Oved as a significant cultural institution before the creation of the State of Israel. Katznelson died in 1944, after only a short period as editor. The publisher then experienced a period of crisis involving financial losses, management difficulties, staff reductions, and limited willingness by the Histadrut to provide new funds. The institution survived and later expanded. Moshe Sharett became chief executive in 1956, bringing political stature and renewed energy, and the Yalkut publishing operation of the Haifa Workers' Council merged with Am Oved in 1959. A major turning point was the development of affordable series publishing. The People's Library, first launched in 1955 and relaunched with new numbering in 1958, offered original and translated fiction and nonfiction in compact, inexpensive editions. It became a central mechanism for distributing books through workers' committees. By the 1960s it had sold more than one million copies, while its subscription network reportedly reached tens of thousands of readers. The publisher's public-service approach sometimes meant accepting losses on individual titles, but the series gave Am Oved both a recognizable format and a durable relationship with its readership. The Horizons Library, introduced in 1969, extended the programme into contemporary social issues, humanities, social sciences, and reference publishing. Other series included children's collections, youth books, science fiction translations, and the earlier For the Generation and From the Frontlines libraries. The company's catalogue increasingly combined Israeli authors with international writers, translated literature, literary classics, scholarship, memoir, and popular children's works. From 1994 to 2014, Am Oved collaborated with Compedia on computer games based on David Grossman's Itamar character. This represented an expansion from conventional print into educational and children's digital media. In 2002, the publisher marked its sixtieth anniversary with a reader-voting campaign conducted with Steimatzky; selected titles were reissued as a commemorative group. The modern period brought commercial pressure and debate over governance. Yaron Sadan served as chief executive from 2000 to 2011. His successor, retired police officer Yaakov Bray, was appointed in December 2011. The appointment was criticized because Bray lacked a conventional publishing background and because opponents alleged that the normal search process had been bypassed. Board chairman Roni Feinstein resigned, editor and translator Ilana Hammerman left after a long association with the house, and other literary figures publicly objected. The Histadrut defended Bray as a manager capable of handling an institutional crisis. In 2014, Am Oved was affected by an unpaid debt owed by the Steimatzky chain and by the effects of Israel's Book Law. The publisher reportedly pursued liquidation proceedings against Steimatzky before the debt was paid. In 2015, Histadrut executive Chanital Suissa became chief executive after Bray's departure. Her appointment generated further criticism because of her limited literary background and alleged connections within the Histadrut, allegations she denied. She subsequently received support for preserving the publisher's literary identity while adding more commercially viable titles. Am Oved remains associated with Hebrew literary culture, affordable editions, and the Histadrut's historic effort to make books part of public life.

1. 2015Chanital Suissa becomes chief executive

   Suissa succeeded Bray and pursued a balance between Am Oved's literary heritage and financial sustainability.

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2. 2011Yaakov Bray becomes chief executive

   Bray's appointment initiated a public dispute about governance and the appropriate professional background for leading a literary publisher.

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3. 1994Itamar digital-media collaboration begins

   Am Oved and Compedia began developing children's computer games based on David Grossman's Itamar character.

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4. 1969Horizons Library begins

   Sifriyat Afikim was introduced as a nonfiction series focused initially on contemporary society and later on the humanities and social sciences.

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5. 1958People's Library is relaunched

   The series was relaunched and renumbered, becoming one of Am Oved's most durable publishing programmes.

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6. 1955People's Library launches

   The Sifriya La'Am series began offering affordable original and translated books to a broad Hebrew readership.

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7. 1944Death of founder Berl Katznelson

   Katznelson's death was followed by financial and managerial difficulties at the young publishing house.

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8. 1942Am Oved is founded

   Am Oved was established in Mandatory Palestine under Histadrut auspices and issued its first public announcement in April.

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9. 1941Katznelson receives editorial appointment

   The Histadrut Council appointed Berl Katznelson as the publisher's sole editor while granting editorial and managerial independence.

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A culturally mission-driven Israeli publisher combining literary and scholarly standards with broad public access, affordable editions, and a historical connection to the Histadrut and Labor Zionism.

• Sifriya La'AmBook series1955

  The People's Library is Am Oved's signature affordable series. It publishes a mixture of original Hebrew writing and translations across fiction and nonfiction. Its compact format, low pricing, and distribution through workers' committees made it a major instrument for bringing books into ordinary households and helped establish the publisher's public-service identity.

• Sifriyat AfikimNonfiction series1969

  The Horizons Library began as a series addressing contemporary social problems and developed into a broad nonfiction programme. It covers social sciences, humanities, intellectual history, public issues, and reference subjects, publishing Israeli and international authors for a general educated readership.

• Children's and youth literatureChildren's publishing1942

  Am Oved's children's and youth lists originated with educational libraries created at the publisher's founding. They have included original Hebrew works, translations, classics, and books intended to combine literary or educational value with broad accessibility. Historical programmes included the Dan Hiskhan Book Club and earlier youth-oriented series.

• Itamar media adaptationsChildren's digital media1994

  In partnership with Compedia, Am Oved extended David Grossman's Itamar children's character into computer games and related educational media. The best-known title associated with the collaboration was Itamar Walks on Walls, linking the publisher's literary catalogue to interactive children's products.

• Am Oved science fictionTranslated fiction

  The science-fiction programme brought notable translated works to Hebrew readers, including collections of acclaimed science fiction and editions of Frank Herbert's Dune series. It formed part of the publisher's wider effort to combine literary and culturally significant translations with original Israeli writing.

• 2002The Chosen Six

  Israel

  For its sixtieth anniversary, Am Oved collaborated with Steimatzky on a reader poll asking the public to select favorite books. The winning titles were reissued as a commemorative collection, connecting the publisher's catalogue and cultural heritage with direct reader participation.

  Outcome. The selected books were republished as the anniversary collection known as The Chosen Six.

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• 2015Balance literary continuity with commercial expansionStrategy

  Am Oved faced financial pressure and public scrutiny over executive appointments and the sustainability of a culturally oriented publishing model.

  What changed. Under Chanital Suissa, the publisher retained its literary emphasis while gradually adding more commercially oriented titles.

  Aftermath. The approach was described as helping stabilize the company while preserving its longstanding cultural identity.

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• 1994Expand the Itamar property into computer gamesProduct launch

  Children's publishing was increasingly extending into educational and interactive media.

  What changed. Am Oved partnered with Compedia to develop computer games based on David Grossman's Itamar character.

  Aftermath. The collaboration continued until 2014 and produced several children's digital products, including Itamar Walks on Walls.

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• 1969Create the Horizons LibraryProduct launch

  The publisher sought to extend its cultural mission beyond literature into public debate and serious nonfiction.

  What changed. Am Oved launched Sifriyat Afikim, initially focused on contemporary social problems and later expanded to humanities, social sciences, and reference works.

  Aftermath. The series broadened Am Oved's nonfiction identity and became a continuing platform for Israeli and international scholarship and public thought.

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• 1955Launch an affordable mass-market book libraryStrategy

  Am Oved's founding mission required books to reach workers and other readers at prices below those of many conventional literary editions.

  What changed. The publisher created Sifriya La'Am, later relaunched and renumbered in 1958, and supported distribution through workers' committees and subscription arrangements.

  Aftermath. The series became the publisher's best-known cultural programme and sold more than one million copies by the 1960s.

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• 2015Questions surrounding Chanital Suissa appointmentControversy

  Suissa's appointment drew criticism because she came from senior Histadrut administration rather than literary publishing. Her relationship with a former Histadrut executive led to allegations of nepotism, which she denied. She later gained support for maintaining the publisher's literary direction while introducing more commercial titles.

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• 2011Controversy over appointment of Yaakov BrayControversy

  The appointment of former police officer Yaakov Bray as chief executive prompted accusations that the Histadrut had bypassed a standard search process and disregarded candidates with publishing experience. Board chairman Roni Feinstein resigned, editor Ilana Hammerman departed, and literary figures criticized the decision as politically driven and culturally inappropriate. The Histadrut defended Bray's managerial qualifications and crisis experience.

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• 2015Chanital Suissa appointed chief executive

  Suissa, previously a senior Histadrut official, replaced Bray and later combined Am Oved's literary orientation with a more commercially varied list.

  Leadership change
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• 2014Steimatzky debt creates liquidity pressure

  Am Oved faced financial difficulties after an unpaid debt by the Steimatzky chain, with payment reportedly following liquidation proceedings.

  LawsuitOther
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• 2002Am Oved marks its sixtieth anniversary with reader poll

  In cooperation with Steimatzky, Am Oved asked readers to select favorite books, which were subsequently reissued as a commemorative collection.

  Campaign
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• 1959Yalkut publishing operation merges with Am Oved

  The publishing house of the Haifa Workers' Council joined Am Oved, strengthening the Histadrut-linked publishing network.

  M&A
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• 1956Moshe Sharett becomes chief executive

  The appointment of the former prime minister brought renewed momentum to the publisher after years of financial and organizational difficulty.

  Leadership change
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• 1942Am Oved is established under the Histadrut

  The new publisher announced a programme intended to meet workers' educational and cultural needs through affordable, carefully edited Hebrew books.

  Other
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1. Am Oved
2. Am Oved official website