Bracha Peli
Encyclopedia
Bracha Peli was the owner of Massada, a publishing company in Israel
, and the driving force behind the publication of The General Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia Hebraica
. She is credited with starting Israel's annual Hebrew Book Week
. The Encyclopaedia Hebraica project began using Bracha Peli's publishing house in 1946 with her son, Alexander
, supervising. The last volume was published in 1996
. to a family of Hasidic Jews
. She gained an education by overhearing lessons given to her six elder brothers. Early on, she became proficient in Yiddish, Russian and Hebrew. In 1905, when she was about to study at a Gymnasium in Kiev
, pogroms against the Jews erupted, disrupting her plans. She waited two years to complete her secondary education. On her own initiative she registered for a course in economics, which would be useful for a career in business.
In 1914, after her mother died of tuberculosis, Peli met a young Zionist teacher, Meir Pilipovetsky, whom she married against her family's wishes. After her son, Alexander
, was born she opened a Jewish secondary school which attracted 400 students in its first year.
In July 1921, Peli and her husband left Russia. They settled in Palestine
and helped to form the young city of Tel Aviv
. In 1926, Peli, opened a stall in Tel Aviv to sell books cheaply which led to the inauguration of an annual event. Today Hebrew Book Week is a national 10-day event.
Bracha Peli died in 1986.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and the driving force behind the publication of The General Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia Hebraica
Encyclopaedia Hebraica
The Encyclopaedia Hebraica is a comprehensive encyclopedia in the Hebrew language that was published in the latter half of the 20th century.-History:...
. She is credited with starting Israel's annual Hebrew Book Week
Hebrew Book Week
Hebrew Book Week is an annual week-long event in Israel celebrating Hebrew literature.- History :Hebrew Book Week evolved from a one-day event on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv organized by Bracha Peli, founder of Masada Press, to promote book sales in 1926.During Hebrew Book Week, outdoor book...
. The Encyclopaedia Hebraica project began using Bracha Peli's publishing house in 1946 with her son, Alexander
Alexander Peli
Alexander Peli was the supervising editor of the Encyclopaedia Hebraica. The project began using his mother's publishing house in 1946 with Peli supervising. The last volume was published in 1996.-Early life:...
, supervising. The last volume was published in 1996
Biography
Bracha Peli (Bronya Kutzenok) was born in Starovitzky, a small village in what is now UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. to a family of Hasidic Jews
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
. She gained an education by overhearing lessons given to her six elder brothers. Early on, she became proficient in Yiddish, Russian and Hebrew. In 1905, when she was about to study at a Gymnasium in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, pogroms against the Jews erupted, disrupting her plans. She waited two years to complete her secondary education. On her own initiative she registered for a course in economics, which would be useful for a career in business.
In 1914, after her mother died of tuberculosis, Peli met a young Zionist teacher, Meir Pilipovetsky, whom she married against her family's wishes. After her son, Alexander
Alexander Peli
Alexander Peli was the supervising editor of the Encyclopaedia Hebraica. The project began using his mother's publishing house in 1946 with Peli supervising. The last volume was published in 1996.-Early life:...
, was born she opened a Jewish secondary school which attracted 400 students in its first year.
In July 1921, Peli and her husband left Russia. They settled in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and helped to form the young city of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. In 1926, Peli, opened a stall in Tel Aviv to sell books cheaply which led to the inauguration of an annual event. Today Hebrew Book Week is a national 10-day event.
Bracha Peli died in 1986.