Berlin-Based Hebrew Publishing House Altneuland Expands Globally

Manor stated that he does not want to engage with the current Israeli government but maintains connections with Israeli readers and writers. In January, Israel's Ministry of Culture, led by Minister Miki Zohar, canceled its annual culture prizes, citing concerns over political bias.

This decision underscored tensions between the government and the arts sector. Sakal and Manor position Altneuland as separate from the Israeli Ministry of Culture, which provides prizes and funding to the publishing industry.

The founders aim to provide a space for Jewish authors with liberal perspectives amid rising nationalism in Israel and other regions. For example, Tel Aviv-based journalist Ruth Margalit will publish a collection of her profiles titled “In the Belly of the Whale: Portraits from a Fractured Israel” in September through a partnership with Pushkin Press.

She described finding thoughtful partners at Altneuland during a time of quick judgments and cancellations. Israeli-born author Michal Arad, who has lived in California for over two decades, will have her Hebrew novel published in German by Altneuland.

Arad noted that Israeli readers show interest in stories about expatriates. The press's name draws from Theodor Herzl’s 1902 novel “Altneuland,” meaning “old new land,” symbolizing a literary space unbound by territory, according to Manor. Berlin hosts a large Israeli expatriate community, serving as both a practical and symbolic location for the press.

The founders connect their work to the legacy of Schocken Verlag, a Jewish publishing house that operated in Berlin until Nazi rule shut it down. Sakal described this as enabling a cosmopolitan, multilingual, humanist, and non-national Jewish cultural space.

While some question the viability of a Hebrew-language press outside Israel, the founders report strong demand, especially among Israeli readers, with growing interest abroad. Naomi Firestone-Teeter, CEO of the Jewish Book Council, stated that Altneuland contributes meaningfully to the Jewish literary landscape amid global pressures on Jewish authors.

Despite concerns about potential boycotts of Israeli institutions, Manor said outreach efforts have generally led to nuanced discussions distinguishing the press from the Israeli state. The press was established before such concerns intensified, and its global approach has facilitated positive engagements.