The Wanderings of Solomon Saltzmann, а Russian-Hebrew Publisher

  • PDF
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.22455/Emigr.3034-3518-2025-3-124-145
  • УДК / UDC: 821.054.7.0
  • EDN:

    https://elibrary.ru/YFMYGW
  • Publication Type: Research Article
  • For Citation:

    Weissblei, G. “The Wanderings of Solomon Saltzmann, а Russian-Hebrew Publisher.” Emigrantica. Issue 3, ed.-comp. E.R. Ponomarev, acad. ed. E.R. Ponomarev, ed. A.V. Protopopova, M.S. Shchavlinskii, D.V. Zaitsev. Moscow, IWL RAS Publ., 2025, pp. 124–145. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.22455/Emigr.3034-3518-2025-3-124-145
  • Author 1: Gil Weissblei
  • Information about the Author 1:

    Gil Weissblei, PhD, Director of the Jabotinsky Institute Archives, King George St., 38, Tel Aviv, Israel.
    E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    ORCID ID:     https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4915-1536
  • Abstract: The geographical wanderings of Solomon Saltzmann (1873–1946) mirror the migration of the Hebrew publishing center itself, from Eastern Europe to Germany and ultimately to Palestine. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the life and publishing career of Salzmann, a significant yet consistently overlooked figure in the Zionist cultural enterprise. Through detailed analysis of his memoirs and archival materials the study meticulously traces Saltzmann’s journey from Odessa to St. Petersburg, Berlin and finally Tel Aviv — a route that poignantly reflected the broader displacement patterns of Russian-Jewish intellectuals during decades of revolution and exile. Despite being marginalized in mainstream Zionist historiography, Saltzmann played a pivotal role in modernizing Hebrew publishing, particularly during his crucial period in Weimar Germany, where he created unprecedented institutional collaborations between leading Jewish-German artists and prominent Hebrew literati (notably Bialik’s circle). His publishing enterprises, adapting to changing political and economic circumstances across multiple countries, represented both the zenith and swan song of Russian Jewry’s cultural influence.
  • Keywords: Hebrew publishing; Bibliophile editions; Zionist cultural enterprises; Solomon Saltzmann; Vladimir Jabotinsky; Weimar Germany; Russian Jews
  • Страницы / Pages: 124–145

BIBLIOGRAPHY

References

  1. Brenner, M. The Renaissance of Jewish Culture in Weimar Germany. New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1996. XI, 306 p. (In English).
  2. Fleishman, L. “Gor'kii i zhurnal'nyi proekt A.E. Kogana” [“Gorky and A.E. Kogan's Journal Project”]. Slavica Hierosolymitana, Vol. 4, edited by L. Fleishman, O. Ronen, and D. Segal. Jerusalem, Publ., 1979, pp. 268–273. (InRussian).
  3. Grzhebina, E. “Z.I. Grzhebin — izdatel'” [“Z.I. Grzhebin as a Publisher”]. Evrei v kul'ture russkogo Zarubezh'ia [Jews in the Culture of the Russian Diaspora]. Jerusalem, [N. e.], 1992, Vol. 1, pp. 146–168. (In Russian).
  4. Ippolitov, S.S. Rossiiskaia emigratsiia i Evropa: Nesostoiavshiisia al'ians [Russian Emigration and Europe: A Failed Alliance]. Moscow, Izd-vo Ippolitova Publ., 2004. 376 p. (In Russian).
  5. Kel'ner, V.E., and El'iashevich, D.A. Literatura o evreiakh na russkom iazyke, 1890–1947: Knigi, broshiury, ottiski statei, organy periodicheskoi pechati: Bibliograficheskii ukazatel' [Literature about Jews in Russian, 1890–1947: Books, Brochures, Reprints of Articles, Periodicals: Bibliographical Index]. St. Petersburg, Akademicheskii proektPubl., 1995. 679 p. (In Russian).
  6. Moss, Kenneth B. “1905 as a Jewish Cultural Revolution? Revolutionary and Evolutionary Dynamics in the East European Jewish Cultural Sphere, 1900–1914.” The Revolution of 1905 and Russia's Jews, edited by Stefani Hoffman and Ezra Mendelsohn. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008, pp. 185–198. (In English).
  7. Stanislawski, M. Zionism and The Fin de Siècle: Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism from Nordau to Jabotinsky. California: University of California Press, 2001. 303 p. (In English).
  8. Weissblei, G. Kav VeNaki: Techiyata Shel Omanut HaSefer Haivei BeRepublikat Vaimar [The Revival of Hebrew Book in Weimar Germany]. Jerusalem, Carmel Publ., 2019. 420 p. (In Hebrew).
  9. Zipperstein, Steven J. Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History. New York, Liverlight Publishing Corporation, 2018. XXII, 261 p. (In English).

    Sources

  10. Gepstein, S. “Avraham Idelsohn — Chayav V'Kavei Dmuto” [“Abraham Idelsohn — His Life and Character Traits”]. Sefer Idelsohn: Ma'amarim u-Meḥkarim be-Omanut Knesset Yisra'el [Idelsohn Book: Articles and Studies on the Art of the Assembly of Israel], edited by M.Z. Nurock. Tel Aviv, Hotsa'at Omanut, 1946, 243 p. (In Hebrew). 
  11. Goldstein, A. “Pirkei Zikhronot” [“Chapters of Memories”]. He'avar, L'divrei Yemei Ha'Yehudim V'Ha'Yahadut B'Russia [The Past, for the History of the Jews and Judaism in Russia], Book 14. Tel Aviv, Altira Publ., 1967. 87 p. (In Hebrew).
  12. Jabotinsky, V.E. “Nedrugam Siona” [“To the Enemies of Zion”]. Odessa, Erets-Israel Publ., 1903. 18 p. (In Russian).
  13. Jabotinsky (Ze'ev), V. “Sippur Yamai” [The Story of My Days]. Ktavim, Kerech Rishon: Autobiographia [Writings, Volume One: Autobiography], edited by Eri Jabotinsky. Jerusalem, Eri Jabotinsky Publishing House, 1947, 321 p. (In Hebrew).
  14. Saltzmann, S. Min He'avar: Zikhronot U'Reshumot [From the Past: Memories and Records]. Tel Aviv, [N. e.], 1943. 295 p. (In Hebrew).
  15. Struck, H. Skizzen aus Litauen, Weißrußland und Kurland, 60 Steinzeichungen mit Text von Herbert Eulenburg [Sketches from Lithuania, White Russia and Courland, 60 Stone Drawings with Text by Herbert Eulenburg]. Berlin, Verlag von Georg Stilke, 1916. 116 S. (In German).
  • Received: 7 August 2024
  • Approved after Reviewing: February 22, 2025
  • Publication Date: December 29, 2025

Current Issue

emi cover 3