Book fair in Jerusalem

 

An especially large number of German publishing houses will be taking part in the Jerusalem Book Fair on 8-12 February 2015. A conversation with Tobias Voss, Director International Markets at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

 

Mr. Voss, for some years now there has been a joint German booth at the Jerusalem Book Fair, and there will be again this year. What does it look like?

The Frankfurt Book Fair organises joint booths for German publishing houses at just short of 20 key book fairs a year. Jerusalem is one of them. German publishers who are interested essentially only need to send us their books and then, should they so wish, get a table or shelf space for their books at the fair. Depending on what the particular publishing house seeks to achieve at the fair, it will also send staff members, for example to conduct license negotiations. This year, about 40 German publishing houses will be taking part in the Jerusalem Book Fair.

 

In Jerusalem, the Frankfurt Book Fair will also be presenting book collections. What is involved?

That is, alongside the publishing part, the second part of the joint German booth. In Jerusalem we always compile a collection of books on Jewish life in the past and present in order to show what new publications have come out in Germany on the topic, and that includes books addressing the Holocaust. In addition, we showcase other thematic collections, such as one on the graphic novel and another on new literary publications.

 

You say that this year in Jerusalem some 40 publishing companies will be involved with the joint German booth. By contrast, at the last fair in 2013 only 15 were there. So the figure has almost trebled.

Yes, the numbers have risen appreciably. Which also shows that this year is a special year. The publishing houses think, with some justification, that there will be more attention paid to their products in the jubilee year of German-Israeli relations. Conversely, in March Israel will be the focal point of the Leipzig Book Fair. Moreover, in Jerusalem everyone is very excited to see what the trade fair’s new location is like. Hitherto it was held in the trade-fair halls, but this year it will be taking place in Jerusalem’s Old Railway Station.

 

Are special events planned at the Jerusalem Book Fair relating to the jubilee?

There’s an accompanying programme being organised by Goethe-Institut Israel, the German Embassy and the S. Fischer Stiftung.

   

Jerusalem International Book Fair

Programme Goethe-Institut Israel (in German and Hebrew)