Profits

In response to my article on Artscroll's Schottenstein Talmud, a reader has emailed me the following question:

You wrote that the bill for the Artscroll Talmud was 21 Million and the bulk was donated by the Schottensteins [Plus funds from hundreds of other smaller donors -- MS]. What about the ridiculously high prices Artscroll charges for these Gemaras. I wonder how much of a profit is being made.

It's a good point. Even giving them the benefit of the doubt -- that Artscroll did need some funds to get the initial project off the ground -- surely after selling more than a million copies at c. $50 a pop, this for-profit company should be paying for its own researchers? Anyone?