01In brief
Israel Journal of Mathematics is an Israeli journal publishing peer-reviewed mathematical research. Its historical contributions include a 1974 paper presenting Daniel Gorenstein’s strategy for classifying finite simple groups. More recent articles address subjects including invariant random subgroups and tiling problems. Other work examines the geometry of fiber products.
02Overview
The journal publishes research on topics ranging from linear groups to algebraic curves and compact Riemann surfaces.[4][5] Its ISSN is 0021-2172, and the publication record for a 2024 erratum identifies Springer New York as its publisher.[6] That erratum appeared in volume 263, issue 1, on pages 433–435.[6]
03History
Shimshon Amitsur’s “On Central Division Algebras” appeared in volume 12 in 1972, on pages 408–420.[7] Two years later, the journal published a paper setting out Daniel Gorenstein’s strategy for classifying finite simple groups.[3] Gorenstein had refined and presented the strategy in lectures in Chicago, London, and at Israel’s Weizmann Institute in 1972.[3] The strategy initially met skepticism: “There were many who doubted.”[3]
The classification project’s conclusion was announced in 1980 while some papers remained unpublished and errors were expected; a missing part was subsequently supplied in a two-volume work on quasi-thin groups.[3]
04Research and Publication
Yair Glasner’s “Invariant random subgroups of linear groups” was published on April 1, 2017, in volume 219, issue 1, on pages 215–270.[4] The article’s research topics include linear groups and invariant random subgroups.[4]
An erratum by Yatir Halevi and Assaf Hasson was published on October 1, 2024, correcting an earlier paper that had appeared in 2019 in volume 232, issue 2, on pages 719–758.[6]
“A note on reduction of tiling problems,” by Tom Meyerovitch, S. Sanadhya, and Yaar Solomon, appeared on June 1, 2025, in volume 267, issue 1, on pages 421–435.[2] Its topics include aperiodic tiles, tiling problems, translational tiling, and periodic tiling.[2]
Fedor Pakovich’s “Lower bounds for genera of fiber products” was published on October 1, 2025, in volume 269, issue 1, on pages 475–500.[5] Its research topics include fiber products, rational functions, holomorphic maps, algebraic curves, and compact Riemann surfaces.[5]
05Significance
In 2008, Avraham Trakhtman’s solution to the Road Coloring Problem was slated for publication in the journal, although the paper still had to undergo the referee process.[1] The announcement therefore concerned an intended publication rather than confirming that the paper had appeared.[1]
Trakhtman’s colleague and mentor Stuart Margolis said that he had deliberately chosen an Israeli journal, remarking: “He intentionally offered his paper to an Israeli journal even though any mathematics journal in the world would be overjoyed to get it.”[1] No reason for Trakhtman’s choice was given in that report.[1]
Sources
- 1The Jerusalem Post, Russian immigrant solves math puzzle, accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 2Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Yaar Solomon, accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 3Encyclopedia.com, Gorenstein, Daniel, accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 4Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Yair Glasner, accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 5Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Fedor Pakovich, accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 6Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Erratum to: Strongly dependent ordered abelian groups and Henselian fields (Israel Journal of Mathematics, (2019), 232, 2, (719-758), 10.1007/s11856-019-1885-3), accessed on November 11, 2026.
- 7Encyclopedia.com, Albert, Abrahamadrian, accessed on November 11, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is the Israel Journal of Mathematics?
The Israel Journal of Mathematics is an Israeli journal that publishes peer-reviewed mathematical research. Its subjects include linear groups, algebraic curves, compact Riemann surfaces, invariant random subgroups, and tiling problems.
What did the Israel Journal of Mathematics publish about the classification of finite simple groups?
In 1974, the Israel Journal of Mathematics published a paper presenting Daniel Gorenstein’s strategy for classifying finite simple groups. Gorenstein had refined and presented the strategy in lectures in Chicago, London, and at Israel’s Weizmann Institute in 1972. The strategy initially met skepticism.
What happened when the classification project’s conclusion was announced in 1980?
The classification project’s conclusion was announced in 1980 while some papers remained unpublished and errors were expected. A missing part was subsequently supplied in a two-volume work on quasi-thin groups.
What mathematical research has appeared in recent issues of the Israel Journal of Mathematics?
Recent research in the Israel Journal of Mathematics has addressed invariant random subgroups of linear groups, reduction of tiling problems, and lower bounds for genera of fiber products. The topics covered include aperiodic tiles, translational and periodic tiling, rational functions, holomorphic maps, algebraic curves, and compact Riemann surfaces.
What was the Israel Journal of Mathematics’ role in the announcement of the Road Coloring Problem solution?
In 2008, Avraham Trakhtman’s solution to the Road Coloring Problem was slated for publication in the Israel Journal of Mathematics, but the paper still had to undergo the referee process. The announcement therefore described an intended publication, not confirmation that the paper had appeared. Trakhtman’s colleague and mentor Stuart Margolis said Trakhtman had deliberately chosen an Israeli journal.