Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature


The Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature is an annual prize awarded to an outstanding literary work of Jewish interest.

History

In 2006, the family of Jewish philanthropist Sami Rohr honored his lifelong love of Jewish learning and great books by establishing the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature on his 80th birthday.
The annual award, alternating between fiction and non-fiction, seeks to promote writings of Jewish interest, and to encourage the examination of Jewish values among "emerging" writers.
The $100,000 Prize honors an author whose work demonstrates potential for future contribution to the world of Jewish literature. All winners, Choice Award recipients, finalists, judges and advisors are Fellows in the Sami Rohr Jewish Literary Institute. The winner and finalists are honored at an awards ceremony for fiction in New York; the event for non-fiction takes place in Jerusalem.
The $100,000 prize is among the richest literary prizes in the world.

Eligibility and selection

Works are sought and nominated, with specific guidelines, by an advisory panel. The winner and finalists are selected by an independent group of judges, and all deliberations are strictly confidential. The Rohr family has no input or participation in the nomination or selection process.
From 2007 through 2019, the runner-up award was called the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature Choice Award. The Choice Award was discontinued in 2020. Three finalists each receive a monetary prize of $5,000.
Translated works are eligible. Eligible non-fiction works are restricted to the domains of biography, history, Jewish current affairs, Jewish scholarship, or contemporary Jewish life.

Finalists and winners

The gold medal marks the winner, while the silver medal marks the runner-up.

2020

The nominees were announced on April 3, 2020. The winners were announced on May 12, 2020.
The nominees were announced on 1 April 2019. The winners were announced on 1 May 2019.
The nominees were announced on 30 April 2018. The winners were announced on 25 June 2018.
The finalists were announced April 3, 2017. The awardees were announced May 3, 2017.
The winners were awarded on 5 June 2016.
The finalists were announced in January 2015. The awardees were announced in February 2015.
The finalists were announced on November 7, 2013. The winners were declared in January 2014.
The winners were announced on April 9, 2013.
The winners were announced on February 15, 2012.
The winners were announced on March 24, 2011.
The winners were announced on January 26, 2010. The judges were unable to decide on the top honour, so the prize was shared and the runner-up prize eliminated.
The winners were announced on March 25, 2009.
The winners were announced on February 13, 2008.
The winners were announced in March 2007.