Matanel Award for Young Promising Jewish Writer/ Poet

Vision

The Matanel Award is awarded to two young Jewish writers, one from Israel and one from the Diaspora, both showing evidence of literary talent and promise and demonstrating an involvement in social or communal affairs. The award will be awarded in 2013 for the first time.

Activity

The two awards, $12,500 each, courtesy of the Matanel Foundation, will be awarded by Mishkenot Sha’ananim, Conference Center, in a formal event during Kisufim, The Jerusalem Conference of Jewish Writers and Poets 2013 (Feb. 5-8, 2013).

The Diaspora award will be awarded this year to a writer from an English-speaking country. To be eligible for the award, the writer (1) must be under the age of 45, (2) must show evidence of literary talent and promise, and (3) demonstrate an involvement in social or communal affairs. Recommendations will be made by an advisory committee.

Hava Pinhas-Cohen is the artistic director of the Kisufim conference and the chair of the Matanel Prize committee, the Matanel Award Coordinator and a member of the judging committee. The award committee is chaired by Rachel Elior, Israeli professor of Jewish philosophy and mysticism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel. The full panel of judges will stay confidential until the announcement of the winners. For further details please see Mishkenot Sha’ananim’s website.

mishkenot.org.il/

Perhaps only migrating birds know. Suspended as they are between earth and sky. This heartache of two homelands

- Lea Goldberg

Mishkenot Sha’ananim, one of Jerusalem’s most active and high caliber cultural institutions, is the home to the Mishkenot Cultural Center – Konrad Adenauer Conference Center, The Jerusalem Center for Ethics, The Dwek Gallery and the retreat and Guesthouse for artists and scholars. There is never a quiet moment in this unique and beautiful campus overlooking the Old City’s walls.

Mishkenot’s Program Department initiates and produces a variety of events annually, including international festivals and conferences, book launches, concerts and encounters with renowned authors and researchers from both Israel and abroad. Subject matters are wide-ranging and include: art, architecture, literature, music, poetry, tolerance, history, and more. Within this framework, some of our era’s most distinguished artists, writers, poets, scholars, and creative thinkers have participated in Mishkenot Sha’ananim’s programs.