Awards will be presented at the 36th Annual Simon Rockower Awards banquet held in conjunction with the American Jewish Press Association’s 2017 Annual Conference, Nov. 13-15, in downtown Los Angeles, CA.

Category 1: The Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Magazines; Broadcast; Web-based Outlets. 

First Place
The Canadian Jewish News, Concord, ON
"Gil Troy: BDS: bullying, demonization and slander," "Let's honour Israel by calling out irrational hatred," "A useless nihilist asylum" by Gil Troy
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 

Second Place
Moment Magazine, Washington, D.C.
"Israel Is Sitting This One Out," "Who Will be Israel's Champion?," "The True Value of Cheap Books" by Shmuel Rosner
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland, OH
"C'mon, Bernie, it's OK to tell us you're a Jew," "The 'Wall' comes tumbling down for women," "Wiesel - may he live on in all his words" by Regina Brett
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Regina Brett's essays are clear, personal and remarkably heartfelt. Whether she's lamenting Bernie Sanders' refusal to identify as a specifically Jewish candidate, celebrating the meaning of the Western Wall, or eulogizing Elie Weisel, her writing strikes an emotional chord and invites readers to contemplate familiar subjects in meaningful new ways.

Second Place
Detroit Jewish News, Detroit, MI
"Israel Can’t Let Israeli Arab Inequality Linger," "Targeted French Theater Long On Jewish Ties," "Hitler Abettors Must Feel Justice" by Robert Sklar
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission  
Comments: Robert Sklar's essays are thoroughly researched, forcefully argued and focused on issues that ought to matter to all Jews: anti-Semitism, Holocaust remembrance and steps Israel should take to improve the lives of its Arab citizens. Sklar's moral compass points neither left nor right, but toward what is just and true.

Category 2: Award for Excellence in Single Commentary

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"Why Jews Must Never Let Go of Their Liberalism" by Neal Gabler 
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Neal Gabler takes a piece of conventional wisdom -- the political liberalism of American Jews -- and unpacks it with flair and insight. The essay is written with such passion and humanity that it propels the reader along from start to finish. What a pleasure to read.

Second Place
70 Faces Media, New York, NY
"When my synagogue banned my baby on Yom Kippur" by Ben Sales, JTA
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: This essay is a perfect little gem. It takes a personal experience and elevates it by giving it broader cultural and historical context and perspective. In the process, it shows the connections between religious practice and identity. And it doesn't hurt that it's written in an open, personable style.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Atlanta Jewish Times, Atlanta, GA
"Trump Backers' Anti-Semitic Taunts and Threats" by Laura Silverman
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Important column about Trump and the spewing of anti-Semitism throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. The writer shares her on experiences with anti-Semitism on social media.

Second Place
Atlanta Jewish Times, Atlanta, GA
"Being an LGBTQ Ally Isn't About You" by Robbie Medwed
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Powerful critique of an Orthodox rabbi's decision to comfort an LGBTQ community in Washington, D.C., after the Pulse massacre in Orlando.

Category 3: Award for Excellence in Personal Essay

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
70 Faces Media, New York, NY
"At Hanukkah, finding light in a time of illness and darkness" by Elicia Brown, JTA
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"My Search For the 'Male Shiksa'" by Sophia Marie Unterman
Click Here to Read Submission

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
The New Mexico Jewish Link, Albuquerque, NM
"What Chanting a Prayer Might Just Do For You" by Diane Joy Schmidt
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
The Jewish Chronicle, Pittsburgh, PA
"All-male yoga and the quest for comfort" by Adam Reinherz
Click Here to Read Submission

Category 4: Award for Excellence in Editorial Writing

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Hamodia, Brooklyn, NY
"No Time to Lose," "Reformed and Redeemed," "Where Do We Go From Here" by Ruth Lichtenstein and Harav Chaim Kohn 
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC
"Inspired by Standing Rock," "Let's talk about Nini ...," "Much more yet to learn" by Pat Johnson, Basya Laye, Cynthia Ramsay
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Editorials demonstrate great writing, clear intent and galvanized a call to action in support of Jewish Federation's decision to host Israeli singer with controversial political views. Readers took heed.

Second Place
Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, CO
"Elie Wiesel, 1928-2016," "Whither Jewish camping?," "Twisted Jewish ethics" by Hillel Goldberg
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: The takedown of Smotrich's revenge theory is brilliant. Again the mastery in these editorials -- particularly Elie Wiesel and Jewish camping -- puts them in a league of their own.

Category 5: The Boris Smolar Award for Excellence in Enterprise or Investigative Reporting

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Hamodia, Brooklyn, NY
"Obamacare Expiring" by Yochonon Donn
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: I was impressed by this doctor's drive to learn how ordinary citizens felt about Obamacare.

Second Place
Hamodia, Brooklyn, NY
"Israel Real Estate Explosion: Boom or Earthquake?" by Yisrael Hershkowitz
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: I was impressed by the fact that Europeans are basically winning the housing war and driving up prices.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Atlanta Jewish Times, Atlanta, GA
"Trapped in Atlanta's Jewish Heroin Triangle," "'You Need to Have Pain,' St. Joseph's Doctor Says," "Heroin: Not Even Once, Ever," and "Nothing Comes Close" by Leah Harrison, Kevin Madigan, Cady Schulman and Michael Jacobs
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: A comprehensive look at a hidden problem. A deep dive into the causes and potential solutions that calls the Jewish community to account. 

Category 6: Award for Excellence in News Reporting

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"The Nazi Who Became a Mossad Hitman" by Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: This is a fascinating story. Compelling and gripping.

Second Place
The Jewish Week, New York, NY
"Trump's Jewish Giving Rubs Against Tenor Of His Campaign" by Stewart Ain 
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Good use of public records and multiple sources.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore, MD
"Wage Dispute" by Justin Silberman
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: The combination of strong writing, good photography and creative graphics placed put this story at the top of a stiff competition.

Second Place
St. Louis Jewish Light, St. Louis, MO
"Jewish families touched by heroin epidemic fight back" by Eric Berger
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: This well-written, easy-to-read story, artfully wove personal narratives with the larger issue of drug addiction.
 
Category 7: Award for Excellence in Social Justice Reporting

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Jewish Standard, Teaneck, NJ 
"Coming out of the parents’ closet" by Joanne Palmer
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Well written and tightly focused, this article reveals the emotional difficulty especially Orthodox (and no doubt other) parents face when their children come out as LGBT, and a way the community can help.

Second Place
Lubavitch International, Brooklyn, NY
"From Heartbreak to Hope" by Rena Udkoff
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: An article that calls attention to a long-standing problem, the orphans of Eastern Europe, and what one organization has done to help. Others, presumably, could do likewise.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland, OH
"Jewish community commits to fight human trafficking in Northeast Ohio" by Michael C. Butz
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Human trafficking is a disturbing criminal victimization that crosses most communal and political lines. This story shows how Cleveland's Jewish community participated in pushing back during the Republication convention and where more effort is needed. 

Second Place
The Dayton Jewish Observer, Dayton, OH
"Black-Jewish relations: from the Dayton riots through desegregation" by Marshall Weiss
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: In the late '60s and '70s racial tensions sparked riots in Dayton, even as apparently well-meant efforts to integrate the city's schools not only failed to bring improvement, but arguably worsened the city's social problems. This three-part series is based on recollections of participants in those events, and is an important historical source and help in understanding them. 

Category 8: Award for Excellence in Feature Writing

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast.

First Place
j. the Jewish news of Northern California, San Francisco, CA
"More Jewish day schools are making Hebrew optional" by Drew Himmelstein
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
The Jewish Week, New York, NY
"As Crown Heights Changes, A Jewish Landscape Diversifies" by Amy Sara Clark
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 

Division B. Newspapers 7,500-14,999 circulation.

First Place
Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland, OH
"Local Conservative rabbis struggle with interfaith marriage question after group expels colleague" by Amanda Koehn
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore, MD
"The Ability to Succeed" by Justin Katz   
Click Here to Read Submission

Division C. Newspapers 1-7,499 circulation.

First Place
The Dayton Jewish Observer, Dayton, OH
"LGBT-friendly Boy Scout unit to launch at Temple Israel" by Marshall Weiss  
Click Here to Read Submission 

Division D. Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Jewish Action (Orthodox Union), New York, NY
"The Kidney Connection: The Life-Saving Power of Jewish Unity" by Bayla Sheva Brenner
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: A well-written story that's informative and surprising. Good anecdotes and thorough reporting.

Second Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"Rewriting a Greek Tragedy" by Leora Eren Frucht
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: The refugee story is not new, but this story brings a fresh angle, strong anecdotes and an intriguing narrative. 

Category 9: Award for Excellence in Arts and Criticism News and Features

Division A. Critical analysis/review, usually of a single artistic endeavor, whether in literature, theater, film or fine arts and crafts. All Newspapers; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
The Forward Association, Inc. New York, NY
"The Strange and Violent History of the Ordinary Grogger" by David Zvi Kalman  
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Fascinating feature on a seemingly innocuous Jewish ritual object. Comprehensive, funny and with a great kicker.

Second Place
Moment Magazine, Washington, D.C.
"The Curious Case of Dorothy L. Sayers & the Jew Who Wasn’t There" by Amy E. Schwartz
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: Interesting analysis of author vs. author's work. Makes a strong case for its argument and uses context to do so.

Division B. Reporting on an artistic endeavor, trend, movement or personality, whether in literature, theater, film or fine arts and crafts. All Newspapers; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore, MD
"A Living Story of Gypsy Survival" by Marc Shapiro 
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"The Gloriously Anxious Art of Roz Chast" by Rahel Musleah
Click Here to Read Submission

Category 10: The David Frank Award for Excellence in Personality Profiles

Division A: Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast.

First Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"How the 87-Year-Old Founder of Jewish Environmentalism Helped Me Grow" by Talya Zax
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Fascinating story about the unlikely connection between the author and the founder of the Jewish environmentalism movement. Kept me interested until the very end.

Second Place
The Jewish Journal of Greater LA, Los Angeles, CA
"Looking back at war on Memorial Day" by Tom Tugend
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: Tom Tugend's first-person account of returning to his native Germany as a U.S. soldier in World War II. Story is powerful, touching and beautifully written.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore, MD
"A Holy Calling" by Marc Shapiro
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
Yiddish Forward, New York, NY
"Family, Faith, Food and Other Keys to Becoming the World's Oldest Man" by Jordan Kutzik
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission

Division C. Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"The Gloriously Anxious Art of Roz Chast" by Rahel Musleah
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"Supreme Champion of Justice, Gender Rights and Inclusivity" by Rahel Musleah
Click Here to Read Submission

Category 11: Award for Excellence in Special Sections or Supplements

All entries competed in the same division.

First Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"Crossing Borders" by Leora Eren Frucht, Roberta Elliott, Patricia Giniger Snyder and Elizabeth Rosner
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission

Second Place
Jewish National Fund, New York, NY
"The Future is Beautiful: One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade" by Don Morris, Jodi Bodner, Donna Breitbart and Russell Robinson
Click Here to Read Submission

Category 12: The Rambam Award for Excellence in Writing About Health Care

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
j. the Jewish news of Northern California, San Francisco, CA
"Alzheimer's: Dignity/Respect and Emotional Toll on Caregivers" by Patricia Corrigan
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: The strongest entry by far. This two-part story on dealing with dementia incorporates perspectives from multiple stakeholders and points of view. It really humanizes this issue.

Second Place
Jewish Action (Orthodox Union), New York, NY
"The Kidney Connection: The Life-Saving Power of Jewish Unity" by Bayla Sheva Brenner 
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Well-researched and well-written, very moving. This piece is also educational.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Jewish Herald-Voice, Houston, TX
"Series of stories and sidebars on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health" by Michael Duke
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: This important series of articles identifies a pressing issue within the Jewish community of youth suicide. Through various articles and editorials, this package identifies ways to address some of the underlying causes. It also presents some personal stories that are quite poignant.

Second Place
Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, CO 
"Linda and Richard," "Symptoms and testing" and "Detection and prevention" by Andrea Jacobs 
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: A very touching three-part series on a couple facing one spouse's Alzheimer's disease. This series is educational, too, in its discussion of current and perhaps future treatment strategies.

Category 13: The Nefesh B'Nefesh Charley J. Levine Memorial Award for Journalistic Excellence in Covering Zionism, Aliyah and Israel.

Sponsored by Nefesh B'Nefesh

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets

First Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
"Israel's Political Gender Revolution" by Allison Kaplan Sommer
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: A deep dive into an issue that represents a sea of change in Israeli politics. Because both men and women serve in the army, Israel's reputation has it that there's little gap between genders. This story shows that may not be quite as true as it might seem, but also that change comes. The package's structure -- a main story and mini-profiles of women with different political points of view -- works well. A perfect Hadassah story, but I only wish the pieces could be distributed more widely.

Second Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"Whatever Became of the Children of Jerusalem?" by Naomi Zeveloff
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: Journalists have the attention span of fleas and often don't revisit a topic once that isn't a continuing story. I'm convinced, though, that audiences often wonder "whatever became of..." This pieces answers that question in a way that goes beyond a mere update to provide the context of changing times. 

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Atlanta Jewish Times, Atlanta, GA
"Our Aliyah Adventure Begins," "Smiling Through Aliyah's Bureaucracy" and "Olim Know What They Left in Atlanta" by Mort Barr and Edie Barr 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission 
Comments: I was put off when I saw the headline. Oh, lord, another first-person-how-I-made-Aliyah story. But when I started reading I found a fascinating personal essay, full of insight that addresses the questions all potential olim ask and shows how they prevailed.

Category 14: Award for Excellence in Writing about Women

All entries competed in the same division.

First Place
70 Faces Media, New York, NY
"Black rabbinical student leads ‘Army of Moms’ in fighting Chicago gun violence" by Ben Sales, JTA
Click Here to Read Submission 

Second Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
"These Frum Filmmakers Are Revolutionizing Orthodox Cinema" by Simi Horwitz
Click Here to Read Submission 

Category 15: Award of Excellence in Writing about Jewish Heritage and Jewish Peoplehood in Europe

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
70 Faces Media, New York, NY
"My queasy night at Lviv’s controversial ‘Jewish’ eatery" by Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA
Click Here to Read Submission  
Comments: A compelling and very informative story, told from a personal point of view.

Second Place
Lubavitch International, Brooklyn, NY
"From Heartbreak to Hope" by Rena Udkoff  
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: An inspiring piece of constructive journalism.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under. 

First Place
The Jewish Chronicle, Pittsburgh, PA
"American travelers return Jewish life to secret Portuguese shul" by Toby Tabachnick
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: A touching story about a hidden place with a long history.

Category 16: Award for Journalistic Excellence in American Jewish History

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast; Magazines; Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Jewish Standard, Teaneck, NJ 
"Maxwell's golden Haggadah " by Joanne Palmer
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Very thorough -- and amusingly written. It edged out its many worthy competitors with lively writing that brought alive a familiar object in the modern Jewish world with humor and a tasty dash of Yiddishkeit.

Second Place
Southern Jewish Life Magazine, Birmingham, AL
"Tennessee man is first U.S. soldier named Righteous Among the Nations" by Larry Brook
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: An utterly incredible story. If not for the approval of Yad Vashem, I wouldn't believe it, it's too much like a movie. A riveting read, that stays with you for a long time.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
The Dayton Jewish Observer, Dayton, OH 
"50 Years Later," " The Attempt to Desegregate" and "What We Did and Didn't Learn" by Marshall Weiss 
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Very impressive and thorough, as it covers a lot of territory not confined to the Dayton area. The evolution of black-Jewish relations over the years is complex and fascinating, and it's all laid out here with clarity and precision.

Category 17: Award for Excellence in Overall Graphic Design (Including Cover)

Division A. Newspapers 15,000 circulation and over; Broadcast.

First Place
The Forward Association, Inc., New York, NY
Designs from February 26, September 9 and November 18, 2016 by Kurt Hoffman, Elaine Tin Nyo, Anya Ulinich and Caroline Cox
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: The Forward's design and graphics especially have introduced a wonderfully fresh look into Jewish journalism, sophisticated and inviting.

Division B. Newspapers 14,999 circulation and under.

First Place
Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore, MD
Designs from March 18, April 29 and June 24, 2016 by Ebony Brown and Jennifer Perkins-Frantz
Link Not Available for 3/18/17 Design
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission
Comments: Nice use of photography, with large and strong images. Well-played use of white space, color palette and type face as well. The cleanest design of the group.

Division C. Magazines, Special Sections and Supplements; Web-based Outlets.

First Place
Hadassah Magazine, New York, NY
October/November and December, 2016 by Staff
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission

Category 18: The Noah Bee Award for Excellence in Illustrating and/or Editorial Cartooning 

All entries competed in the same division. 

First Place
Jewish in Seattle magazine/SagaCity Media, Portland, OR
"The Great Doughnut Schlep," "Ashamnu" and "Get Off the Tour Bus" by Levi Hastings
Click Here to View Submission
Click Here to View Submission
Click Here to View Submission

Category 19: Award for Excellence in Photography

All entries competed in the same division. 

First Place
Chabad.org, Brooklyn, NY
"Russian Jewish Students Celebrate Unity, Bris in New York" by Mendel Benhamou
Click View to Read Submission  
Comments: Great use of light, separation and silhouette. Good content as well. The photo edit below the top photo was pretty weak, so always remember to do more with less.

Second Place
Jewish in Seattle magazine/SagaCity Media, Portland, OR
"High Fashion" by Lucien Knuteson
Click Here to View Submission  
Comments: Nice group of fashion images, clearly the photographer took time to work on lighting, pose and mood. Well done.

Category 20: Award for Outstanding Digital Outreach

All entries competed in the same division.

First Place
The Canadian Jewish News, Concord, ON
CJNews.com Digital Outreach by Jodie Shupac, Joseph Serge, Yoni Goldstein, Daniel Wolgelerenter and David Collin
Click Here to View Submission  
Click Here to View Submission   
Click Here to View Submission   

Second Place
InterfaithFamily, Newton, MA
InterfaithFamily Digital Outreach by Lindsey Silken and Liz Polay-Wettengel 
Click Here to View Submission  
Click Here to View Submission   
Click Here to View Submission  
Click Here to View Submission   
Click Here to View Submission   
Click Here to View Submission   

Category 21: Award for Excellence in a Multi-Media Story

All entries competed in the same division.

First Place
St. Louis Jewish Light, St. Louis, MO
"For St. Louis family, homemade matzah is a labor of love" and "Dentist hosts matzah baking in University City garage" by Eric Berger
Click Here to Read Submission
Click Here to Read Submission  

Category 22: Award for Excellence in Blogging

All entries competed in the same division.

First Place
Judy Bolton-Fasman, Newton Center, MA
"With Love, From Harold: A Father's War Story Offers Hope In An Uncertain Time" and "A Season of Joy" by Judy Bolton-Fasman
Click Here to Read Submission 
Click Here to Read Submission