Announcing the 2026 Shalom Collective Australian Jewish Writer Awards

Shalom Collective is proud to announce the return of the Shalom Collective Australian Jewish Writer Awards for their third year in 2026.

Six prizes — including three new awards — will be presented in August 2026, recognising outstanding works published during the 2025 calendar year.

2026 Award Categories

The Leslie and Sophie Caplan Award for Jewish Non-Fiction

Prize: $10,000
For works of significant relevance to the Jewish experience.
2025 Winner: Jana Vytrhlik, Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney
2024 Winner: Michael Gawenda, My Life as a Jew

The Szymon (Simon) Klitenik Award for Jewish Fiction

Prize: $5,000
2025 Winner: Linda Margolin Royal, The Star on the Grave

The Edith Hausmann Award for Jewish Playwrights (Aged 18–45)

Prize: $10,000 for an unproduced script
2025 Winner: Elise Hearst, Batsheva

New Awards in 2026

• The Bobby Adler Award for Young Jewish Writers — $5,000
• The Chaya Fedler Award for Poetry — $500
• The Dov Fedler Award for Unpublished Illustrated Manuscripts — $500

Shalom Collective creates contemporary Jewish experiences to celebrate culture, strengthen identity, and build a thriving community. Through these awards, the organisation seeks to celebrate, inspire, and amplify the voices of current and future Australian Jewish writers.

Rabbi Alon Meltzer, Director of Programs at Shalom Collective, shares
“After the success of the past two years, it’s clear that our community has a deep hunger to see Jewish stories told, shared, and celebrated. We are thrilled to expand the awards this year to recognise even more forms of writing. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can offer greater support and visibility to Australian Jewish writers.”

 

Award Descriptions

The Leslie and Sophie Caplan Award for Jewish Non-Fiction 

Generously donated by the Caplan Family to honour the memory of their parents, pillars of the Sydney Jewish community who had a keen interest in modern Jewish history and literature.

 The Szymon (Simon) Klitenik Award for Jewish Fiction

Generously donated by Dr Janet Hiller in memory of Szymon (Simon) Klitenik. He came from Poland in 1939 and in 1945 was killed in action in the Australian Imperial Forces (age 21).

The Edith Hausmann Award for Jewish Playwrights 

Generously donated by Judi Hausmann in honour of her mother Edith Hausmann.

 The Bobby Adler Award for Young Jewish Writers

Generously donated, in memory of Bobby Adler, by the Shad Family in recognition of young Jewish writers.

 The Chaya Fedler Award for Poetry

Generously donated by Joanne Fedler to honour the memory of her paternal grandmother, Chaya Fedler (Michelson).

 The Dov Fedler Award for Unpublished Illustrated Manuscripts

Generously bequeathed by Joanne Fedler to honour her late father, Dov Fedler, one of South Africa’s pre-eminent anti-Apartheid political cartoonists.

 

Submissions & Key Dates

Submissions open now and close on 26 April 2025.
Winners announced 30 August 2026.

For guidelines and entry details, visit the Shalom Collective website.

About Shalom Collective – Experience Jewish Together.

Shalom Collective is a Sydney-based nonprofit creating contemporary Jewish experiences that celebrate culture, deepen identity, and build community. Shalom Collective fosters connection and exploration through events including the Jewish Food Festival, Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, Adamama and PJ Library.

Our Funding Partner is the JCA.

Media Contact:

Sydney Aaranson, Program Manager Sydney@shalomcollective.com.au

Rebecca Solomons, Marketing Director Rebecca@shalomcollective.com.au