The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards invites you to submit any books in English, French or Yiddish, on a Jewish theme or topic. The Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of the winning authors with significant cash prizes and public recognition.
We accept books published between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. Submissions should be received by June 2, 2025. Because we want time to read and assess properly, early submission is encouraged and appreciated.
The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony at Al Green Theatre at the Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave, Toronto, on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Please visit the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards YouTube Channel to see how last year’s event unfolded and to experience the participation of the Award recipients..
We look forward to reading and considering all submissions.
For more information see the Submission Criteria and the Award Categories below or contact
Edward Trapunski, Chair info@cjlawards.ca
Submission Criteria
The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards invites you to submit any books in English, French or Yiddish, on a Jewish theme or topic. The author must be Canadian by birth, by background, by education or by residency but need not be Jewish.
Please visit https://cjlawards.ca/ to learn more and submit!
Eligibility
- Books written on subjects with Jewish themes or with significant Jewish content.
- Books written by Canadian citizens or permanent or former residents of Canada.
- Books written by Canadian citizens or permanent or former residents of Canada.
- Books written in English, French or Yiddish
- Books published between June 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023
- Books with an ISBN, including eBooks.
- Books with Jewish content written by non-Jewish authors are welcome.
- Graphic books are eligible.
- Previously submitted titles, new translations (except from Yiddish) and reissues are not eligible.
Award Categories
Fiction: novels and short story collections with Jewish content.
Scholarship: books of original research that contribute to Jewish knowledge.
Biography/Memoir: autobiography, personal memoir or family history The subject must have relevance to the Jewish experience.
The Irving Abella Award in History: non-fiction works about the Jewish historical experience.
Youth Literature: books on a Jewish theme for children or young adults
Poetry: books of verse including significant Jewish content.
Holocaust Literature: books concerning the Holocaust including autobiographies, memoirs, academic studies, history and fiction.
Jewish Thought & Culture: non-fiction works illuminating Jewish thinking, culture, and the Jewish experience.
Yiddish: books in Yiddish or about Yiddish culture; translations from Yiddish (fiction or non-fiction) also considered.
The Jury may choose award categories at its discretion, and may elect to forgo awarding a prize in any category if it determines that there is no prize-worthy publication in that category in a given year.
Please visit https://cjlawards.ca/ to learn more and submit!
