The AJS is pleased to announce the 2025 Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards, made possible by Jordan Schnitzer through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.
Launched in 2008, these awards have annually recognized and promoted outstanding scholarship in the field of Jewish Studies and honored scholars whose work embodies the best in the field: rigorous research, theoretical sophistication, innovative methodology, and excellent writing. The AJS annually awards one winner and one finalist in each of four categories. The categories rotate over a two-year cycle, for a total of eight categories. New to 2025, each winner will receive $15,000 and each finalist will receive $5,000.
Books in any of the following fields are eligible for consideration:
» Jewish Literature and Linguistics
» Medieval and Early Modern Jewish History and Culture
» Modern Jewish History and Culture: Africa, Americas, Asia, and Oceania
» Philosophy and Jewish Thought
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Membership: Only current AJS members for the 2025 membership year may submit their books for consideration or be nominated by a publisher. The 2025 membership year runs from January through December. If there are co-authors, all authors must be AJS members for 2025.
Copyright Date: Only books with copyright dates of 2023 or 2024 are eligible for the 2025 Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards.
Language: The Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards are currently only accepting books written in English.
Monographs: Only monographs are eligible for the 2025 Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards. Reference works and edited volumes will not be considered.
Translations: Translations and/or commentaries of a classical work are eligible for submission, as long as the book’s translator or editor is a current AJS member. Translations and/or commentaries of a recent scholarly work are also eligible for submission, but in this case, the original author, who would need to be a current AJS member, would be eligible for the award.
Resubmission: Books may be submitted for consideration no more than two times in a two-year period. Previous winners or finalists may not resubmit the same book.
1) Complete the application form for the appropriate book category:
» Jewish Literature and Linguistics
» Medieval and Early Modern Jewish History and Culture
» Modern Jewish History and Culture: Africa, Americas, Asia, and Oceania
» Philosophy and Jewish Thought
2) Send an e-book or PDF of the published book to Amy Weiss, Senior Grants and Professional Development Manager at aweiss@associationforjewishstudies.org. In addition, 3 hard copies of the book should be sent directly to the judges. After submitting your online application form, please email Amy Weiss at aweiss@associationforjewishstudies.org to request mailing addresses. Digital versions and hard copies of the book must be received no later than Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Awards will be announced in late fall 2025, and will be formally presented at a reception at the 57th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
Contact Amy Weiss at aweiss@associationforjewishstudies.org
