It’s the biggest night of the year for Jewish books! In honor of the Jewish Book Council’s 75th National Jewish Book Awards, which celebrate English-language books of Jewish interest published in 2025, we’re revisiting Hadassah Magazine’s reviews of the winning titles. See the full list here. 

Hostage by Eli Sharabi 

Jewish Book of the Year Award — WINNER 

Read our interview with Sharabi here. 

 

Anti­semitism, an Amer­i­can Tra­di­tion by Pamela S. Nadell 

Amer­i­can Jew­ish Studies Award — WINNER

Read our review here and tune in to Nadell’s episode on the Hadassah Magazine Presents podcast here. Plus, read Nadell’s “A Turning Point for Antisemitism?” story in Hadassah Magazine here.

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlike­ly Rab­bi’s Sto­ry of Faith, Iden­ti­ty, and Belonging by Angela Buch­dahl

Auto­bi­og­ra­phy and Memoir Award — FINALIST

Read our review and profile of Buchdahl here and tune in to Buchdahl’s episode on the Hadassah Magazine Presents podcast here.

Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron. Translated by Yardenne Greenspan 

Book Club Award — WINNER

Hebrew Fic­tion in Translation Award — WINNER 

Read our review here.

The Anato­my of Exile by Zee­va Bukai

Debut Fic­tion Award — WINNER

Read our review here. 

Boy From the North Coun­try: A Novel by Sam Suss­man

Debut Fic­tion Award — FINALIST

Read our review here. 

Unfin­ished Acts of Wild Creation by Sarah Yahm 

Debut Fic­tion Award — FINALIST

Read our review here. 

 

Hap­py New Years by Maya Arad

Hebrew Fic­tion in Translation Award — FINALIST

Read our review here and tune in to Buchdahl’s episode on the Hadassah Magazine Presents podcast here.

Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born by Richard Michelson. Illustrated by Alyssa Russell

Children’s Pic­ture Book — FINALIST

Read our review here. 

Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein

Fic­tion — WINNER

Read our review here. 

 

Gur­sha: Time­less Recipes for Mod­ern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond: A Cookbook by Beejhy Barhany

Food Writ­ing & Cookbooks — FINALIST

Read our review here.