Hebrew – TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize - The Society of Authors

The TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize of £2,000 has been awarded triennially since 1998 and recognises the English translation of a full-length Hebrew book, fiction or non-fiction, of general interest and literary merit.

The prize is sponsored by the Edith and Ferdinand Porjes Charitable Trust, a grant-making charity which was established in the late 1970s. The Trust was constituted for general charitable purposes with particular regard to the promotion of the arts both in the UK and Israel and welfare within the Jewish community, with special reference to the needs of children and young people.

The TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize is awarded triennially and is not currently open for submissions.

The Winner of the 2022 TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize

Winner:
Linda Yechiel for a translation of House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon (Allen & Unwin, Atlantic Books)

2022 (presented 2023)

Winner: Linda Yechiel for a translation of House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon (Allen & Unwin, Atlantic Books)

2019 (presented 2020)

Winner: Peter C. Appelbaum for a translation of Hell on Earth by Avigdor Hameiri (Wayne State University Press)
Shortlisted: Jessica Cohen for a translation of A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman (Vintage)
Nicholas de Lange for a translation of Judas by Amos Oz (Vintage)
Rachel Tzvia Back for a translation of On the Surface of Silence by Lea Goldberg (Hebrew Union College Press)

2016 (presented 2017)

Winner: Rachel Tzvia Back for her translation of In the Illuminated Dark by Tuvia Ruebner (University of Pittsburgh Press)
Commended: Dalya Bilu for her translation of Married Life and Viennese Romance by David Vogel (Toby Press and Scribe Publications)

2023

‘After a careful deliberation of the merits of twelve different translations, the Porjes Prize committee decided to select Linda Yechiel’s translation of the House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon. This novel features a contemporary Israeli writer and his discovery of his roots through the moving story of his mother’s tragic experience in Amsterdam during the Second World War. The committee felt that the translator captured very well not only the lyrical style of the narration but also the realia and mentality of the Dutch historical background.’ -The Judges

Jewish Book Week

Jewish Book Week is London’s longest-running literary festival, having taken place annually since 1952. Each year it brings speakers from around the world – covering art, fiction, history, music, philosophy, poetry, politics, science and more – for a celebration of ideas

The festival features Jewish themes and writers, as well as discussions on the most important issues of the day, and is open to everyone. Over 80 events are presented in-person and online during the nine days of festival itself. A number of special events are also organised over the course of the year, as well as a range of writing programmes and awards.

Times Literary Supplement

The TLS was born in January 1902. Its first ever front page bashfully stated: “during the Parliamentary session Literary Supplements to ‘The Times’ will appear as often as may be necessary in order to keep abreast with the more important publications of the day.” Fortunately, that question of necessity was not left in the hands of literary journalists and the title became a weekly one. A few years later, the TLS split entirely from The Times.