Jacob Isaac Segal Awards | Jewish Public Library

The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards

About Jacob Isaac Segal

Jacob Isaac Segal (1896-1954) is acknowledged as one of the most respected Yiddish poets. His work is characterized by its deep lyrical expression and evocation of the dignity of Jewish life in the Eastern European shtetl and in Canada. Segal strove to show that “a people and its culture are inseparable.” His poetry lives on in Yiddish and in translation.

About the awards

For over half a century, The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards have honoured the exploration of Jewish themes in literature and recognized the contribution of Jewish culture to a richly diverse contemporary Quebec. The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards of the Jewish Public Library are made possible by the J.I. Segal Cultural Foundation, founded by the late Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld and Mrs. Dvorah Rosenfeld. They were established in 1968 to honour and perpetuate the memory of the great Yiddish-Canadian poet, J.I. Segal, and to foster Jewish cultural creativity in Canada.

The purpose of the awards, presented every two years, is to encourage and reward creative works on Jewish themes and to recognize contributions in Jewish education, both formal and informal.

About Jacob Isaac Segal

Description Jacob Isaac Segal (1896-1954) is acknowledged as one of the most respected Yiddish poets. His work is characterized by its deep lyrical expression and evocation of the dignity of Jewish life in the Eastern European shtetl and in Canada. Segal strove to show that “a people and its culture are inseparable.” His poetry lives on in Yiddish and in translation.

About the awards

Description For over half a century, The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards have honoured the exploration of Jewish themes in literature and recognized the contribution of Jewish culture to a richly diverse contemporary Quebec. The Jacob Isaac Segal Awards of the Jewish Public Library are made possible by the J.I. Segal Cultural Foundation, founded by the late Dr. Hirsh Rosenfeld and Mrs. Dvorah Rosenfeld. They were established in 1968 to honour and perpetuate the memory of the great Yiddish-Canadian poet, J.I. Segal, and to foster Jewish cultural creativity in Canada.
The purpose of the awards, presented every two years, is to encourage and reward creative works on Jewish themes and to recognize contributions in Jewish education, both formal and informal.

Eligibility Criteria

BEST QUEBEC BOOK ON A JEWISH THEME

The author need not be Jewish, but the book must be on a Jewish theme.
Books must have been written in English or French, have an ISBN, and be commercially available to the public.
Electronic books are eligible provided they become commercially available in their final form during the eligibility period, and that they meet all the other criteria listed here.
Standard residency requirement: The author must have a residence in Quebec at the time of submission. A person who has been living continuously outside of Quebec for the past four years will not meet the residency requirement. In the case of joint authorship, one of the two authors must satisfy all the above requirements. Books by more than two authors are not eligible.
Requirement for non-resident authors: A book by an author who does not meet the residency requirement as defined above (#4) may be submitted, but it must also have Quebec as a significant theme.
Collections of poetry, short stories or essays are eligible as long as at least 51% of the entire book is comprised of new text. “New” text includes individual pieces – i.e., stories, poems, or essays – not previously published in magazines or journals, including electronic publications.
“Graphic novels” are eligible, both fiction and non-fiction, if there is a significant textual component. The illustrator is eligible for half the prize money if said illustrator is named on the title page of the book and/or otherwise given credit equal to the writer.
Anthologies are eligible only if they contain a substantial introduction by the editor(s).
Translations, reprints, and previously published books are not eligible.
Notwithstanding #9, rewritten, expanded, or otherwise altered books may be eligible if deemed a new book by JPL.

Self-published books are ineligible. Books may be submitted by publishers or authors. Books must be published between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Books MUST be submitted in a PDF electronic format, under the category of Best Quebec Book on a Jewish Theme, to: [email protected] Paper copies of books will not be accepted. The Jewish Public Library reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the eligibility of any book. Authors of the books that are shortlisted for the Best Quebec Book on a Jewish Theme award will be expected to submit a short promotional video and be available for public relations activities. The winner must be present at the December 10, 2024, J.I. Segal Prize event organized by JPL in Montreal.