The Mendele Moykher-Sforim Prize for Yiddish Literature, awarded by the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, will be presented to Emil Kalin, author of the novel “Tsuzamenbrokh” (“Breakdown”), which describes the complicated life of an ex-Haredi from Jerusalem.

The purpose of the award is to express appreciation and recognition for Mendele's literary work, and to encourage creative writing in Yiddish.

The members of the judging committee — Prof. Dov-Ber Kotlerman, Daniel Galai, and Nira Tuval — decided to award the 2026 Mendele Prize to Kalin, whose literary portfolio includes other works originally written in authentic and nuanced Yiddish.

The book was published by “H. Leivik Farlag” with the support of the National Authority for Yiddish Culture.

The prize will be presented at a festive ceremony to be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, in the presence of Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai. Everyone is invited.