One of the Authority's main activities is to provide financial assistance to organized groups or individuals for projects which contribute to the conservation and development of Yiddish language and culture. Furthermore, it awards scholarships to students studying for M.A. or Ph.D. degrees in academic institutions in Israel, whose research explores an aspect of Yiddish language or culture. 

Since 2014, the National Authority for Yiddish Culture has been annually honoring prominent figures in the fields of arts and literature who have contributed significantly to promoting Yiddish culture in Israel. 

In 2019, this ceremony took place on November 19 at the Einav Cultural Center, located at Ibn Gvirol St. 71, Tel Aviv, on the roof of the Gan Ha'ir compound.  

2019 Annual Authority Prizes Ceremony

Every year, the National Authority for Yiddish Culture awards prizes to prominent figures in the fields of arts and literature who contribute significantly to Yiddish language and culture in Israel. In 2019, this ceremony took place on November 19 at the Einav Cultural Center, located at Ibn Gvirol St. 71, Tel Aviv, on the roof of the Gan Ha'ir compound.  

That time, the Authority's Public Council chose to bestow lifetime achievement awards upon the actress of Yiddish & Hebrew theaters Annabella Yaakov; veteran Yiddish teachers Rivka Reich and Esther Rozhansky.

Esther Rozhansky receiving the prize

Rivka Reich receiving the prize

Miri Yaakov receiving the prize for her mother Annabella

Ethel Niborsky receiving the first prize at the Yiddish short story content

Shiri Shapira receiving the second prize at the short story content

Raphael Halff receiving the third prize at the short story content

Violinist Chaya Livni

Singer Diana Zingerman

Singer Maxim Lewinsky accompanied by pianist Regina Dricker

Singer Chen Lachs with her pupil Eden

The late actress of Yiddish & Hebrew theaters Annabella Yaakov

In 2018, such awards came to the singer, lyricist, composer Chava Alberstein & poet and translator Moshe Sachar. The ceremony took place on November 20, 2018 at the President's Palace in Jerusalem. Here are the laureates with President Reuven Rivlin, Dr. Sara Ziv (Chairperson of the Authority), Yehudit Solel (CEO of the Authority), and the actor Yakov Bodo, who got the same prize in 2016.

In 2017, the Authority's Public Council chose to bestow lifetime achievement awards upon actress Lia Koenig and scholar and author Prof. Yechiel Scheintuch. The award ceremony took place on November 27, 2017 at the Einav Cultural Center, located at Ibn Gvirol St. 71, Tel Aviv, on the roof of the Gan Ha'ir compound.  

In 2016, the Authority honored Ya'akov Bodo, an actor in the Yiddishpiel Theater,and Yitzchak Luden, journalist and editor of the Lebns-Fragn magazine.The award ceremony took place on December 4 at the Einav Cultural Center in Tel Aviv. See more photos here.

For more information, please visit our Hebrew or Yiddish pages.