Sophie Brody Award

Sophie Brody Award
About the Sophie Brody Award This award is given to encourage, recognize and commend outstanding achievement in Jewish literature.

Administered by:

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2013 Winner(s)

The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible

written by Matti Friedman, published by Algonquin

Friedman’s “The Aleppo Codex” is a beautifully written and compelling work that illuminates a remarkable range of Jewish themes: the Diaspora, the State of Israel, the survival of original Jewish texts, and the fate of the Jews in the Arab world. The mystery is a real page turner.


2013 Honorable Mention(s)

I Am Forbidden

written by Anouk Markovits, published by Hogarth

A mystical novel that follows the fateful rescue of Mila, leading to her life in the ultra-Orthodox Satmar Hassidic community in Europe and Brooklyn. This emotionally gripping story travels through history, bringing together and tearing apart family and faith.


The Lawgiver

written by Herman Wouk

A humorous yet deep novel written in epistolary format. It describes the making of a movie about Moses. One can read the book on several levels, seeing Moses in new ways.


What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank

written by Nathan Englander, published by Knopf

A powerful collection of short stories spanning a wide range of time and space. With direct and dynamic language, Englander shares his vision of the human condition.