Submission deadline is December 1, 2024

The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest encourages writers to submit stories related to Judaism or Jewish culture or history.

Established in 2000, this contest has brought in distinguished judges and special guests including Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Pinsky, Walter Mosley, Nicole Krauss, Erica Jong, Jonathan Safran Foer, Geraldine Brooks, Andre Aciman and Dara Horn.

Note: all submissions must be made through Submittable.

The contest is now accepting submissions for the 2024 contest. Moment will award up to three prizes to outstanding works of unpublished short fiction with Jewish content, including $1,000 for first place.

After the submission deadline, Moment editors will review all stories and contact winners if their stories are being considered for publication. Moment Magazine reserves the right at all times to select material for publishing. All selected material is subject to editing by Moment editors.

Entry Fees:

$25 for each entry (multiple submissions are accepted).

For each entry, submit an original short story—maximum length 5,000 words— with Jewish themes. You must acknowledge that you have read and agreed with the Official Contest Rules.

No previously published works, or works already accepted for publication elsewhere, are eligible. Work may be under consideration elsewhere, but must be withdrawn from the competition if accepted for publication.

Moment is not responsible for information in previous guidelines or advertisements. All deadlines may be extended or changed and may carry over into the next calendar year. Moment Magazine and the Karma Foundation are not liable for any misprints or errors of any kind.

“Winning the contest, and being treated so kindly by everyone from Moment, was as magical an experience as I’ve had. And to appear on the same bill as Andre Aciman, Debra Granik, and Joan Leegant—what a thrill! That Moment and the Karma Foundation, in the face of ever-dwindling interest in fiction—nay, in reading—continue to sponsor the Short Fiction Contest is a testament to those institutions’ enduring belief in the written word, and I’m over the moon to have been recognized by two organizations so vital to Jewish culture (and culture, period).” – Jed Cohen, 2018 contest winner

“I can’t begin to describe how important Moment’s Karma Foundation fiction prize is for writers. I sometimes hear people say they don’t read fiction because they only want to read “the truth,” and I have to tell them that, actually, fiction’s job is precisely to tell the truth. To shine a light on the most pressing things in life: how we live and love and thrive and suffer, and ultimately on what makes us one human family. For those of us who explore our humanity through stories, the recognition and validation that winning the Moment fiction contest provides is so exceptionally affirming.” – Joan Leegant, 2018 contest winner

Winners

2023

Zoominar with Rebecca Goldstein

Judge: Rebecca Goldstein
First place: Ralph Levinson, The Laugh”
Second place: Talia Blatt, Overnight Shift”
Second place (tie): Michael Orbach, “Sounds Turtles Make”
Honorable mention: Talya Jankovits, “The Golem Mother of the Catskills”
Honorable mention: Melissa Pheterson, “Vessel”

2022

Zoominar with Allegra Goodman

Judge: Allegra Goodman
First place: Steven Bieler, “Arguing with Reinfeld
Second place: David Tuchman, Chelm, NJ
Third place: Ilana Marcus, Night of Broken Glass

2021

Zoominar with Susan Coll

Judge: Susan Coll
First place: Anne Schott, “Why is there a Buddhist at this Seder”
Second place: Hillel Damron, “Calculated Moves

2020

Zoominar with Ruby Namdar

Judge: Ruby Namdar
First place: Omer Friedlander, “The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land
Second place: Linda Brettler, “Private
Third place: Rona Arato, “Polonaise
Honorable mention: Ruth Sutton, “Little Miracles”

2019

Judge: Max Brooks
First place: Diana Bletter, “What if I’ve Changed my Mind
Second place: Joan Mora, “The Anniversary Camera
Third place: Phillip Cohen, “Call me Gefilte

2018

Judge: André Aciman
First place: Jed Phillip Cohen, “Goldfader in Full”
Second place: Joan Leegant, “The Eleventh Happiest Country”

2017

Judge: Susan Coll
First place: Michalle Gould, “The Garden of Evil
Second place: Judith Kay Jacobson,“The Mark”

2016

Judge: Nicholas Delbanco with Robert Pinsky
First place: Steven Volynets,Turboatom
Read an interview with the author here

2015

Judge: Jami Attenberg
First place: Miriam Karmel,Summer is for People
Second place: Jason K. Friedman, “Vanished Jews of Hetta

2014

Judge: Alice Hoffman
First place: Paul B. Cohen, “Lecha Dodi
Second place: Danielle Leshaw, Killing Brother Michael
Third place: Courtney Sender,”Lead Apron

2013

Winners of the 2013 Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest read from their entries at the Jewish Museum of New York on November 14.

Joyce Carol Oates and Alan Cheuse in Conversation

Judge: Alan Cheuse
First place: Becky Tuch, The Inker
Second place: Lauren Watel, “The Nothing of History
Third place: Roberta Newman, “The Girl of the Comet”

2011

Judge: Walter Mosley
First place: Joan Leegant, “Roots
Second place: Ruchama King Feuerman, “A Beggar’s Place
Third place: Avital Chizhik, “Those Who Go About the City

2010

Judge: Nicole Krauss
First place: Jason K. Friedman, “Blue
Second place: Dalia Rosenfeld, “Infections
Third place: Laura Price Steele, “Processes”

2009

Sherri Mandell, winner of the 2009 Moment Magazine Karma Short Fiction Contest, reads an excerpt of her story, “Jerusalem Stone,” and speaks about the importance of Jewish short fiction.

Judge: Erica Jong
First place: Sherri Mandell, “Jerusalem Stone
Second place: Sally Schloss, “The Goose Girl
Third place: Kathryn Winter, “Mirušenka Moja

2008

Judge: Anita Diamant
First place: Racelle Rosett, “Levi
Second place: Judith Groudine Finkel, “Two By Four
Third place: Amy Graubart Katz, “The Kiss

2007

Judge: Geraldine Brooks
First place: Joe Kraus, “How Beautiful Are Your Tents, O Jacob
Second place: Andi Arnovitz, “Three Dreams
Third place: Ellen Davis Sullivan, “Yiddish Land

2006

Judge: Jonathan Safran Foer
First place: Shaun Levin, “Mark Gertler in 13 Sketches
Second place: Lisa K. Buchanan, “Trade Show”
Third place: Sande Boritz Berger, “The Sweetness”

2005

Judge: Judy Budnitz
First place: Susan Messer, “Remnants, Like Dust in Pocket Seams
Second place: Andrew Fox, “Raoul Wallenberg in Orbit
Third place: Isaac Leung, “Notes on Jewish Beauty (or Tamara Herschel)