JUDGE

Richard Zimler has lived in Porto, Portugal since 1990 and has both Portuguese and American nationality. In 2017, Richard was awarded Porto’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for his contributions to the culture of his adopted city and the entire country. He has published 13 novels and seven children’s books over the last 25 years. His novels have been translated into 23 languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in 12 different countries. Five of Richard’s novels explore the lives of different branches and generations of a Portuguese Jewish family. He refers to this group of fully independent works as his “Sephardic Cycle.” Richard’s most recent work, The Incandescent Threads, was named one of the Best Books of 2022 by the Sunday Times and Jewish Chronicle. It was also a finalist for one of the National Jewish Book Awards in the United States and a Number 1 bestseller in Portugal.

WATCH Richard’s conversation with Moment Book & Opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz. “The Power of Memory in Jewish Fiction” —in celebration of the Moment-Karma Fiction Contest.

FIRST PLACE

Ilana Marcus is a data journalist and writer. Her fiction explores family, identity and American Jewry. She grew up outside of Boston and resides near Washington D.C.

WATCH Ilana’s interview

SECOND PLACE

Chavah Chernobelskiy lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children.

WATCH Chavah’s interview

THIRD PLACE

Basia Winograd is a writer and filmmaker living in New York City. Her short stories, including the Pushcart Prize nominated The Realist, have been published in Paper Brigade and multiple online literary forums. In 2023 a chapter from her novel, Tricks of Light & Shallow Focus, was a finalist for the Master’s Review Novel Excerpt Contest. The novel was also awarded a research grant from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. Basia holds MFAs in Film Directing from Columbia University, and in Fiction Writing from Hunter College where teaches creative writing.

WATCH Ilana’s interview

Don’t miss this exciting collection of Jewish-themed short stories selected from among the winners of the Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest, featuring award-winning writers Jason K. Friedman, Miriam Karmel, Racelle Rosett, Leah Lax, Steven Volynets and Lauren Watel. An exclusive Moment e-book! (MomentBooks)

Visit the Moment Shop to download your complimentary copy of Good Karma using the coupon code “karma” during check-out.