Tamar Yellin won the largest-ever Jewish literary prize for her novel, “The Genizah at the House of Shepher.” The Jewish Book Council, which administered the inaugural Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish literature, announced the honor Wednesday. Yellin will receive $100,000 for her book, which was published by Toby Press.The runners-up, who will receive the Choice Award and $7,500, are Amir Gutfreund, author of “Our Holocaust” (Toby Press, translated by Jessica Cohen), and Michael Lavigne, author of “Not Me” (Random House). The winners will be honored May 21 in New York City.Reached at her home in Yorkshire, in the north of England, Yellin
said she was “thrilled” and “feeling slightly dizzy” after just learning of her
award. Asked what she plans to do with the prize money, she said, “I’m sure my
husband will have some ideas!”
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