It’s time to roll out the red carpet for the second-ever Jewish Media Awards, scheduled for Nov. 12 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City. Hosted by the Jewish Institute of Television & Cinema (JITC) Hollywood Bureau, the event, which is modeled after the NAACP Image Awards and GLAAD Media Awards, is dedicated to recognizing exceptional achievements in Jewish representation across various media platforms and the professional world.
Founded in 2021 by Allison Josephs, the JITC Hollywood Bureau is an initiative of Jew in the City, a nonprofit organization that advocates for accurate and authentic portrayals of Jews, Judaism and Israel in the entertainment industry. Since Jew in the City’s 2007 founding, Josephs has made it her personal mission to challenge the tropes and stereotypes that perpetuate the increasingly negative perception the world has toward Jews. There are many organizations dedicated to Israel messaging and fighting antisemitism, said Josephs, but what sets JITC apart is their unique contribution in the realm of media.
The concept for a Jewish-focused Hollywood Bureau emerged from the realization that every other minority group has benefitted from established systems for recognition, including studies, trainings and awards. Since its founding, the JITC Hollywood Bureau has initiated a study on Jewish representation in television in collaboration with the Norman Lear Center, partnered with the Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity to develop the first Jewish fact sheet for TV studies, and organized two inaugural panels at Sundance on Jewish representation. These initiatives are just a few of the efforts Josephs and her team are pursuing to ensure that Jewish individuals in Hollywood receive the same treatment and support as other groups.
Josephs is especially excited about the upcoming awards event which she says comes at a time where Jews are experiencing record levels of hatred and are continually being beaten down on social media and in mainstream media. The Jewish Media Awards will be a chance to bask in the richness of our heritage, she said, and added that these awards along with other privileges are long overdue.
This year, the awards feature three distinct categories: the All-Star Awards, the Lion of Israel Award and the Keter Shem Tov Award.
The All-Star Awards honor proud, observant Jews in high level positions across several industries like media, tech, law and business. Among the six honorees in this category is
Professor Aaron Twerski, former dean of Hofstra Law in Hempstead, New York. Twerski is a scion of Hasidic dynasties and was a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. Also receiving an All-Star award is Ari Sacher, primary engineer of Israel’s Iron Dome; Jeff Astroff, “Friends” writer; Shifra Kolsky, chief accounting officer, Discover; Sharon Mazel, co-author of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (editions 4 and 5); and Mitchell Silk, former assistant secretary for international markets, U.S. Treasury.
The Lion of Israel Award is presented to individuals who publicly support Israel. This year’s recipient is Daniel Posner, representing Athletes for Israel. A businessman, Posner founded the nonprofit organization in 2018 in response to the negative narrative surrounding Israel and Judaism. By bringing high profile athletes to Israel to experience its beauty firsthand and share it with their millions of followers, Posner aims to modify how Israel is represented and ultimately fight antisemitism throughout the world.
The Keter Shem Tov Award focuses on media representation and will honor Jewish-themed productions like “Fauda” and “Jewish Matchmaking,” which present positive portrayals of Jewish life. “The Patient” will also be recognized for its moving portrayal of observant Jewish life, particularly highlighted in a touching scene where the characters engage in bentching, affording viewers a window into the richness of Orthodox culture.
Honored guests Michael Rapaport, Patricia Heaton, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jonathan Lipnicki and Ethan Zohn will present the awards and stars from the shows, including Aleeza Ben Shalom from “Jewish Matchmaking,” Doron Ben David, star of “Fauda,” and showrunners from FX’s “The Patient” (and “The Americans”) will be in attendance.
The program will include clips from awards nominated television and film that will be introduced by a relevant pasuk from Torah that connects the content to Jewish values. Josephs hopes to elevate the event with a sense of Jewish heritage, something she deeply believes everyone needs to connect to regardless of religious observance.
Josephs shared that this year’s guests will have the opportunity to hear from a former Hasidic woman who turned to JITC’s Makom branch for help after leaving her community due to family issues. Her decision to leave was not a reflection of Orthodox Judaism or its people, and she makes it clear that shows like the Netflix drama “Unorthodox” offer a gross misrepresentation of Hasidic Jews and Judaism, largely contributing to increased antisemitism. Josephs said it will be especially meaningful to hear from someone who has gone through this journey yet sees the beauty in Judaism and feels passionate that the narrative is not only misleading but also quite damaging.
Josephs stressed that Hollywood has the power to change culture, and by depicting Jewish characters with beauty and dignity, the Jewish community can transform negative portrayals into Kiddush Hashem. “Everyone attending the Jewish Media Awards will share a piece of that impact.”
For more information or to purchase tickets to the Jewish Media Awards, visit jitchollywoodbureau.org or email [email protected].
