Writing Projects
Writing is a foundation of Jewish history and culture. From our oral history until the written word, stories have shaped us as a people. JCI-sponsored writing projects range from groundbreaking journalism to poetry to young adult historical fiction. Contemporary prayers are compiled in an opensource library. Torah perspectives are shared through Substack. Jewish fiction is translated from dozens of languages. Together, JCI-sponsored writing projects serve as powerful vessels for memory, imagination, and community connection.
The following Jewish Writing projects are currently seeking your support.
AO7 - After October 7
Independent Jewish news publication dedicated to exposing anti-Jewish bigotry, defending Jewish civil rights, and documenting the forces reshaping American Jewish life after the October 7 attacks. Original reporting, investigations, and analysis cover stories mainstream media ignores, from antisemitism in U.S. politics to the ideological networks fueling antizionist hate. Mission to tell the truth, follow the facts, and report the crucial stories others won't.
Ben Yehuda Press
Ben Yehuda Press is an innovative independent publisher of Jewish books across a wide range of subjects and genres. Its Jewish Poetry Project provides a dedicated publishing home for contemporary Jewish poetry, with more than 60 titles in print. Its Yiddish Rediscoveries line brings classic Yiddish works to new readers through new translations, often in bilingual editions. Ben Yehuda Press values Jewish tradition while embracing the diversity of Jewish voices, experiences, and ideas.
Etz Hasadeh
Promotes authentically creative engagement with Torah study through writing and new media with the goal of making Torah accessible, meaningful, and relevant to a broad audience of curious thinkers. Zohar Atkins places Jewish ideas in conversation with philosophy, literature, technology, and culture.
Exodus 1947: A YA Historical Novel
This novel draws on the PBS documentary Exodus 1947. It blends historical accuracy with intimate storytelling to illuminate a pivotal moment in Jewish history when a young American Merchant Marine joins the crew of the Exodus 1947 and finds himself responsible for thousands of Jewish refugees seeking a homeland.
Jewish Fiction
Jewish Fiction is the only English-language journal, either print or online, that is devoted exclusively to publishing Jewish fiction. Jewish Fiction showcases the finest contemporary writing on Jewish themes (either written in, or translated into, English from 22 languages), providing an online community for writers and readers of Jewish fiction from around the world.
Morah Yehudis Fishman Writing
Teaching Torah and Chassidic writings for over forty years to students of all ages and backgrounds all over the U.S. Former director of several Jewish organizations in Santa Fe and Colorado. Articles and poetry on a wide variety of Jewish topics printed in many publications, especially Boulder Jewish News. Currently writing second and third books. Garden of Time available from Deuteronomy Press here.
ORA Magazine
ORA is a glossy print magazine filled with Jewish and Israeli creativity, style, ideas, talent, and excellence. ORA strengthens Jewish pride, elevates contemporary Jewish voices, and builds a bridge between Israel and the diaspora. ORA’s Hollywood Issue (March 2027) will create a major print edition celebrating the history, influence, and continuing contributions of Jews in Hollywood.
Stephen Fife Literary Projects
Stephen Fife is a prolific author of plays, screenplays, TV limited series, and a memoir. He has written for The New York Times, Village Voice, New Republic, New York Newsday, Stage Raw (LA), and many others, where he wrote about the Arts and pursued several investigative stories.
the Open Siddur Project
A community project growing a vast collection of digitized Jewish prayers, liturgies, and related works (historic and contemporary, familiar and obscure), composed in every era, region, and language in which Jews, adjacent communities, and fellow travelers have ever prayed. Shared under open/libre terms for adaptive reuse, the library empowers personal autonomy, preserves customs, cross-pollinates wisdom, and fosters openness and vitality in religious culture.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum U.S. Photobook Project
A commemorative documentary photography book chronicling how everyday New Yorkers became a civic movement following the October 7, 2023 attacks, through the return of the last hostage, told through the photographic archive of the Forum's two official photographers and the narrative voice of the movement's participants.
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