Sapir Prize for Literature

さぴーるぶんがくしょう

Annual literature award presented to Israeli Hebrew literature.

Literature awardHebrew literatureIsraeli literature awardFiction

Established: 2000
Organizer: Mifal HaPayis (Mifal HaPayis, Israel State Lottery)
Category: General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Selection Method: Recommendation
Target: Professional
Frequency: 1 per year
Announcement Period: around May
Status: Active

Description

The Sapir Prize for Literature is Israel's premier annual award for Hebrew literature, organized by Mifal HaPayis. Named after the late Pinhas Sapir, it was established in 2000. Judges select 5 finalists from the candidate list submitted by major publishers, and the winning work is announced during Hebrew Book Week. The recipient receives a substantial cash prize and translation grants, with the award ceremony televised.

Prize

Main Prize: The author of the winning work receives 150,000 NIS, and each of the 4 runners-up receives 40,000 NIS. From 2019, a separate category for debut works was introduced, awarding up to 3 with 20,000 NIS (40,000 NIS to the winner within that category). Translation grants to Arabic and one other language are provided for the winning work.
Cash Prize: 150,000 ILS

Each runner-up: 40,000 NIS
Debut award: Up to 3 candidates receive 20,000 NIS, winner receives 40,000 NIS (introduced in 2019)
Translation grants to Arabic and other languages
Promotion opportunities through televised award ceremony

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Candidate selection (publisher submission)	Judging committee composed of prominent literary figures (names undisclosed until winner announcement)	announcement	Judges select 5 works as finalists from books submitted by major publishers.
Final selection (selecting winner from 5 works)	Same as above (decided by committee discussion and voting)	Approximately 20% (1 out of 5 wins)	Winning work announced during Hebrew Book Week. Award ceremony broadcast on TV.
Promotion for finalists to readers	N/A (promotion/event management)	announcement	The 5 finalists participate in reader interaction events nationwide (e.g., reader participation events in 2005).

Candidate selection (publisher submission)

Judges Judging committee composed of prominent literary figures (names undisclosed until winner announcement)

Pass Rate announcement

Announcement Judges select 5 works as finalists from books submitted by major publishers.

Final selection (selecting winner from 5 works)

Judges Same as above (decided by committee discussion and voting)

Pass Rate Approximately 20% (1 out of 5 wins)

Announcement Winning work announced during Hebrew Book Week. Award ceremony broadcast on TV.

Promotion for finalists to readers

Judges N/A (promotion/event management)

Pass Rate announcement

Announcement The 5 finalists participate in reader interaction events nationwide (e.g., reader participation events in 2005).

Criteria

Literary works published in Hebrew (original or translated into Hebrew)
Principally, authors must be Israel residents (since 2015 rule change). Confirm as citizenship/residency requirements may change by year.
Target publication year: Usually works published the previous year. From 2006, works translated into Hebrew within the past 5 years eligible for separate category.
Word count/format regulations: Previously required 60,000 words or more (discussed in 2003), but later abolished
Important to collaborate with publishers, as selections are made from lists submitted by major publishers