The Sidney Hillman Foundation is a left-of-center organization that awards monetary prizes for journalism and public service. It has awarded tens of thousands of dollars to journalists and writers who pursue social justice and public policy for the common good, in both traditional and new media formats. It is named in honor of Sidney Hillman, a long-time president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America labor union. Hillman was a tireless advocate for working people and was committed to the idea that a free press is essential for democracy.

The Foundation also operates the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award, an annual competition to encourage aspiring authors of Judaic children’s books. The winner of the prize receives $1,000 and a gold seal for their book. The Manuscript Award is administered by its own separate AJL committee and is not part of the Sydney Taylor Book Award process.

AJL’s own literary prizes have a long history, dating back to bequests received by AJL founder Ralph Taylor. Currently, the Association offers many literary prizes, including the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award. Each of these prizes has its own criteria and judges, and some have a shortlist and two runners-up. All of the prizes are open to members and non-members. Applicants must submit a completed application form, an essay on the nominated topic, and a brief bio to be considered. In some cases, multiple submissions are accepted.

Winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award are announced in June each year at AJL’s National Convention. In addition, winners receive a commemorative seal that can be added to the covers of their book and are listed on the AJL Sydney Taylor Award page in the AJL Shops section. A podcast interview with the 2024 TTBC committee chair, as well as reviews of winning titles and more can be found on AJL’s mock award blog, The Sydney Taylor Shmooze. AJL also sells gold and silver Sydney Taylor Book Award seals for use on a book cover or as a badge.

In addition, AJL has the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, which is given annually to an outstanding piece of short fiction by a writer living in Australia or New Zealand. The 2023 winner is Annie Zhang, who lives on unceded Wangal land, for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’ The judged for this year’s prize were Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh.

The Overland Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize is for an original, unpublished short story on the theme of travel by a writer from Australasia. Submissions are judged on their literary merit and the degree to which they offer insight into a particular travel experience. The judges are drawn from the magazine’s writing and publishing community. The prize is funded by a bequest from Emilie Ann Consett Stephen and is supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. The shortlist of eight stories and two runners-up was announced this month.