Times of Israel editor wins B’nai B’rith journalism award

The B’nai B’rith World Center on Thursday named Times of Israel Jewish World editor Amanda Borschel-Dan as one of two reporters honored for their coverage of Jewish life around the globe.

Borschel-Dan, along with Haaretz reporter Allison Kaplan Sommer, were the winners of the 2016 Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage.

“Both journalists submitted an impressive array of articles on Diaspora communities published during 2015,” B’nai B’rith said in a statement.

The award serves to recognize excellence in reporting on contemporary Diaspora-Jewish communities and on the State of Israel-Diaspora relations in Israeli print and electronic media, the organization said.

“The winners of this year’s awards are outstanding journalists who have dedicated their careers to Diaspora reportage and Israel-Diaspora relations,” said B’nai B’rith World Center Director Alan Schneider. “They represent dedication, professionalism and intellect and were chosen from a field of 14 excellent candidates for the award.”

Haaretz newspaper staff writer Allison Kaplan Sommer. (courtesy B’nai B’rith)

“Diaspora Jewry and Israel-Diaspora relations continue to generate considerable interest among Israeli journalists, and those who excel deserve encouragement and recognition through this important awards project.”

Among the articles Borschel-Dan submitted to win the prize were reports on Jewish transgender teenagers, the ongoing domestic struggle between religion and state and its effects on the Diaspora, and an in-depth journey into the heart of the BDS campaign, detailing how it is being wielded to sway young Jews abroad.

“This award was created to strengthen Israel-Diaspora relations by recognizing journalists who have excelled at covering Jewish communities around the globe,” B’nai B’rith World Center Chairman Haim V. Katz said in the statement. “It is important to recognize these outstanding journalists for their insightful and inspiring work.”

B’nai B’rith also announced a Lifetime Achievement Award for Ya’akov Ahimeir, a senior Israel Broadcasting Authority journalist. Ahimeir is the editor and presenter of a weekly foreign news and culture show “Ro’im Olam” (Seeing the World) broadcast on Israeli television. He also features on the Voice of Israel’s daily radio news program HaBoker HaZeh (This Morning). He was awarded the Israel Prize in journalism in 2012.

A previous winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award was Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz in 2014.

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