KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — Ukraine has established a cultural prize in honor of famed Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem.
The Sholem Aleichem Prize will be awarded once every three years, beginning in 2009, for achievements in literature and culture. The prize, awarded on the March 2 birthday of the writer, includes a cash award of about $900.
It will be administrated by a special committee to include representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the National Association of Writers and other nongovernmental associations on a volunteer basis.
Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine established the prize on Feb. 25 within the framework of national observances of the 150th anniversary of Sholem Aleichem’s birth.
On Tuesday, the presentation of the jubilee stamp, envelope and silver coin honoring the writer took place in Kiev.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
