About the Prize
Established in memory of the Skirball’s founding chairman, Howard I. Friedman, the annual Friedman Prize invites graduate students from across the U.S. and beyond to submit essays offering perspectives on American Jewish experiences.
Graduate students at universities and seminaries with a terminal MA or PhD are eligible. The author of the winning essay will be awarded $5,000, and their submission will be published in conjunction with the Skirball’s annual Oasis magazine. The winner will also be invited to participate in a future public program at the Skirball.
Details for our 2025–26 Request for Submissions will be announced soon.
Friedman Prize Recipients
Donor Support
The Howard I. Friedman Memorial Graduate Essay Prize and related programs are made possible by generous support from the following donors:
Pamela and Jeffrey Balton
Howard Bernstein
Alyce and Philip de Toledo
The Friedman Family
Marcie and Cliff Goldstein
Dennis Holt
Lenart Charitable Trust
Jessie Kornberg and Aaron Lowenstein
Madeline and Bruce Ramer
May and Richard Ziman