NM Jewish Journal Sweeps 2026 NM Press Women Awards, Wins First Prize Publication Award, with Ten First Places Among Forty Total

Ten First Place, seven Second Place, eight Third Place, and 15 Honorable Mention awards for NM Jewish Journal, plus First Prize Publications Award, at the New Mexico Press Women Awards on May 2nd at their annual conference. See also our sweep of Religion News and Religion Features at the Society of Professional Journalists 4-state contest awards here.

First Place Winners (10)

 Ellen Marks, Writing: Feature Story - Online publication
"We Cannot Be Defined by the Hatred of Others," Antisemitism in New Mexico Now (First Place, Religion News Award, Society Professional Journalists.) illustration by Gloria Abella Ballen Jacob's Ladder, 1st place SPJ

“We Cannot Be Defined by the Hatred of Others,” Antisemitism in New Mexico Now

By Ellen Marks April 22, 2025 It’s all of this and more: A Santa Fe student with a marker pen drawing swastikas on a young Jewish classmate. Rabbis answering the phone only to be called “genocidal baby-killer” and to hear death threats. A Jewish district attorney receiving threats credible

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Didi Rosenthal, Writing: Specialty Articles - Personal Essay
Generational Trauma in the Age of Fascism

Generational Trauma in the Age of Fascism

By Didi Rosenthal March 28, 2025 I remember when I asked my mother about whether she ever felt resentful about the German citizenry not protesting the attacks on Jews during the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust. She responded that she really didn’t blame others because they and their

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Diane Joy Schmidt, Writing: Columns - General
A Jewish and Navajo Marriage at the New Year of the Trees, with illustration, Bluebirds by Frank Morgan, Graphics HM

A Jewish and Navajo Marriage at the New Year of the Trees

By Diane Joy Schmidt February 4, 2025 In 2025 Tu B’Shvat begins on the full moon, Feb. 12th. On Tu B’Shvat, some years ago... A marriage ceremony took place between a Navajo groom and a Jewish bride on Friday evening. It was not only Valentine’s Day weekend, when a

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Diane Joy Schmidt, Graphics and Design - Graphics, Apples illustrating "Gemilut Chasadim - To Bestow Lovingkindness" by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz

Gemilut Chasadim ~ To Bestow Lovingkindness

by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz - Jewish Values #7 Shanah Tovah! Wishing you a Happy New Year for Rosh Hashanah, 5786. Erev Rosh Hashanah, Eve of the New Year, begins Monday evening September 22, 2025 coinciding with the Fall Equinox, and on Tuesday, September 23rd the 1st day of the New

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Ron Duncan Hart, Writing: Specialty Articles - Religion
Netanyahu, American Evangelicals and Israel (also won Religion News, SPJ)

Netanyahu, American Evangelicals and Israel

By Ron Duncan Hart Benjamin Netanyahu has long had a close bond with American Evangelicals, who he has repeatedly called Israel’s best friends in the world. Evangelicals tend to share Netanyahu’s political goals and have invited him frequently to speak at their events, and he, in turn, has

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Ron Duncan Hart, Writing: Specialty Articles - History
Ken Elsas Mayers and his American Jewish Story

Ken Elsas Mayers and his American Jewish Story

Ron Duncan Hart Have you wondered about the stories of your family that you wish you had asked when your parents were still alive? A year and a half ago, I met Ken Elsas Mayers who did know his family history, and it is about an exceptional American Jewish family.

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Bobbie Greene Kilberg with Ron Duncan Hart
Writing: Specialty Articles - Government/Politics
The Inside Story of the Return of Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo (also won Politics - Feature, SPJ)

The Inside Story of the Return of Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo

By Bobbie Greene Kilberg Blue Lake is a sacred site for the Taos Pueblo, central to their religion, and in 1906 Blue Lake and its surrounding 48,000 acres of watershed land were taken away from the Pueblo by the Federal Government and incorporated into the neighboring national forest. The

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Emily Alvarez, Writing: Specialty Articles - Social issues
Our Kafkaesque Immigration System 2.0

Our Kafkaesque Immigration System 2.0

By Emily Alvarez Mark M. (name and identifying details withheld for safety) fled his home country in South America in late 2018 after receiving threats that made remaining there impossible. He entered the United States legally on a B-2 visitor visa and, within months, filed an affirmative asylum application, a

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Judith Fein and Paul Ross, Writing: Specialty Articles - Reviews
How Attending a Wagner Opera can be Fun and Not Ponderous

How attending a Wagner opera can be fun and not ponderous

By Judith Fein with photos by Paul Ross and photos by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera. Things to think about … 1. Your butt. Die Walküre is the second of a groundbreaking, monumental, four-opera, 18-hour series by Richard Wagner referred to as the Ring Cycle. Die Walküre, at the

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Judith Fein and Paul Ross, Writing: Specialty Articles - Style 
A Dazzling Fashion Show for the Most Famous Jewish Mother in the World

A Dazzling Fashion Show for the Most Famous Jewish Mother in the World

By Judith Fein Photos by Paul Ross As an international travel journalist, I have met with prime ministers and presidents. As a Hollywood writer, I had alone time with stars, and heads of studios. Never did I feel a frisson of fear. But I was un petit peu panicky about

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Second Place Winners (7)

Norma Libman, Writing: Specialty Articles - Religion
Rabbi Celia Surget Finds a Home at Congregation Albert

Rabbi Celia Surget Finds a Home at Congregation Albert

by Norma Libman It seems an unusual path, but when you look at it closely it all makes sense. Born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, to a Jewish American mother and a Catholic French father, how did Celia Surget find her way to the rabbinate and Congregation Albert in Albuquerque,

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 Corinne Joy Brown, Writing: Specialty Articles - Personal essay
From Mabel Dodge Luhan to Rosh Hashanah: An Unexpected Connection

From Mabel Dodge Luhan to Rosh Hashanah: An Unexpected Connection

by Corinne Joy Brown Creatives of every kind seem drawn to New Mexico, in part for the stimulation of the scenery and varied culture, and often, to connect with artistic communities that abound there. It’s well known that the “Land of Enchantment” is home to writers and visual artists

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 Rabbi Min Kantrowitz, Writing: Columns - General
Jewish Values: Tikkun Olam with illustration, Mosaic Menorah by Meredith Gould, Graphics, 3rd. See all Jewish Values Series by Rabbi Kantrowitz.

Jewish Values: Tikkun Olam

By Rabbi Min Kantrowitz - Jewish Values #8: Tikkun Olam Each edition of NMJJ highlights one of the many Jewish values that guide our lives. Each of these values underlies our Jewish community, regardless of any individuals’ religious observances or practices. These values form the ethical structure of the community.

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Judith Fein with photos by Paul Ross, Writing: Specialty Articles - Social Issues
Latino Immigrants Today, Jewish Immigrants Back Then

Latino Immigrants Today, Jewish Immigrants Back Then

By Judith Fein Photos by Paul Ross It started a few weeks ago in Santa Fe. The passport line snaked out the door of the post office and almost everyone on it was Latino or Hispanic and was accompanied by children. The people didn’t necessarily know each other but

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Ron Duncan Hart with photos by Gloria Abella Ballen,
Writing: Specialty Articles - Government or Politics
Cambridge: Where Eramus Once Tread (First Place, Politics Feature, SPJ)
See all: Series on Christian Nationalism by Ron Duncan Hart.

Cambridge: Where Erasmus Once Tread

by Ron Duncan Hart February 4, 2025 Over the last twenty years my wife Gloria Abella Ballen and I have spent months on end at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in conversations with faculty members and doing research in their vast libraries. The Bodleian Library at Oxford has an

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Dianne S. Layden, Writing: Specialty Articles – Reviews
Tribute to Frances Levine’s New Book, Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail

Tribute to Frances Levine’s New Book, Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail

By Dianne R. Layden, Ph.D. Frances Levine will speak about Jewish women and men on the Santa Fe Trail on Zoom on September 8, 2025, 7:00 PM. Register with the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, 505-348-4471 or BIT.LY/NMJHS-FL. Dr. Frances Levine is well known in New

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 Gloria Abella Ballen, Graphics - Is It A Dream? illustrating "Borges' Jewish Roots" by Ilan Stavans

Borges’ Jewish Roots

by Ilan Stavans Perhaps because the adolescence of Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was marked by the atrocities of the First World War—when his family was caught in Europe during a trip and ultimately stayed there for more than a year—and the friendships he made during the period, and

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Third Place Winners (8)

Lena Keslin, Photographer-Writer
Hidden In Plain Sight, The Alhambra in Granada, Spain (Hidden in Plain Sight: The Old Jewish Cemetery on the Lido 1st Place, NMPressWomen, and National Federation Press Women award, 2025) See all Hidden In Plain Sight Series by Lena S. Keslin

Hidden in Plain Sight, The Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Story and photographs by Lena S. Keslin April 22, 2025 There are times in our lives when an opportunity appears. We were invited to visit Spain on a Jewish Tour with Rabbi Howard Berman, a dear, lifelong friend, and some of his Boston congregation. I was excited because this trip

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 Dianne S. Layden, Writing: Specialty Articles - Reviews 
Etty and the Etty Project: Susan Stein in New Mexico

 Judith Fein and Paul Ross, Writing: Specialty Articles - Arts and Entertainment
As Wagner's German opera house addresses his antisemitism, one of his most famous works is coming to the Santa Fe Opera this summer.

Judith Fein and Paul Ross, Writing: Specialty Articles - Food
I Have No Beef With the Manhattan Avenue Kosher Deli in Santa Fe (Arts & Food Criticism, 2nd, SPJ)

Corinne Joy Brown,Writing: Specialty Articles – Religion
The Torah in the Tarot by Stav Appel, coming from Ayin Press (First place winner, Religion Feature, SPJ)

Carl Montoya, Writing: Specialty Articles - History
Basque Country - Spain Discovering a New Mexico Connection and a 500-Year-Old Agreement With the Jews

Claudette Sutton, Writing: Specialty Articles - Food
People of the Artichoke: How a Scrubland Thistle Became a Culinary Icon

Meredith Gould, Graphics and Design - Graphics
Mosaic Menorah illustrating Jewish Values: Tikkun Olam by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz

Honorable Mentions (15)

Bonnie Ellinger, Writing: Feature Story - Online publication
With communal spirit, Nir Oz will rise again (2026 1st place winner, Religion News, SPJ)

With communal spirit, Nir Oz will rise again

February 23, 2025 By Bonnie Ellinger In the aftermath of October 7th, one place that symbolizes the agony, grief and torment of the massacre is Kibbutz Nir Oz. Twenty-five percent of its 400 members/residents were either brutally murdered or taken hostage, and much of the kibbutz was burned to

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Sabra Minkus, Writing: Feature Story - Online publication
A Long Journey Home (2nd place winner, Religion Feature, SPJ)

A Long Journey Home

By Sabra Minkus After a 2000-plus year journey from Israel, a group called B’nei Menashe are in the process of returning to a land they believe is their ancestral home – Israel. They are believed to be the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph. They were exiled from northern Israel in

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Frank Morgan, Graphics Bluebirds for A Jewish and Navajo Marriage at the New Year of the Trees.

A Jewish and Navajo Marriage at the New Year of the Trees

By Diane Joy Schmidt February 4, 2025 In 2025 Tu B’Shvat begins on the full moon, Feb. 12th. On Tu B’Shvat, some years ago... A marriage ceremony took place between a Navajo groom and a Jewish bride on Friday evening. It was not only Valentine’s Day weekend, when a

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Barbara Ann Schmidt, Graphics - Chanukah to illustrate "8th Night! Chanukah."

8th Night! New Mexico Jewish Journal Dec. 21, 2025 ~ 3X Match Only Ten Days to go, and we still need $2,200 to unlock $18,000 by Dec. 31st! ~ Read: Jews in Iceland. Latkes and Blintzes. Children’s Art 4 Synagogues. The 8th Night: A story. Avid Readers.

We still have $2,200 to go, to raise $6,000 by December 31st and unlock our $12,000 match for a total $18,000. NOW IS THE TIME to SUBSCRIBE, CONTRIBUTE , and DONATE. A $36 ($3/month) subscription becomes $108! Are you already a subscriber but unpaid or want

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Diane Joy Schmidt, Editing for Print or Online Publications:
Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant (issue: Fall, 2025)
NEW MEXICO JEWISH JOURNAL

FALL ISSUE 2025 ~ NEW MEXICO JEWISH JOURNAL ~ ELUL 5785

If you’re currently a free subscriber to the New Mexico Jewish Journal, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription of your choice and supporting independent journalism for the entire Jewish community of New Mexico and our neighboring states. Subscribe for as little as $3 a month - ten cents a

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Diane Joy Schmidt, Columns - Personal opinion And I didn't speak up

Diane Joy Schmidt, Writing: Single short story The Eighth Night

Diane Joy Schmidt, Single Feature Photo West 35th St. NYC for "NMJJ SWEEPS Religion News, Society Professional Journalists, 2025.

Ron Duncan Hart, Personality Profile - More than 750 words Meet Juan Dirce

Ron Duncan Hart, Writing: Specialty Articles - History
A Hidden Jewish Voice from the Spanish Inquisition: Torture in Cartagena

Ron Duncan Hart, Writing: Specialty Articles - Reviews
Llantos 1492: A Flamenco Opera

Gloria Abella Ballen & Ron Duncan Hart Personality Profile greater than 750 words Rabbi Dr. Jack Shlachter: Thirty Years as a Rabbi

Gloria Abella Ballen, Graphics Yud, for "We have just until midnight"

Paul Ross and Judith Fein, Photography: Single Photograph - News or feature "Opera Dress, Fans from all over the world flock to Wagner's "Ring Cycle.” to illustrate As Wagner's German opera house addresses his antisemitism

Paul Ross and Judith Fein, Single Feature Photo - Shmuel & Esther Itkin, Manhattan Deli, making work a family enterprise to illustrate "I Have No Beef With the Manhattan Avenue Kosher Deli in Santa Fe." 

Complete list of award winners online at https://newmexicopresswomen.org/2026communicationscontest/

SEE ALSO:

New Mexico Jewish Journal Wins 9 Awards — Four 1st Place — at the Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies Contest in Denver — and the 2026 Season Is Just Getting Started

New Mexico Jewish Journal, in its second year, just took home 9 awards by 8 contributors – including 4 first-place wins – from the regional Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies contest. Among 2,000 entries from 100 newsrooms across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, NMJJ competed in the

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Community Supporters of the NM Jewish Journal include:
Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico
Congregation Albert
Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque
The Institute for Tolerance Studies
Jewish Federation of El Paso and Las Cruces
Temple Beth Shalom
Congregation B'nai Israel
Shabbat with Friends: Recapturing Together the Joy of Shabbat
New Mexico Jewish Historical Society

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