1) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?

Julie Zuckerman is accomplished in many areas, but this nomination for the Z3 Bridge Builder Award recognizes specifically her work establishing and stewarding the Literary Modiin author series ( https://www.juliezuckerman.com/literarymodiin).

Originally created as an in-person even series in Modiin, Israel—where Zuckerman, who was born and raised in Connecticut, now lives with her husband and four children—Literary Modiin moved online during the Covid-19 pandemic. This made it possible for a worldwide audience to take part; these days, most monthly sessions continue to take place online, with occasional “hybrid” events held in-person in Modiin with a simultaneous livestream.

As Zuckerman’s website explains, the Literary Modiin series primarily feature authors of literary fiction (novels and short story collections), with some memoirs and poetry collections mixed in. Importantly, “all books featured by Literary Modiin contain at least some Jewish or Israeli content.”

With at least three authors (and the occasional translator) featured in each Literary Modiin event, the series not only brings together writers of Jewish literature from both Israel and the Diaspora to share their work and engage in discussion; it also draws together a similarly geographically diverse audience that bridges the Israel/Diaspora divide.

Zuckerman, a senior director of product marketing at a high-tech company and a published fiction writer herself, runs Literary Modiin entirely on her own as a project outside her many other personal and professional commitments. Moreover, there is no charge to anyone to participate (attendees may choose to “buy a cup of coffee” with a virtual tip to help cover her tech-related and other expenses, but that is not required). Literary Modiin truly is a labor of love.

As far as I’ve observed, the work that Zuckerman routinely performs for her one-woman “show” includes (but is surely not limited to) the following:

• coordinating the author slate for each monthly event
• making all necessary arrangements for online or hybrid (in-person from Modiin, with audience members logging in to watch from other parts of Israel and the Diaspora) sessions;
• publicizing each program widely (and repeatedly);
• hosting each session;
• archiving each session on her website (and on YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/@juliebzuckerman/videos); adding presenters’ books to an ever-growing list for the public to peruse on the Bookshop platform ( https://bookshop.org/lists/books-by-authors-hosted-by-literary-modiin); and sending follow-up emails to all event registrants.

2) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?

To borrow from a familiar saying: Had Julie Zuckerman only contributed Literary Modiin as it took shape early on—DAYENU.

But after October 7 and all that has accompanied it, she’s done more. Notably, she has transformed a subset of Literary Modiin gatherings into “Solidarity Sessions,” offering a unique and essential space for Jewish writers in Israel and the Diaspora to gather, grieve, share especially resonant readings, and support each other.

The first such session was held barely two weeks after October 7, and there have been several more since then. Another one is slated for October 5, 2025. But even during “routine” Literary Modiin meetings since October 7, a few moments are devoted in each session to the recitation of a prayer for the redemption of the hostages, led by Julie first in Hebrew, and then in English, with the text provided.

Where else can literary writers and readers from Israel and the Diaspora gather together, now, for such moments?

Having experienced Literary Modiin both as a featured author and as a repeat audience member, I can attest that Julie Zuckerman’s work as “literary salonnière,” as I like to reference it, is consistently performed with a remarkable combination of professionalism, generosity, and commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. That the series is now more than five years old—and that it has not only adapted to but evolved and grown through first the pandemic and then October 7 and the world in which all of us have found ourselves since then—is further testament to both Zuckerman’s expert stewardship and unflagging commitment to bringing together authors and readers from Israel and the Diaspora.

3) How has the nominee's work impacted the Jewish community and beyond?

I hope that everything I’ve already written conveys some sense of the impact of Julie Zuckerman’s work with Literary Modiin. But I’ll add a few more words.

Even before October 7, many literary writers—and certainly many Jewish and/or Israeli ones—found it difficult to bring their work to readers’ attention. It’s no secret that more and more books are being published all the time, with fewer and fewer publisher resources devoted to promoting all but a select group of high-profile titles. Moreover, even as educational and cultural communities embraced the value of reading “diversely,” it was becoming increasingly clear that, with few exceptions, Jewish and/or Israeli books were missing from curated lists, event series, and other literary or literary-adjacent projects.

Which is to say: Literary Modiin was fulfilling an important need long before October 7.

But since then, it’s become even more essential. It has provided a reliably warm and welcoming space for Jewish/Israeli writers who find themselves excluded elsewhere. It offers a place for readers — regardless of background — to hear Jewish/Israeli voices and absorb Jewish/Israeli literary art. And again, it offers access to a place where Jews from Israel, the United States, and elsewhere can be together on regular basis, bridging time zones, and more.

In submitting this nomination for the Z3 Bridge Builder Award, I know that I have not done full justice to the extent of Julie Zuckerman’s work with Literary Modiin. I hope that you will take a look at the website itself ( https://www.juliezuckerman.com/literarymodiin), and perhaps watch some of the recordings, to gain more of a sense of why it so richly deserves the award. Thank you for your consideration.