Pogrund Family Essay Contest

2026 – 2027 Pogrund Family Essay Contest

The ATT’s Pogrund Family Essay and Judaic Artwork Contests are for students, grades 3-12, of its affiliated schools. Funded through the generosity of the Pogrund Family, the contests provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, ability to research Jewish topics and to express themselves through writing/art. A student may participate in one or both contests by submitting one entry for the Pogrund Family Essay contest and one entry for the Pogrund Family Judaic Artwork contest.

Contest Prizes: $50.00 check per winner (In 2025-2026, 58 ATT students were Pogrund Family Essay winners!)

To view Pogrund Family Essay Contest Flyer, click here.

The goals of the contest are:

• To encourage students to do research in the primary sources of Judaism in their preferred areas of interest
• To explain the relevance of Torah to all aspects of life
• To allow students the opportunity of strengthening their commitment to Judaism through writing
• To encourage students to improve their writing skills
• To recognize and celebrate our students’ creativity and their writing

Essay Topics

Select one of the essay topics below:

1. Explain how an historical event influences Jewish life today.
   e.g.: Yetzias Mitzrayim, Discovery of America, Creation of the Printing Press, the Internet
   
2. Create a poem, play, speech, memoir, personal essay, journal, diary, short story, letter or other type of
   creative writing on a Jewish theme, idea, personality, event, or holiday. Be sure to include details, facts,
   customs, etc. to illustrate your knowledge of the subject.
   e.g.: Write a short story with its characters being Jewish ritual objects representing different Jewish holidays.
   e.g.: Write a diary as a mezuzah recording its travels through Jewish history.
   
3. How my family has shaped my Jewish identity
   
4. Explain a Tefilah (prayer) from the Siddur or a passage from Tehillim and its special meaning to you and
   the role it plays in your life.
   e.g.: Shema, Yoshev B’seter (91) and what I think about when I recite it.
   
5. Write a summary of one of the Sifrei Tanach.
   
6. Describe a modern problem and show how our sacred texts deal with the problem.
   e.g.: Sanctity of Human Life; Anti-Semitism
   
7. You find a mysterious note tucked inside a Chumash. What does it say, and what happens next?
   
8. What does it mean to be a good friend according to the Torah? Provide examples to support your answer.
   
9. Your class is organizing a chesed project. What need in your community would you address, and how would you
   encourage others to participate. Alternatively, write an original story about organizing a chesed project.
   
10. Imagine you could travel back in time to the days of the Beit Hamikdash. What would you most want to see and
    why? Which person from that time would you want to meet, and what questions would you ask them? Explain what
    you hope to learn from this experience and how it might deepen your understanding of Jewish history and
    traditions.
    
11. Describe a time when you had to stand up for someone who was being left out or treated unfairly. How might the
    mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew guide your actions?
    
12. Is it more difficult to do the right thing when nobody is watching? Explain your opinion using examples from Jewish
    teachings or everyday life.
    
13. What does it mean to develop your own relationship with Hashem while learning from your family, teachers, and
    community?
    
14. Imagine that you could ask Moshe Rabbeinu one question. What would you ask and why?
    
15. The Meaning of Teshuvah. Is saying “I’m sorry” enough to repair a mistake? Explain the steps involved in genuine
    teshuvah and discuss how a person can demonstrate sincere regret and a commitment to change through actions.
    Use specific examples to illustrate each step. Alternatively, write an original story about a character who makes a
    mistake and goes through the steps of teshuvah, showing how the character learns from the experience and makes a
    sincere effort to change.

Essay Contest Rules – click here.

Length of essay: 150-500 words

All essay submissions must include an essay title, first name, last name, home address (include city, state, zip, and apartment # when applicable), email address (parent), grade and school in order to be eligible.

If submissions are hand-written they must be legible, done in blue or black ink, and written on one side of the paper.

All submitted essays are the property of the ATT and may be published in an ATT publication. Please retain a copy of your submission for your records. Winners may be requested to resubmit their essays electronically.

Essays must submitted by Wednesday, January 13, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. using the online form below or email

Online: Scroll down for online entry form.

Email:  pogrundessayart@att.org

For Teachers Only:

• Please encourage students to use the online form.
• Please complete and email the Pogrund Family Essay class cover sheet to pogrundessayart@att.org.
• Please remind each student to include an essay title, his/her first and last name, home address (include city, state, zip and apartment # when applicable), parent email address (not a school email address), grade, and school on all pages of his/her submission.

Essay Contest Judging

Judging will be based on the following:

• Following directions – Be sure to include your heading and an essay title.
• Content/Judaic/Originality/Creativity
• Mechanics (grammar, spelling, etc.)

Deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.

To view 2025-2026 Essay Contest Winners, click here.
To view 2024-2025 Essay Contest Winners, click here.
To view 2023-2024 Essay Contest Winners, click here.
To view 2022-2023 Essay Contest Winners, click here.

Pogrund Family Essay Contest Entry Form