Essay Topics

Select one of the essay topics below:

a. Explain how an historical event influences Jewish life today.
e.g.: Yetzias Mitzrayim, Discovery of America, Creation of the Printing Press, the Internet

b. 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 diary as a mezuzah recording its travels through Jewish history.
e.g.: Write a short story with its characters being Jewish ritual objects representing different Jewish holidays.

c. Explain how your family has shaped your Jewish identity.

d. 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 you think about when you recite it.

e. Write a summary of one of the Sifrei Tanach.

f. Describe a modern problem and show how our sacred texts deal with the problem.
e.g.: Sanctity of Human Life; Anti-Semitism

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 (student or parent), grade and school in order to be eligible.

Hand-written submissions 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 may be submitted by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. by mail, email or in the online form below

Mail:
ATT – Pogrund Family Essay Contest
3531 Madison Street
Skokie, IL 60076

Email:  
pogrundessayart@att.org

Online:
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For Teachers Only:

• Include the Pogrund Family Essay class cover sheet with your class submissions.
• Have each student include an essay title, his/her first and last name, home address (include city, state, zip and apartment # when applicable), email address (student or parent), grade, and school on all pages of his/her submission.
• If submissions are hand-written, essays must be legible, done in blue/black ink, and written on only one side of the paper.