Sacks’ Passover guide scoops prestigious US book award

Former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has won a prestigious North American award for his latest book examining the meaning and practice of Passover.

Sacks scooped the prize as the 2013 National Jewish Book Awards with The Koren Pesach Machzor, which judges called “a skilful guide”. It won the Modern Jewish Thought and Experience Dorot Foundation Award.

Among the other winners was Yossi Klein Halevi, whose historical account Like Dreamers depicts the paratroopers who captured the Kotel in 1967.

Elsewhere, Avi Shavit’s My Promised Land was also honoured. It looks back at the origins of the Jewish state before shifting focus to its uncertain future.

Jewish Book Council director Carolyn Starman Hessel said it was “immensely gratifying” to see the calibre of entries in this year’s list.