Second Edition
the Odette and Léon Chertok Prizenews

Monday, January 19, 2026

The award ceremony for the Odette and Léon Chertok Prize was held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Edmond J. Safra Auditorium of the Shoah Memorial. In front of a gathered audience, the jury was keen to salute the power of two major works by awarding a joint prize.

This year, the jury chose to reward two poignant stories that explore, with great documentary force, the fate of Jews and especially children in Poland during the Second World War:

Anna Bikont for The Price to Pay, in search of Jewish children in Poland after the war (Éditions Noir sur Blanc) In this book, the Polish journalist conducts a long-term investigation into the tracks of 52 Jewish children who survived the extermination thanks to the courage of Polish citizens. The book retraces his quest around the world to find 30, combining historical rigor and emotion.
Hanna Krall for La Douleur fantôme (Éditions Noir sur Blanc) A collection of texts published between 1993 and 2003, this book by the great Polish writer offers a masterful immersion into the tragic fate of Jews in Poland. Through her singular style, Hanna Krall gives a voice and presence to the disappeared.

Shoah Memorial, awarding of the Chertok Prize. January 19, 2026 © Laurent Bagnis

As a reminder, the jury for this edition was composed of: Rima Abdul Malak, Emmanuel Carrère, Cécile Chertok, Grégoire Chertok, Sarah Chiche, Jean Hatzfeld, Haïm Korsia, Rebecca Marder, Valérie Toranian and Nathalie Zajde.

In addition to the two winners, the official selection also included: