Second edition
of the Odette and Léon Chertok Prizenews

Monday, January 19, 2026

The award ceremony of the Odette and Léon Chertok Prize was held on Monday, January 19, 2026 at the Auditorium Edmond J. Safra of the Shoah Memorial. In front of a contemplative audience, the jury paid tribute to the power of two major works by awarding an ex æquo prize.

This year, the jury has chosen to reward two poignant stories that explore, with great documentary strength, 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 (Black on White Editions) In this book, the Polish journalist conducts a long-term investigation into the traces of 52 Jewish children who survived the extermination thanks to the courage of Polish citizens. The book traces his quest around the world to find 30, mixing historical rigor and emotion.
Hanna Krall for La Douleur fantôme (Black on White Editions) A collection of texts published between 1993 and 2003, this book by the great Polish writer offers a masterful immersion in the tragic fate of the Jews in Poland. Through her singular style, Hanna Krall gives a voice and a 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 laureates, the official selection also included: