Join us in Cambridge for a special talk with writer Jordan Salama, in which he traces his family’s roots from Syria across South America. Salama is the second recipient of the Peter Gilbert Prize, an award jointly supported by the interfaith Woolf Institute in Cambridge and Jewish Renaissance. This literary honour is given to the writer of the best article from JR magazine’s archive, as judged by an expert panel. “This award should engage the contribution of the Jewish creative spirit to the intellectual and artistic life of the 20th century,” said Adam Glinsman, who established the prize in 2022 and named it for his much-loved uncle. Salama won the award for his vivid and evocative piece about his experience of trekking across the Argentinian Andes in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, a Syrian merchant. The essay appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of JR. The talk will be followed by a Q&A.

Read Salama’s winning article here and read more about him and the prize in the Winter 2026 issue of JR.

Venue: KC Shasha Suite, Woolf Institute, Cambridge, CB3 0UB

Pictured: Jordan Salama in the Cafayate region of the Andes © Courtesy of Jordan Salama