Jewish Poster Contest

Jewish Youth for Unity:
ROSH HASHANA POSTER CONTEST

Congratulations to everyone who participated! Be on the lookout for the winning poster hanging in schools and institutions nationwide.

FIRST PLACE

Nathan Kamp | North Holland, Netherlands

"Honey-Dipped Hopes" | I am a designer who loves creating art that celebrates different cultures and traditions. I joined this contest because I wanted to share the warmth and joy of Rosh Hashanah in a way that can connect with people from all walks of life. The inspiration for my work came from the simple yet meaningful symbols of the holiday, like honey and pomegranates, which remind us of the sweetness and abundance we wish for in the new year. My goal was to create something that feels welcoming and uplifting, just like the spirit of the Jewish New Year.

SECOND PLACE

Gabrielle Levine | New York, USA

"Scrapbooking This Shana Tova" | I love Rosh Hashana and I think it is such a beautiful combination of the different aspects of Judaism (challah as in shabbat, new fruits as in the new months, a sense of community throughout all). I entered this contest to share with the world how Rosh Hashana doesn't just mean two days in synagogue, it means taking the highlights of last year and preserving them as we begin a new year filled with surprises and change. This holiday is like a scrapbook, taking our position in life now and comparing it to our past selves on the exact same day, but one year ago.

THIRD PLACE

Alexandra Sinrich | Massachusetts, USA
"New Beginnings" | A little about me is that I enjoy music, theater and drawing. Fun fact about me is that last year my birthday was on Rosh Hashanah, but that certainly isn’t the only reason I love this holiday. To me, Rosh Hashanah means traditions, community and a time of reflection about the previous year. What inspired me was the idea of honey, and how it symbolizes a sweet new year, as well as the pomegranate which symbolizes the 613 mitzvot given to us by Hashem. By entering this contest I hope to convey the beauty of this holiday but also highlight how much the Jewish people have prevailed through a year full of hardship.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

Juliette Aronoff | New York, USA

Alice Cook | Colorado, USA

Li-Ohn Dienstfrey | Virginia, USA

Nina McNay | Kansas, USA

Ayel Morgenstern | Florida, USA

Asher Oosten | North Carolina, USA

Daniel Rotenberg | Ontario, Canada

Eli Schwartz | Washington, DC, USA

Solly Sommer | Illinois, USA

Yael Sommer | Illinois, USA

The contest submission period has closed. Want to look back at the contest details? Check them out below.

WHY ENTER

WHO CAN ENTER

CONTEST PRIZES

CONTEST RULES

WHY ENTER

Showcase Your Talent: This is your chance to create a stunning piece of art that will be featured in public schools across the country!
Win Big: First place gets a $5,000 grant for college or a gap year program in Israel! Plus, there are fantastic prizes for second and third place, and several runner-up recognitions.
Make a Difference: You’ll be a part of sharing positive, uplifting messages about Jewish culture and traditions to a diverse audience. Let’s reshape the narrative and show the beauty and joy of our heritage!

WHO CAN ENTER

All Jewish students in grades 8 through 12 are welcome to join the fun. No prior involvement with a Jewish youth group is required. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, we want to see your unique perspective and creativity!

CONTEST PRIZES

First Place: $5,000 grant for college or a gap year program in Israel*; artwork printed and displayed in public schools around the United States
Second Place: $1,000 grant for college or a gap year program in Israel
Third Place: $500 grant for college or a gap year program in Israel
Honorable Mentions: $50 Amazon gift card

Contest Rules

How Many Times Can I Enter?

One (1) entry per teen.

Is There a Submission Deadline?

Entries must be submitted by: Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET

What Should I Include?

Posters should express the beauty of the Jewish New Year, while conveying warm wishes to a diverse audience.
We recommend you include a phrase with a blessing or greeting to catch the eye. Some suggestions to get you started:
- Have a sweet New Year, from the Jewish Community
- It’s the Jewish New Year, how sweet is that?
- Shana Tova!* (*Hebrew for: Happy New Year!)
You may use any of the above or come up with your own.
Leave room on your poster for the addition of a QR code that will take the audience to educational material about Rosh Hashanah.

What Size and Format Should It Be In?

Design must be 1-sided, A3 (11 x 17 inch) size
Designs should be created in an editable format using platforms such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Canva, Sketch, or CorelDraw, but all popular image file formats are accepted.
When designing , please use vector (scalable) and high-resolution images, if possible.
For submission, please include a link to editable design if it was created using an online platform such as Canva as well as final file type.
Final file formats that are accepted:
- .ai - Adobe Illustrator Document
- .ps, .eps - PostScript File
- .svg – Scalable Vector Graphics
- .pdf – Adobe Acrobat Document
- .psd - Adobe Photoshop Image
- .tiff - High resolution export – 300ppi
- .jpg/.jpeg - High resolution export – 300ppi
- .png - High resolution export – 300ppi

Will My Design Be Automatically Considered?

Not all submissions will be considered for voting—a vetting group will assess each submission for appropriateness and adherence to guidelines and pass along approved designs for consideration.

How Will the Designs Be Judged?

Designs selected for consideration will be blindly reviewed (with no identifying artist information) by a panel of teens and staff from the hosting organizations and assessed on creativity, effective use of subject matter, message resonance, and overall visual appeal. Top three winners and honorable mentions as selected by the judges will be announced on September 1. All decisions of the judges are final. The top three designs will have their ranking determined by a public vote to take place September 1–5. Anyone may vote; votes are restricted to one per person.

Any Fine Print?

By submitting your design, you are granting sole ownership of it to BBYO, JSU, USY, Young Judaea, NFTY or any other partner organizations; you also consent to have the information submitted with your design shared between the hosting partners and stored in accordance with their privacy policies. You also acknowledge that and give permission for your design to be altered, including, but not limited to, the addition of organization logos, a QR code, and additional directions.

All entrants must be 13 years of age or older. The entrant must be the sole creator of the submission.

The winner must sign an affidavit of eligibility/liability and public release and will be responsible for paying any fees or taxes associated with the prize. All prizes are awarded “as is” and non-transferable.

The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. We reserve the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at our discretion. In the event of a dispute regarding the winner, we reserve the right to award or not award the prize in our sole discretion. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to: inhibit the enjoyment of others; tamper with the competition; violate these rules or other applicable law or regulation; infringe on the rights of third parties; or act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. All decisions are final and binding.

*If the recipient of a top prize does not plan to attend college or a gap year program, grants may be applied to other post-high school vocational/educational programs.