Eli Sharabi’s book Hostage—the English edition of the Hebrew חטוף—has been named “Jewish Book of the Year” 2026 at the 75th National Jewish Book Awards in the United States. This places Sharabi in a small and impressive group of Israeli authors whose works have received this prestigious award over the years. The award ceremony will take place in New York at the end of March.
Prominent Israeli winners include:
- David Grossman for A Woman Fleeing from the News (2011),
- Amos Oz for A Tale of Love and Darkness (2005),
- Yossi Klein Halevi for Like Dreamers (2013),
- Michael Oren for Six Days of War (2002),
- A. B. Yehoshua for Mr. Mani (1992),
- and most recently Lee Yaron in 2025 for her book 10/7: 100 Human Stories.
The work, based on Sharabi’s personal recollections of 491 days in captivity at the hands of Hamas, has achieved extraordinary success since its publication in Israel in June 2025 by Sela Meir Publishing. Within just one week, it became the fastest-selling book in Hebrew literature history: more than 20,000 copies were sold in five days, immediately earning it the “Golden Book” award. This was followed by the “Platinum Book” for over 70,000 copies sold and the “Diamond Book” for more than 100,000 sales—making it one of the best-selling works in modern Hebrew literature.
Eli Sharabi memoir ‘Hostage’ named Book of the Year at National Jewish Book Awardshttps://t.co/mho0m8PjCK
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) February 20, 2026
The book’s success extends far beyond Israel. After the release of the English edition, it climbed major bestseller lists in the United States—including The New York Times—and the British Sunday Times, and even reached No. 1 on the bestseller list in Hungary. It was also selected by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Books of the Year 2025.
Hostage is set to be translated into additional languages, including Portuguese, Russian, and German. In total, the book documenting the 491 days of captivity that Sharabi endured in Gaza after his abduction from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 will be published in more than ten languages.
Rotem M. Sela, publisher at Sela Meir Publishing, stated: “The award is proof that Eli has succeeded with Hostage not only in touching the hearts of Israelis but also in conveying to the world the important and harrowing story of the hostages—and carrying forward the message that we can choose our fate in every phase of our lives.”
Eli Sharabi said: “I am deeply moved to receive the Jewish Book Council’s Book of the Year award. It is a great honor for me and fills me with profound humility. This recognition touches me not only personally but also in memory of my family and all those we lost. Hostage is my testimony. My story of survival. I wrote this book so that I would not be the only one carrying the memory—so that others can see, know, and bear witness. I hope the book helps ensure that what happened is never forgotten. I am grateful to the Jewish Book Council for its vital work in strengthening the Jewish voice, preserving Jewish history, and passing it on from generation to generation. That they are the ones awarding me this prize means a great deal to me.”
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