ADEI WIZO Literary Award 2026

Thursday, May 7th, was a busy day in the beautiful hall of the former Italian Synagogue in Ferrara, which hosted the awards ceremony for the 26th ADEI-WIZO Adelina Della Pergola Literary Prize, impeccably organized by National President Susanna Sciaky.
The participation of a delegation of students from a high school in Venice and the Jewish school in Milan contributed to the special significance of the event. The students, like the entire audience, were moved by the moving testimony of Eli Sharabi, winner of this year’s first prize with his book The Hostage. They asked him questions about his long imprisonment in the Hamas tunnels, which Sharabi did not shy away from, but rather responded with patience and an admirable calmness.
The other prizes were awarded to Roy Chen for his book The Great Noises – donated by Luciana De Leon – to Enrico Fink for Patrilineare.
Vittorio Giardino, author of the graphic novel I cugini Meyer, winner of the “Children’s” section, highlighted the importance of images in a text aimed at a young audience, unfortunately no longer accustomed to reading. Mauro Di Castro, author of La vita invisibile, about his father’s experience during the racial laws, joined the conversation remotely, coming in second in the “Children’s” section.

Giulia Sorani