Mifal HaPais Opens Annual Torah Essay Contest With Cash Prizes

Mifal HaPais has launched the men’s track of its long-running Torah essay project, a competition widely respected in Torah and scholarly circles that is meant to encourage original writing and deep halachic analysis. This year’s topic is “Laws of blessings and their definitions.”

Participants are invited to submit essays based on source analysis and detailed clarification of Jewish law, including the foundations of blessings over food, unnecessary blessings, blessings on commandments, the principle of “one who hears is as one who answers,” and the rules governing specific blessings such as Birkat Hamazon and Shehecheyanu.

The judging panel is headed by Rabbi Hillel Mann, Rabbi Moshe Pinchasi, Rabbi Shalom Spitz, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Yaakovzon, Rabbi Yosef Mant, Rabbi Avraham Kalmanovitz, and Rabbi Raphael Mant, who leads the program. The winning entries will receive cash prizes worth tens of thousands of shekels, with 25,000 shekels for first place, 15,000 for second, 10,000 for third, and seven additional essays receiving honorable mention.

The lottery says hundreds of high-quality essays arrive every year from leading Torah scholars, and its CEO, Benny Dreifuss, said, “Mifal HaPais places broad emphasis on the world of spirit and continues to lead this special project that encourages writing of thought and Torah innovations at the highest level.” Submissions must be typed and sent by September 3, 2026, through the website www.pais.co.il or by email. Registration forms and the rules are available at Ohr Hachaim bookstores in Haredi population centers, and inquiries can be made by phone at 03-3135722 or by email to the project address.