Carolyn Hessel. Photo: Jewish Book Council.

Carolyn Hessel

Director,  National Jewish Book Council

A heavyweight in the Jewish literary world, Hessel presides over an organization created to “promote the reading, writing, publishing and distribution of quality Jewish content books in English.” Among the other responsibilities of the NJBC is to represent American Jewish literature abroad and help to preserve and perpetuate an art form with deeply Semitic roots. The Jewish Book Council also administers several highly sought after literary awards, including the National Jewish Book Award and the Sami Rohr Prize.