Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, which is published by Mid-Atlantic Media, was recognized with five Simon Rockower Awards for excellence in Jewish journalism at the American Jewish Press Association’s annual conference on June 4.

The AJPA’s 45th annual Simon Rockower Awards ceremony, which took place in New York City, featured over 1,050 entries and honored the best in Jewish journalism and media for work done in 2025.

“To win a multitude of American Jewish Press Association Rockower Awards is a true testament to the talent we have on our team and is evidence of the tremendous efforts of each member of our Philadelphia Jewish Exponent staff,” said Mid-Atlantic Media CEO and Publisher Craig Burke.

The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent Editorial Board won first place in the “Excellence in Editorial Writing” category for its editorials titled “Settler Extremists Are Undermining Israel,” “Ben Cohen’s Meltdown” and “When Genocide Becomes Politics.”

Editor Aaron Troodler took home a first-place award in the “Excellence in Writing about Sports” category for his story titled “Marc Zumoff: Looking Beyond the Bouncing Ball and Giving Back.”

Former Philadelphia Jewish Exponent staff writer Braden Hamelin won first place in the “Excellence in Writing about Antisemitism” category for “Online Antisemitism: What It Looks Like, What to Do.”

Freelance writer Ellen Braunstein won second place in the “Excellence in News Obituaries” category for her Philadelphia Jewish Exponent story “Rosa Zygmund Burk, Holocaust Survivor and Matriarch, Dies at 100.”

The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent team notched an impressive first-place win in the “Excellence in Education Reporting” category for a series of stories that appeared throughout 2025 about antisemitism in Philadelphia-area schools. Senior editor Jarrad Saffren, staff writers Andrew Guckes and Mia Resnicow, former staff writer Braden Hamelin and former managing editor Dan Joseph shared the award for their respective stories that comprised this special series.

“The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent’s first-place award in the education reporting category was a true team effort,” said editor Aaron Troodler. “Our team’s diligent reporting and excellent writing helped our readers stay informed about a troubling trend of antisemitism in Philadelphia-area schools, and it was wonderful seeing them get this well-deserved recognition for their important work.”

atroodler@midatlanticmedia.com