Normally when we make an error in a story, it is a circumstance of some embarrassment for us. But when we reported in May that J. had won nine 2019 Rockower Awards from the American Jewish Press Association, it turned out we were wrong.

And we’re so glad.

We actually won 11, shattering our previous record number of Rockower awards, practically doubling any previous year’s tally.

Needless to say, we are immensely proud of the writers who crafted so much excellent work last year. The winners are:

Editor Sue Fishkoff

Culture editor Laura Paull

Staff writer Maya Mirsky

Contributing editor Alix Wall

Freelancer and former J. staffer Shoshana Hebshi

Freelancer and former J. staff writer Joe Eskenazi

East Bay filmmaker Yoav Potash

Jewish LeaningWorks CEO David Waksberg

Click here to read the award-winning articles and columns.

These awards speak for themselves: We work with the best in the business. But we want to impress on readers that putting out this publication truly is a team effort; it could not be done without the essential input of editors, designers, ad reps, our publisher, board members and support staff.

So feel free to view this editorial as a collective pat on the back. Moreover, it’s worth remembering that J., as a nonprofit enterprise, depends on donations for its survival.

It is by now common knowledge that the rise of the digital age resulted in the concomitant decline of print newspapers. We’ve lost count of all the daily metropolitan papers that have folded across the country in the last 25 years. Left standing is a surviving cadre fighting for every ad dollar they can get. And it’s never enough.

J. wisely became a nonprofit several years ago, which has helped but not cured our own financial challenges.

Thus, in a time when the financial squeeze on the media has never been greater, and when attacks on the press and First Amendment have never been so menacing, it is vital that community publications such as J. get the support they need to bring you the news you need to know.

So mazel tov and l’chaim to all our Rockower winners. Now it’s back to work.