JITC’s “Like a Jew” Wins Gold Telly Award for Social Impact

What does it mean to “act like a Jew”?

For decades, television and film have often answered that question through tired stereotypes: neurotic, greedy, awkward, entitled, loud. But Jew in the City’s Jewish Institute for Television & Cinema’s award-winning video Like a Jew set out to offer a very different answer — one grounded in kindness, justice, compassion, and pride.

Now, that message has earned major recognition from the entertainment industry itself.

JITC just announced that Like a Jew won a Gold Telly Award in the General–Social Impact category at the 47th Annual Telly Awards, which honors excellence in video and television across all screens.

Written, directed, and produced by JITC founder and executive director Allison Josephs, the video was inspired by the groundbreaking Always “Like a Girl” campaign and challenges the way Jewish identity is often portrayed on screen. Instead of centering stereotypes, the piece features proud Jewish children describing what being Jewish actually means to them.

The video received Gold recognition for social media content designed to inform and influence viewers around social issues.

“We are so grateful to the Telly Awards for recognizing Like a Jew and the message at the heart of this campaign,” Josephs said. 

“This video was created to help people see Jewish identity with more warmth, humanity and truth. At JITC, we believe the stories shown on screen shape how people understand one another in real life. When Jewish characters and Jewish lives are portrayed with joy, pride, nuance and dignity, it helps challenge stereotypes and opens the door to greater understanding. That is the work we are committed to advancing every day.”

This year’s Telly Awards received more than 13,000 submissions globally, with only several hundred gold winners, including South Park, Jimmy Kimmel, Variety, Paramount TV, Warner Brothers Discovery, FOX Entertainment, Sony Music, Amazon Leo, United Talent Agency, People Inc., Olympic Channel, AccuWeather, ABC News, Newsweek and more. 

Josephs noted the irony — and significance — of receiving recognition from the very industry the video critiques.

“Not bad for a video that critiques the entertainment industry to be awarded by it!” she wrote on social media. “This is how we change hearts and minds.”

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