2026 Don Kunitz Award Winners: Alma Gur and Riley Martin

Please join us in congratulating Alma Gur and Riley Martin, the recipients of the 2026 Kunitz Award!

Alma’s paper, “Reproductive and Sexual Regulation in the Tanakh,” combines contemporary conversations surrounding women’s bodies with an in-depth analysis of the Hebrew Bible. Through careful textual analysis, she constructs a compelling account of fertility, barrenness, and virginity as tools used by divine and patriarchal authority to regulate and define women. Her paper offers a thoughtful and insightful examination of gender and power in biblical texts.

Alma writes: 

"Judaism has always been a core part of my life, so when I saw that ENL 171A: Bible as Literature was being offered, I jumped at the chance to combine my love of writing with the religion I grew up with. The course allowed me to critically analyze biblical stories from a fresh, secular perspective, ultimately deepening my understanding of Judaism as a whole. I hope to continue exploring the intersection of literature and Judaic studies in the future."

Riley’s essay offers a thoughtful analysis of Jakov Lind’s Soul of Wood and its protagonist, Herrman Wohlbrecht. Through close readings of key moments in the text, he develops a compelling argument that Wohlbrecht’s self-interest and opportunism reflect a broader critique of Austrian complacency during the rise of Nazism. His essay provides an insightful examination of morality, complicity, and personal responsibility in the face of injustice.

Congratulations again to our co-winners!