JWWS — Jerusalem Women's Writers Seminar
Live in Jerusalem · One Day Only

Stretch. Explore.Write.

Join the JWWS community for a single, unforgettable day of dynamic presenters, interactive networking, mentorship, and connection — created exclusively for Jewish women writers.

Date
Tue, May 26, 2026
Location
Jerusalem, Israel
Format
In person · Full day
See the day

Tamar Ansh welcoming attendees at the JWWS table

Welcome to
the JWWS!

15th Annual

Hosted by Tamar Ansh

Watch

A glimpse of the JWWS experience

Menucha Publishers
Proudly Presented By

Gold Sponsors

Menucha Publishers

Torah Literature for the Whole Family

Come, relax & enjoy your day with Menucha Publishers

Two women writers taking notes at a JWWS session

About the day

One day. One room. The writing community you've been searching for.

For 15 years, the Jerusalem Women's Writers Seminar has been the meeting place for Jewish women writers — from beginners with a notebook to bestselling authors. On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, we gather again, in person, in Jerusalem.

Expect top level speakers, AMA interactive roundtables, conversations with publishers, and the kind of warmth that turns strangers into life-long writing friends.

  • A focused, in-person setting designed for real connection
  • Time with editors and publishers from Israel & abroad
  • A live, in-person setting designed for real connection
From Past Participants

Words from women whowere there

What previous JWWS attendees said after spending a day with us in Jerusalem.

A spectacular JWWS day!

You (and your wonderful team of elves) put together a spectacular JWWS yesterday. Although I was tired, I came early and stayed until the very end, enjoying every single minute of it. The speakers were terrific and informative; the late-morning activity was amazing and energizing; the attendees were delightful and friendly; the lunch was from Gan Eden; and the workshops were inspirational. As I thought about the day, an idea from our mesorah came to me. Chazal say that one can give a poor person a fish or one can teach that person how to fish. Yesterday was testimony to the latter! It was empowerment and motivation wrapped in a special package that every participant could open and use. Thank you for all of your dedicated efforts on behalf of Jewish women writers!

Chaya S. Newman

Director, TIES 613, Inc (Torah Inspiration, Education & Shidduchim)

A wonderful, connecting, learning day!

What a wonderful, enjoyable, connecting and learning day I had at the JWWS today! The speeches were great, the networking a super idea, and the workshops seemed so good, it was a tease to sit in one place and not hear everything at the same time.
I also really appreciated that the staff were super nice and kind to any elderly and handicapped women. I found it a kiddush Hashem. I have such an overflow of how amazing it was, I can go on and on…. It was wonderfully organized and really superb. I came home in a great mood. Thank you so so much!!

Yocheved Rottenberg

WYWH Journaling and Writing Coach

Meeting so many faces!

It was a very special day and kol hakovod for managing to provide it every year. The speakers were outstanding and of course, meeting faces for so many "names". Yasher Koach and continued hatzlacha!

Ahava Ehrenpreis

Author

Featured voices

Meet our Speakers

Four inspiring women joining us on May 26. Names & bios coming soon.

Portrait of Tamar Ansh

Tamar Ansh

Making Your Newborn Book Walk & Talk; 5+ ways to DIY book promotion

Author of 8 books, director of the JWWS, copywriter, worldwide "Challah Lady," and motivational book & strategy coach. For 15 years, Tamar has been building the JWWS into the most-loved gathering of Jewish women writers anywhere — because she believes your story deserves to be told.

Dina Newman

Bio coming soon.

Portrait of Michal Kaye

Michal Kaye

Networking: The secret sauce of your marketing.

Michal Kaye is a business coach helping creative entrepreneurs and event industry professionals break through income plateaus and build profitable, sustainable businesses. With 16+ years as a destination event planner and 6+ years coaching creatives and event pros, she brings real-world expertise to every stage and workshop — and knows firsthand exactly what it takes to scale past the income ceiling that keeps so many talented professionals stuck.

Portrait of Yael Mermelstein

Yael Mermelstein

Where do ideas come from and how can AI interact with imagination?

Yael is an award winning author who has published a ridiculous amount of books, stories and articles for all ages, some of which have been selected for inclusion in Israeli national textbooks. She is a contributing editor at Binah Magazine and writes literature curriculum for Cleverest. Yael offers freelance editing, writing coaching and memoir writing. She likes to sing, exercise and apparently, talk about herself in third person. She lives in Israel with her awesome husband and kids.

What's inside

Four pillars of your day

Keynote & Main Speakers

Keynote & Main Speakers

Four speakers. Jam-packed presentations. Every word chosen with you in mind. At the JWWS, we know every minute counts. Come for the inspiration and connections. Leave with practical skills, fresh collaborations, and momentum that will shape your future, well beyond this one day.

​Facilitated & Guided Networking

​Facilitated & Guided Networking

Network with a wide range of talented, well-connected, and generous women from different professions and backgrounds. Look for opportunities to connect, refer, collaborate, and share helpful information. Each of us will look for ways to help our colleagues. The main idea is simple: who in your network could benefit from what this person does? The goal is to create referrals for others in the room. Let's help each other grow!

AMA tables: one station, one facilitator, your questions ➡ answered

AMA tables: one station, one facilitator, your questions ➡ answered

Choose a table, meet your host, and ask them anything. Each AMA table is led by an expert who kicks off the conversation with one thought-provoking question & then opens the floor to you. One voice at a time, real answers, and wisdom shared across the whole table. See how AMA tables work below.

Meet the companies

Meet the companies

Sit down with leading Jewish publishers to pitch your project, connect with selected company reps or meet a coach of your choice. Your day, your time, your way.

The prestigious lineup

Our Attending
Publishers

✦Gold Sponsor✦

Menucha Publishers

In good company

Publisher Name

Publisher Name

Publisher Name

Women gathered around a round table listening to a speaker at JWWS

Around the table, JWWS

A signature part of the day

What is an AMA roundtable?

An AMA roundtable is a group table you choose for an ASK ME ANYTHING session :)

A smallish, intimate group roundtable where you get direct, honest answers from an expert

A smallish, intimate group roundtable where you get direct, honest answers from an expert — and so does everyone sitting with you. You can ask your facilitator "anything"(well, just so long as it's related to the topic of her AMA station 😊). No panels, no presentations. Just real conversation.

How it works

  1. 1

    Your host introduces themselves

    Each table is led by an author, mentor, or industry expert. They share a quick bio so you know exactly who you're talking to and what they bring to the (literal!) table.

  2. 2

    One opening question sparks the discussion

    Your host kicks things off with a single thought-provoking question — carefully chosen to get everyone thinking and set the tone for the conversation ahead.

  3. 3

    The floor opens — ask anything

    This is your time. Bring your burning questions, sticking points, or "I've always wondered…" moments. Your host answers one person at a time so every voice is heard.

  4. 4

    Everyone learns from each other

    The magic of AMA tables is that the question the woman next to you asks might be the answer you didn't know you needed.

Around the tables

Who are our AMA facilitators?

The experts leading each AMA table — bringing their craft, experience, and warmth to your conversation.

Tamar Ansh

AMA Facilitator

AMA about book creation, strategy or promotion

Tamar Ansh is the Director of the JWWS. She is a book & strategy coach helping others to get their books unstuck and finally written and published. You can AMA about this topic at this table!

Ora McCarthy

AMA Facilitator

You Don't Say: The Power of Restraint in Fiction

I'm a fiction writer published in Mishpacha Magazine and currently editing my first YA novel. In my writing, I'm drawn to questions that don't have neat answers, and I'd rather let a character live through one than explain it. At this table, we'll talk about letting subtext carry the weight and saying more by saying less. You can AMA about this topic!

Yocheved Rottenberg

AMA Facilitator

How to use writing in your personal life

Yocheved Rottenberg, of Write Your Way Home is the leading therapeutic writing expert. She gives workshops, courses, and private sessions, guiding women around the world to use writing for their personal growth, healing and clarity. Her company, Heartscript, produces various therapeutic writing products sold on Amazon, inlcuding books, journals, workbooks and card decks.

Ellie Azerad

AMA Facilitator

Simplify your work area – you don't need a whole home office, so what DO you need?

Ellie Azerad is a speaker, author of Frum Minimalism, and founder of the Frum Minimalism movement, helping women simplify their homes and lives so they can focus on what truly matters.

Facilitator Five

AMA Facilitator

Title / Role

Short bio line about her expertise and what she'll bring to the AMA table.

Good to know about AMA roundtables...

One at a time

Your host ensures everyone gets a turn — no one person dominates the floor.

Answers for the whole table

Responses are given loud enough for all to hear — it's a shared conversation, not a private chat.

More time? Ask after

If you have lots of questions, your host will warmly invite you to continue one-on-one afterwards.

You chose this table

You're here for a reason. Come with curiosity — your host is ready to share what they know.

You're at this table because you want to learn something from this person. And by the end, you'll realize you learned from everyone around you too.

See the day

The day at a glance

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 · Jerusalem

Final schedule will be shared with all registered participants.

Women studying together at a JWWS workshop table

The Day, Hour by Hour

  1. 10:00 a.m.
    Registration, good morning & coffee-sniffing: Let's get started!
    Arrive, settle in, find your seat, SMILE at your seat-mates and get acquainted!
  2. 10:10 a.m.
    Welcome from the Director
    Tamar Ansh opens the day.
  3. 10:15
    Dina Newman — TITLE GOES HERE
    Bio goes here
  4. 10:40
    Tamar Ansh — Make Your Newborn Book Walk & Talk; 5+ ways to DIY book promotion
  5. 11:05 – 11:45
    Juggling ALL Your Balls at ONCE — Guided Networking!
    Facilitated by Tamar Ansh & Leora Gruen. Catch that ball, help your friend, be seen and heard.
  6. 11:50
    Yael Mermelstein — Where do ideas come from and how can AI interact with imagination?
  7. 12:20
    Michal Kaye — Networking: The secret sauce of your marketing.
  8. 12:40
    The Networking Game!
    Can you guess who this is?
  9. 1:00
    Our Signature JWWS "AMA Tables"
    Choose your AMA roundtable, ask your burning questions, and learn about each other.
  10. 2:00
    Closing keynote
    Send-off, blessings, and next steps.
  11. 2:15 – 3:00
    Light lunch buffet & open-floor networking
    Eat, relax, and ENJOY — courtesy of Menucha Publishers!
  12. 3:00
    End and goodbyes!

Atmosphere

Warm. Honest. Real.
Unmistakably JWWS.

Portrait of Tamar Ansh

Your host

Tamar Ansh

Author of 8 books, director of the JWWS for the past 15 years, copywriter, world-wide "Challah lady", and motivational BOOK & STRATEGY COACH. Tamar Ansh has built The JWWS into the most-loved gathering of Jewish women writers anywhere, and she'll be there to welcome you personally on May 26.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Who is this day for?+

Jewish women at any stage of their writing journey — from first-time journalers to published authors looking to grow. Any age and any stage, all are welcome. Our focus this time is on networking and growing our skills. Come in person to join our networking opportunities and discover how much you can make a difference in the business, writing and lives of your fellow colleagues. See you there!

Where exactly in Jerusalem?+

Our JWWS event will be held be'H at the Nefesh b'Nefesh Conference hall, located at 10 Sderot Yitzckak Rabin, INSIDE THE BUILDING OF CINEMA CITY. The directions and bus information and parking information will be sent to all registered participants closer to the date.

Will meals be provided?+

Yes. Coffee & tea and cold drinks will be avaiable throughout the day. In addition, platters for a light refreshment of lunch are included with your registration. Kashrus hechsher will be Badatz Rubin, dairy and some things will be pareve. This is a buffet of bagels, spreads and salads.

Is there a refund policy?+

This is an in-person networking and motivational event, LIVE, in a real hall. Therefore, there are no refunds available. Looking forward to seeing you with us!

Reserve your seat

Tuesday, May 26, 2026in Jerusalem

Seats are intentionally limited so we can keep the day intimate. Save yours today and join us in person.

Ask a question

Full price at the door of the event is 400 shekels.