A leading journalist , an acclaimed novelist and a senior rabbi will be the judges for one of Anglo-Jewry’s most prestigious literary prizes, it was announced today.

Columnist Hugo Rifkind, author Samantha Ellis and Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, will decide who will win next year’s Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize, and receive £4,000 in prize money.

They will be joined on the judging panel by Tahmima Anam, regarded as one of Britain’s best young novelists.

The annual prize, which was established in 1977 , is open to works of fiction and non-fiction which best “translate the idea of Jewishness to the general reader” and attracts nominations from around the world.

Previous winners include Amos Oz, Zadie Smith, and Oliver Sacks.

Prize director Juliet Simmons said she was “thrilled to have such a diverse and talented group of judges for the 2016 prize.

“Coming from across the spectrum in terms of faith, age and their own literary craft, they bring a wide range of perspectives to the table to address the issue of elevating Jewish themes to the general reader. ’

The prize is run in association with JW3, the Jewish community centre.