Temple Beth-El of Great Neck’s “Shema” magazine won an award from the Press Club of Long Island chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, in the 2025 PCLI Media Awards competition on Thursday, June 5.
Designer Hallie ArbitalJacoby was awarded third place for Best Magazine Cover Design for the fall 2024 What Makes Us Kvell edition featuring a Star of David filled with innovators’ faces.
This is the second year in a row that ArbitalJacoby was awarded third place for Best Magazine Cover Design. In last year’s competition, she won for the spring 2023 issue, which focused on famous congregants from the past 95 years.
“I’m honored to be recognized once again,” ArbitalJacoby said. “It’s been a joy to contribute my creative sensibilities to ‘Shema’ magazine and help bring the stories to life. I’m thrilled to see my work well received by the Temple Beth-El community and the press club.”
ArbitalJacoby designed the five most recent issues. In addition to her freelance work, she is focused on building a diverse professional portfolio in strategic communications, design, and live events.
Previously, Temple Beth-El congregant, English teacher and musical theater lyricist Len Schiff won third place from PCLI in the Narrative Arts category for “Super Chutzpah: Talking Comics and Jews with Michael Freeman,” which appeared in the fall 2022 publication.
In 2021, “Shema” also won the PCLI’s third-place award in the Best Magazine category for the winter and fall 2020 editions. The award was granted to managing editor Sheri ArbitalJacoby, editor Len Schiff and executive director Stuart Botwinick.
“Shema” magazine’s managing editor also won two other 2021 PCLI awards in the Health category. First place was awarded for The Immunity Series and third place for “Plant-Based Eating for Better Family Health” in The Well by Northwell. She previously won two PCLI first-place awards for Best Travel Article and Best Health and Science Reporting in a Magazine.
PCLI is the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. The award-winning covers, articles, and issues can be viewed at www.tbegreatneck.org under the news tab.
Learn more about the peninsula’s oldest synagogue at info@tbegreatneck.org or 516-487-0900.
