Shira Hanau

Career Trajectory: From Local Reporting to National Jewish Affairs

Shira Hanau has carved a niche as a meticulous chronicler of Jewish communal life and its intersection with broader societal issues. Her career began with hyperlocal reporting at the New York Jewish Week, where she honed her ability to distill complex religious and cultural narratives into accessible stories. Over time, her bylines expanded to national outlets like the Forward and Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), where she now serves as a staff reporter.

Key Milestones:

• 2019–2021: Covered rising antisemitism in the U.S., including the 2019 Jersey City kosher market shooting and its aftermath.
• 2020–2022: Documented COVID-19’s impact on Orthodox communities, highlighting tensions between public health mandates and religious practices.
• 2022–Present: Shifted focus to Israeli-Palestinian conflict dynamics, particularly clashes at religious sites like Joseph’s Tomb and the Temple Mount.

Representative Works

USPS Honors Jewish Poet Silverstein with ‘Giving Tree’ Stamps

This 2022 piece for The Times of Israel explores how the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to feature Shel Silverstein—a Jewish children’s author—reflects broader efforts to celebrate Jewish cultural contributions. Hanau contextualizes the honor within a lineage of Jewish creatives recognized by federal institutions, from physicist Richard Feynman to comedian Fanny Brice. The article underscores her ability to weave historical analysis with contemporary cultural discourse, emphasizing Silverstein’s enduring legacy despite his secular identity.

Hanau’s reporting methodology here combines archival research (tracing USPS’s history of Jewish honorees) and interviews with literary scholars. The piece resonated with educators and Jewish cultural organizations, sparking discussions about how secular Jewish figures are memorialized in public institutions.

2 Jews Shot While Trying to Visit Joseph’s Tomb

Published in The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, this 2022 article exemplifies Hanau’s granular coverage of Israeli-Palestinian tensions. She details an attack on Jewish worshippers at Joseph’s Tomb, a site revered by both Jews and Muslims, while contextualizing the violence within the broader struggle over holy spaces. The piece balances on-the-ground reporting from Nablus with analysis of Israeli security policies, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the incident’s geopolitical implications.

Hanau’s use of eyewitness accounts and police records demonstrates her commitment to factual rigor. The article’s impact was felt in policy circles, with several Knesset members citing it during debates about access to religious sites.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, ‘Prince of Torah,’ Dies at 94

This obituary for Intermountain Jewish News showcases Hanau’s expertise in profiling religious leaders. She chronicles Kanievsky’s influence over Israel’s haredi Orthodox community, detailing his role in COVID-19-era disputes over synagogue closures and vaccine mandates. The piece illuminates how Kanievsky’s interpretations of Jewish law shaped national policy, affecting millions of Israelis.

Through interviews with yeshiva administrators and analysis of Kanievsky’s writings, Hanau reveals the rabbi’s paradoxical legacy: a reclusive scholar who wielded outsized political power. The article remains a touchstone for understanding haredi leadership structures.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Recommendations

1. Pitch Stories About Intersections of Religion and Policy

Hanau consistently explores how religious practices collide with governmental mandates. For example, her coverage of COVID-19 restrictions on Orthodox weddings demonstrates her interest in this nexus. Pitches might examine emerging conflicts, such as proposed legislation affecting ritual slaughter (shechita) or Sabbath labor laws. Provide access to rabbinic authorities or policymakers who can articulate the stakes of these issues.

2. Highlight Underreported Antisemitism Incidents

While Hanau avoids sensationalism, she diligently documents antisemitism’s evolving forms. Her 2022 report on Colleyville, Texas—where antisemitic flyers appeared months after a synagogue hostage crisis—shows her focus on post-trauma community responses. Successful pitches will offer fresh data on hate crime trends or profiles of grassroots initiatives combating antisemitism, particularly in suburban and rural areas.

3. Propose Deep Dives Into Jewish Cultural Preservation

Hanau’s piece on Burlap & Barrel, a Jewish-owned spice company reviving ancient trade routes, illustrates her fascination with cultural continuity. Pitches could explore niche efforts to preserve Ladino language, Judeo-Arabic music, or other endangered traditions. Emphasize stories with tangible artifacts or modern reinterpretations, such as a Brooklyn bakery using 18th-century Ashkenazi recipes.

Awards and Achievements

• 2021 Columbia Journalism Review Fellowship: Recognized for investigative reporting on haredi education systems during COVID-19. This fellowship, competitive among religion journalists, underscored her ability to tackle sensitive topics with empathy and precision.
• 2022 JTA Spotlight Series: Her series on Ukrainian Jewish refugees was featured in the agency’s annual highlights, praised for blending human interest narratives with sharp policy analysis.

Pitching Tips

• Avoid generic Jewish holiday angles: Hanau prioritizes stories with societal implications over routine holiday features.
• Cite her previous work: Reference specific articles to show familiarity with her coverage areas.
• Offer diverse sources: She amplifies voices across denominational and political spectra within Jewish communities.
• Timeliness is key: Align pitches with ongoing debates, e.g., U.S. aid to Israel or campus antisemitism hearings.
• Data-driven hooks: Use recent surveys or policy reports to ground story ideas.