This piece is one of an ongoing series that we are sharing from Israeli authors and authors in Israel.
It is critical to understand history not just through the books that will be written later, but also through the first-hand testimonies and real-time accounting of events as they occur. At Jewish Book Council, we understand the value of these written testimonials and of sharing these individual experiences. It’s more important now than ever to give space to these voices and narratives.
At least 229 Israelis were kidnapped by the Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. The hostage Yocheved Lifshitz, an eighty-five-year-old woman from Kibbutz Nir Oz (near the Gaza Strip border) was released by the terrorists while her husband, the eighty-six-year-old journalist and human rights activist Oded Lifshitz, is still being held captive by the Hamas.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author, based on their observations and experiences.
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Lali Michaeli is the nonconformist of Israeli poetry, daring to shout what others were ashamed to think, became a symbol of rebellion and anti-establishment. Even now, when she learns foreign languages, is invited to participate in international poetry festivals all over the world and wins international awards, she refuses to screw with the Israeli mainstream. She maintains her status as a solo poet. The Israeli political poems “Mr. Prime Minister” (2009) and “Democracy” (2016) alongside universal poems like “Paint me ablaze” and “Every time we make love” show the layers of her poetry. The intra-poetic, personal, interpersonal and human dialogue is the how and what of her writing. This is an attempt to build bridges in impossible places. “The poetry of Lali Michaeli once again proves that excellent poetry can also be sexy and innovative.” — Dory Manor