Guerrilla Tarbut
Encyclopedia
Guerrilla Tarbut is an activist
group of Israeli poets. Founded in 2007, the group aims to promote social and political causes through poetry, both in Hebrew
and in Arabic
, performed by its members during dmonstrations against social injustice.
, and a poetry reading using a megaphone
.
The poets involved with Guerrilla Tarbut's activities read of their works during demonstrations. Sometimes singer-songwriters will attend also, and perform live during the activities in various musical styles. Although independent by nature, many of the group's activities are sponsored by Israeli poetry magazines, and coordinated with Israeli non-governmental organization
s, including B'Tselem
, New Israel Fund
, and the Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow Coalition
. Participants include poets and musicians of various ages and artistic styles, Jews and Arabs alike.
.
, Yudit Shahar, Roy "Chicky" Arad
, Mati Shemoelof
, Ronny Someck
, Yuval Ben-Ami, Joshua Simon
, Maya Bejerano
, Almog Behar, Bo'az Yaniv, Ronnie Hirsch, Adam Dobrzyński and others.
, prominent leftist poet and publicist, argued that poetry cannot bring about change, and "teaching literature in the periphery is more important than reading poetry in front of a factory". Elsewhere, Mr. Laor hinted that Guerilla Tarbut's activity "has emptied the term Guerrilla of al meaning". Some poets object to the mixture of poetry and political activism, claiming that this mixture is "narcissistic", and self-serving for the poets themselves.
The group members, on the other hand, point out that less than a week after the poetic demonstration in the Akerstein factory in Yeruham, the hard-liner local executive was fired and some of the workers' demands were accepted. Similarly, following the demonstration in the coffee-shop in Tel Aviv, the waitresses' demands were fully granted. Each and every event gained valuable publicity for the corresponding campaign. Moreover, as one of the striking Akerstein's employees put it: "[Guerrilla Tarbut's visit] is empowering us in our struggle, it raises our spirits."
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
group of Israeli poets. Founded in 2007, the group aims to promote social and political causes through poetry, both in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, performed by its members during dmonstrations against social injustice.
Activities
Guerrilla Tarbut's activities take a form which is somewhere between a demonstrationDemonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
, and a poetry reading using a megaphone
Megaphone
A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loud hailer is a portable, usually hand-held, cone-shaped horn used to amplify a person’s voice or other sounds towards a targeted direction. This is accomplished by channelling the sound through the megaphone, which also serves to match the...
.
The poets involved with Guerrilla Tarbut's activities read of their works during demonstrations. Sometimes singer-songwriters will attend also, and perform live during the activities in various musical styles. Although independent by nature, many of the group's activities are sponsored by Israeli poetry magazines, and coordinated with Israeli non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s, including B'Tselem
B'Tselem
B'Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization . It calls itself "The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories"...
, New Israel Fund
New Israel Fund
The New Israel Fund is a U.S. based non-profit organization established in 1979, and describes its objective as social justice and equality for all Israelis.-Ideology:...
, and the Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow Coalition
Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow Coalition
The Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow Coalition is a social justice organization among Mizrahi Jews in Israel....
. Participants include poets and musicians of various ages and artistic styles, Jews and Arabs alike.
Publications
Guerrilla Tarbut's poets have also published three collections of their poems. The first collection, named Aduma (Hebrew: אדומה, "Red"), was published on May 1, 2007, and concerned with workers' rights. The second collection, Latzet! (Hebrew: לצאת, "Out Now!"), was published on January 2009 as a response to the Gaza War. The third, “Poetry Dismantles A Wall” (Hebrew: שירה מפרקת חומה) was published on March, 25th and was a Billingual collection of Arabic and Hebrew poetry against the Israeli West Bank barrierIsraeli West Bank barrier
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
.
Participants
Poets who have taken part in Guerrilla Tarbut's events include: Aharon ShabtaiAharon Shabtai
Aharon Shabtai is one of the Hebrew language's leading poets, as well as a translator of Greek drama into Hebrew.-Biography:...
, Yudit Shahar, Roy "Chicky" Arad
Roy Arad
Roy "Chicky" Arad is an Israeli poet, singer, script-writer and artist.-Poetry:Arad has published three books. In his first book, “The Nigger”, he formed a style that he called "Kimo" and defined as "a Hebrew adaptation of the Japanese Haiku": it consists of three lines of 10, 7, and 6 syllables...
, Mati Shemoelof
Mati Shemoelof
Mati Shemoelof , Israeli poet, editor, journalist and activist. Much of Shemoelof’s literary work and activism deals with issues of ethnicity and class among Mizrahi Jews in Israel.- Biography :...
, Ronny Someck
Ronny Someck
Ronny Someck is an Israeli poet and author, whose works have been translated into many languages.-Biography:Someck was born in Baghdad and came to Israel as a young child. He studied Hebrew literature and philosophy at Tel Aviv University and drawing at the Avni Academy of Art...
, Yuval Ben-Ami, Joshua Simon
Joshua Simon
Joshua Simon is an art curator, writer and filmmaker born in Tel Aviv, Israel.Joshua Simon is Co-Editor of several publications: Maayan dedicated for poetry and ideas, Maarvon dedicated for film, and the New & Bad dedicated for art....
, Maya Bejerano
Maya Bejerano
Maya Bejerano is an Israeli poet.She graduated from Bar-Ilan University with a B.A. in Literature and Philosophy, and from Hebrew University with an M.A...
, Almog Behar, Bo'az Yaniv, Ronnie Hirsch, Adam Dobrzyński and others.
Past events
- The Waitress' Poetry (December 2007) Solidarity with the waitresses of a coffee-shop in Tel Aviv University, protesting against the management's policy to appropriate their tips to itself.
- Polgat Poetry (April 2008) Solidarity with workers of a closed textile factory in the city of Kiryat Gat.
- The Poetry of Science (December 2008) Solidarity with temporary workers of the "Science Garden" in the Weizmann Institute of ScienceWeizmann Institute of ScienceThe Weizmann Institute of Science , known as Machon Weizmann, is a university and research institute in Rehovot, Israel. It differs from other Israeli universities in that it offers only graduate and post-graduate studies in the sciences....
, in RehovotRehovotRehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
. - Akirov Poetry (January 2009) An event in front of Akirov Towers in Tel Aviv, exclusive residence of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud BarakEhud BarakEhud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
, during operation Cast Lead. - The Poetry of the Closed University (May 2009) Solidarity with workers of the Open University of IsraelOpen University of IsraelThe Open University of Israel is a distance-education university in Israel. , the Open University taught around 39,000 students.The Open University of Israel has more students than any other academic institution in Israel. The administration is based in the city of Ra'anana. Students from all over...
, who'd gone on a strike, in front of the university president's home in Kfar SabaKfar SabaKfar Saba , officially Kfar Sava, is a city in the Sharon region, of the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2009, Kfar Saba had a total population of 83,600.-History:...
. Despite police efforts to ban it, the event took place as planned. - The Poem of the Refugees’ Daughters (August 2009) A protest against the Israeli government's intention to deport children of labour immigrants and refugees, near an Immigration Police facility in an industrial area near the city of Holon.
- Poets Against Big Brother (November 2009) A protest against a proposition to establish a biometric database of all Israeli citizens, in front of Israeli government offices in Tel Aviv.
- Poetry Not Walls (December 2009) Poetry reading near the Israeli West Bank barrierIsraeli West Bank barrierThe Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
in Abu DisAbu DisAbu Dis is a Palestinian town in the Jerusalem Governorate, bordering Jerusalem. Abu Dis is due east of the Jerusalem municipal border. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics , the town had a population of approximately 12,100 in mid-year 2006.-Ottoman era:Abu Dis was one of the...
, Eastern Jerusalem, in cooperation with B'TselemB'TselemB'Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization . It calls itself "The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories"...
. - The Poetry of Yeruham (January 2010) Solidarity with workers of the Akerstein tile factory in the city of YeruhamYeruhamYeruham is a town in the Southern District of Israel, in the Negev desert. It covers 38,584 dunams and had a population of 9,400 in 2006. It is named after the Biblical Jeroham. The mayor of Yeruham was Amram Mitzna but his term ended in early 2011, and he was succeeded by Michael Bitton of...
, in their struggle to improve working conditions and gain management recognition for their own self-elected worker's union. - The Poetry of Ramla-Lod (May 2010) Solidarity with the people of the unrecognized Arab village Dahmash, in the outskirts of RamlaRamlaRamla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
, campaigning for government recognition and basic facilities. - Pirates' Poetry (May 2010) A protest against the IDFIsrael Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
raid on the Gaza flotillaGaza flotilla raidThe Gaza flotilla raid was a military operation by Israel against six ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" on 31 May 2010 in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea...
, in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry. - The Poetry of Sheikh Jarrah (June 2010) Solidarity with Arab residents of Sheikh JarrahSheikh JarrahSheikh Jarrah is a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem on the road to Mount Scopus.-History:Sheikh Jarrah was established on the slopes of Mount Scopus, taking its name from the tomb of Sheikh Jarrah. The tomb, dated to 1201, is the burial place of Husam al-Din al-Jarrahi, an...
neighborhood in Jerusalem, in their struggle against eviction and disposession. - Poetry of the Minimum (July 2010) A protest against the Israeli government's indifference to the economic inequalityEconomic inequalityEconomic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
in Israeli society, evident in the KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
's decision to refrain from raising minimum wageMinimum wageA minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
, while voting for a raise in the salary of the ministers and PM's themselves. In front of the Bank of IsraelBank of IsraelThe Bank of Israel is the central bank of Israel. It is located in Kiryat HaMemshala in Israel's capital city of Jerusalem, with a branch office in Tel Aviv. The current governor is Stanley Fischer.-History:...
's building in Tel Aviv. - Poetry of the Bedouins (August 2010) in the unrecognised Bedouin village of Al-AraqeebAl-AraqeebAl-Araqeeb is a village of the Al-Turi Arab Bedouin tribe in Israel, five miles north of Beersheba, with a population 200–300. The village is regarded as an illegal settlement by the Israeli government, and the Jewish National Fund plans to include the land in a new forestation project...
, protesting its repeated demolition by Israeli authorities and calling for a fair resolution to the land dispute surrounding it, as well as other unrecognised villages.
Ideology
The group doesn't subscribe to a particular political manifesto, nor is it associated with any political party or movement. Similarly, the participating poets employ various poetical styles.Critical Commentary and Response
The group's activities draw significant attention in the Israeli mainstream media, and in literary circles. Yitzhak LaorYitzhak Laor
Yitzhak Laor, is an Israeli poet, author and journalist. He is the author of . He is mostly known for his poetry of political protest, particularly about the Lebanese War of 1982 and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories...
, prominent leftist poet and publicist, argued that poetry cannot bring about change, and "teaching literature in the periphery is more important than reading poetry in front of a factory". Elsewhere, Mr. Laor hinted that Guerilla Tarbut's activity "has emptied the term Guerrilla of al meaning". Some poets object to the mixture of poetry and political activism, claiming that this mixture is "narcissistic", and self-serving for the poets themselves.
The group members, on the other hand, point out that less than a week after the poetic demonstration in the Akerstein factory in Yeruham, the hard-liner local executive was fired and some of the workers' demands were accepted. Similarly, following the demonstration in the coffee-shop in Tel Aviv, the waitresses' demands were fully granted. Each and every event gained valuable publicity for the corresponding campaign. Moreover, as one of the striking Akerstein's employees put it: "[Guerrilla Tarbut's visit] is empowering us in our struggle, it raises our spirits."