Modern Hebrew poetry
Encyclopedia
Modern Hebrew poetry is poetry written in the Hebrew language
. It was pioneered by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
, and it was developed by the Haskalah
movements, that saw poetry as the most quality genre for Hebrew writing. The first Haskalah poet, who heavily influenced the later poets, was Naphtali Hirz Wessely
, at the end of the 18th Century, and after him came Shalom HaCohen, Max Letteris
, Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn
, his son Micah Joseph
, Judah Leib Gordon
and others. Haskalah poetry was greatly influenced by the contemporary European poetry, as well as the poetry of the previous ages, especially Biblical poetry and pastoralism
. It was mostly a didactic form of poetry, and dealt with the world, the public, and contemporary trends, but not the individual. A secular Galician Jew, Naftali Herz Imber
, wrote the lyrics to HaTikva in 1878; this later became the national anthem of Israel
.
In the age after the Haskalah, many prominent poets were associated with Hovevei Zion
. They included Shaul Tchernihovsky and Haim Nahman Bialik, who would later be considered Israel's national poet.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1D71131F932A05750C0A967957260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all They let go of the genre principles that were widely accepted at their time, and began writing personal poems, about the human being and the soul. In the Zionist
national revival
period, many arose as the literary heirs to Bialik, and the focal point of Hebrew poetry moved from Europe to the land of Israel. Women became prominent poets (Yokheved Bat Miryam, Esther Raab,http://www.ithl.org.il/author_info.asp?id=204 Rachel and others). An expressionist
genre also developed, as exemplified by Uri Zvi Greenberg
and David Fogel.
In the 1930s and 1940s, a neo-symbolic style emerged as well, in Avraham Shlonsky
, then Natan Alterman, and then the Palmach
age.
In the 1950s and 1960s, poets who had been raised in Israel or the British Mandate of Palestine were active. The poets Natan Zakh, David Avidan
, Yehuda Amihai and Dalya Ravikovich rebelled against the style of Shlonsky and Alterman. At the same time a line of religious poets led by such figures as Yosef Zvi Rimon and Zelda emerged. These movements continue to be active to the present day.
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...
. It was pioneered by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto , also known by the Hebrew acronym RaMCHaL , was a prominent Italian Jewish rabbi, kabbalist, and philosopher.-Padua:Born in Padua at night, he received classical Jewish and Italian educations, showing a...
, and it was developed by the Haskalah
Haskalah
Haskalah , the Jewish Enlightenment, was a movement among European Jews in the 18th–19th centuries that advocated adopting enlightenment values, pressing for better integration into European society, and increasing education in secular studies, Hebrew language, and Jewish history...
movements, that saw poetry as the most quality genre for Hebrew writing. The first Haskalah poet, who heavily influenced the later poets, was Naphtali Hirz Wessely
Naphtali Hirz Wessely
NaphtaliHerz Wessely, aka NaphtaliHirz Wessely, also Wesel was a 18th-century German Jewish Hebraist and educationist born at Hamburg.-Family History:...
, at the end of the 18th Century, and after him came Shalom HaCohen, Max Letteris
Max Letteris
Max Letteris was an Austrian Jewish scholar and the foremost poet of the Galician Haskala.-Life:...
, Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn
Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn
Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn was a Russian Hebraist, poet, and grammarian.-Life:...
, his son Micah Joseph
Micah Joseph Lebensohn
Micah Joseph Lebensohn Russian Hebrew poet.His father, the poet Abraham Bär Lebensohn, implanted in him the love of Hebrew poetry, and Micah Joseph began very early to translate and to compose Hebrew songs. He suffered from consumption during the last five or six years of his short life...
, Judah Leib Gordon
Judah Leib Gordon
Judah Leib Gordon, also known as Leon Gordon, was among the most important Hebrew poets of the Jewish Enlightenment....
and others. Haskalah poetry was greatly influenced by the contemporary European poetry, as well as the poetry of the previous ages, especially Biblical poetry and pastoralism
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
. It was mostly a didactic form of poetry, and dealt with the world, the public, and contemporary trends, but not the individual. A secular Galician Jew, Naftali Herz Imber
Naftali Herz Imber
Naphtali Herz Imber was a Jewish poet and Zionist who wrote the lyrics of Hatikvah, the national anthem of the State of Israel.Imber was born in Złoczów , a town in Galicia, Austrian Empire...
, wrote the lyrics to HaTikva in 1878; this later became the national anthem of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
In the age after the Haskalah, many prominent poets were associated with Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion , also known as Hibbat Zion , refers to organizations that are now considered the forerunners and foundation-builders of modern Zionism....
. They included Shaul Tchernihovsky and Haim Nahman Bialik, who would later be considered Israel's national poet.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1D71131F932A05750C0A967957260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all They let go of the genre principles that were widely accepted at their time, and began writing personal poems, about the human being and the soul. In the Zionist
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
period, many arose as the literary heirs to Bialik, and the focal point of Hebrew poetry moved from Europe to the land of Israel. Women became prominent poets (Yokheved Bat Miryam, Esther Raab,http://www.ithl.org.il/author_info.asp?id=204 Rachel and others). An expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
genre also developed, as exemplified by Uri Zvi Greenberg
Uri Zvi Greenberg
Uri Zvi Grinberg was an acclaimed Israeli poet and journalist who wrote in Yiddish and Hebrew.-Biography:Uri Zvi Grinberg was born in Bialikamin, Galicia, then Austria-Hungary, into a prominent Hasidic family. He was raised in Lemberg . Some of his poems in Yiddish and Hebrew were published...
and David Fogel.
In the 1930s and 1940s, a neo-symbolic style emerged as well, in Avraham Shlonsky
Avraham Shlonsky
Avraham Shlonsky was a significant and dynamic Israeli poet and editor born in Russian Empire.He was influential in the development of modern Hebrew and its literature in Israel through his many acclaimed translations of literary classics, particularly from Russian, as well as his own original...
, then Natan Alterman, and then the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
age.
In the 1950s and 1960s, poets who had been raised in Israel or the British Mandate of Palestine were active. The poets Natan Zakh, David Avidan
David Avidan
David Avidan was an Israeli "poet, painter, filmmaker, publicist, and playwright" . He wrote 20 published books of Hebrew poetry.-Biography and literary career:...
, Yehuda Amihai and Dalya Ravikovich rebelled against the style of Shlonsky and Alterman. At the same time a line of religious poets led by such figures as Yosef Zvi Rimon and Zelda emerged. These movements continue to be active to the present day.
Farther Reading
- Avidov LipskerAvidov LipskerAvidov Lipsker is a professor of Hebrew Literature at Bar Ilan University in Israel.- Biography:Avidov Lipsker was born in Haifa in 1949. His fields of study are the Hebrew Literature of the Third and Fourth Immigration , as well as ancient and modern Hebrew prose...
, Red Poem\ Blue Poem: Seven Essays on Uri Zvi Grinberg and Two Essays on Else Lasker-Schüler, Bar Ilan University Press, Ramat-Gan 2010.
External links
- Poems by Avot Yeshurun (1904–1992), one of the major figures in Twentieth century Hebrew poetry, translated by Lilach Lachman and Gabriel Levin. Featured in Parnassus: Poetry in Review--Parnassus (magazine)Parnassus (magazine)Parnassus: Poetry in Review is an American literary magazine founded in 1973.The magazine states on its website that its aim has been "to provide a forum where poets, novelists, and critics of all persuasions could gather to review new books of poetry, including translations [....