Yehonatan Geffen
Encyclopedia
Yehonatan Geffen also known as Yonatan Gefen, is an Israeli author, poet, songwriter, journalist
, and playwright.
Nahalal
. He is the father of Aviv Geffen
, Shira Geffen and Natasha Geffen, as well as being Moshe Dayan
's nephew. He has two grandsons.
In 1965, he served as a paratrooper
under Matan Vilnai
, and became an officer.
In 1967, his mother overdosed on her medication and died. Geffen considers it to have been suicide.
After leaving the army in 1969 and moving to Tel Aviv
, he took up poetry.
In 1972, while Geffen was studying in London, his sister Nurit committed suicide, causing him to return to Tel Aviv.
During this period he began writing a column for the weekend supplement of the Ma'ariv
newspaper, and he joined the entertainment troupe "Lul" with Uri Zohar
, Arik Einstein
, and Shalom Hanoch
. The latter introduced Geffen to his future wife, Nurit Makober.
He was often criticized for his strong left-wing leanings, which bordered on provocation, and was even sent some death threats. Gefen was one of a group of journalists (including Uri Dan, Yeshayahu Ben Porat, Eitan Haber
, Hezi Carmel, Eli Landau and Eli Tavor) who in 1973 published the book The Failure. This was the first book to be document the Yom Kippur War
. It criticized the performance of the government and military and also contained first hand descriptions of battles, casualties, injuries and the losses and failures of military hardware. The book aroused considerable public interest.
Much of Gefen's success came from his works for children, like the song "HaYalda Hachi Yafa BaGan" ("The Prettiest Girl in Kindergarten") and the book "HaKeves HaShisha Asar" (the 16th sheep), but he has also written many popular songs, poems, plays and stories for adults. He frequently collaborated with David Broza
, rendering Spanish songs into Hebrew.
In 2005, he was voted the 72nd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and playwright.
Biography
Geffen was born in moshavMoshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
Nahalal
Nahalal
-External links:** UNESCO* Jewish Agency for Israel*, "Jews made a garden" - aerial photo of Nahalal , and a girl from Girls' Agricultural Training Farm , at Google Books....
. He is the father of Aviv Geffen
Aviv Geffen
Aviv Geffen is an Israeli rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist and guitarist. He is the son of writer and poet Yehonatan Geffen and Nurit Makover, brother of actress Shira Geffen, and an alumnus of Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.Geffen was and is extremely popular...
, Shira Geffen and Natasha Geffen, as well as being Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan was an Israeli military leader and politician. The fourth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces , he became a fighting symbol to the world of the new State of Israel...
's nephew. He has two grandsons.
In 1965, he served as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
under Matan Vilnai
Matan Vilnai
Matan Vilnai is an Israeli politician and a former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces . He is currently Minister for Home Front Defense and a member of the Knesset for Independence.-Biography:...
, and became an officer.
In 1967, his mother overdosed on her medication and died. Geffen considers it to have been suicide.
After leaving the army in 1969 and moving to Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, he took up poetry.
In 1972, while Geffen was studying in London, his sister Nurit committed suicide, causing him to return to Tel Aviv.
During this period he began writing a column for the weekend supplement of the Ma'ariv
Maariv
Maariv is a Hebrew language daily newspaper published in Israel. It is second in sales after Yedioth Ahronoth and third in readership after Yedioth Ahronoth and Israel HaYom. In a TGI survey comparing the last half of 2009 with the same period in 2008, Maariv saw its market share fall slightly...
newspaper, and he joined the entertainment troupe "Lul" with Uri Zohar
Uri Zohar
Uri Zohar is a former Israeli film director, actor, and comedian who left the entertainment world to become a rabbi.-Biography:Zohar was born in Tel Aviv in 1934. In 1952, he graduated high school and did his military service in an army entertainment troupe. His first marriage ended in divorce.By...
, Arik Einstein
Arik Einstein
Arik Einstein is an Israeli singer-songwriter.Einstein was a vocalist for Batzal Yarok , Shleeshiyat Gesher Hayarkon and Hahalonot Hagvohim . His collaboration with Shalom Hanoch and the Churchills planted the seeds for the first Israeli rock albums...
, and Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch is an Israeli rock singer, lyricist and composer.He is considered to be the father of Israeli rock and the most important artist of that area. His works have profoundly influenced Israeli rock and modern Israeli music...
. The latter introduced Geffen to his future wife, Nurit Makober.
He was often criticized for his strong left-wing leanings, which bordered on provocation, and was even sent some death threats. Gefen was one of a group of journalists (including Uri Dan, Yeshayahu Ben Porat, Eitan Haber
Eitan Haber
Eitan Haber is an Israeli journalist and publicist. He is known for his writing on military and security issues, and for his longtime association with the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.-Biography:...
, Hezi Carmel, Eli Landau and Eli Tavor) who in 1973 published the book The Failure. This was the first book to be document the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
. It criticized the performance of the government and military and also contained first hand descriptions of battles, casualties, injuries and the losses and failures of military hardware. The book aroused considerable public interest.
Much of Gefen's success came from his works for children, like the song "HaYalda Hachi Yafa BaGan" ("The Prettiest Girl in Kindergarten") and the book "HaKeves HaShisha Asar" (the 16th sheep), but he has also written many popular songs, poems, plays and stories for adults. He frequently collaborated with David Broza
David Broza
David Broza is a multi-platinum Israeli singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Personal life:The son of an Israeli–British businessman and a folk singer, Broza was born in Haifa, Israel. He was raised and educated in England and Spain, where he was schooled at Runnymede College, in Madrid...
, rendering Spanish songs into Hebrew.
In 2005, he was voted the 72nd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.