Hebrew Literature Archives
Ilan Bar Daviv
Tel: +972-8-642-8284
The State of Israel emerged from the written word. From ancient texts to the evolving language used by the first pioneers, a national identity was forged through the renewal of the Hebrew language. In this spirit, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has committed itself to creating comprehensive research archives for the “First Israelis”– the authors, poets and playwrights who began to write after the establishment of the State and whose works reflect the historical and cultural currents that shaped Israel’s development.
Heksherim – the Research Institute for Jewish and Israeli Literature and Culture – is leading the way, building a broad-based collection of archival materials. The growing archives already include the works of internationally renowned authors such as Amos Oz, Aharon Appelfeld, Yehuda Amichai, Ruth Almog, David Avidan, Yocheved Bat-Miriam, David Schutz and Nissim Aloni.
The archives aim to preserve the original and collateral materials of multiple writers "in context" while providing an atmosphere conducive to research. The rich and varied collection offers visitors
rare access to an entire generation of Israeli writers, providing a glimpse into their creative processes.Amongst the tens of thousands of articles housed in the archives, one can find a wide range of materials, from Aharon Appelfeld's original manuscripts to David Avidan's typewriter and translations of Amos Oz's books into dozens of languages, including Korean and Finnish. The archives include editions of the books in all the languages into which they have been translated; research papers and articles pertaining to the authors and their works; articles and interviews in newspapers, on television and radio in various languages; photographs and films; diverse correspondence; original manuscripts preserved under appropriate conditions of heat and humidity; and items worthy of display. Some of the material is still in the process of being collected, classified and catalogued.
The archives are open to researchers, students and the general public in its new and spacious premises in the Helen Diller Family Center, situated on Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Marcus Family Campus. There are computer terminals for visitors, comfortable work areas, and a friendly staff that includes professional librarians, students and volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to organizing the material. Other projects include the annotated bibliographies of the writers (so far, the bibliographies of Amos Oz and Aharon Appelfeld) and documenting the lives of prominent Israeli poets and writers in film.
 David Avidan (Tel Aviv 1934-1995)
The poet David Avidan strove throughout his life to break down barriers in language, genre and time.
This mission was manifested in his many works concerning the future. His poetry displays daring innovation and an unusual use of language which influenced many later authors. His stormy life is
reflected, among other things, in the experimental cinematic movies that he created. The archives contain personal documents and correspondence, his newspaper columns, postcards and a wide range of visual materials.
 Nissim Aloni (Tel Aviv 1926-1998)
Nissim Aloni was one of the most outstanding and original Israeli playwrights. His plays are notable for their visual richness, sharp social commentary and existentialism, and earned him widespread recognition both in Israel and abroad. The plays were staged in all the major theaters in Israel, reaching a wide audience, despite their complexity and innovative characters. Aloni was the recipient of the Israel Prize for Theater in 1996. In the archives are manuscripts, many translations, diaries and articles about his works.
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 Ruth Almog (Petach Tikva 1936)
Ruth Almog's stories and books frequently provoke debate regarding female writing in general and the writings of Israeli female authors specifically. In addition to novels, she has written ten children's books. Almog has received many important prizes for her work. She also taught literature, and for many years wrote and edited the literary supplement of the Ha'aretz daily newspaper. The archives include personal documents, letters and newspaper clippings.
 Aharon Appelfeld (Chernowitz, Romania 1932)
Aharon Appelfeld's life experiences as a young Holocaust survivor and the trials of his absorption in Israel reverberate in his books. So far, Appelfeld has written more than 30 books that have been translated into many languages and won many important awards, including the Israel Prize and the Nelly Sachs Prize (Germany). He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Hebrew Literature at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The archives contain, amongst other items, Appelfeld's original manuscripts.
 Yocheved Bat-Miriam (Belorussia 1901– 1980 Tel Aviv)
Yocheved Bat-Miriam's poems may not be easy to read or understand, but they seem to thoroughly reflect her character and lifestyle. She was known for her personal connections with poets and authors of her generation, and for her creative independence and originality. Her letters, personal documents and gifts she received are included in the archives.
 Amos Oz (Jerusalem 1939)
Amos Oz has written more than 30 works to date – novels, novellas, short stories and essays, as well as children’s books. His books have been translated into 46 languages and have been awarded many important prizes, including the Israel Prize, the Goethe Prize (Germany) and the Prince of Asturias Award (Spain). Oz is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Hebrew Literature and the incumbent of the S.Y. Agnon Chair in Hebrew Literature established by the German Associates at BGU. The Amos Oz archive contains nearly 20,000 items, including all editions of the entire collection of his books, and personal correspondence. A comprehensive bibliography of his work until 1995 is available.
 Yehuda Amichai
Photo by: Dan Porges
(Wurzburg, Germany 1924 – 2000 Tel Aviv)
Yehuda Amichai's poetry stands out for its refreshing and surprising combination of everyday language and quotations from a wide range of sources. Amichai won widespread recognition in Israel and abroad, including the Israel Prize in 1982 and other awards. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages. In addition to his poetry, he also published two novels, plays and several children's books. The archive includes nearly 100 love letters that he wrote as a young man to one of his first girlfriends.
 David Schütz (Berlin 1941)
David Schütz arrived in Israel as a child, together with his brother, as a refugee from Germany. His early experiences play a central role in his writing. The complex relationships between men and women, and between parents and
children feature as a major theme in his stories, which are written in an expressionist style. His archive includes original manuscripts, newspaper clippings, movies that he made or participated in and an assortment of audio tapes and personal correspondence.
 Shulamith Hareven (1931-2003)
Shulamit Hareven was an author, poet, translator and editor. She published 19 books, among them collections of poetry, novellas, children’s books, as well as essays and many articles, some of which were published as anthologies. Her works have won critical acclaim and were translated into more than 20 languages.
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