Literatureמאיר שלו

Meir Shalev

Meir Shalev was an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist, known for novels such as The Blue Mountain and for children's books.

1948 to 2023The novel The Blue MountainChildren's booksWeekly Yedioth Ahronoth column

Born: 29 July 1948, Nahalal
Died: 11 April 2023, Alonei Abba
Occupation: writer, journalist, television presenter, children's writer
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hebrew University Secondary School

Meir Shalev was born in 1948 in Nahalal

Shalev was born in 1948 in Nahalal. His father was the Jerusalem poet Yitzhak Shalev and his mother Batya was a teacher. The family lived at Kibbutz Ginosar and in 1952 settled in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem.

He attended the Hebrew University Secondary School. After the army he completed a bachelor's degree in psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He was drafted in 1966 and served in the Golani Brigade. He fought in the Six-Day War and was wounded in November 1967.

Shalev began his career in Israeli television, working on quiz shows and presenting programs. His first novel, The Blue Mountain, came out in 1988, followed by more novels, non-fiction and children's books. From 1991 he wrote a weekly column in Yedioth Ahronoth.

He was married to Rina Shalev and had a daughter and a son. He died of cancer on 11 April 2023 and was buried in Nahalal.

Milestones in Meir Shalev's life

1948
Born in Nahalal.
1966
Drafted into the IDF and served in Golani.
1967
Wounded in the Jordan Valley.
1988
Published his first novel, The Blue Mountain.
1991
Began his weekly column in Yedioth Ahronoth.
2006
Won the Brenner Prize for A Pigeon and a Boy.
2017
Published My Wild Garden.
2023
Died after an illness with cancer.

Meir Shalev served in Golani Brigade

Shalev was drafted in 1966 and served in the Golani reconnaissance company as a squad leader. He fought in the Six-Day War at Tel Faher and was wounded in November 1967.

Golani Brigade