Literatureיהודה עמיחי

Yehuda Amichai

Yehuda Amichai was an Israeli poet and writer who wrote in everyday Hebrew and won the Israel Prize in 1982.

1924 to 2000Poetry in everyday HebrewNow and in Other DaysThe 1982 Israel Prize

Born: 3 May 1924, Würzburg
Died: 22 September 2000, Jerusalem
Occupation: poet, writer, novelist, educator
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Wars: World War II, 1948 Arab–Israeli War

Yehuda Amichai was born in 1924 in Würzburg

Amichai was born Ludwig Pfeuffer in Würzburg, Germany, to an Orthodox Jewish family. He grew up speaking Hebrew and German. In 1935 the family moved to Petah Tikva, and in 1936 to Jerusalem.

He finished the religious high school Ma'aleh in Jerusalem. After leaving the British Army, he trained as a teacher in Jerusalem.

In 1942 he volunteered for the British Army and served in Egypt. In 1948 he fought in the Negev Brigade of the Palmach until the war ended. He later served in the 1956 Sinai War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

He studied literature and Bible at the Hebrew University and taught in Jerusalem. His first poetry book, Now and in Other Days, came out in 1955, and his first novel in 1963. His poems dealt with daily life, love, death and faith, and were translated into many languages.

In 1994 Yitzhak Rabin invited him to read poems at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. He was married twice and had 3 children. He died in 2000 and was buried in Jerusalem.

Yehuda Amichai's life in 9 milestones

1924
Born in Würzburg, Germany.
1935
Moved with his family to Petah Tikva.
1942
Volunteered for the British Army.
1955
Published his first poetry book.
1963
Published his first novel.
1976
Received the Bialik Prize.
1982
Received the Israel Prize.
1994
Read his poems at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.
2000
Died in Jerusalem.

Yehuda Amichai served in the military

He served in the British Army's Jewish Brigade in World War II and fought in the Palmach's Negev Brigade in 1948. He also served in the 1956 Sinai War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.