Literatureזרבבל גלעד

Zrubavel Gilad

Zrubavel Gilad was a Hebrew poet and literary editor who wrote the Palmach Anthem and lived at kibbutz Ein Harod.

1912 to 1988Writing the Palmach AnthemEditing the Palmach BookHebrew poetry

Born: 9 December 1912, Bender
Died: 12 August 1988, Ein Harod
Occupation: poet, writer, literary editor

Zrubavel Gilad was born in 1912 in Bender

Gilad was born in 1912 in Bender, Bessarabia, to a Jewish family. During World War I the family fled to Odessa, and after the Russian Revolution they moved to the Land of Israel. In 1924 they settled at kibbutz Ein Harod, where he lived for the rest of his life.

He began publishing stories in 1929 and poems in 1931. He was active in the HaNoar HaOved youth movement and served as secretary of its central committee from 1933 to 1935. In 1937 he went to Poland on a mission to help the Hehalutz movement, and he came back in 1939.

Gilad was among the first members of the Palmach and wrote the words of its anthem. After the Palmach was disbanded, he edited the Palmach Book with Matti Megged, published in 1953.

He edited the HaKibbutz HaMeuhad magazine Mebefnim and was a senior editor at the movement's publishing house. He published many books of poetry and books for children. His first wife, Shoshana, died in 1965, and in 1968 he married literary scholar Dorothea Krook, who translated some of his poems into English.

He received the Bialik Prize in 1981. Gilad died in 1988 and was buried at Ein Harod. His autobiography, Gideon's Spring, appeared in Hebrew in 1990.

Milestones in Zrubavel Gilad's life

1912
Born in Bender, Bessarabia.
1924
Settled with his family at Ein Harod.
1933
Became secretary of the HaNoar HaOved central committee.
1937
Sent to Poland to work with Hehalutz.
1941
Joined the Palmach.
1953
The Palmach Book, which he edited, was published.
1961
Won the Kugel Prize.
1976
Received the Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew writers.
1981
Won the Bialik Prize.
1988
Died and was buried at Ein Harod.

Zrubavel Gilad served in the military

Gilad joined the Palmach in 1941 and stayed until it was disbanded, first as information officer of Company A and later as the staff officer for all Palmach publications. In 1946 he took part in the Night of the Bridges and was arrested by the British on Black Shabbat.