Oded Burla
Encyclopedia
Oded Yehuda Burla (June 23, 1915 – July 26, 2009) was an Israeli writer
, poet
, and artist
. He is considered as one of the founders of children's literature
in Hebrew.
, was a famous Hebrew novelist. Burla's young brother, Yair, was also a writer and translator. His early years were spent moving between Jerusalem, Haifa
and Zikhron Ya'akov. At 13, he transferred to the school at Kibbutz
Beit Alfa
and then Mikveh Israel
, an agricultural school near Holon.
and speechwriter for a radio station "Kol America". In addition, he started his artist career. When he came back to Israel, Oded Burla had been admitted into Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
in which he majored in graphics
.
His first book, Letters to Liora, was Oded Burla's letters collection addressed to his niece when he was in the USA. He had never stopped drawing and his pictures were presented in many art exhibitions around the world. Oded Burla composed music for some children's songs.
Burla has written and illustrated 70 books. His books combine children's naivety and their sharpness, humor and amusing expressions. Most of his characters are animals put into strange adventurous situations. In his writings, Burla pays attention to every tiny detail and expresses love of nature. As a result, Burla was considered as the founder of an illogic children's literature in Hebrew culture. His last book was written in 1996.
for literature
, (jointly with Yeshayahu Koren and Israel Eliraz).
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. He is considered as one of the founders of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
in Hebrew.
Early years
Oded Burla was born on June 23, 1915 in Jerusalem to a Sephardic Jewish family. His father Yehuda BurlaYehuda Burla
Yehuda Burla was an Israeli author.- Biography :Burla was born in 1886 in Jerusalem, then part of the Ottoman Empire, to a Sephardi Jewish family with rabbinical roots, originating from Izmir. Until the age of 18, he had a religious education, studying at yeshiva and beth midrash...
, was a famous Hebrew novelist. Burla's young brother, Yair, was also a writer and translator. His early years were spent moving between Jerusalem, Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
and Zikhron Ya'akov. At 13, he transferred to the school at Kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Beit Alfa
Beit Alfa
Beit Alfa is a kibbutz in the Northern District of Israel, near the Gilboa ridge.-History:The kibbutz was founded in 1922 by Hashomer Hatzair volunteers. The first members came from Poland. In 1940 some of the members, affiliated with Hashomer Hatzair, moved to Ramat Yohanan kibbutz, in exchange...
and then Mikveh Israel
Mikveh Israel
The name Mikveh Israel may refer to:* Mikveh Israel, agricultural school and village in Israel* Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia, United States* Congregation Mickve Israel, Savannah, Georgia, United States...
, an agricultural school near Holon.
Career
From 1949 to 1955 Oded Burla lived in the USA where he taught in Hebrew schools, worked as an announcerAnnouncer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
and speechwriter for a radio station "Kol America". In addition, he started his artist career. When he came back to Israel, Oded Burla had been admitted into Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design is Israel's national school of art, founded in 1906 by Boris Schatz. It is named for the Biblical figure Bezalel, son of Uri , who was appointed by Moses to oversee the design and construction of the Tabernacle ....
in which he majored in graphics
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
.
His first book, Letters to Liora, was Oded Burla's letters collection addressed to his niece when he was in the USA. He had never stopped drawing and his pictures were presented in many art exhibitions around the world. Oded Burla composed music for some children's songs.
Burla has written and illustrated 70 books. His books combine children's naivety and their sharpness, humor and amusing expressions. Most of his characters are animals put into strange adventurous situations. In his writings, Burla pays attention to every tiny detail and expresses love of nature. As a result, Burla was considered as the founder of an illogic children's literature in Hebrew culture. His last book was written in 1996.
Awards
In 2008, Burla was awarded the Bialik PrizeBialik Prize
The Bialik Prize is an annual literary award given by the municipality of Tel Aviv, Israel for significant accomplishments in Hebrew literature. The prize is named in memory of Hayyim Nahman Bialik. There are two separate prizes, one specifically for "Literature", which is in the field of fiction,...
for literature
Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature consists of ancient, medieval, and modern writings in the Hebrew language. It is one of the primary forms of Jewish literature, though there have been cases of literature written in Hebrew by non-Jews...
, (jointly with Yeshayahu Koren and Israel Eliraz).
Death
Burla died on July 26, 2009, at the age of 94, following a long battle with cancer. Shortly before his death, Letters to Liora was reissued, after remaining a collector's item for many years.See also
- List of Bialik Prize recipientsBialik PrizeThe Bialik Prize is an annual literary award given by the municipality of Tel Aviv, Israel for significant accomplishments in Hebrew literature. The prize is named in memory of Hayyim Nahman Bialik. There are two separate prizes, one specifically for "Literature", which is in the field of fiction,...