Salman Masalha
Encyclopedia
Salman Masalha (Arabic: سلمان مصالحة , Hebrew: סלמאן מצאלחה) is a poet, writer, essayist and translator. He is Druze
citizen of Israel
. Masalha is a bilingual writer who writes in Arabic and Hebrew, and publishes in both languages. His poetry has also appeared in other languages.
, a village in the Galilee
in Northern Israel. After graduating from high school he moved to Jerusalem, where he has been living since 1972. Masalha studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and holds a Ph.D. degree in Arabic literature
. He wrote his thesis on the mythological elements of ancient Arabic poetry
. He taught Arabic language
and literature at the Hebrew University and served as co-editor of the Concordance of Early Arabic Poetry. One volume of the concordance titled Six Early Arab Poets: New Edition and Concordance was published in 1999.
and others.
In 2006, Masalha won the President's Prize for his collection of Hebrew poetry In Place.
Hebrew into Arabic
English into Arabic
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
citizen of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Masalha is a bilingual writer who writes in Arabic and Hebrew, and publishes in both languages. His poetry has also appeared in other languages.
Biography
Masalha was born on November 4, 1953 to a Druze family in MagharMaghar
Maghar is the ninth month of the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. This month coincides with November and December in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is 30 days long.-November:...
, a village in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
in Northern Israel. After graduating from high school he moved to Jerusalem, where he has been living since 1972. Masalha studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and holds a Ph.D. degree in Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
. He wrote his thesis on the mythological elements of ancient Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
. He taught Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and literature at the Hebrew University and served as co-editor of the Concordance of Early Arabic Poetry. One volume of the concordance titled Six Early Arab Poets: New Edition and Concordance was published in 1999.
Writing career
Masalha is the author of seven volumes of poetry. Some of his Arabic and Hebrew poems have been performed to music and recorded by leading Israeli and Palestinian musicians, among them: Marwan Abado, Kamilya Jubran, Micha Shitrit, Yair DalalYair Dalal
Yair Dalal is an Israeli musician of Iraqi-Jewish descent.His main instruments are the oud and the violin, and he also sings as accompaniment. He composes his own music and draws on Arab and Jewish traditions, as well as European classical music and Indian music...
and others.
In 2006, Masalha won the President's Prize for his collection of Hebrew poetry In Place.
Essays
- The City of the Walking Flower, Poetry International Web
- He made a homeland of words, Haaretz, Sep. 5, 2008
- The Arab Man is the Problem,The Arab Woman is the Solution, MEMRI, Special Dispatch Series - No. 807
- The Apache War, Haaretz, August 4, 2006.
- No light at the end of the tunnel, Haaretz, January 19, 2011.
Research
- Between the Lines, (Arabic: Fahm al-Mantuq), digital edition, Elaph Library 2010
- Six Early Arab Poets, new edition and concordance, (co-author), Institute of Asian and African Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Max Schloessinger Memorial Series, Jerusalem 1999
- Mythological Aspects in Ancient Arabic Poetry (Hebrew: אספקטים מיתולוגיים בשירה הערבית הקדומה), Ph.D thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1998)
Poetry
- Lughat Umm (Mother Tongue, Arabic: لغة أم), Zaman Publications, Jerusalem 2006
- Ehad Mikan (In Place, Hebrew: אחד מכאן), Am Oved Publications, Tel Aviv 2004
- Khana Farigha, (Blank Space, Arabic: خانة فارغة), Zaman Publications, Jerusalem 2002.
- Rish al-Bahr (Sea Feathers, Arabic: ريش البحر), Zaman Publications, Jerusalem 1999
- Maqamat Sharqiyya (Oriental Scales, Arabic: مقامات شرقيّة), Jerusalem 1991
- Ka-l-'Ankabut bila Khuyut (Like a Spider without Webs, Arabic: كالعنكبوت بلا خيوط), Jerusalem 1989
- Maghnat Ta’ir al-Khuddar (Green Bird Song, Arabic: مغناة طائر الخضّر), al-Katib Publications, Jerusalem 1979
Translations
Arabic into Hebrew- Mahmoud DarwishMahmoud DarwishMahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet...
, Memory for ForgetfulnessMemory for ForgetfulnessMemory for Forgetfulness is one of Mahmoud Darwish's more notable works. The piece is a prose poem which deals exclusively with "Hiroshima Day" during the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Darwish uses symbolism of birth, death, coffee, and doves to discuss the fear of...
, also known: Beirut Diary (Arabic: ذاكرة للنسيان, Hebrew: זכר לשכחה), with commentary and epilogue, Schocken Publications, Tel Aviv 1989 - Sahar Khalifah, Wild Thorns (Arabic: الصبّار, Hebrew: הצבר), Galileo Publications, Jerusalem 1978
Hebrew into Arabic
- Efraim Sidon, Uzu and Muzu (Hebrew: אוזו ומוזו מכפר קאקרוזו, Arabic: أوزو وموزو من كفر كاكاروزو), Nazareth 2000
- Jerusalem, Historical Studies (Arabic: القدس، دراسات في تاريخ المدينة), ed. Amnon Cohen, Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi Publications, Jerusalem 1990
- Dror Green, The Intifadah Tales (Hebrew: אגדות האינתפאדה, Arabic: حكايا الانتفاضة), Jerusalem 1989
- Haim GouriHaim GouriHaim Gouri is an Israeli poet, novelist, journalist, and documentary filmmaker.-Biography:Haim Gouri was born in Tel Aviv. After studying at the Kadoorie Agricultural High School, he joined the Palmach militia. In 1947 he was sent to Hungary to assist Holocaust survivors to come to Palestine...
, "Selected Poems, with an Introduction" (Arabic: خلخال ينتظر الكاحل), Masharef, No. 30, pp 204–231, 2007 - Aharon ShabtaiAharon ShabtaiAharon Shabtai is one of the Hebrew language's leading poets, as well as a translator of Greek drama into Hebrew.-Biography:...
, Schizophrenic Homeland", (Arabic: شيزوفرينيا الوطن), selected poems with an introduction, Masharef, No. 23, pp 94–118, 2004 - Agi MisholAgi MisholAgi Mishol is an Israeli poet.-Biography:Mishol was born in Transylvania, Romania, to Hungarian-speaking parents and brought to Israel as a young child. Her parents ran a grocery store in Gedera and spoke mainly Hungarian at home. Mishol holds BA and MA degrees in Hebrew literature from Hebrew...
, Selected Poems, Masharef, No. 17, pp 159–169, 2002
English into Arabic
- Breyten BreytenbachBreyten BreytenbachBreyten Breytenbach is a South African writer and painter with French citizenship.-Biography:Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, approximately 180 km from Cape Town and 100 km from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas...
, "selected poems", Masharef, No. 15, Haifa-Jerusalem, pp. 7–18 (1997) - Wislawa SzymborskaWislawa SzymborskaWisława Szymborska is a Polish poet, essayist and translator. Many of her poems feature war and terrorism...
, "selected poems", Masharef, No. 13, Haifa-Jerusalem , pp. 82–96 (1997) - Seamus HeaneySeamus HeaneySeamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
, "selected poems", Masharef, No. 5, Haifa-Jerusalem, pp. 111–116, 1995
Editing
- Biblical Stories in Islamic Paintings (Arabic: قصص التّوراة في الرسومات الإسلامية), Israel Museum 1992
External links
- Poetry International Web
- A Homeland for All its Citizens, Haaretz, September 22, 2006
- In The Dark Room, The Guardian, May 17, 2008
- Patches of Color, Haaretz, December 7, 2007
- Poems in Eurozine