Yehuda Burla
Encyclopedia
Yehuda Burla was an Israeli author.
, 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
. After graduating from the "Ezra" teachers seminary in Jerusalem, he began working, in both a teaching and administrative capacity, in various schools affiliated to the Zionist Organization
. During World War I
, Burla served in the Turkish army as an interpreter, and following the war, he taught in the Hebrew school in in Damascus
, where he lived for five years. He continued teaching until 1944, when he starting working in the public sector and was at one stage Head of the Arab Department of the Histadrut
. His children were Oded Burla
, a writer, poet and artist, Yair Burla, a writer and translator, Ofra Adar Burla, a writer and translator, and Zuria Ben Nun.
neighborhood, was named for him.
Biography
Burla was born in 1886 in Jerusalem, then part of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, to a Sephardi Jewish
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
family with rabbinical roots, originating from Izmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
. Until the age of 18, he had a religious education, studying at yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
and beth midrash
Beth midrash
Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
. After graduating from the "Ezra" teachers seminary in Jerusalem, he began working, in both a teaching and administrative capacity, in various schools affiliated to the Zionist Organization
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization , or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization , or ZO, in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, held from August 29 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Burla served in the Turkish army as an interpreter, and following the war, he taught in the Hebrew school in in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, where he lived for five years. He continued teaching until 1944, when he starting working in the public sector and was at one stage Head of the Arab Department of the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
. His children were Oded Burla
Oded Burla
Oded Yehuda Burla was an Israeli writer, poet, and artist. He is considered as one of the founders of children's literature in Hebrew.- Early years :...
, a writer, poet and artist, Yair Burla, a writer and translator, Ofra Adar Burla, a writer and translator, and Zuria Ben Nun.
Awards
- Burla was twice awarded the Bialik PrizeBialik 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,...
for literature, in 1939 and 1954. - In 1961, he was awarded the Israel PrizeIsrael PrizeThe Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, for literatureLiteratureLiterature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.
Legacy and commemoration
Yehuda Burla Street, the main thoroughfare in Jerusalem's NayotNayot
Nayot is a neighborhood in south-central Jerusalem, Israel established in 1960 by a group of English-speaking immigrants.-Etymology:The name Nayot appears mentioned six times in the Bible, in I Samuel .-History:...
neighborhood, was named for him.
Published works
- Lunah (Luna), 1926
- Enchanted Homeland (Kismei Moledet), 1926
- Without a Star (Bli Kochav), 1927 (translated into French, 1933)
- His Hated Wife (Ishto Ha-Senuah), 1928
- In Darkness Striving (Neftulei Adam), 1929 (translated into Arabic, 1955, and English, 1968)
- Stories (Sipurim), 1929
- Bat Zion (Bat Tzion), 1930
- Singer (Meranenet), 1930
- Na`ama (Na`amah O Ba-Nistar U-Ba-Nigleh), 1934
- In Holyness or Love (Bi-Kedushah O Ahavah), 1935
- The Adventures of Akaviah (Alilot Akaviah), 1939 (translated into Russian, 1980)
- City Tricks (Lehatei Kiriah), 1939
- Adam (Adam), 1943
- On the Horizon (Ba-Ofek), 1943
- At Dawn (Im Shahar), 1946
- Women (Nashim), 1949
- Tom and Mary (Tom Ve-Mary)
- In the Circles of Love (Be-Ma`agalei Ahavah), 1953
- The First Swallow (Ha-Snunit Ha-Rishonah), 1954
- Yearning (Kisufim), 1955
- The Journeys of Judah Halevi (Ele Masa`ei Yehuda Halevi), 1959
- Rabbi Yehuda Halevi (Rav Yehuda Halevi), 1960
- Sparkles (Reshafim), 1961
- The Dignitary (Ba`al Be-Amav), 1962
- Collected Works (Col Kitvei), 1962
- Two Special Love Stories (Shnei Sipurei Ahavah Miyuhedet), 1964
- Marching In (Le-Kol Ha-Tza`adah), 1965
- In High Tide and in Low Tide (Be-Geut U-Be-Shefel), 1971
- Collected Stories (Yalkut Sipurim), 1975
- The Kingdom of David (Malchut David), 1978
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,...
- List of Israel Prize recipients