Yitzhaq Shami
Encyclopedia
Yitzhaq Shami (August 4, 1888 – March 1949) was a Hebrew writer, one of the earliest modern Hebrew literature
writers in Palestine
, prior to Israeli statehood. His work was unique for his period, since in contrast with the vast majority of Hebrew writers of the period he crafted his art based on characters who were either Arabs or Sephardic Jews, residing in the Ottoman
Palestine. Shami published short stories, one novella, several poems and a number of essays.
(al-Halil) in 1888, eldest of three sons. His father, Eliyahu, was a textile merchant, who relocated from Damascus to Hebron in 1885. The father was therefore known as "a-Shami" (the Damascene), and that was the origin of the pen-name later adopted by the writer. Eventually, it became his legal name as well. His mother, Rivqa Castel, was a Hebronite from a traditional Sephardic family. Growing up, Shami spoke Arabic with his father, and Ladino
with his mother, and the family conducted its life in customary middle eastern style of the period.
The father traveled across the middle east and in the locality for his business, and through his father, Shami was exposed to the local villagers (fallahin), which were later treated as characters in his stories. A critical influence on Shami as a young teenager was Jurji Zaydan
(died 1914)—founder of the Arabic Al-Nahda
(Revival), modernizing of the Arabic language, one of the founders of the University of Cairo, and father of Pan-Arabism
.
wrote that Vengeance of the Fathers, published in 1928, was one of the most important works in modern Hebrew literature. [8] Anton Shammas the Palestinian writer and critic, wrote—"Shami brought into the scene of modern Hebrew literature some seventy years ago, a local Palestinian validity that hasn't been matched, or challenged, since Vengeance of the Fathers is the only novel in modern Hebrew literature whose characters, landscapes and narrative voice are all Palestinian." Merle Rubin, in the Los Angeles Times Book Review described it as "Luminous tales from a bygone middle east". Issa Boullata, in Al Jadid described the works as evidence of co-existence that vanished.
In 2004 Shami was recognized by the Palestinian Academic Society as one of the important Palestinian writers. With that—he assumed a unique position, as a shared cultural asset of both Israelis and Palestinians.
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...
writers in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, prior to Israeli statehood. His work was unique for his period, since in contrast with the vast majority of Hebrew writers of the period he crafted his art based on characters who were either Arabs or Sephardic Jews, residing in the Ottoman
Ottoman 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...
Palestine. Shami published short stories, one novella, several poems and a number of essays.
Biography
Shami's birth name was Yitzhaq Sarwi. He was born in HebronHebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
(al-Halil) in 1888, eldest of three sons. His father, Eliyahu, was a textile merchant, who relocated from Damascus to Hebron in 1885. The father was therefore known as "a-Shami" (the Damascene), and that was the origin of the pen-name later adopted by the writer. Eventually, it became his legal name as well. His mother, Rivqa Castel, was a Hebronite from a traditional Sephardic family. Growing up, Shami spoke Arabic with his father, and Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
with his mother, and the family conducted its life in customary middle eastern style of the period.
The father traveled across the middle east and in the locality for his business, and through his father, Shami was exposed to the local villagers (fallahin), which were later treated as characters in his stories. A critical influence on Shami as a young teenager was Jurji Zaydan
Jurji Zaydan
Jurji Zaydan was a prolific Lebanese novelist, journalist, editor and teacher most noted for his creation of the journal al-Hilal, which he used to serialize his 23 historical novels.His primary goal as a writer and intellectual during the Nahda was to imbue the common...
(died 1914)—founder of the Arabic Al-Nahda
Al-Nahda
Al-Nahda was a cultural renaissance that began in the late 19th century and early 20th century in Egypt, then later moving to Ottoman-ruled Arabic-speaking regions including Lebanon, Syria and others...
(Revival), modernizing of the Arabic language, one of the founders of the University of Cairo, and father of Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
.
Literary works
The total volume of Shami's works was limited, mostly short stories. Regardless, some critics held him to be "one of the most notable modern Hebrew Sephardic writers." His best known work is the short novella—Vengeance of the Fathers. Six of this short stories and the novella were published posthumously as Shami's stories in Hebrew—Sipurey Shami, in English (2000), and in French.Critical Perspectives
The modern Hebrew critic Gershon ShakedGershon Shaked
-Biography:Born Gerhard Mandel in Vienna, Austria, he immigrated to Palestine alone in 1939, and was later followed by his parents. He attended Gymnasia Herzliya in Tel Aviv...
wrote that Vengeance of the Fathers, published in 1928, was one of the most important works in modern Hebrew literature. [8] Anton Shammas the Palestinian writer and critic, wrote—"Shami brought into the scene of modern Hebrew literature some seventy years ago, a local Palestinian validity that hasn't been matched, or challenged, since Vengeance of the Fathers is the only novel in modern Hebrew literature whose characters, landscapes and narrative voice are all Palestinian." Merle Rubin, in the Los Angeles Times Book Review described it as "Luminous tales from a bygone middle east". Issa Boullata, in Al Jadid described the works as evidence of co-existence that vanished.
In 2004 Shami was recognized by the Palestinian Academic Society as one of the important Palestinian writers. With that—he assumed a unique position, as a shared cultural asset of both Israelis and Palestinians.