Yoram Kaniuk
Encyclopedia
Yoram Kaniuk (born May 2, 1930) is an Israeli writer, painter, journalist, and theater critic.
, Galicia (Central Europe), was the first curator of Tel Aviv Museum of Art
. His grandfather was a Hebrew teacher who wrote his own textbooks. Kaniuk's mother, born in Odessa, was also a teacher. Her family immigrated to Palestine in 1909, the year Tel Aviv was founded, and settled in Neve Tzedek
.
At the age of 17, Kaniuk joined the Palmach
. In 1948, during the War of Independence, he was shot in the legs by an Englishman in a kaffiyeh. He was treated at Mount Sinai Hospital
in New York.
Kaniuk married Miranda, a Christian woman.
" or "what is today called the religion of Israel." In October 2011, a district court judge approved his petition, meaning that Kaniuk is now considered a Jew by nationality, but not by religion. Hundreds of other Israelis intend to do the same; a new verb, lehitkaniuk (to Kaniuk oneself) was coined to refer to this process.
Biography
Yoram Kaniuk was born in Tel Aviv. His father, Moshe Kaniuk, born in TernopilTernopil
Ternopil , is a city in western Ukraine, located on the banks of the Seret River. Ternopil is one of the major cities of Western Ukraine and the historical region of Galicia...
, Galicia (Central Europe), was the first curator of Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is an art museum in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was established in 1932 in a building that was the home of Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. The Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art opened in 1959. The museum moved to its current location on King Saul Avenue in...
. His grandfather was a Hebrew teacher who wrote his own textbooks. Kaniuk's mother, born in Odessa, was also a teacher. Her family immigrated to Palestine in 1909, the year Tel Aviv was founded, and settled in Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek is a neighborhood located in southwestern Tel Aviv, Israel. It was the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside the walls of the ancient port of Jaffa. For years, the neighborhood prospered as Tel Aviv, the first modern Hebrew city, grew up around it...
.
At the age of 17, Kaniuk joined the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
. In 1948, during the War of Independence, he was shot in the legs by an Englishman in a kaffiyeh. He was treated at Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
in New York.
Kaniuk married Miranda, a Christian woman.
Legal status as Jew
In May 2011, Kaniuk petitioned the Israeli Interior Ministry to change his religion status from "Jewish" to "no religion." He cited the fact that his child and infant grandson, because they are descended from a mixed marriage, are legally of no religion, and his desire not to belong to a "Jewish IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
" or "what is today called the religion of Israel." In October 2011, a district court judge approved his petition, meaning that Kaniuk is now considered a Jew by nationality, but not by religion. Hundreds of other Israelis intend to do the same; a new verb, lehitkaniuk (to Kaniuk oneself) was coined to refer to this process.
Literary career
Kaniuk has published 17 novels, a memoir, seven collections of short stories, two books of essays and five books for children and youth. His books have been published in 25 languages and he has won numerous literary prizes. An international conference dedicated to the works of Kaniuk was held at Cambridge University in March 2006.Literary themes and style
'Eagles' is a war story that attacks the subject of death in Israeli culture from a unique angle. His work has been described as "existential writing that deviates from the Israeli consensus" and difficult to categorize.Awards and honours
Kaniuk has won numerous literary prizes, among them are the following:- In 1980, the Ze`ev Prize for Children's literature.
- In 1997, the Prix des Droits de l'Homme (France).
- In 1998, the President's Prize.
- In 1999, 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 (co-recipient with Aharon Almog and Nurit ZarchiNurit ZarchiNurit Zarchi is an Israeli poet and author for adults and children....
). - In 2000, the Prix Mediterranee Etranger.
- In 2005, the Book Publishers Association's Gold Book Prize.
- In 2006, the Newman Prize.
- In 2011, the Sapir Prize for Literature.
Published works
- The Acrophile (1960)
- Himmo, King of Jerusalem (1968)
- Adam ResurrectedAdam ResurrectedAdam Resurrected is an American-German-Israeli film, directed by Paul Schrader and adapted from Yoram Kaniuk's novel of the same name published in Israel in 1968 .Jeff Goldblum stars as the titular character, alongside Willem Dafoe, Derek Jacobi and Ayelet Zurer...
(novel, 1971) - Rockinghorse (1977) ISBN 0060122455
- The Story of Aunt Shlomzion the Great (1978) ISBN 0060122595
- Confessions of a Good Arab: a Novel (1984) ISBN 0807612103
- His Daughter (1987) ISBN 0807612154
- Commander of the Exodus (1999) ISBN 0802116647
- The House Where Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age (2001) ISBN 8176550418
- The Last Jew (novel, 2006) ISBN 0802118119
- Eagles (novella)
- Villany (novella)
- Between Life and Death (novel)