Israel Eliraz

Israel Eliraz studied at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and University of Paris. The recorded working language is Hebrew and French. The field of work recorded is poetry. Employment is recorded with Virginia Commonwealth University. Positions recorded include head teacher. Distinctions recorded are Bialik Prize, Brenner Prize and Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works.

• Name — Israel Eliraz • Native Name — ישראל אלירז • Birth Name — Israel Rothstein • Born — 23 March 1936 • Birthplace — Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine • Died — 22 March 2016 • Place of death — Jerusalem, Israel • Resting Place — Kiryat Anavim, Israel • Occupation — Poet, educator • Spouse — Naomi Brunner • Children — 3 • Education — * Hebrew University of Jerusalem • Tel Aviv University • University of Paris • Awards — * Bialik Prize (2008) • Brenner Prize (2013) • ACUM Lifetime Achievement Award (2003) • Nathan Alterman Award (2002) • Jerusalem Foundation-Jerusalem Municipality’s Belles-Lettres Award (1992, 1999) • Israeli Council of Culture and Art Award (1963, 1965) • Ministry of Culture and Sport Award (2009) • Prime Minister’s Prize for Creative Work (1994, 2008, 2009) • Notable Works — Libretto for Ashmedai

Born Israel Rothstein on 23 March 1936 to a religious family in the Knesset Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem his parents were Ya’akov and Shifra Rothstein. He attended Alliance Israélite Universelle and Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he specialized in Jewish literature and philosophy, received his master’s degree from Tel Aviv University where he specialized in comparative literary studies, started writing poetry in 1980, studied theatre at University of Paris between 1995 and 1996 on a stipend from the French government, and worked for a living as a teacher and principal at Gymnasia Rehavia and as an instructor at Kerem Institute for Teacher Training. Occasionally he would also lecture in France, Belgium, and the United States: for example he was visiting professor of drama at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1980 and was invited to Biennale Internationale des Poètes en Val-de-Marne in 1999 and to Centre communautaire laïc juif in 1998. He lived in Jerusalem all his life and was married to Naomi née Brunner with whom he had three children. Eliraz died on 22 March 2016 in Jerusalem, Jerusalem District. His resting place is in Kiryat Anavim, Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, Jerusalem District, Israel. He wrote the libretto for Josef Tal's opera Ashmedai which premiered at the Hamburg State Opera in 1971, and was mounted at the New York City Opera in 1976.