Hebrew Writers Association in Israel

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The Hebrew Writers Association in Israel (Hebrew: אגודת הסופרים העברים במדינת ישראל‎, previously אגודת הסופרים העבריים בארץ ישראל or אגודת הסופרים העבריים) is a professional association of writers and poets, who write in the Hebrew language in Israel. (There are also associations of writers in Israel who write in other languages, including Arabic.)

History[]

The Association was established in Tel Aviv in 1921 by Hayim Nahman Bialik, to enrich the Hebrew cultural arena in the then Mandate Palestine.^[1] The first meeting was attended by some 70 writers and Nahum Sokolow was elected honorary president.^[1] Others who have held this position include: Hayim Nahman Bialik, Ahad Ha'am, Mordechai ben Hillel, Jacob Fichman, and Aharon Avraham Kabak.

The Association currently has approximately 450 members, including authors, poets, directors and dramatists.^[1]

The Association publishes a literary journal called "Moznaim" (Scales), founded in 1928 by Hayim Nahman Bialik, the first issue being published on 15 March 1929.^[2]

In 1950, at the initiative of Asher Barash, the Association established Machon Genazim (Repository Institute), now known as the Asher Barash Bio-Bibliographical Institute, as a central archive for the conservation of works in Hebrew.^[3]

Other operations of the Association are designated for the promotion of Israeli writers and their work. The Association operates as a trade union, representing its members to ACUM, the publishers association of Israel, tax authorities and other institutions.^[1]

The offices of the Association are at "Beit HaSofer", Tel Aviv, which also houses the archives and editorial staff of the journal.

Controversy[]

In April 2012, the Hebrew Writers Association in Israel launched a blistering attack on "What Must Be Said" and threatened to call for International PEN to "publicly distance itself from Grass'[sic] remarks and to come out against all expressions of delegitimization against Israel and the Jewish people".^[4]

See also[]

• Gnazim Institute
• Hebrew literature
• Israeli literature
• Brenner Prize
• Lamdan Prize

References[]

External links[]

• Website of the Hebrew Writers Association in Israel (primarily in Hebrew)
• Asher Barash Bio-Bibliographical Institute (primarily in Hebrew)