26/01/2026
With great sadness we share the news of the passing of Hedva Harechavi (1941–2025), one of Israel’s most distinctive and daring poets. Born in Kibbutz Degania Bet and based for much of her life in Jerusalem, Hedva’s work reshaped Hebrew poetry and left an indelible mark on readers in Hebrew and in translation.
Her first poems were championed by Leah Goldberg, and over her long career Hedva received many of Israel’s major literary honors, including the Bialik Prize for Hebrew Literature and the Yehuda Amichai Prize.
For those who read in English, here is a beautiful selection of her poems translated by Linda Zisquit and published in Jerusalism's literary journal, Halah: https://jerusalism.com/2021/08/01/5-poems-by-hedva-harechavi/
In memory of her life and work, a memorial gathering will take place tomorrow, Tuesday evening, at 20:00 at תמול שלשום Tmol Shilshom Cafe in Jerusalem. It will be a time to honor her voice and the wide community of readers and writers she inspired.
May her words continue to live among us.
5 Poems by Hedva Harechavi Editorial Commentary At first, I was struck by the intensity of Linda Zisquit’s translation of Hedva Harechavi’s poems. They present wild mixtures of what are often called showing and telling. Alongside mysterious figures, the images tend to dwell on and return to anim...
