Page 10 - Ulpan-Or: Shay Agnon-Unit 1 033018-V2320-NPW

10

Act Out

A Biography of Shai Agnon

Act out the text in Hebrew while looking at the English text.

Shmuel Yosef Agnon (August 8, 1888 – February 17, 1970) was born as Shmuel
Yosef Czaczkes in the small town of Buchach in Eastern Galicia. From the age
of three to ten Agnon in a Jewish studies school (a “cheder”), and later received
the rest of his education from his father. At age 13, Agnon learned to read
German, and he wrote his first poems at age nine, in Hebrew and Yiddish.

At the age of 16 he published his first song in Hebrew, “A Little Hero,” in the
Hebrew weekly magazine “HaMitzpeh”, which was published in Cracow.

In 1908 Agnon moved to the Land of Israel, already a young writer, and
continued writing there. The first story he published in the Land of Israel, in
1909, was called “Agunot,” and because of it he changed his name to Agnon,
first as a pen name and later as his official name.

In 1912 Agnon emigrated to Germany for 12 years, after which he came back to
the Land of Israel in 1924 and settled in Jerusalem until the end of his days,
together with his wife and children. Agnon’s house in Jerusalem is open to
visitors, and in it (you will find) the library in which Agnon wrote his books.
There is also a big archive of sacred literature in the library, some quite ancient,
from the 16th century, as well as books by Goethe, Spinoza and others.

Agnon viewed writing as the center of his world and dedicated all of his time to
it. From a young age and throughout his life, Agnon received recognition for his
creation. Agnon’s books were translated into many languages, and were well-
received and appreciated across the world. In 1966 he received the Nobel prize
for literature. Agnon’s portrait was printed on stamps and on the fifty shekel bill
from 1985 to 2014.

Agnon is the most researched author in Hebrew literature. Agnon’s creation is
unique in terms of the language and content. His writing is influenced by
Judaism – the Bible, Chazalic literature, Chassidic stories and customs – from
European literature and culture, especially German, and from modern Hebrew
literature.

Agnon’s books deal with questions related to the Jewish people, ars-poetics,
psychology and many other topics. Among his important works are the novel
“Tmol Shilshom,” the short novel “A Simple Story,” and the novelette
“Tehilla.”

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.‫ העתקה והפצה אסורים‬,‫ כל שימוש‬.‫אור‬-‫כל הזכויות שמורות לאולפן‬