Arad pays tribute to townsman Amos Oz
Home of famed Israeli author Amos OZ celebrates his 70th birthday by holding weekend of events dedicated to his works and hosting central figures in Israel's literary and art scene
The events will take place in several venues in Arad during the weekend of May 7-9 2009, under the banner "Literary Days in Arad."
President Shimon Peres will open the festival on May 7 in the local Oron Hall. Other participants of this evening include poet and journalist Haim Gouri; author and literary researcher Prof. Nurit Gertz, Prof. Fania Oz-Salzberger and Oz himself.
Arad. In the heart of the desert (Photo: Herzl Yosef)
Actress Evgenia Dodina will read excerpts from novels by Amos Oz and Liora Rivlin and Shaul Besser will perform in the music show “The Same Sea” based on a novel by the famed author.
The Opening evening will be accompanied by simultaneous translation into English.
Panels, discussions and... a rock concert
Throughout the weekend many events will take place, including a meeting between Oz and high school students, discussions and panels dealing with the creations of the writer.
The participants include high-profile scholars, authors, poets and translators , among them: Amos Oz’s literary editor - Ronit Weiss Berkowitz, Prof. Nissim Calderon, Prof. Dan Laor, author Eshkol Nevo, Victor Radustky – The translator of Amos Oz’s books into Russian, Gadi Taub, Prof. Yoram Yovell, Shiri Lev-Ari, Prof. Nili Cohen, Prof. Yigal Schwartz, Bilha Ben-Eliyahu and author Boris Zaidman.
Other events include a photography exhibition “Cross-Reference” by artists from Arad inspired by the creations of Amos Oz at the Arad Museum, community singing, Literary Café, and Shalom Hanoch and Moshe Levi in the concert “exit” at Kiryat Ha’omanim.
“Literary Days in Arad” was initiated by the Municipality of Arad and is held in collaboration with Keter Publishing House, and the Culture Administration – for the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport.
