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Hebrew Literature Archives
Hebrew Literature Archives
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Yocheved Bat-Miriam (Belorussia 1901– 1980 Tel Aviv)

Yocheved Bat-Miriam's poems may not be easy to read or understand, but they seem to thoroughly reflect her character and lifestyle. She was known for her personal connections with poets and authors of her generation, and for her creative independence and originality. Her letters, personal documents and gifts she received are included in the archives

About the Archive

The first contact was made by Prof. Ruth Kartun-Blum who wrote a book about Bat-Miriam. After the poet's death, contact continued with her daughter Mariasa who agreed to give her mother's letters to Prof. Kartun-Blum. Around a decade ago through the mediation of Prof. Yigal Schwartz, a contact was signed between the University and Bat-Miriam's family and the archive passed to the University.

The archive includes letter sent to and received by Bat-Miriam, and books given to her with dedications. The aim of the archive is to collect all the books Bat-Miriam wrote, her research, works and articles written about her.

Curriculum Vitae

Yocheved Bat-Miriam was born as Yocheved Zhelezniak in Keplitz, Belorussia in 1901.

In her youth, she taught herself to become a teacher. She was an independent character, and already at the age of 17 changed her family name. She chose the name Bat-Miriam as it was clear to her that she would become a poet, just as Miriam the sister of Moses was. She took pedagogic courses in the town of Kharkov and completed her studies at the Universities of Odessa and Moscow.

Her first poems were published in the journal "The Era" in 1922, while she was still living in the Soviet Union. She continued to send her poetry to Hebrew newspapers published outside Soviet Russia until she immigrated to Israel in 1928. Her early poetry was published in Israel in 1932 in the collection "Me-Rahok" (From Afar). The last edition was published in 1985, five years after her death.

Yocheved Bat-Miriam is considered to be one of the greatest contemporary Hebrew poets. Her poetry is difficult, coded, and is not easy to decipher.  She was one of the forerunners of female Hebrew poetry, independent and self-aware, which was no less significant than the male Hebrew poetry of the period. She was in contact with the great Hebrew poets of her time including Natan Alterman, Rachel, Shimon Halkin, Avraham Chalfi, Avot Yeshurun, Avraham Shlonsky, Rafael Eliaz, and Abba Kovner.

Bat-Miriam was awarded the 1964 Bialik Prize and the 1972 Israel Prize for her work.

She died on January 7th, 1980.

Books, Translations & Prizes

Books

  1. From afar : poems, 1932
    [Merahok]

  2. Interview, 1940
    [Re'ayon]

  3. The Land of Israel, 1942
    [Erets-Yisra'el]

  4. Poems, 1963
    [Shirim]
     

Translations

  1. Poems from Russia, 1942
    [Mi-shire Rusyah]