Haim Guri Israeli poet, novelist, journalist and film director Date of Birth: 09.10.1923 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Service
3. Literary Career
4. Honors and Recognition
5. Political and Social Activism
6. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Born Chaim Gurfinkel in Tel Aviv on October 9, 1923, the poet spent his formative years in the city, attending the Tel Aviv Workers Children's Educational Center and the youth group at Kibbutz Beit-Alpha. In 1939, he enrolled at the Kaduri Agricultural School alongside his future colleague, Yitzhak Rabin.

Military Service

In 1941, Guri joined the Palmach, the elite strike force of the Haganah. During World War II, he was sent to displaced persons camps in Hungary and Austria, where he assisted in preparing Holocaust survivors for repatriation to Palestine. Later, he served as a commander in a paratrooper course in Czechoslovakia.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Guri fought as a deputy company commander in the 7th Battalion of the Negev Brigade. In the war's final operation, Operation Uvda, he served as deputy to the commander of a company comprised of recent immigrants. Guri also participated in the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.

Literary Career

In 1950, Guri began his literary studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he majored in Hebrew literature, philosophy, and French culture. He later studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. From 1954, he maintained a regular column in the newspapers "La-Merhav" and "Davar" alongside his poetic endeavors.

Honors and Recognition

Gurist has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Sokolov Prize (1961), the Bialik Prize for Literature (1975), and the Israel Prize for Poetry (1988). He is an honorary doctorate recipient of Ben-Gurion University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Additionally, he is an honorary citizen of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Political and Social Activism

A vocal supporter of the Labor Party, Guri was involved in various political and social causes. He was a member of the Unification Movement for Israel and played a role in the founding of the Third Way faction within the Labor Party. He currently serves on the Public Committee for the Prevention of Antiquities Destruction on the Temple Mount.

Legacy

Haim Guri's extensive body of work, comprising over 12 books of poetry, 10 novellas, and numerous essays, has left an enduring mark on Israeli literature. His writings explore themes of identity, war, and the human condition. As a poet of the Palmach generation, he captured the spirit of a pivotal era in Israeli history. Guri continues to write and publish, his articles regularly appearing in Haaretz and other Israeli newspapers.