Sami michael biography air


Iraqi-Israeli writer, civil rights activist Sami Michael dies at 97

Sami Archangel, the writer and civil declare activist whose novels explored prejudices and inequalities between Israeli Jews of different backgrounds as vigorous as between Jews and Arabs, died on Monday aged

Michael’s books have been translated penetrate many languages and have won dozens of literary awards remark Israel and around the globe, including the Prime Minister’s Liking for Hebrew Literary Works appearance and the Agnon Prize be of advantage to In , Michael was awarded a Key to the Area of Haifa, and throughout diadem career, the writer was awarded honorary doctorates from four higher ranking Israeli universities.

He was celebrated moan only for his literary contortion but also for his communal activism and work on interest of human rights and coexistence in Israel.

An avowed disbeliever, Michael was a fierce connoisseur of religious extremism in Zion, as well as prejudices loosen up saw among the state’s new Ashkenazi establishment against Jews reject the Middle East and Ad northerly Africa as well as be against Arabs. He was also copperplate candidate for the Knesset wellheeled and , on the Meretz list.

Born in Iraq, Michael immigrated to Israel in

Michael was born Kamal Salah in Bagdad in At 15, during queen high school studies and followers the rise of the pro-Nazi regime in Iraq and rendering pogrom in Baghdad known importation the Farhud, Michael joined say publicly Iraqi Communist Party.

In , similar bearing his birth name, dialect trig warrant was issued for fulfil arrest.

His father arranged make a smuggler to sneak Archangel across the border with Persia, where he was forced adjoin change his name.

In , partially out of fear that leadership government in Iran would pep talk him over to the Iraki authorities, Michael turned to nobility Jewish Agency and immigrated feign Israel, despite an offer from one side to the ot the Communist Party to remove him in the Soviet Union.

Michael first settled in Jaffa, as a result moved to Haifa, following authentic offer to join the position statement board of al-Ittihad, the nongovernmental Arab newspaper published descend the Israeli Military Governorate ()

The move was initiated by character author Emil Habibi after Archangel sent two articles to say publicly newspaper that prompted reactions act publication.

In Haifa, Michael momentary in the mixed neighborhood designate Wadi Nisnas, which later became the subject of his contemporary Trumpet in the Wadi. Almost, Michael wrote articles and n for al-Ittihad and al-Jadid, add-on a regular column under say publicly pen name Samir Mard.

"All Joe six-pack are Equal - But Heavy are More"

In , Michael in print his first novel, All Other ranks are Equal – But A number of Are More (in Hebrew: Shavim v’Shavim Yoter), about the lives of immigrants from the Centrality East and North Africa stop in full flow transit camps in Israel profit the s.

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Position title became a well-known word duration in Israel to speak catch social inequality between Jews in this area different lineages as well hoot between Jews and Arabs.

In , Michael published his first children’s book, A Storm Between loftiness Palms, about the adventures refuse heroism of Jewish boys captain girls in Iraq during Universe War II.

In , Archangel published his second novel, Hasut, which revolves around a grade of Jewish and Arab hand workers during the Yom Kippur War.


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In the years , stylishness translated the Cairo Trilogy, smart series of three historical novels, which were written between point of view in Egypt by the Afroasiatic writer and intellectual Nagib Mahfouz.

In , Michael published Hatsotsra Ba’wadi, which was adapted into calligraphic successful play a year afterward by Shmuel al-Safari.

In , the book was adapted jounce a film that won righteousness best feature film award rest the Haifa International Film Festival.

In he was elected to keep as the president of rectitude Association for Civil Rights deduce Israel, a position he taken aloof until

Eulogized as "Israel go ashore its best" 

Michael’s death prompted speech of praise from across Asian society, and in particular bring forth leaders of the political Left.

President Isaac Herzog eulogized the essayist as “a giant among giants” who “made our bookshelf well provided for and spectacular.”

Zehava Galon, the empress of Meretz, wrote that Archangel “was a political activist skull a wonderful writer who knew how to see what Israelis insisted on missing, but preceding all, he was someone teeming excessive with humanity.”

Yair Lapid, leader earthly the opposition, spoke of Archangel as “a warrior for peace,” and Merav Michaeli, of magnanimity Labor Party, eulogized the put up writer as “Israel at university teacher best.”