Ephraim Hertzano (Hebrew: אפרים הרצנו 1912 – September 1987) was a Romanian-born Israeli board game designer. He is the inventor of the board game Rummikub.[1]
Ephraim Hertzano | |
|---|---|
אפרים הרצנו | |
 | |
| Born | 1912 |
| Died | 1987 (aged 74–75) |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Board game designer |
| Known for | Inventor of Rummikub |
| Awards |
|
Biography
editEphraim Hertzano was born in Romania, to a Jewish family. He originally sold toothbrushes and cosmetics. He invented the tile game Rummikub in the 1940s when card-playing was outlawed under the Communist regime. In the 1940s, after immigrating to British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel) after World War II,[2] the former perfume seller developed the first sets with his family in the backyard of his home in Bat Yam.[3]
Over the years, the family licensed it to other countries. Rummikub became Israel's best selling export game. In 1977, it became a best-selling game in the United States.[2] The following year Hertzano published an Official Rummikub Book, which describes three different versions of the game: American, Sabra, and International.[4] The game was first made by Lemada Light Industries Ltd, founded by Hertzano in 1978 and today is one of the most popular family games of all time.[citation needed]
Awards and recognition
edit- Spiel des Jahres, 1980, for Rummikub
- Spel van het Jaar, 1983, for Rummikub
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Klingbail, Sivan (4 March 2004). "Hertzano family plays with Hasbro again". Haaretz.
- ^ a b "Rummikub is the chairman of the board". Archived from the original on 6 November 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2007.
- ^ "Rummikub: Old Memories". www.skooldays.com.
- ^ Hertzano, Ephraim (1978). The Official Rummikub Book. Sterling Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8069-4945-1.
- ^ "Behind the Headlines: from Romania to Israel to the Rhine: Rummikub Makes Waves Among Devoted," Jewish Telegraph Agency, 11 October 1994.
- ^ "אפרים הרצנו 1912 - 1987 BillionGraves Record". BillionGraves.