Shez (Shaz, Hebrew: שז) (born Efrat Yerushalmi on 30 October 1959)[1] is an Israeli writer, poet and playwright. Recipient of the 1999 Ron Adler Prize for Poetry and the 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works.[1] She is also a musician and a songwriter, described as "the first out lesbian performer in Israel".[2] More recently she has become a facilitator of writing workshops and "weight loss through writing" workshops.[3]
Shez | |
|---|---|
 Shez in 2014 | |
| Native name | שז |
| Born | Efrat Yerushalmi October 30, 1959 Kiryat Ono, Israel |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, playwright, musician, songwriter |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Notable works | The Crazy Dance, Away From His Absence |
| Notable awards | Ron Adler Prize for Poetry (1999), Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works (2007), Hero of Culture Award from the Israeli LGBT community (2004) |
Early life
editShez was born in Kiryat Ono to Avraham and Ada Yerushalmi. She was subject to incest, reflected in her poems and books.[4] Trying to distance herself from the past, she changed her name ("Shez" is a Hebrew contraction of Shem Zmani (Hebrew: שם זמני), "temporary name") at the age of 25.[4]
Shez studied theatre at Thelma Yellin School.[4]
Creative career
editYou can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Hebrew. (January 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Shez is described as a "provocative and extroverted lesbian" and her poetry is "outrageous, blunt and violent and leaves not even a narrow crack for sentimentality and compassion".[4]
Albums
edit- 2002: Crazy Dance, music album based on the 1999 book
- 2020: להחזיר את הפיות (Return the Fairies) a music album in cooperation with Jonathan Bar Giora, released by Helicon Records
Books
edit- 1996: White Pearl Necklace, a play about childhood sexual abuse[5]
- 1999: The Crazy Dance (ריקוד המשוגעת) - songs
- 2001: Returning the Fairies to Eretz Israel: A Fake Autobiographical Novel (להחזיר את הפיות לארץ-ישראל)[6]
- 2005" Tamed (מאולפת) - stories
- 2010: Away From His Absence (הרחק מהיעדרו), Am Oved Publishing. Written in the first person, it is a novel about the incestuous relationship between a father and a daughter. A screenplay by Keren Yedaya based on the book was chosen to take part in a Jerusalem Film Festival.[7] Eventually, it resulted in the 2014 Israeli-French drama film with English title That Lovely Girl, screened at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival to compete in the section Un Certain Regard.
Awards
edit- 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works.[1]
- 2004: Hero of Culture Award from the Israeli LGBT community[1][8]
- 1999 Ron Adler Prize for Poetry[1]
References
edit
- ^ a b c d e "ההפרדה בין כוחות ההרס וביני נעשית מאוד ברורה באמצעות הכתיבה" [The separation between the forces of destruction and between me becomes very clear through writing], , by Boaz Kohen, Globes, October 25, 2010
- ^ Encyclopedia of Gay Histories and Cultures: Volume 2, George Haggerty, p. 484: "Zhez"
- ^ המסלול העוקף: "לאט לאט אני לומדת להרפות" [The bypass route: "Slowly I learn to let it go"], Moshe Kutner, February 7, 2011, Makor Rishon
- ^ a b c d ילדה ושמה שז [A girl named Shaz], an interview by Aviva Lori, Haaretz, Jule 7, 2001
- ^ "Talent-spotting for a new Shakespeare in Acre", The Jerusalem Post, 1996 (archived text)
- ^ A review of the book Returning the Fairies by Yoram Meltzer, July 20, 2001, Makor Rishon
- ^ "Israeli Director Keren Yedaya Pitches Screenplay About Incest at Jerusalem Film Festival"
- ^ יקירי הקהילה: שז, אילנה ברגר, והזוג ירוס-חקק Archived 2021-12-28 at the Wayback Machine [Community loved ones: Shaz, Ilana Berger, and the couple Yaros-Hakak], gogay.co.il