September 25, 1917
Amir Gilboa, one of Israel’s leading poets, is born in the Ukraine. Gilboa, born Berl Feldmann, made aliya in 1937 with a group of 40 others. He served in the British Army’s Jewish Brigade during World War II and saw action in North Africa and later fought in the Israeli War for Independence.
He is known for drawing upon his military experiences and biblical issues of morality to write his often contemplative and heavy poems. His many influential poetry collections, including “The Light of Lost Suns,” “Seven Dominions,” “Isaac” and “To Write The Lips Of Those Asleep,” earned Amir Gilboa the Bialik prize in 1971 and the Israel Prize in 1982.