About the poet Prof. Yossi Gamzo, the late • Naftali Laban

The celebrated poet

I met Yossi Gamzo almost by chance about 10 years ago. There was a launch of a book of poems written by someone named Sarah. I received an e-mail about the event and showed up at the Naamat club in Carmel. The place was full of women, and there were also a few men. The poet read from her poems and towards the end announced that she had a surprise: "Among those present is the celebrated poet Prof. Yossi Gamzo".

The announcement caused great excitement among the audience. Whispers passed from row to row in the hall. I noticed a man with a pleasant gait, wearing his (eternal) hat. He said a few things, and the event was over. I approached him and handed him my first book of poems, which was published at that time. Yossi flipped through the book and read one poem from it. He smiled and said one sentence: "Keep writing!"

During the years of our acquaintance after that, I heard him say this sentence many times. When he was given some work to read and express his opinion, he always encouraged the writers and repeated the same sentence. The years passed, and all the information about Yossi was that he lives in Katsrin in the Golan Heights. Once I even called him and asked to meet him. He was attentive, showed interest and suggested that I come with some friends and have an evening of poets at a cafe in Katsrin. The plan did not come to fruition.

"Northern inspiration"

One day I and my fellow poets learned that Yossi Gamzo was in Haifa. It turned out that Yossi fell and hurt his legs badly. He was transferred to the Rambam Hospital for surgery and long rehabilitation. Since he had difficulty walking and could not climb the stairs, he was no longer able to live in Katsrin in the apartment that was located on the third floor. Although the city's pensioners promised him alternative housing, many years have passed since then and no alternative apartment was found It turned out that Yossi lived in Kiryat Eliezer in Haifa in a house that belonged to his uncle and this was courtesy of his cousin who took care of him all these years.

When I learned that Yossi was in Haifa, I got his phone number and we immediately arranged to meet. Yossi mentioned before that it is difficult for him to make ends meet and the royalties he receives from Akum are not enough to support him. He was very disappointed by the results of the difficult divorce trials he experienced, which he said impoverished him. .
He answered me: "Understand, there are many places to which I am invited, I cannot afford it. If you want to help me, get me a job in community centers and literature circles." I answered him that I would try to do so, but I asked him to come only once to visit the meeting Our relative. He agreed to my request. I came to pick him up from his place of residence. He had great difficulty getting in and out of the car and even going up the stairs to the cafe.

An Israeli poet for generations

At that meeting, Yossi took a look and was hurt. He was warmly and lovingly received by those present, he listened attentively to what was said, including launching new books and reading poems written by members of the group. He listened to the special songs of the architect Zvi Shkolnik, who writes songs and melodies, sings in several languages ​​and accompanies himself on the guitar. A deep friendship immediately developed between Yossi and Zvi. Starting with that successful meeting, Yossi became a regular guest and household member at meetings in Haifa and the surrounding area. Towards the end of the evening came the highlight - an amazing poem in rhymes that Yossi wrote and read, dealing with the events of the time and penetrating the veins of the heart.

Yossi Gamzo and Zvi Shkolnik performed in community centers. Yossi prepared special lectures on Israeli poets for their generations such as Alexander Penn and Natan Alterman. Zvi always drove Yossi and accompanied him on the guitar. Yossi went on the King's Road.

I would like to take this opportunity to mention a childhood friend of mine, the first friend I had when I immigrated to Israel with my family members at the age of 9 and we lived in a mansion in Carmel. Sinai Grossman, a man from Eshkolot, a resident returning from the USA whom I had not seen for about 60 years, suddenly appeared in Haifa and started participating in our circle of creators and even joined the circle of Yossi's close friends. As an engineer and former plant manager, Sinai was very practical. He took the Yossi under his protection, drove him to lawyers and government offices and obtained for him disability benefits and other payments that were so lacking for our dear Yossi.

The writer Zvia Forer, our dedicated and talented member of the "Northern Inspiration" group, together with her husband Zvi, made sure that meals were brought to his house regularly every day and made it very easy for him with this contribution. In recent years Yossi had Edna. He renewed a book of poems about the State of Israel which he was unable to publish. He began writing a great novel and was in the process of writing it. He always told me that he hangs up the phone while writing so as not to be disturbed. He wrote songs for Ehud Ben-Ezer's nightly newspaper as well as the opening song of Moshe Timor's "Shishi Ishii" radio program.

Dear friend and loved by the country

It is difficult to talk about Yossi in the past tense. He was a special person, with an extraordinary talent that nothing escaped his eyes and words. A dear and beloved friend of the country, but especially of the Haifa group of poets "Northern Inspiration" which for him was like a commune of friendship and admiration. Of blessed memory!

Written on the day Yossi Gamzo was laid to rest, on 13/2/2020, the eve of his 82nd birthday.