Get them: the winners of the 2024 literary awards

Brain researcher, Dr. from Stanford and lecturer on the Qumran scrolls - among the winners of the 2024 literature awards

The Haifa writer Nitzan Weissman won the first prize as part of the literary creation competition for 2024. He was joined by three surprising representatives from the academy and the Haifa writer Iris Rilov.

A celebration of literature and poetry in the conference hall of Haifa Municipality. The Haifa Culture Fund, headed by the CEO Aviva Spiegelstein; Haifa municipality; And the "Association of Writers Haifa and the North" this week (07.07.24) awarded five literature and poetry awards to creators living in the city. The winners were chosen from among 32 works submitted to the competition. The panel of judges included Shlomo Abramovich - writer, poet, chairman of the Association of Writers and Writers Haifa and the North; Prof. Aliza Shanar – Professor of Literature; and you Rebecca Gelstein-Leipzig - Poet and writer for children and youth.

The ceremony was led gracefully, Bracha Sela - Senior assistant to the CEO and in charge of council issues, international relations and external and internal relations in the Haifa municipality.

Shlomo Abramowitz says to Lahi-Fa:

32 works were submitted to the competition. The selection was complex and challenging, but in the end, the winners were chosen by an almost unanimous decision. The team of judges only received works and an ID number and the examination of the quality of the works was objective and independent. We hope to initiate and create more and more such collaborations and establish more traditions of awards and grants for Haifa artists.

The first prize was awarded to the writer Nitzan Weissman

First prize, in the amount of 13,000 NIS - was awarded to the writer Nitzan Weissman, Author of the prose book "Farewell Diary". Weissman is an experienced and decorated Haifa writer.

Reasons of the award committee:

The book deals with the relationship with elderly and sick parents and separation from them. Topics that have become very talked about. The book also touches on the idea of ​​'the right to die with dignity', according to the person's choice. The author came up with a brilliant and unique idea, the 'Liberator', which will allow a person to free himself from his life when he chooses to do so, just as he uses an iPhone, or a laptop, or WhatsApp.

Nitzan Weissman is an experienced writer whose hand is light on the keyboard. His book excels in lean writing, fluid language and a friendly linguistic combination. Writing in short sentences makes reading pleasant.

The second prize was awarded to Dr. Molly Peleg

The second prize, in the amount of 10,000 NIS - was awarded to Dr Molly Peleg, a conflict management expert from Stanford University in the United States. Dr. Peleg is the author of the poetry book 'What Holds You Together'.

Reasons of the award committee:

The book of poetry that was submitted to the committee includes six chapters and of these it is literally 'heavyweight'. The lyrical writing is good, direct and accessible. The songs touch on diverse topics including the city of Haifa. The author dares in his writing and as a result it is honest, reliable and intriguing.

"There is one on the hill in Haifa / that comes intensifying the effort / and there is one bench / at the end of the shortening breath / on which sit and sigh / those with heavy hearts..."

Writing about love is not banal either. It has the boldness and directness and penetrating honesty: let's not waste time on love / let's not wear ourselves out with courtships / just make love / as love made us / you are not known in my public / you are known in secret / the public has no idea / how you shake me.

The third prize was awarded to Iris Rilov

The third grant, in the amount of 9,000 NIS - was awarded toIris Rilov, author of the book 'Electricity in the Air'.

Reasons of the award committee:

The plot of the book is fluid, written in an efficient and friendly language, and incorporates parts of poetry. The chapters are short and each of them has a title that manages to create curiosity about its content and a short poem of 4-5 lines. Chapter 7 called 'Bialik' begins with the lines of poetry:

"Love lags behind us, Madda / A crow chick that fell from the nest / It cries bitterly and laments / It flaps its wings."

The song section corresponds with the content of the chapter, as well as all the other poetry sections and provides a special experience that is different from the usual prose experiences.

The author knew how to end the chapters of the book with intriguing texts that tempt the readers to run to the next chapter.

The fourth prize was awarded to Dr Leora Goldman

The fourth grant, in the amount of 8,000 NIS - was awarded to Dr Leora Goldman, about the book of poetry 'Gesher Beki'. Dr. Goldman is the head of the biblical department at the Oranim seminar and specializes in the Judean desert scrolls.

Reasons of the award committee:

"The author of 'Gesher Beki' is undoubtedly a skilful poetry writer, light on feet and keyboard. Her poetry is fierce, direct, unique. The touches on matters of the body and nature are intelligent, implied in a sophisticated way, arousing curiosity and making one smile. The wordplay - fascinating and refined.

Again I didn't understand what / the poet meant / flirting / with me between the lines / when the weight / is always retreating / and I don't even have / the end of a cock to hold on to. / understand what / the poet meant.

The grant for creating debuts was awarded to Prof. Dori Derdikman

The grant for creating debuts, in the amount of NIS 6,000, was awarded to Prof. Dori Derdikman, a professor of medicine who is involved in brain research and was a junior partner in the research that earned two Israeli professors the Nobel Prize. He won an award for his first book of poetry "Darkness at noon".

From the reasons of the judging team:

The team of judges was united in their opinion that the poetry in the debut book 'Darkness at Noon' is not immature even though it is a debut book and on the other hand it foreshadows a promising developmental potential for areas of mature and interesting poetry. There are also fascinating formal experiences in the file, such as the song 'I', which are slightly reminiscent of the poet David Avidan's play with form.

"My father sculpted me for years, I didn't know I was his first sculptor // white tears / a small nose that will grow / a skin mouth, a drop / clipped wings / that could once fly."