Meir Shalev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meir Shalev
Meir Shalev, 2015
Born	מאיר שלו (1948-07-29)29 July 1948 Nahalal, Israel
Died	11 April 2023(2023-04-11) (aged 74) Alonei Abba, Israel
Language	Hebrew
Nationality	Israeli
Notable awards	Bernstein Prize, Brenner Prize

Meir Shalev and the theater performance team at the end of the play "Uncle Aaron and his Rain" which won the first prize at the Haifa International Children's Theater Festival in 2017

Meir Shalev (Hebrew: מאיר שלו; born July 29, 1948 – died April 11, 2023) was a very well-known Israeli writer. He also wrote a weekly column for the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. His books have been translated into 26 different languages, meaning people all over the world could read his stories.

About Meir Shalev's Life

Meir Shalev was born in a place called Nahalal in Israel. As he grew up, he lived in Jerusalem and later in Ginosar with his family. His father, Yitzhak Shalev, was a poet from Jerusalem. Meir Shalev also had a cousin, Zeruya Shalev, who became a writer too.

His Time in the Army

In 1966, Meir Shalev joined the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). He served in the Golani Brigade, which is a famous army unit. He was a soldier and later a leader for a small group of soldiers in the brigade's scouting team. He fought in The Six Day War. A few months after the war, he was hurt in an accident involving friendly fire, which means he was accidentally injured by his own side.

Starting His Career

Meir Shalev began his career in television and radio. He used to present funny and interesting segments. He also hosted a show called Erev Shabbat (which means "Friday night") on Israel's Channel One. His very first novel, a long storybook for adults, was published in 1988. It was called The Blue Mountain.

His Writing Style

Besides novels, Meir Shalev wrote many other kinds of books. He wrote non-fiction, which means books based on facts and real events. He also wrote many popular children's books. For many years, he wrote a weekly column in the weekend newspaper Yediot Ahronot. He lived in the Jezreel Valley until he passed away in April 2023. He had been battling cancer for a long time. When he died, the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, said that Israel had lost one of its best storytellers. He added that Meir Shalev made people love the Hebrew language, the Bible, and their own people.

Meir Shalev's Thoughts and Ideas

Meir Shalev believed that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians could be solved. He thought that creating two separate states for both peoples would be the best way to find peace. He hoped for a future where everyone could live together peacefully.

Awards and Special Recognition

Meir Shalev received many awards for his writing. Here are some of them:

• Bernstein Prize (for his original Hebrew novel) in 1989
• Juliet Club Prize in 1999
• Chiavari Prize in 1999
• Brenner Prize (from Israel) for his book A Pigeon and a Boy in 2006
• National Jewish Book Award for A Pigeon and a Boy in 2007
• Porta Siberia Prize in 2009
• Pratt Award for Environmental Journalism in 2009
• Neuman Prize in 2011
• Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2018. This is a special honor from France for people who have contributed a lot to arts and literature.

Books Written by Meir Shalev

Fiction Books

• 1988 The Blue Mountain (originally in Hebrew as Roman Rusi). It was translated into English in 1991.
• 1991 Esau
• 1994 As a Few Days, also known as The Four Meals or The Loves of Judith
• 1998 His House in the Desert (or "Alone in the Desert")
• 2002 Fontanelle
• 2006 A Pigeon and A Boy (originally in Hebrew as Yona v'naar)
• 2013 Two She-Bears
• 2022 Al Tisaper le-Akhicha (Hebrew: "Don't Tell Your Brother")

Non-Fiction Books

Children's Books

See also

In Spanish: Meir Shalev para niños