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Zelda Shneurson - Mishkowsky was born in the Ukraine (Russia), an only daughter to a Hassidic family, "descending from a line of prominent Hasidic rabbis". Her father was a rabbi and her mother was very Orthodox, but also well-read in modern Hebrew, Russian, and European literature. Although it was forbidden, Zelda received a zionistic education at home, and in 1924, she and her family immigrated to Israel. She describes her immigration as "coming home" in an interview she gave.First they lived in Jaffa , then they moved to Jerusalem. Zelda learned in religious schools and studied at Mizrachi Teachers' College, known today as Efrata college. After finishing school, Zelda began teaching in religious schools for girls in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Haifa. She studied art, philosophy and religion in addition to writing.
Although she began to write poetry in her youth, her first collection of poems, entitled "Penay" (Leisure), was only published in 1968. Her poems talk about the people close to her such as her grandfather, mother, and neighbors. She used her pen to paint verbal portraits of them. Flowers and mystical images play an important role in her writing. 'The mystical background of her family and her religious upbringing influenced her poetry that is noted' for its "combinations of traditional religion and a sensitivity to contemporary issues." (Images of Jerusalem) In her poems she also talks about reality versus one's feelings.
During her lifetime she published six volumes of poetry. She won The Bialik Prize for her book "Behold the Mountain and the Fire" which is one of many books she has written.
Zelda died in Jerusalem, Israel in 1984.
Eliora and Katie
Books Published in Hebrew
Leisure, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1968 [Pnai]
The Invisible Carmel, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1971 [Ha-Carmel Ha-Ee Nir'֎]
Be Not Far, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1975 [Al Tarhek]
Behold the Mountain and the Fire, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1977 [Ha-Lo Har Ha-Lo Esh]
Tiny Poems, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1979 [Shirim]
The Magnificent Other, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1981 [Ha-Sheni Ha-Marhiv]
Beyond All Distance, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1984 [She Nivdelu Mi-Col Merhak]
Zelda's Poems, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1985 [Shirim]
Books in Translation
The Spectacular Difference Selected Poems of Zelda
Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by Marcia Falk To be published June 2004Individual poems have been published in: Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Yiddish, and Vietnamese.
The list of works and the photograph of Zelda are courtesy of:
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