Haim Hefer and Rachel Haramati
Yedioth Ahronoth,front page
Yedioth Ahronoth former headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yedioth Ahronoth,front page
Yedioth Ahronoth former headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel
Israel Prize ceremony
journalist lyricist translator writer script writer
Haim Feiner (later Hefer) was born on the 29th of October, Sosnowiec, Poland in 1925 to Jewish parents Issachar Feiner, a chocolate salesman, and Rivka Herzberg, a housewife. His family immigrated to Palestine in 1936 and settled in Raanana.
Haim had a private Hebrew tutor.He began writing at the age of 13, as part of a national contest. He never finished high school and joined the Palmach in 1943.Attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Hefer took part in smuggling illegal immigrants through Syria and Lebanon. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, he was one of the founders of the Chizbatron, the Palmach army troupe, and was its chief songwriter.In the 1950s, Hefer and Dahn Ben-Amotz wrote A Bag of Fibs, a collection of tall tales made up in the Palmach, and founded the "Hamam" club in Jaffa. During that time, he founded "Revi'iat Moadon HaTeatron" (Theater Club Quartet). He wrote a weekly column for Yediot Aharonot, which included maqamas on current affairs. In 1975–1978 Hefer was a cultural attaché at the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles.He wrote for dozens of composers, including Sasha Argov, Moshe Wilensky and Dubi Seltzer. Artists who performed his songs include Arik Lavie, Yehoram Gaon, Shoshana Damari and Yafa Yarkoni, as well as The High Windows and most Israeli military bands.He wrote for dozens of composers, including Sasha Argov, Moshe Wilensky and Dubi Seltzer. Artists who performed his songs include Arik Lavie, Yehoram Gaon, Shoshana Damari and Yafa Yarkoni, as well as The High Windows and most Israeli military bands.
A Bag of Fibs achieved cult status in Israel.
Many of his songs, such as "Hafinjan" (The Billy Kettle), "Hayu Zmanim" (In Those Days) and "Hamilkhama Ha'achrona" (The Last War) are considered Israeli classics.
In 1983, Hefer was awarded the Israel Prize, for Hebrew song (words), for his contribution to the Music of Israel.
In 2002, Hefer described Moroccan Jewish culture as inferior to that of the Polish Jews. He called Aviv Geffen a phony and criticized Yaffa Yarkoni for badmouthing the IDF. His remarks were condemned as racist and criticized by then President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, members of the Moroccan community, and representatives of the Shas Party, as well as Mizrahi musicians such as Margalit Tzan'ani.Hefer made a public apology and wrote a song for singer Zehava Ben.
Quotations:
“Don’t waste your despair, my friends; we will need it. With everything I have experienced here, things can only get better.”
"We are here, a defensive shield".
"I am optimistic about our public. True, its life here is comfortable and people won’t go to the streets like they do in Syria, Egypt and Tunisia, but here too the public will rise against corrupt leaders. It in unavoidable. It will happen here as well.”
Haim was a member of Hebrew Writers Association and Israeli Arts Council for Theater and Film.
He was married and has a daughter.
