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Amir Or

アミール・オル

Amir Or

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1956-01-01 （Tel Aviv）
Nationality
Israeli
Languages
Hebrew, English
Residence History
Tel Aviv (birthplace) → Jerusalem (studies & lecturing) → Iowa, USA (fellowship/residency) → Oxford, UK (fellowship/residency) → Berlin, Germany (fellowship/residency)

Career

Occupations
poet, novelist, essayist, translator, editor, lecturer
Active Years
1977-
Affiliations
Helicon Poetry Society, Helicon Poetry School (Arabic–Hebrew), Sha'ar International Poetry Festival (founder/director), EACWP (European Association of Creative Writing Programs) - founding member, World Poetry Movement (WPM) - founding member, Circle of Poets
Memberships
EACWP (European Association of Creative Writing Programs), World Poetry Movement (WPM), Circle of Poets

Education

Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Faculty of Philosophy and Comparative Religion / Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion
Country: Israel
Later lectured on Ancient Greek Religion at the university.

Awards

SPE Golden Wreath
2020
Organization: Struga Poetry Evenings
Result: 受賞
Levi Eshkol Prime Minister's Prize
Organization: Government of Israel
Result: 受賞
Bernstein Prize
Organization: Bernstein Prize committee
Result: 受賞
Fulbright Award for writers
Organization: Fulbright Program
Result: 受賞
Oeneumi literary prize (Tetovo Poetry Festival)
2010
Organization: Tetovo Poetry Festival
Result: 受賞
Wine Poetry prize (Struga Poetry Evenings)
2013
Organization: Struga Poetry Evenings
Result: 受賞
Stefan Mirtov Ljubiša international literary award
2014
Organization: Stefan Mirtov Ljubiša award committee
Result: 受賞
European Atlas of Lyrics award
2016
Organization: European Atlas of Lyrics committee
Result: 受賞
BlueMet World Through Poetry award
2017
Organization: BlueMet organization
Result: 受賞
Homer European Medal of Poetry and Art
2019
Organization: award organization unknown
Result: 受賞
ACUM Directorate prize
2020
Organization: ACUM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in Israel)
Result: 受賞
Wladislaw Reimont and Ianicius awards
2021
Work: For his contribution to world poetry
Organization: Polish award organizations
Result: 受賞
Shabdha Guchha award
2022
Organization: Shabdha Guchha (New York)
Result: 受賞
Honorary Prize of the Israeli Minister of Culture (for translations)
1995
Organization: Israeli Ministry of Culture
Result: 受賞
Literary editing award of the Israeli Minister of Culture
2017
Work: For editorial work
Organization: Israeli Ministry of Culture
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tsama (Thirst)

2025 poetry (existential parable)

Thirst is an existential parable largely voiced by female characters; it depicts the soul's journey of longing and the quest for reunion with its beloved through disorientation, passion and devotion.

longingthe soul's journeylove and devotiondisorientation and reunion
Translations
  • Included in English selected poems editions

Yeled (Child)

2018 poetry

A collection exploring growth, memory, and relationships between self and others.

growing upmemoryrelationships

Knafayim (Wings)

2015 poetry

Uses metaphoric and symbolic imagery to address freedom, flight, and transformation.

freedomtransformationflight
Translations
  • English translation by Seth Michelson (2018)
  • French translation (Ailes, 2020)

Shalal (Loot)

2013 selected poems (1977–2013)

A selected poems volume covering 1977–2013, collecting major works from the author's early and middle periods.

exploration of languageself and othermythic motifs
Translations
  • English selected poems (Dhauli Books 2018/2025)

HaMamlakha (The Kingdom)

2015 novel (historical/contemporary parable)

A novel juxtaposing the life of King David with contemporary society, questioning ethics and power through historical figures.

history and presentpowerethics
Translations
  • English translation (The Kingdom Part 1: The Runaway, Anthony Berris, 2017)

Shir Tahira (The Song of Tahira)

2001 fictional epic in metered prose

An epic in metered prose combining mythic elements and layered narration.

mythnarrative multiplicityfate

Muzeion Hazman (The Museum of Time)

2007 poetry (selected poems available)

A collection of poems on time, memory, and being; widely translated internationally.

timememorybeing
Translations
  • French translation (Le Musée de Temps, 2013)
  • Chinese translation (时间博物馆, 2017)

Bibliography

  • Tsama (Thirst), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2025
  • Yeled (Child), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2018
  • Al Ha-derekh (On The Road), Pardes, 2018
  • Sikha (Discourse, Essays), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2018
  • HaMamlakha (The Kingdom), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2015
  • Knafayim (Wings), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2015
  • Shalal (Loot) Selected poems 1977–2013, Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2013
  • Masa HaMeshuga (The Madman's Prophecy), Keshev, 2012
  • HaHaya SheBalev (The Animal in the Heart), Keshev, 2010
  • Muzeion Hazman (The Museum of Time), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 2007
  • Shir Tahira (The Song of Tahira), Xargol, 2001
  • Yom (Day), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad & Tag, 1998
  • Shir (Poem), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 1996
  • Kakha (So!), Ha-kibbutz Ha-meuchad, 1995
  • Pidyon ha-met (Ransoming The Dead), Helicon-Bitan, 1994
  • Panim (Faces), Am Oved, 1991
  • Ani mabbit me-‛eyney ha-qofim (I Look Through The Monkeys’ Eyes), Eqed, 1987

Translations by Author

  • The Gospel of Thomas (translation, 1992)
  • Limb-Loosening Desire (Anthology of Erotic Greek Poetry, 1993)
  • Stories From The Mahabharata (1998)
  • Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto (with Akiko Takahashi, 1998)
  • To a Woman by Shuntaro Tanikawa (with Akiko Takahashi, 2000)
  • The Song of God - Bhagavad Gita (translation, 2024)

Translations of Works

  • Loot – selected poems (English, Dhauli Books, 2018/2025)
  • The Museum of Time (English, Dhauli Books, 2025; Chinese translation 2017, etc.)
  • Wings (English by Seth Michelson, 2018; French Ailes, 2020)
  • Child (English translation by Seth Michelson, Broken Sleep Books, 2023)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
mythic and symbolic poetic expressionlyrical, heavily metaphoric stylefusion of prose-poetry and verse
Recurring Motifs
longingthe soul's journeytime and memoryexploration of language

Legacy

Amir Or is an internationally translated Israeli poet, known for founding the Helicon Poetry Society and promoting international poetic exchange. His work has been translated into over 50 languages and he has been honored at numerous poetry festivals worldwide.

Academic Societies

  • Helicon Poetry Society
  • EACWP (European Association of Creative Writing Programs)

Quotes

  • Thirst is an allegory of the soul's journey — after being cut off from its source, the soul seeks reunion with its lover through life's branching paths.
    Source: Thirst book blurb (publisher description, 2025) (2025)

Trivia

  • Early in life he worked as a shepherd, builder and restaurateur.
  • His work has reportedly been translated into more than 50 languages.
  • Active as a translator as well; translated works include the Bhagavad Gita (2024).