Ephraim Kishon

Ephraim Kishon (born Ferenc Hoffmann in Budapest in 1924, died in Switzerland in 2005) was an Israeli satirist, writer, playwright and film director. He wrote mainly in Hebrew, but his work became hugely popular in Israel, Germany and Austria. His career shows how everyday satire helped shape the popular culture of post-war Israel.

He grew up in an assimilated Jewish family and did not learn Hebrew or Yiddish until adulthood. During the Second World War he was held in several concentration camps. By his own account, he survived partly because the commandant of one camp wanted a chess opponent. After the war he changed his surname, studied art in Hungary and published humorous articles. In 1949 he emigrated to Israel, where an official gave him the name Ephraim Kishon.

He learned Hebrew quickly, first in a transit camp and then on a kibbutz. His first success was the book Look Back, Mrs. Lot. From 1952 he wrote a satirical column, "Chad Gadya", for the newspaper Ma'ariv for about thirty years, focusing on politics and society. His humour, rooted in everyday life, affectionately portrays family routines and the struggles of immigrants. His books were translated into 37 languages.

He also wrote plays, musical numbers and screenplays, and directed films. Sallah Shabati (1964) and The Policeman (1971) were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and won Golden Globes. He is credited with helping shape Israeli popular cinema and the comedy genre known as bourekas.

After moving to Switzerland in 1981, he grew more conservative and turned increasingly to political commentary. He received the Israel Prize in 2002. His legacy lives on in everyday Hebrew speech, in Israeli cinema and in his large German readership.