News of the Muse

On Sunday, June 11, Yugoslav-born press photographer Edgar Hirshbain, died of natural causes in Jerusalem at the age of 77.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
edgar hirshbain 88 (photo credit: )
edgar hirshbain 88
(photo credit: )
Hirshbain: The smile behind the camera On Sunday, June 11, Yugoslav-born press photographer Edgar (Eddie) Hirshbain, died of natural causes in Jerusalem at the age of 77. The cheeriest of the dozen or so press photographers who competed to sell news pictures to The Palestine Post in the late 40s and 50s, he was one the few remaining photographers from the early days of the state. Tall, thin, and balding (he claimed he was scalped by frostbite while flying an open cockpit Yugoslav fighter biplane without a helmet), Hirshbain loved life, and was always smiling. Photographer David Rubinger warmly remembers fighting alongside him in Israel's wars and recalls when he was wounded in Cyprus. Ever daring, one of his greatest achievements was his documentation of the first huge airlift of the Jews of Yemen from an improvised desert airfield. Hirshbain is survived by his wife, Eva, daughters Tamar and Irit, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. - JPost staff Orna Porat gets key to Holon On Saturday actress Orna Porat (82) will get the key to the city of Holon for her lifelong contribution to the fostering of children's theater. This newest honor comes in the wake of the honorary doctorate she received at Ben Gurion University on May 30, and the EMET prize awarded by the Prime Minister's Office that she will finally receive on June 28. Porat, an Israel Prize laureate, said "it's moving and exciting to receive so many honors, but it's not that I feel I deserve them. Whatever I have done, I have always done because I felt the need was there." - Helen Kaye Arab-Jewish kids play to England Ach, Ach, Boom, Trach tells the story of two children who must find a common language in order to open a magical box that suddenly appears in their lives. The Arab Jewish Theater production will appear at the Children's International Arts Organization (CIAO!) festival in England this week and has just returned from a series of performances in Austria sponsored by the Austrian Education Ministry. The play was written by Yoav Bar Lev and Norman Issa, and the playwrights will participate in a panel discussion on children's playwriting and culture at the festival. - Helen Kaye