News of the Muse

The literary community in Israel grieves the loss of Dr. Risa Domb, head of the Center for Modern Hebrew Studies at Cambridge University, who passed away in London on January 12 at the age of 70.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
risa domb 88 (photo credit: )
risa domb 88
(photo credit: )
Yakov Agmon, a life of achievement Yakov Agmon will be honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Israeli Theater Prize association. Agmon was chosen for his longtime contribution to Israeli theater, including public theater, commercial theater, and many festivals. Over the years, he has been involved with many theater companies, including the Cameri, Beit Lessin, and the national Habima Theater, of which he was director-general for 11 years. Agmon will receive the award on March 30 at the Haifa Municipal Theater. This is the first time the prize ceremony will be held outside of Tel Aviv. Haifa was chosen as a gesture to the citizens of the North, who suffered the most hardship as a result of the second Lebanon war. The awards will be broadcast on Channel Two a few days following ceremony. - JPost staff Where tradition meets culture On February 6 a new Jewish-Israeli cultural center will be opening its doors in Jerusalem. Beit Avichai, located at the intersection of King George and KK"L, will host cultural and society events, series, lectures, workshops and shows that will examine the Jewish-Israeli reality. The center hopes to be a place where Jewish tradition and Israeli culture collide. Some of the events scheduled in the first couple months include: "Citizen K", an event which will mark two years since the passing of Efraim Kishon; "From Shusan to Half of the Kingdom", an intimate musical evening with the legendary Rita on Farsi culture; "The Essence of Female Creativity", a special event marking International Women's Day with a photo exhibition and an exhibition call "Filmisha Mama" about the image of the Jewish mother in film. For more information, go to www.bac.co.il - JPost staff Remembering Risa The literary community in Israel grieves the loss of Dr. Risa Domb, head of the Center for Modern Hebrew Studies at Cambridge University, who passed away in London on January 12 at the age of 70. She was born in Netanya and studied in London in the 1950s, where she met and married Richard Domb. She later founded the Center for Modern Hebrew Studies, where she taught and researched Hebrew and Modern Hebrew Literature. A member of The Jewish Book Council, Domb was an active participant in the annual Jewish Book Week of London. She was involved in inviting established and young literary authors from Israel to the UK and assisted in exposing them to the British public. She also organized academic symposia of Modern Hebrew Literature in Cambridge in cooperation with other universities. Her friends and acquaintances in Israel always felt welcomed by her famous wide smile and warmth, her good counsel, support and enthusiasm for Israeli culture. She inspired and influenced generations of students and researchers, and was revered and loved by all who knew her. • Dvora Ben-David