Aryeh Elhanani (Sapozhnikov) was born in Russia and studied at the School of Arts and Architecture in Kiev. His exposure to avant-garde art during his studies profoundly influenced his creative output. After immigrating to Palestine in 1922, Elhanani began designing sets and costumes for theatrical productions, employing the aesthetics of the Russian avantgarde he had absorbed while in Kiev. As an architect, Elhanani designed a number of buildings in Tel Aviv, including the Wix Library at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1957 and the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem from 1957 to 1961. In 1973, Elhanani was awarded the Israel Prize for his important contributions to Israeli architecture.
Everyone loved . . . it was a plague
of infatuation, of kisses;
But the people soon became quiet,
the mothers were already nursing.
The drum of youth was laid
in the corner, and the…
Crags in the mountains facing us
are like bereaved mothers
who long ago altered their image:
dew does not slake them,
the sun does not gild them.
—How terrible their silence
and where can we flee?—
A…