Ayin Hillel

{{Short description|Israeli poet and children's writer}} [[File:Ayin Hillel (997009325985805171).jpg|thumb|alt=Hillel, 1949. Taken by Boris Carmi, Meitar Collection, National Library of Israel|Ayin Hillel, 1949]] '''Ayin Hillel''' ({{langx|he|ע. הלל}}) was the pen name of '''Hillel Omer''' (4 August 1926 - 30 June 1990, {{langx|he|הלל עומר}}), an [[Israel]]i [[poet]], children's author, and landscape architect.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100825135003/http://www.haaretz.com/magazine/friday-supplement/every-word-a-precious-stone-1.309224 Every word a precious stone, Haaretz]</ref>

==Biography== Hillel Kotovitz (later Omer) was born in Kibbutz [[Mishmar HaEmek]] in the [[Jezreel Valley]] to Binyamin and Shlomit Kotovitz. He fought in the [[Palmach]] during the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]]. From 1954 to 1969 he was a [[landscape designer]] in [[Jerusalem]]. He designed the city's botanical and biblical gardens and continued to work in landscaping after moving to Tel Aviv.<ref>[https://www.ithl.org.il/page_13696 The Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature: Ayin Hillel]</ref> He was married to Zipporah Lerman, with whom he had three daughters, Tal Omer, Nuli Omer and Loulou Omer.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100825135003/http://www.haaretz.com/magazine/friday-supplement/every-word-a-precious-stone-1.309224 Every word a precious stone, Haaretz]</ref>

==Literary career== Ayin Hillel's work has been translated into [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Russian language|Russian]]. Among his most famous compositions are "Why Does the Zebra Wear Pajamas" (1959) and "Uncle Simcha" (1964).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100825135003/http://www.haaretz.com/magazine/friday-supplement/every-word-a-precious-stone-1.309224 Every word a precious stone, Haaretz]</ref>

Ayin Hillel's poem, ''Hanesher'' (''The Vulture''), is written in [[Biblical Hebrew]], but expresses the doubts and disillusions of the twentieth century.

==Awards and recognition== *1976: Levi Eshkol Prize <ref name=era>Esther Raizen, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/27913806 WOULD THAT BE ME! AYIN HILLEL, AN ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER], ''Hebrew Studies'', Vol. 47 (2006), pp. 343-361 </ref> *1986 Yaakov Fichman Prize<ref name=era/> *1988: [[Aharon Ze'ev]] Prize for Children's and Youth Literature, lifetime achievement award<ref>[https://library.osu.edu/projects/hebrew-lexicon/99995-files/99995102/99995102-01-272-274.pdf נספח מם 1 פרס זאב]</ref> *1990: [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] for his contribution to children's literature.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100825135003/http://www.haaretz.com/magazine/friday-supplement/every-word-a-precious-stone-1.309224 Every word a precious stone, Haaretz]</ref>

== Published works== ===Poetry=== * ''The Noon Country,'' Sifriat Poalim, 1950 [Eretz Ha-Tzohorayim] * ''Nisra, The Author,'' 1962 [Nisra] * ''Hunting Madness,'' Am Oved, 1964 [Teruf Toref] * ''Eulogy, Hakibbutz Hameuchad,'' 1973 [Hodayah] * ''Speak,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1980 [Dabri] * ''Joseph and Potiphar's Wife,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1982 [Yossef Ve-Eshet Potifar] * ''Until Now,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1983 [Ad Co] * ''Holon's Fables,'' Sifriat Poalim, 1991 [Mishlei Holon]

===Children's books=== [[File:My Uncle Simha 02.JPG|thumb|Dodi Simha sculpture]] * ''Why Does the Zebra Wear Pajamas?'', Sifriat Poalim, 1959 [Lama Loveshet Ha-Zebra Pijama] * ''Abroad, Abroad!,'' Sifriat Poalim, 1960 [Hutz La-Aretz, Hutz La-Aretz] * ''Nobody Can See Me,'' Massada, 1967 [Oti Lir'ot Af Ehad Lo Iachol] * ''Uncle Simcha,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1969/99 [Dodi Simha] * ''I'm a Warbler,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1970 [Ani Pashosh] * ''Good Morning,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1971 [Boker Tov] * ''Bulbul, Why?'', Massada, 1972 [Bulbul, Lama Kacha?] * ''Birdie, Birdie,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1973 [Rom Tziporim Tziporim Tzip] * ''Giraffe in Blue Jeans,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1976 [Giraf Be-Jeans Kahol] * ''Uncle Simcha's Voice,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1976 [Kol Dodi Simha] * ''How Are You Mrs. Ladybird,'' Am Oved, 1977 [Shalom Lach Para Moshe Rabenu] * ''From Fly To Elephant,'' Keter, 1977 [Mi-Zvuv Ve-Ad Pil] * ''A Story About Cats,'' Keter, 1977 [Ma'ase Be-Hatulim] * ''Yossi, Smart Child of Mine,'' Massada, 1978 [Yossi Yeled Sheli Mutzlah] * ''Unbelievable,'' Ministry of Education, 1978 [Lo Yeuman] *'' When Uncle Simcha Sings,'' Zionist Confederation, 1984 [Ke-She Dod Simha Shar] * ''I'm a Warbler, Certainly and Maybe,'' Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1987 [Ani Pashosh Betah Ve-Ulai] * ''The Book of Scribble-songs,'' R. Sirkis, 1988 [Sefer Ha-Kishkushirim] * ''A Cloud in My Hand,'' Sifriat Poalim, 1989 [Anan Ba-Yad] * ''It Happened to a Fawn,'' Kinneret, 1989 [Ma'ase Be-Ofer Ayalim] * ''Ayin Hillel's Big Book,'' Am Oved, 1992 [Ha-Sefer Ha-Gadol Shel Ayin Hillel] * ''A Kibbutz Adventure,'' London, F. Warne, 1963

===Other=== *''Blue and Thorns'' (''Tkehlet vekotzim''), Sifriyat Hapoalim, 1977

==See also== *[[Hebrew literature]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillel}} [[Category:1926 births]] [[Category:1990 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Israeli poets]] [[Category:People from Mishmar HaEmek]] [[Category:Israeli male poets]] [[Category:Palmach members]]