Poet

Ilan Sheinfeld

(Israel, 1960)

Biography

Writer and Gay activist Ilan Sheinfeld was born in Tel Aviv. He is one of the first Gay Israeli artists to spend an entire career out of the closet. Sheinfeld founded and directed, at his residence, the first Hebrew workshop for Gay writers (1992-1995). In 1998 he established Shufra, the first Gay and Lesbian Hebrew publishing house for original and translated literature. And in 2000, he opened Café Theo, a Gay coffeehouse and bookstore in Tel Aviv named for Theo Mainz, a German Jewish immigrant to Israel, a nutritionist and public health worker, one of the founders of what was to become the Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association. The café closed in 2002, due to neighborhood opposition to its presence. For his activities in the field of Gay culture, in 2005 Sheinfeld was recognized by the community with its Outstanding Citizen’s award.

Sheinfeld has published nine collections of poetry, four novels, three plays, two books for young poets and five children’s books. Three of his plays have been staged and he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Literature in 1990. He received his M.A degree in Hebrew Literature from Tel Aviv University, where he founded and edited the literary magazine Shufra (1984-6). He served as co-editor of the literary section of the leftwing Al Hamishmar newspaper (1981-1990) and as the spokesman for the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv (1990-1992). Since 1992 he has managed his own public relations company. He teaches writing workshops as part of the Open University's Eskolot Series.

Sheinfeld is the single parent of twin boys born to a surrogate mother.

BOOKS

In HEBREW

POETRY

Enchanted Lizard, [Letaʹa Mechushefet] Martef 29/ Eked, Tel Aviv, 1981

Making Love with the Tongue, [Osim Ahava Ba-Lashon: Shirim 1977-1983] Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1984

Lines to a Friend in Parting, [Turim Le-Reʹa Bi-Freda] Aleph, Tel Aviv, 1987

It Begins with Love, [Ve-Reshito Ahava] Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Tel Aviv, 1989

Temporary, [Araʹi] Tamuz/ Writers Association, Tel Aviv, 1992

Taschlich, Tag, Tel Aviv, 1994

Karet, Shufra, Tel Aviv, 1997

The Tourist Guide, [Ha-Madrich La-Tayar] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 2003

Poetry Treasure, [Otzar Shirim] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 2013

___

PROSE

Poets School: The Writers Manual (non-fiction) [Beit Sefer Li-Mshorerim: Madrich Maʹasi Le-Sofrim U-Li-Mshorerim], Shufra, Tel Aviv, 1997

Siedlce (novel), [Shedletz: Zichronot] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 1999

Only You (novel), [Rak Ata] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 2000

The Poetry Workshop (non-fiction [Ha-Sadna Le-Shira]), Shufra, Tel Aviv, 2005

A Tale of a Ring (novel) [Maʹaseh Be-Tabaʹat], Keter, Jerusalem, 2007

When the Dead Returned (novel) [Kshe-Ha-Metim Chazru], Kinneret, Zmora-Bitan, Or Yehuda, 2012

___

CHILDREN

From the Heart of Tel Aviv (youth), [Min Ha-Lev Shel Tel-Aviv] Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1984

Peace (picture book), [Shalom] Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Tel Aviv, 1989

Margolis’ Strange Book, [Ha-Sefer Ha-Meshuneh Shel Margolis] Hakibbutz Hameuchad, Tel Aviv, 1991

There is no Such Bird: Kortsipa (picture book), [Eyn Tzipor Kazo, Kortsipa] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 1999

A Kingdom Named Collision (picture book), [Mamlacha U-Shma Kolisya] Shufra, Tel Aviv, 2007

LINKS

In HEBREW
The poet’s website
More poems, with audio
Hagit Bat Eliezer on the book launch for Sheinfeld’s Poetry Treasure
Critic Eli Hirsh: thoughts on Sheinfeld’s collected poems & Gay Israeli poetry
A complete bibliography for the poet: Ohio State University Lexicon of Contemporary Hebrew Literature

Sponsored by POETRY PLACE

Poems

NIGHT OF WAR 6 NIGHT OF WAR 10 DEAD CHILD NIGHT OF WAR 14 BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND YOURS

Poems

Poems of Ilan Sheinfeld

Partners

LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère

Ilan Sheinfeld

Ilan Sheinfeld

Poems

NIGHT OF WAR 6

NIGHT OF WAR 10

DEAD CHILD

NIGHT OF WAR 14

BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND YOURS

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