VOICES ISRAEL GROUP OF POETS IN ENGLISHor by cheque. The charges are: NIS 50 (US dollars 25). Additional copies for members are NIS 40 or 25 dollars. Very special thanks are due our

VOICES ISRAEL GROUP OF POETS IN ENGLISH

ã1 1 - 2 0 1 9 V o i c e s I s r a e l N e w s l e t t e r http://voicesisrael.com/ Page | 1

NOVEMBER November 2019 Amuta No. 58-019-703-6

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear All It is so hard to believe we have reached November already, but the rain has come, and summer has definitely gone. Some news to offset any potential gloom is that all our paid-up members have their free copy of the 2019 Voices Anthology, Volume 45 currently in the post. If extra copies are wanted or if non-members would like a copy of this attractively presented anthology (courtesy Johnmichael Simon) with its wide range of fine poems, chosen by the editorial committee, Wendy Dickstein, Phella Hirschson and Amiel Schotz under the direction of Chief Editor Dina Yehuda, then orders can be made and payment is possible by bankers draft or by cheque. The charges are: NIS 50 (US dollars 25). Additional copies for members are NIS 40 or 25 dollars. Very special thanks are due our Treasurer, Chanita Millman, for so willingly organizing all by herself the dispatch of the anthologies every year. A valuable additional feature is the current Voices’ practice of publishing within the anthology the three winning poems and ten Honourable Mentions of the 29th Reuben Rose International Poetry Competition. For the first time the anthology features three poems by the late Bar Sagi; this is a prelude to the launch of the Voices Israel Bar Sagi Young Poets Prize. Competition administrator Wendy Dickstein tells me that the competition is now almost ready for opening to Israeli schoolchildren. Thanks to all involved in preparing the anthology will be expressed at the launch later in November. Please watch out for a separate notification coming soon. Published poets will be invited to attend to read their poem(s) and proxy readers will also be needed. The launch will also be the occasion to welcome the new editorial team: David Fellerman (Netanya-Sharon), Edit Gavriely (Haifa) and Yehudit Goldfarb (Tsafat) who will serve a two-year term under Dina’s guidance. As far as possible an effort is made every two years to choose new and appropriate members for the editorial team who represent the national Voices Israel groups. Whilst talking of anthologies I just want to remind any of our poets who have produced a poetry book of their own with a print run exceeding 50 copies that Israel’s Book Law requires two copies of the book to be deposited in The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem. Two copies of the 2019 Voices anthology will be deposited at the NLI in early spring and it is hoped that a few of our members will at the same time deposit their own volumes. Actually, our secretary Linda Suchy regularly sends our monthly Voices newsletter to the NLI. As on our last visit in 2017 the library's archivist has kindly agreed to prepare a short display of some of the NLI’s poetic treasures so do watch out for further details. Only a small delegation will be possible, and priority will be given to those depositing books but there may be space for a few supporters.



The Reuben Rose Poetry Competition judges are currently appraising entries for the 30th international competition. Submissions were closed on October 3. I am giving the address of our excellent website below because I believe a lot of members are still not taking full enough advantage of our website, frequently updated by our capable webmistress Judy Koren. It truly is a wonderful resource. https://www.voicesisrael.com Please also do remember to check out Voices Israel's Facebook site. A growing number of poets choose to be involved with us via the social media. Mark Levinson and Celia Merlin are the vigilant administrators. I hope those of our members living in Israel continue to enjoy the monthly meetings with the key activity of sharing and critiquing poems. Our secretary and poetry page editor Linda Suchy always presents the selection of poems chosen by the groups in an attractive way. She welcomes additional contributions from our members from home and abroad. I do hope to see as many of you as possible at the anthology launch and hope to have details of this event available very soon. In the meantime, let’s hope the Israeli postal service delivers the packages containing the new anthologies as soon as possible. Warm good wishes to you all. Susan Susan Olsburgh President Voices Israel



NOVEMBER 2019

MEETING DATES, TIMES AND PLACES HAIFA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 7:30 PM Naomi Yalin’s 8 Kikar David Neve Shanan, Haifa Tel: 04-822-9792 Coordinator: Wendy Blumfield Tel: 04-837-6820 Mobile: 054-524-0412 [email protected]

TEL AVIV SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AT 7:30 PM Beit Ariela (in T.A. main library bldg.) Conf Room, Floor -1 25 Shaul HaMelech Blvd. Tel Aviv Coordinator: Mark Levinson Tel: 054-444-8438 [email protected]

JERUSALEM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 6:30 PM Toby Shuster’s 5 Aza Street, Rehavia Jerusalem . Coordinator: Avril Meallem Tel: 02-567-0998 [email protected]

UPPER GALILEE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 FROM 5:00-7 PM Reuven and Yehudit’s 128 Keren HaYesod Artists Quarter, Tzfat Coordinator: Reuven Goldfarb Tel: 04-6974105 Mobile: 058-414-0262 [email protected]

BET SHEMESH / MODIIN NO MEETINGS PLANNED

NETANYA & SHARON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 AT 7:30PM Susan Olsburgh’s 2/6 Zalman Shazar. (3rd floor) Ramat Poleg Coordinator: Susan Olsburgh Tel: 074-704-2736 [email protected]

WESTERN GALILEE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 AT 8:30PM Eli Ben-Joseph’s Shaked 6B, Apt. 4 Ein Sara, Nahariya Coordinator: Phyllsie Gross Tel: 052-874-6880 [email protected]

LONDON UK FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT ESTHER. Esther Lipton [email protected]

GUSH ETZION PLEASE CONTACT MINDY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE GROUP RE-STARTING. Coordinator: Mindy Aber Barad Tel: 05-4667936 [email protected]

SOUTHERN FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MIRIAM Coordinator: Miriam Green Tel: 05-7388640 [email protected]

ASHKELON FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT CHAIM Coordinator: Chaim Bezalel Tel: 054-674-5900 [email protected]

BERLIN, GERMANY FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT BRITTA. Coordinator: Britta R. Kollberg [email protected]

President Susan Olsburgh 2/6 Zalman Shazar Ramat Poleg, Netanya Tel: 074-704-2736 [email protected]

Secretary Linda Suchy Haim Laskov 5/7 Netanya 4265605 Tel: 054-497-8812 [email protected]

Treasurer Chanita Millman 15 Shachar St. Jerusalem 9626323 Tel: 02-653-6770 [email protected]

Membership Coordinator Susan Rosenberg 42/46a Leon Blum Haifa 3385209 Tel: 04-838-1218 [email protected]

Overseas Connections Coordinator Helen Bar-Lev 3 Hairus St. Metulla 1029200 Tel: 077-353-5548 [email protected]



CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS --THE DERONDA REVIEW is looking for poems and short prose for an issue with a section on "Building." Other topics, especially seasonal poems, also welcome. Send up to five poems to [email protected], [email protected] or P.O.B. 6709 Efrat 90435, Israel. --SINGLE POEM SECTION OPEN Participants must send A SINGLE UPDATE TEXT, free in the theme, in the choice of the meter and in the number of verses, in a single copy. --SECTION B SET OF POEMS Participants must send from a minimum of THREE to a maximum of SEVEN unpublished poems, free in the theme, in the choice of the meter and in the number of verses, in a single copy. Unpublished texts are to be considered as those published in paper form (single or anthological edition), even if they have an ISBN code, it is important that they do not bear the SIAE stamp with the wording. The texts published on the net are to be considered unpublished: blogs, personal or collective literary sites, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus etc. ... WAY OF SENDING: EXCLUSIVELY ELECTRONIC Participation is open to any living author of any nationality. Texts in English and French are also accepted, without any obligation of translation in front of them, although welcome. The poetic works must be received in the following way: in electronic format no later than December 2, 24.00, in SINGLE ANNEX to the following e mail address: [email protected] On the first page of the attachment, the following must be indicated: name, surname, address, fixed and/or mobile telephone number, e-mail address if applicable, optional biobibliographical sheet and indicate the section(s) in which you are competing. In the Subject line of the electronic letter (the classic e-mail), please indicate which SECTION(s) you are participating in, as well as your surname.

POETRY ON PLANES ANNOUNCEMENT Fellow poets - to read the latest Poetry on Planes status report, please click here. Regards, Gerry Murphy / Peter Frey



CONGRATULATIONS - to Pesach Rotem, whose poem “After the Holidays” was published in The Blue Nib at https://thebluenib.com/article/pesach-rotem-after-the-holidays/. - to Esther Cameron who let us know about the following: In the year 5780, starting with Parshat Bereishis this week, Sasson Magazine is featuring my sonnet sequence – Junctures of Light, sonnets on the weekly Torah portion and the corresponding chapter of Tanya.

There are 53 chapters in Tanya, almost the same number as the number of Torah portions, and some years ago Rabbi Yona Matusof, the Chabad emissary in Madison, Wisconsin, suggested I write a sequence in which each sonnet would combine insights from the parsha and the corresponding chapter. I hope you'll enjoy these sonnets and other works on the Sasson Magazine site!

- to Esther Schneur-Berlot whose memoir chap book, “Changing Conversations” will be published by Moonstone Press. If any Voices Israel readership will be in Philadelphia during the week of December 11th, Esther’s poetry will be read at Moonstone Art Center 110 S 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19107. - to Matthew Anish, whose poem was published in the most recent issue of Conceit magazine.

CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM REUVEN GOLFARB FORMAL ELEMENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE POETRY The second class (in an infinite series) will meet on Wednesday, November 13th, from 5-7 pm, at Bayt Maor HaLev, 128 Keren HaYesod, Tzfat. We will focus on the sonnet — how it began, the forms it has taken, the subjects it has addressed, and its viability as a vehicle for contemporary literary expression. Both poets and readers who do not themselves write poetry are welcome to attend. Please notify the instructor if you would like to join the group or if you would simply like more information. He will need to know how many copies of hand-outs to make and which people to supply with readings in advance. Submitted by Reuven Goldfarb, [email protected] or 04-697-4105.

EXCITING NEWS TO BE ANNOUNCED The launch of the 2019 Voices Israel Anthology is expected very soon! Your secretary will be notifying you of the details in a couple of weeks. Watch your inboxes for this special news!!



VOICES ISRAEL 2019 ANTHOLOGY IS AVAILABLE !! ORDER YOUR EXTRA COPIES NOW !!

Poetry from Israel & Abroad Vol. 45

VOICES ISRAEL 2019

All our paid-up members have their free copy of the 2019 Voices Anthology, Volume 45 currently in the post. If extra copies are wanted or if non-members would like a copy of this attractively presented anthology, then orders can be submitted, and payment is possible by banker’s draft or by cheque. Non-member charges are: NIS 50 (US dollars 25). Member charges are NIS 40 or 25 dollars. We prefer bank transfer, but payment can also be made by check. Ifpayingbycheck, please make it out to Voices Israel and send it with your order request to our Treasurer: Chanita Millman, 15, Shachar St., Beit Hakerem, 9626323 Jerusalem, ISRAEL. Ifpayingbybanktransfer: our bank account information is: Bank Discount - bank No.11, Branch 159. Account Number: 6624199 in the name of Kolot Israel (our name in Hebrew: Kolot means Voices). Please be sure to let Chanita know that you have transferred the money so that she is able to assign the payment to the correct account. [email protected]



GROUP POETRY SELECTIONS Haiku Cracking To swallow his dose The addict cracks the safe, So, he doesn't crack. Belonging That the world is His, Every single creature, It says you and me. Half a Century Past Grandmother took me To a famous cheese restaurant I yet remember. Greenhorn When I crossed frontiers That moment became "greenhorn" Lost in translation. Hayim Abramson, Beit El

At the Film Festival No judge could raise his gavel more ceremoniously, no king apply his seal with greater gravity than the neat little old lady who wields her code-reading device at the entrance of the cinema hall Is she replacing a grandchild with better things to do than corralling in movie spectators on a Saturday afternoon? Is she on trial before embarking into the third career of her life? Whatever the case, she stands clad in the garb of her office inspecting tickets as if they were diplomatic accreditation letters intent on giving each person in line the best code-reading experience Iris Dan, Haifa selection



Living by the Sea Living by the sea there is always something for me to see whether stormy thrashing waves along the beach or the scuttling crab leaving traces of his passage walking on a man-made peninsula above the sea rocks below uncover as the tide retreats to reach barely connecting puddles of sea’s waters silent sheets become suddenly alive a swarm of tiddlers sweeps across the mini-lake seeking safety in broad waters lest a crab could overtake and snap one or even two within its claws as I faintly whisper my applause from my veranda the day readies to sleep and from the mix of cloud sun and sky leap a rich variety of tapestries that erupt into a blaze of fiery oranges and reds or saffron dappled pale blues and pinks which, when new to me some five years ago pursues my fingers to click and be a memory memorized on a camera’s screen and among the over thirty already taken of those far horizons be the next new queen when waves survive breaking onto naked sand ten or twenty youths, seek land slide glide each on his surf board baiting the wave to carry them to the shore half of them fall almost laughing, wanting to be the lord that will succeed every wave their steed on which they ride as they glide survive another home-bringing wave all of which I see from my veranda receive my silent hurrah as I envy them their freedom until the world will catch them, sum their struggle of hope and accomplishment of what they dream, remain buoyant even as my dreams collide with what I hoped to see what I wished to benot apprehensive simply living Ezra Ben-Meir Nahariya selection



"…Thy Seed As the Stars of the Heaven And as the Sand Which is upon the Seashore…" Genesis 2217 Last night Terrorists Two grenades Soldiers rush To aid Handkerchiefs Bandages Blot up Red Ambulances wail Into the night The hospital sheet Hides everything But the soldiers' faces Eighteen-year-old eyes Look furtively around Where is the enemy Wounds throbbing Hope Pain Night seeps into dawn Our family tree One branch Falls When a woman's belly grows May it be a son We need sons Soldiers Many Channah Moshe Jerusalem selection

Winkle-picker Shoes Your parents warned us against winkle-picker shoes:

“They’ll be the death of you!” they said -

1960’s height of rebellious fashion throes,

leather with very, very pointed toes.

We scoffed not seeing any future plight

could emerge from wearing those shoes,

uncomfortable really and very tight

but to teenagers a girlish delight.

Cancer killed early the first of us in the queue

then not long after came the loss of number two.

Now a third feels the pinch not of the shoe

but the impending treatment hullaballoo.

You, their daughter, seem fine as yet;

never allowed winkle-pickers so no threat.

Maybe, maybe they had wise insight

into toe-crushing footwear’s potential blight.

Silly shoes from fifty, sixty years ago

instrumental in causing future woes?

Who knows?

Susan Olsburgh, Netanya/Sharon selection



What happened … I simply must tell you … This is exactly what happened … It was completely unexpected … Suddenly, all at once … Appearing from nowhere … You can't imagine anything like it … It was absolutely amazing … I thought I would pass out … There was nobody else around … It took me hours to recover … Nothing's been the same since … I've never told anyone - till now … People might think I'm lying … It sounds so utterly unbelievable… Please don't repeat any of this … I know I can trust you … I feel better now that I've told you … Thank you so much for listening. Rumi Morkin, Haifa selection

He Built A Wall (rondeau redoublé) He built around himself a wall: it stopped ideas from stealing in. He built it strong, he built it tall, no foreign thoughts could sneak within. Because free-thinking leads to sin and sin’s an evil to forestall before it ever can begin he built around himself a wall. His fortress held him then in thrall: it silenced innovation’s din but its long shadow cast a pall, it stopped ideas from stealing in. He used denial to underpin foundations that would never fall, for every fight denial will win; he built it strong, he built it tall but no perceptions came to call – it was a fortress, not an inn; No insights visited his hall, no foreign thoughts could sneak within

and all his life he lived therein. Secure from controversy’s brawl he never knew what might have been; his sole achievement, all in all: he built a wall. Judy Koren, Haifa selection.



Two Sisters and a Cousin moving out Say, where the f... is that pen, which used to be right here? I understand your frustration, could in fact be anywhere OK, but still must be somewhere Indeed yes, and it is but it’s like this that Somewhere & Anywhere are sisters of infinite expanses and do indeed have in addition a relative called ‘Somehow here or there’ Birgit Talmon, Tel Aviv selection

Shoes Haiku Shoes on Danube banks Memories cast in iron. Souls abandoned soles. Miriam Michaeli Feigelman Netanya/Sharon Selection



POEMS FROM OUR OVERSEAS MEMBERS I have run out of poems from overseas!! Please send some soon.

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* * * * * * * * * ã Voices Israel Group of Poets in English

November 2019 Newsletter Contributions published in this Voices Israel newsletter and files linked to it, including in our workshop chapbooks, are the sole copyright of the contributors themselves. Any of the opinions in the content published in this newsletter are the sole opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent the views or opinions of Voices Israel Group of Poets in English.

VOICES ISRAEL GROUP OF POETS IN ENGLISHor by cheque. The charges are: NIS 50 (US dollars 25). Additional copies for members are NIS 40 or 25 dollars. Very special thanks are due our

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