Great talent, optimism, sensitivity, compassion, and a deep love for this country, which he had longed to reach since childhood, all come together in Michel Kichka, making him one of Israel’s greatest graphic artists. We spoke with him about what led to the creation of his most personal graphic memoir, why he insists on keeping the family name “Kichka,” and what it was like working with Meir Shalev.
From “The Magic Mountain” to the Fight Against the Nazis: The Story of Thomas Mann
Who was the celebrated German author who began his life as a nationalist and later joined the democratic opposition in exile against the Third Reich? What was his connection to Israel and to the National Library? And why do visitors place stones on his grave? On the 70th anniversary of the death of Thomas Mann, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, we trace the man who gave us “The Magic Mountain” and who became one of the clearest and most steadfast voices against what was happening in his homeland.
The German Boy: Who Was Karl M. Baer?
Behind an unassuming headstone at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv lies one of the most remarkable life stories of the 20th century. By the time of his death, few people knew that this seemingly ordinary insurance agent from the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam was in fact a true global pioneer.
“Here Lies a Humorist”: The Last Wish of Sholem Aleichem
What transformed the young boy Solomon Rabinovich – a simple child, orphaned of his mother – into one of the greatest Yiddish writers of his generation? Hint: a wicked stepmother, an unexpected happy ending, and a lifelong love of laughter all played a part. This is the story of the great Jewish humorist who, even in death, chose to laugh.
The Lost Train: The Story of the Transport That Never Reached Theresienstadt
A 139-year-old book acquired by the National Library contained a unique and unexpected keepsake from a victim of the Nazis in the Netherlands. Who was Vroutje Bloemist? Why did her story suddenly attract our attention decades after her death? And what became of the Nazis’ “Lost Train,” aboard which Bloemist was a passenger?
Her Holocaust: The First Female Survivor to Write Her Memoirs
One of the earliest firsthand accounts of the horrors of the Holocaust was written in 1944 by a 21-year-old Jewish woman. Revolutionary in many ways, it would remain her only book. She never wrote again, living out her life quietly and modestly. Who was Renia Kukielka?
The Lost Seder Plates: A Glimpse of a Vanished Jewish World
The centuries-old Seder plates photographed by Theodor Harburger in the 1920s may be the only remnants we have of many Jewish families from Bavaria, Germany. Harburger survived the Holocaust and immigrated to Israel, bringing with him his rare collection, which serves as a testament to the lives of German Jewish communities that were plundered and murdered in the Holocaust. These antique Seder plates preserve not only the story of the holiday throughout the generations but also the stories of the families at whose tables they once stood.
Lover, Liar, Librarian: The Two Lives of Casanova
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova’s name has become a symbol—even a dictionary entry. But was there more to the life and memoirs of the famed Italian lover than just romantic escapades and skirt-chasing? His writings reveal a gifted storyteller who lived without inhibition, but also insights that are dubious, disturbing, and endlessly fascinating. So who was Casanova?
“Schwester Selma”: Jerusalem’s Legendary Nurse
She’s considered Jerusalem’s first Jewish head nurse, a trailblazer who introduced professional nursing practices many of which are still in use today. But what prompted a young woman from Germany to leave everything behind for the dusty, underdeveloped hills of the Land of Israel? This is the story of a woman for whom nursing was a calling—a way of life. Her legacy still shapes nursing in Israel to this day.
Where Did Friedrich Gernsheim Disappear To?
He was a musical prodigy, a gifted composer whose works were performed in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls. He was also a Jew, and his compositions were banned by the Nazi regime, which sought to erase his legacy. For nearly a century, he remained in the shadows of history. Now, thanks to his archive at the National Library, things are about to change—This is the story of Friedrich Gernsheim.
