Ephraim Kishon

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Ephraim Kishon
Ephraim Kishon in an interview with Klaus Urban (2001)
Ephraim Kishon, drawn by Chaim Topol

Ephraim Kishon ( Hebrew אפרים קישון), born as Ferenc Hoffmann (born August 23, 1924 in Budapest , Hungary ; † January 29, 2005 in Meistersrüte , Appenzell Innerrhoden , Switzerland ) was an Israeli satirist of Hungarian origin. In German-speaking countries he is considered one of the most successful satirists of the 20th century.

Characterization, familial

Ephraim Kishon lived and worked as a journalist , writer and director ( theater , film ) in Israel and Appenzell ( Switzerland ). His focus was on the humorous portrayal of everyday Israeli life and its family life. He mostly wrote short stories , but also plays and screenplays .

Kishon's first marriage to Eva (Chawa, née Klamer) was divorced, and his second marriage in 1959 was Sara (née Lipovitz; † 2002), who is known in the German-speaking world as "the best wife of all" "The snake I'm married to") became known. This marriage resulted in son Amir, who lives as a web designer in New York, and daughter Renana , who lives in Tel Aviv . His eldest son Rafi (from his first marriage) is a veterinarian and works for the Israeli Greens . Ephraim Kishon was married to Lisa Witasek for the third time in April 2003 .

Life

Ephraim Kishon plays with his chess computer against the then world champion Vladimir Kramnik , Dortmund 2001

Ephraim Kishon was born under the name Ferenc Hoffmann in Budapest into a Hungarian-Jewish family and grew up there. His father Dezső Hoffmann was a bank director, his mother Erzsébet his former secretary . He had a sister named Ágnes.

His talent was recognized quite early on. In 1940 he won first prize in the Hungarian novella competition for middle school students. Because of the anti-Semitic laws first introduced in Hungary in 1920, which restricted the access of Jews to university and which had been tightened in 1938, he was denied studies at a university, so that in 1942 he began training as a goldsmith .

1944 Ephraim Kishon in that time to Hungary belonging labor camp Jelšava , today in Slovakia deported . In the last year of the war, 1945, he managed to escape from a prisoner transport to Poland. Most of his relatives, however, perished in the gas chambers at Auschwitz . His parents and sister Agnes survived the persecution of the Jews.

In 1945 he was arbitrarily caught on a Soviet prisoner transport to the Gulag , in which many other Jews were innocent, but was able to escape again. In 1948 he made his diploma as a metal sculptor and art historian . On the run from communist oppression, he and his wife traveled in a cattle wagon via Bratislava to Vienna. From there he emigrated to Israel via Italy in May 1949 on a refugee ship. Here his name Kishont - a name that he had acquired because it sounded less bourgeois in communist Hungary - was changed to Kishon ( Kis-Hont is Hungarian for "little Hont", where Kishont was a historical county in the Kingdom of Hungary).

An anecdote, which also appears in his books, describes how he got his later name: An official in the port of Haifa unceremoniously relegated him to Kishon while handling the immigration formalities. The man replaced the first name Ferenc with the laconic remark "does not exist" with "Ephraim".

As early as 1952 he began to write a daily column in Hebrew in the Ma'ariv newspaper , the largest daily newspaper in Israel, under the name Chad Gadja ( Aramaic : "The one lamb") . He oversaw this daily gloss for 30 years. In 1953 his play The Protégé was performed in the Habimah National Theater. In 1959, the New York Times selected his Look Back Mrs. Lot ("Turn around, Mrs. Lot!") As the "Book of the Month". This is how Ephraim Kishon's international career began.

The world circulation of his books is 43 million (33 million of which are in German). About 50 books have been published in Hebrew and about 70 books in German (many of which are compilations of stories that have already been published). Worldwide there are around 700 books in 37 languages. Kishon's films have been nominated twice for Oscar ( Sleep Well, Wachtmeister and Sallah - or: Swap Daughter for Apartment ) and his films have received three Golden Globe awards , along with a number of other awards .

Kishon's best-selling book Family Stories is known worldwide . His best-known work in the German-speaking world is the bureaucracy satire Der Blaumilchkanal . The Austrian writer and theater critic Friedrich Torberg , who until his death in 1979 translated Kishon's books from English into German, played a major role in the success in the German-speaking world . After 1979 Kishon himself translated into German or was translated by Gerhard Bronner .

Many editions of Kishon's books feature illustrations by the Austrian draftsman and caricaturist Rudolf Angerer , who was born in 1923 (signed RANG ).

In 1964, Kishon made his debut as a film director with the film Sallah - or: Swap Daughter for Apartment , based on one of his works. The film was produced by Menahem Golan and was the first Israeli production ever to be nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film. By 1986, eight more productions followed, in which Kishon was involved as a director.

The target of Kishon's satires were, in addition to the small annoyances of everyday life, above all the bureaucracy and politics , large and small , especially those in Israel. In addition, the art historian Kishon has been a sharp critic of modern art and the associated art market since his play Pull the Plug Out, The Water Boils (1965) . For the TV film adaptation of this piece, Kishon even made his own works of art in a modern manner with satirical intent. In the essay Picasso was no charlatan (1985) and later in his book Picasso's sweet revenge (1995) he deepened his criticism , based on an alleged self-critical interview by Pablo Picasso with Giovanni Papini . Although he didn’t let some artists such as Joseph Beuys or Andy Warhol do it, he emphasized that he did not reject all modern works of art, only their exaggeration by art criticism.

Ephraim Kishon found it ironic that he is so popular in Germany. “I am pleased to see my executioner's grandchildren standing in line for my readings,” he said. He felt no hatred towards the young Germans. There is no collective guilt, only collective shame. With his humor he wanted to contribute to reconciliation.

Chess , especially computer chess , was one of Kishon's hobbies. In 1990 a chess computer with voice output named after him , the Kishon Chesster , was brought onto the market.

Another passion of Kishon was three-cushion billiards ( carom ), in which he successfully participated in competitions.

In the early 1980s he settled in Switzerland and lived alternately in Appenzell and Tel Aviv.

Ephraim Kishon died of a heart attack on January 29, 2005 . On the eve of his death, he had given the Stuttgarter Nachrichten a well-received, detailed interview. Kishon rests in the Old Cemetery on Trumpeldor Street in Tel Aviv.

In 2016, the Kishon-Weg was named after him in the 21st Viennese district of Floridsdorf .

Works

Books (selection)

Collections of satires

  • Turn around, Mrs. Lot. Satires from Israel ( Look Back, Mrs. Lot , translated by Friedrich Torberg ). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1961.
  • Noah's Ark, tourist class. New satires from Israel ( Noah's Ark, Tourist Class , translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1962.
  • The seasick whale or an Israeli traveling. ( The Seasick Whale , translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1965.
  • How unfair, David! and other Israeli satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1967.
  • Sorry, we won. From the Six Day War to the Victory Parade a year later ( Sorry We Have Won , translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1968.
  • Kishon's best stories. (Translated by Friedrich Torberg). Herbig-Verlag, West Berlin / Munich 1969.
  • Not so loud in front of Jericho. New satires ( Blow Softly in Jericho , translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1970.
  • Kishon's colorful picture book. (Translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1971.
  • The blue milk channel . (Translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1971. Latest edition: ISBN 3-7844-3004-X .
  • Solomon's judgment, second instance. New satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1972, ISBN 3-7844-1485-0 .
  • No applause for Podmanitzki. Satirical (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1973, ISBN 3-7844-1520-2 .
  • The great Kishon book. Satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1974, ISBN 3-7844-1552-0 .
  • No oil, moses? New satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1974, ISBN 3-7844-1554-7 . ( Number 1 on the Spiegel bestseller list from December 23 to 29, 1974 and from February 24 to March 9, 1975 )
  • The dear wedding guests Hyperion-Verlag 1974
  • Kishon's best family stories. Satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1974, ISBN 3-7844-1599-7 .
  • As for Cain and Abel . New satires. Langen / Müller-Verlag 1976 ( No. 1 on the Spiegel bestseller list in 1976 and 1977 )
  • Friend Jossele. Cheating also needs to be learned - satires. (Translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-7844-1659-4 .
  • ABC of joy. Life support for those in a hurry. Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1978
  • When the car has a cold and other fun stories. G. Lentz-Verlag 1978
  • Paradise to rent again. New satires (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1979, ISBN 3-404-12786-2 . ( No. 1 on the Spiegel bestseller list in 1979 and 1980 )
  • Haitzinger's Kishon album. Langen Müller Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1980
  • ... and the best wife of all . Translated into German by Gerhard Bronner and Friedrich Torberg. Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1981 ( No. 1 on the Spiegel bestseller list in 1981 )
  • Fiin Daglings Kost. Nordfriisk Institut 1981
  • Kishon's best travel stories. A world tour of humor in 13 countries. Herbig 1981
  • The camel in the eye of a needle . New satires. Translated into German by Gerhard Bronner, Immanuel Rosenne and Friedrich Torberg Ullstein in 1982
  • Kishon's most beautiful stories for children. Tosa Verlag 1982, ISBN 3-85001-338-3 .
  • Confessions of a Perfect Husband . Langen / Müller publishing house 1983
  • Abraham can't help it. 66 new satires (translated by Gerhard Bronner). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1984, ISBN 3-7844-1850-3 .
  • Kishon's best motorist stories. 1985, ISBN 3-404-14474-0 .
  • Picasso was not a charlatan. Side notes on modern art. 1986, ISBN 3-7844-2102-4 .
  • Even the washing machine is only human . 1987, ISBN 3-7766-1454-4 .
  • Totally wired. 1989, ISBN 3-404-12742-0 .
  • Nothing is so hard as man's ingratitude. 1990, ISBN 3-7844-2308-6 .
  • Nothing to laugh about . The memories. (Translated by Ursula Abrahamy and Ephraim Kishon). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1993.
  • An apple is to blame for everything. (Translated by Ephraim Kischon, Ursula Abrahamy and Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller in the FA Herbig-Verlagsbuchhandlung GmbH, Munich / Berlin 1994, ISBN 3-7844-2510-0
  • Picasso's sweet revenge. New forays into modern art. 1995, ISBN 3-7844-2453-8 .
  • ... and what do we do in the afternoon? Satirical about a small country. Langen-Müller-Verlag Munich / Vienna 1998
  • All satires. Langen Müller, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-7844-2738-3 , anniversary edition.
  • Whoever believes it will be saved. Political satires. 1st edition. Langen-Müller-Verlag Munich / Vienna 2000, ISBN 3-7844-2792-8 .
  • Chess computer. Opponent and friend. Baumhaus-Verlag, ISBN 3485017027
  • Kishon for Austrians ... and everyone who would like to be. (translated by Friedrich Torberg). Langen-Müller-Verlag, Munich / Vienna 2005, ISBN 3-7844-2988-2

Novels

Plays (selection)

  • 1953: The protégé (English original title: His Friend at Court )
  • 1956: black on white. A satirical fairy tale game in three acts (English original title: Black on White )
  • 1959: No Word to Morgenstern (Original title: Not A Word to Morgenstern )
  • 1961: The marriage certificate (English original title: The License , German by Helmut Castagne)
  • 1963: Sie und Er (original title: He and She )
  • 1965: Pull out the plug, the water boils (original title: Unplug, the Water is Boiling )
  • 1967: The Deceiver (Original title: The Swindler )
  • approx. 1970: Where the pepper grows (English original title: The Fifth Column )
  • 1974: It was the Lark (English original title: It was the Lark )
  • 1988: Sallah Shabati
  • 1989: It was the nightingale
  • 1998: The paternity trial of Josef Zimmermann

Films (selection)

Awards

literature

Web links

Commons : Ephraim Kishon  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikiquote: Ephraim Kishon  - Quotes

Interviews

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ephraim Kishon (en, de, es) - Most detailed life data ...
  2. ↑ Ingratitude is the world's reward. P. 18 ff.
  3. ↑ Ingratitude is the world's reward. P. 53.
  4. ↑ Ephraim Kishon: No Oil Moses? New satires. Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1977, p. 12.
  5. ↑ http://www.ephraimkishon.de/Artikel_und_Interviews_zum_achtzigsten_Geburtstag.htm
  6. ↑ Grave of Ephraim Kishon knerger.de
  7. ^ Mailath: Maria-Lassnig-Straße decided . City hall correspondence of April 8, 2016, accessed April 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ ISBN 978-3-7844-3318-9
personal data
SURNAME Kishon, Ephraim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hoffmann, Ferenc (maiden name); אפרים קישון (Hebrew)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Israeli satirist, journalist and director of Hungarian origin
DATE OF BIRTH August 23, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Budapest
DATE OF DEATH January 29, 2005
Place of death Meistersrüte , Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland