Israeli Poets' Festival Returns to Jerusalem Amidst Metula's Damage

The Israeli Poets’ Festival in Metula, a significant cultural event now in its 29th year, is set to return to Jerusalem from August 25-27. The festival, produced by Confederation House, has been temporarily relocated from its namesake northern town due to damage sustained from Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon, which has rendered Metula a "ghost town."

Despite the displacement, Confederation House and its head, Effie Benaya, have maintained the festival's continuity in Jerusalem. This year's edition promises to reflect the breadth of Israeli poetic expression, delving into the ideological, religious, personal, artistic, and cultural underpinnings of the literary landscape. Artistic directors Benny Ziffer and Shiri Lev-Ari have curated a program that includes tributes to foundational figures like Amir Gilboa and Dan Pagis, as well as contemporary writers such as Erez Biton and Agi Mishol.

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Suddenly a man gets up in the morning and feels he is a people, and begins to walk.

The festival's thematic banner, drawn from Gilboa's line "Suddenly a man gets up in the morning and feels he is a people, and begins to walk," will serve as a connecting thread. Events will explore themes of memory, society, language, and hope. The agenda is diverse, featuring dialogues between established and emerging poets, and addressing pressing contemporary concerns including war, identity, and the impact of artificial intelligence.

Ziffer and Lev-Ari emphasized their programmatic philosophy, stating, "This year, once again, the festival seeks to demonstrate that poetry is far more than literature. It is a place of encounter, listening, and hope – until the day the festival returns to its natural home in Metula." This approach highlights the festival's ambition to position poetry as a vital space for dialogue and reflection on the human condition.

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This year, once again, the festival seeks to demonstrate that poetry is far more than literature. It is a place of encounter, listening, and hope – until the day the festival returns to its natural home in Metula.