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Yossi Abolafia (; born 4 June 1944) is an Israeli writer and illustrator of children's books, as well as a graphic artist, cartoonist, director and screenwriter of animation films.


Biography

Abolafia was born in
Tiberias Tiberias ( ; , ; ) is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Heb ...
in 1944 in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. At age 17, he was accepted to Israel's national school of art "
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design () is a public college of design and art located in Jerusalem. Established in 1906 by Jewish painter and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel is Israel's oldest institution of higher education and is considered the ...
". He graduated from the school after majoring graphic design for 4 years. After his military service Abolafia began to work in the Israeli Channel 1 as graphic artist and cartoonist.


Work

In 1975 Abolafia illustrated the back cover for Kaveret's third album '' Crowded in the Ear'' (צפוף באוזן) which was a collage of images illustrating the various songs on the album in the style of the famous
Monty Python Monty Python, also known as the Pythons, were a British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. The group came to prominence for the sketch comedy ser ...
illustrations done by
Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam ( ; born 22 November 1940) is an American-British filmmaker, comedian, collage film, collage animator, and actor. He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Pa ...
. Towards the mid-1980s Abolafia moved to North America, where he worked for six years as an animation producer and as a director in both Canada and the United States. During these years Abolafia began to illustrate and write children's books, both for Israelis and for Americans. In 1990 Abolafia published the children's book ''HaKina Nechama'' (
Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
: Nechama the Head Louse) which was written by
Meir Shalev Meir Shalev (; 29 July 1948 – 11 April 2023) was an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Shalev's books have been translated into 26 languages. Biography Shalev was born in Nahalal, Israel. Later he lived ...
and illustrated by Abolafia. The book, which humorously describes the adventures of a
head louse The head louse (''Pediculus humanus capitis'') is an obligate parasite, obligate parasitism, ectoparasite of humans. Head lice are wingless insects that spend their entire lives on the human scalp and feed exclusively on human blood. Humans are ...
, became very popular and influential in Israel and was adapted to other media numerous times. In 1999 Abolafia created all the transition animated clips of the 1999 Eurovision song contest held in Israel, which were based on the stories of the Bible. To date, Abolafia has illustrated more than 140 books (eight of them were written by him), and is widely known for illustrating the children's books written by Ephraim Sidon and
Meir Shalev Meir Shalev (; 29 July 1948 – 11 April 2023) was an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Shalev's books have been translated into 26 languages. Biography Shalev was born in Nahalal, Israel. Later he lived ...
. Abolafia used to illustrate for the Israeli newspapers '' Hadashot'' and ''
Ma'ariv ''Maariv'' or ''Maʿariv'' (, ), also known as ''Arvit'', or ''Arbit'' (, ), is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or at night. It consists primarily of the evening '' Shema'' and ''Amidah''. The service will often begin with two ...
'', and served as the head of the animation department at the
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design () is a public college of design and art located in Jerusalem. Established in 1906 by Jewish painter and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel is Israel's oldest institution of higher education and is considered the ...
, which he established together with Hanan Kaminski.


Personal life

Abolafia currently resides in the
Israeli settlement Israeli settlements, also called Israeli colonies, are the civilian communities built by Israel throughout the Israeli-occupied territories. They are populated by Israeli citizens, almost exclusively of Israeli Jews, Jewish identity or ethni ...
of
Har Adar Har Adar () is an Israeli settlement organized as a local council in the Seam Zone and the Maccabim sub-region of the West Bank. Founded in 1986, it had a population of in . It is located near Abu Ghosh and the Green Line on Road 425, appro ...
, and serves as a senior lecturer in the animation department of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.


Awards

* 1978, Hounor list of Israel Museum Ben-Yitzhak award for the illustration of a children's book for his illustrations in ''"Alilot Ferdinand Pedatzur BeKitzur"'' * 1990, Hounor list of Israel Museum Ben-Yitzhak award for the illustration of a children's book for his illustrations in ''"Adi Aba VeArbaim HaMotzetzim"'' * 1992, Hounor list of
Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...
for illustration by IBBY for his illustrations in "''HaKina Nechama''" * 1993, Nahum Gutman Prize for Illustration * 1998, Hounor list of
Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...
for illustration by IBBY for his illustrations in ''"Et Ze!"''


Films

* ''Canada Vignettes: News Canada'' * ''Friends of the Family'' * ''Ottawa 82 Logo''


Published Works


English Books illustrated

* ''Buffy and Albert'', by Charlotte Pomerantz (1982) * ''Harry's Dog'', by Barbara Ann Porte (1984) * ''What I Did Last Summer,'' by Jack Prelutsky (1984) * ''Harry's Mom'', by Barbara Ann Porte (1985) * ''Aviva's Piano'', by Miriam Chaikin (1986) * ''Donovan Scares the Monsters'', by Susan Love Whitlock (1987) * ''Leo and Emily's Zoo,'' by Franz Brandenberg (1988) * ''The Birthday Thing'', by Suann Kiser and Kevin Kiser (1989) * ''Harry in Trouble,'' by Barbara Ann Porte (1989) * ''My father always embarrasses me'', by
Meir Shalev Meir Shalev (; 29 July 1948 – 11 April 2023) was an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Shalev's books have been translated into 26 languages. Biography Shalev was born in Nahalal, Israel. Later he lived ...
(1991) * ''Harry Gets an Uncle'', by Barbara Ann Porte (1991) * ''Am I Beautiful?,'' by
Else Holmelund Minarik Else Holmelund Minarik (née Holmelund; September 13, 1920 – July 12, 2012) was a Danish-born American author of more than 40 children's books. She was most commonly associated with her ''Little Bear (book), Little Bear'' series of children's b ...
(1992) * ''Taxicab Tales,'' by Barbara Ann Porte (1992) * ''Stop, Thief!,'' by Robert Kalan (1993) * ''A Turkey Drive and Other Tales'', by Barbara Ann Porte (1993) * ''Busybody Brandy,'' by Jessie Haas (1994) * Harry's Birthday, by Barbara Ann Porte (1994) * ''Clean House,'' by Jessie Haas (1996) * ''Harry's Pony,'' by Barbara Ann Porte (1997) * ''The Key to My Heart,'' by Nira Harel (2003) * ''The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls,'' by Hagit Allon and Lena Zehavi (2004) * ''It's Snowing! It's Snowing!,'' by Jack Prelutsky (2006) * ''My Parents Think I'm Sleeping,'' by Jack Prelutsky (2008) * ''It's Valentine's Day,'' by Jack Prelutsky (2013) * ''One Hundred New Apples'', by Ora Morag (2014) * ''The Golden Bell,'' by Tamar Sachs (2019) * ''Moving Day,'' by Robert Kalan (2020) * ''Ten Old Pails,'' by Nicholas Heller


Hebrew Books illustrated

* ''Tales of Ferdinand Pedatsort, For Short,'' by Ephraim Sidon (Hebrew: עלילות פרדיננד פדהצור בקיצור) (1976) * ''It's Hard to Be a Lion,'' by Uri Orlev (Hebrew: קשה להיות אריה) (1979) * ''No Laughing Matter,'' by
Steven Lukes Steven Michael Lukes (born 8 March 1941) is a British political and social theorist. Currently he is a professor of politics and sociology at New York University. He was formerly a professor at the University of Siena, the European University ...
and Itzhak Galnoor (Hebrew: הצחקתם אותנו) (1985) * ''Uzu and Muzu from Kakamaruzu'', by Ephraim Sidon (Hebrew: אוזו ומוזו מכפר קאקארוזו) (1987) * ''Zohar's Dimples,'' by
Meir Shalev Meir Shalev (; 29 July 1948 – 11 April 2023) was an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Shalev's books have been translated into 26 languages. Biography Shalev was born in Nahalal, Israel. Later he lived ...
(Hebrew: גומות החן של זוהר) (1988) * ''Songs in a Juice,'' by Ephraim Sidon (Hebrew: שירים במיץ) (1988) * ''My Father Always Embarrasses Me,'' by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: אבא עושה בושות) (1988) * Adi, Dad, and the Forty Pacifiers, by Amalia Argaman-Barnea (Hebrew: עדי אבא וארבעים המוצצים) (1989) * ''Nehama the Head Louse,'' by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: הכינה נחמה) (1990) * ''The Animals as a Fable,'' edited by Shelly Elkayam (Hebrew: החיות כמשל) (1991) * ''Between Reality and Imagination'', by Dr. Dafna Lemish (Hebrew: בין מציאות לדמיון) (1991) * ''A kiss for Schpunza,'' by Lia Nirgad (Hebrew: נשיקה לשפונזה) (1991) * ''Who Kidnapped Boaz?'', by Yemima Avidar Tchernovitz and Dana Avidar (Hebrew: מי חטף את בועז?) (1992) * ''e Isle of Nonsense,'' by Ephraim Sidon (Hebrew: סיפור מוזר ומלא תימהון על האי הקטן האי הגיון) (1993) ' * ''How the Neanderthal Inadvertently Invented Kebab,'' by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: איך האדם הקדמון המציא לגמרי במקרה את הקבאב הרומני) (1993) * ''The Tractor in the Sandbox,'' by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: הטרקטור בארגז החול) (1995) * ''A Hippo in the Soup,'' by Yehuda Atlas (Hebrew: היפופוטם במרק) (1995) * ''Glizo the Wanderer,'' By Ephraim Sidon (Hebrew: גליצו יוצא לנדוד בדרכים) (1997) * ''This!'', by Nira Harel (Hebrew: את זה!) (1997) * ''A Monkey with Glasses,'' by Hana Goldberg (Hebrew: קוף משקפוף) (1999) * ''Aunt Michal,'' by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: הדודה מיכל) (2000) * ''The Key to My Heart,'' by Nira Harel (Hebrew: מפתח הלב) (2000) * ''For Ever Under a Shadow'', by Jacob Buchan (Hebrew: תמיד ילווה אותו צל) (2000) * Double Parking, by Gil-Ad Harish (Hebrew: דבל פרקינג) (2000) * ''Doctor Marshmello Mello'', by Shlomit Cohen Asif (Hebrew: דוקטור מרשמלו מלו) (2002) * ''A Story that Starts with a Kiss,'' by Shlomit Cohen Asif (Hebrew: סיפור שמתחיל בנשיקה ונגמר בחיבוק) (2003) * ''Roni and Nomi and Jacob the Bear'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: רוני ונומי והדב יעקב) (2003) * ''A Lion in the Nights'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: אריה בלילות) (2004) * ''The Chickens and the Fox'', by Haim Nahman Bialik (Hebrew: התרנגולים והשועל) (2005) * That American Girl, by Susie Morgenstern (Hebrew: האמריקאית הזאת) (2006) * ''Grendpa Aaron and his Rain'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: הגשם של סבא אהרון) (2007) * ''The Underplate'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: הצלחת שמתחת) (2008) * ''The Teddy Bear Ate a Soap'', by Anda Pinkerfeld Amir (Hebrew: הדובון בלע סבון) (2009) * ''Kremer the Cat Sleeps All the Time'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: קרמר החתול ישן כל הזמן) (2010) * ''Good People'', by
Naomi Shemer Naomi Shemer (; July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was a leading Israeli musician and songwriter, hailed as the "first lady of Israeli song and poetry." Her song " Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"), written in 1967, became an unoffic ...
(Hebrew: אנשים טובים באמצע הדרך) (2012) * ''Kremer the Cat Go to the Forest'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: קרמר החתול יוצא אל היער) (2012) * ''It Starts with a Boom and Ends with a Bang'', by Shlomit Cohen Asif (Hebrew: מתחיל בבום ונגמר בטראח) (2012) * ''Kremer the Cat Is a Swimmer'', by Meir Shalev (Hebrew: קרמר החתול לומד לשחות) (2014)


Hebrew Books illustrated and written

* ''Baldy Hights'' (with Ephraim Sidon, Hebrew: מעלה קרחות) (1980) * ''Zahava and the Three Uncles'' (Hebrew: זהבה ושלושת הדודים) (1986) * ''Fox Tale'' (Hebrew: זנב ודבש) (1992) * ''Numbers Tells a Story'' (Hebrew: מספרים מספרים) (1993) * ''A Fishy Tale'' (Hebrew: דג לגברת שאלתיאל) (1998) * ''The Book of Fables'' (with Ephraim Sidon, Hebrew: ספר המשלים הגדול) (2000) * ''Snakes'' (Hebrew: Nehashim / נחשים) (2005) * ''Yashka's Island'' (Hebrew: האי של יאשקה) (2006) * ''Grandpa Yashka Saves the Bay'' (Hebrew: סבא יאשקה מציל את החוף) (2007) * ''Dog, Cat & Man'' (Hebrew: כלב, חתול ואיש) (2009) * ''You're Never Going to Believe This, But It's True'' (Hebrew: לא תאמינו, אבל זה מה שקרה) (2010) * ''Yashka's Mountain'' (Hebrew: ההר של יאשקה) (2016) * ''Machberet Hibur'' (Hebrew: מחברת חיבור) (2020)


English book translations - illustrated and written

* ''My Three Uncles'' (1985) * ''A Fish for Mrs. Gardenia'' (1988) * ''Yanosh's Island'' (1987) * ''Fox Tale'' (1991) * ''Dog, cat & man'' (2009)


References


External links


Yossi Abolafia's Homepage
*

(Hebrew)
Yossi Abolafia
– on the
Am Oved Am Oved ("A Working People") is an Israeli publishing house. History Am Oved was founded in 1942 by Berl Katznelson, who was its first editor in chief. It was created as an organ of the Histadrut, Israel's federation of Labor, with a goal of publ ...
website (Hebrew)
Yossi Abolafia
– brief biography on The Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature website (English)

– article published on
Nrg Maariv ''Maariv'' () is a Hebrew-language daily newspaper published in Israel. From Sunday to Thursday, it is printed under the ''Ma'ariv Hashavu'a'' () brand, while the weekend edition that is out on Friday is called ''Ma'ariv SofHashavu'a'' (). ...
on May 11, 2009 (Hebrew)
Interview with Yossi Abolafia
– article published on
Nrg Maariv ''Maariv'' () is a Hebrew-language daily newspaper published in Israel. From Sunday to Thursday, it is printed under the ''Ma'ariv Hashavu'a'' () brand, while the weekend edition that is out on Friday is called ''Ma'ariv SofHashavu'a'' (). ...
on May 13, 2009 (Hebrew)
Review of Yossi Abolafia's books on simania.co.il
(Hebrew) {{DEFAULTSORT:Abulafia, Yossi Hebrew-language writers Israeli editorial cartoonists Israeli animators Israeli animated film directors Israeli illustrators Israeli children's book illustrators 20th-century Israeli male writers 21st-century Israeli male writers Academic staff of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design 1944 births Living people Jewish Israeli writers Jewish Israeli artists People from Tiberias Israeli settlers