Yehuda Amichai (1924-2000; Wurzburg, Germany), born to a religious family, was one of Israel`s foremost contemporary poets. He was raised speaking two languages, Hebrew and German.
Amichai immigrated with his parents to Eretz Israel in 1935. He finished his secondary studies in a religious high school and served with the British Army`s Jewish Brigade during World War II. He served with the elite Palmach unit in the 1948 War of Independence.
Amichai studied Literature and Biblical Studies at Hebrew University. He trained as a teacher and taught at numerous academic institutions in Israel and abroad.
Amichai was best known for his poetry, which has been translated into 33 languages. He also published two novels, a collection of short stories, three books for children and a number of plays which have been produced in Israel. Amichai received the 1976 Bialik Prize and the 1982 Israel Prize.