Yosef Haim Brenner Figurine

Yosef Haim Brenner (1881-1921) | Pioneer of modern Hebrew literature, thinker, publicist and a public leader. As a child he received a Torah education, but in his youth became an opponent of Hasidism and began writing secular works. Brenner was influenced by the writings of great Russian authors, and was called by critics “the Hebrew Gorky”. In 1901, he was drafted into the Russian army, but deserted when the Russo-Japanese War started. In 1904, he was captured and imprisoned, but escaped to London with the help of fellow members of The Bund. He studied printing in England and published the journal HaMe'orer, which significantly influenced modern Hebrew literature. In 1909, Brenner immigrated to Eretz Israel. He wrote, translated, and taught, and was on the editorial board of the newspaper HaAhdut. Brenner’s numerous writings were considered literary breakthroughs. They dealt critically with Jewish life in the diaspora and Eretz Israel, examining the internal-psychological aspects of the protagonists’ souls. In May 1921, Brenner was murdered by Arabs during the Jaffa riots.