Writer Sami Bardugo is the winner of the Sapphire Award for 2020 for his book “Donkey” published by the new library, the award committee headed by Adv. Amy Palmor decided today (Sunday). Last week, the winner of the debut book award – ‘Moon’ by Dori Pinto.
The chairman of Mifal Hapayis, CPA Avigdor Yitzhaki, arrived at Bardugo’s house today to inform him of the win and give him the statuette. The winner will also receive a grant of NIS 150,000, his book will be translated and published in Arabic and another foreign language of his choice. In addition, Mifal HaPais will purchase a 500-book edition of the books of the five authors selected as part of the “short list” and the winner of the first prize, and will award them to public libraries throughout the country.
In addition to Palmor, the members of the award committee are Prof. Avner Holtzman, a literary researcher at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Sagi Maayan, a researcher in culture and literature at Sapir College, Dr. Shira Satyu, a literary researcher at Ben-Gurion University, R. Michal Ben Horin, the poet and filmmaker Amichai Hasson and the journalist and literary critic Elad Bar-Noy.
In the reasons for choosing Bardugo, the committee wrote that “in a completely virtuoso and original language, with wisdom and courage, Sami Bardugo’s ‘donkey’ illuminates corners of abandonment and neglect in a way that has not yet been done. In consciousness and thought. “For this occurrence has almost no words of its own, a language that perceives it, a speech that will see who it is and what it is literally. What are the almost orphaned, scattered stations? “The book also manages to represent the triviality of consciousness, the emptiness, and yet its characters remain alienated and thus also maintain their independence. “There is no life story at all,” Bardugo writes. “There is only your life, only life.” This is writing that is all pure being – moment by moment, alive and sharp. “
The book “Donkey” by Sami Bardugo (Photo: PR)CPA Avigdor Yitzhaki, Chairman of Mifal Hapayis, said that “this year we are proud to mark 20 years of activity of the most important and prestigious prize in the field of literature in Israel – the ‘Sapphire Prize for Literature’ founded in 2000 and over the years Both among the community of writers in Israel and among the entire public. “
“In such a challenging year for the Israeli cultural world, it is more important than ever to continue to proudly lead this important institution whose entire purpose is to recognize and cherish Hebrew literature as a cornerstone of Israeli culture and to raise the important contribution of Israeli writers to society. Mifal Hapayis will continue to lead the award Many years and will continue to invest many resources in order to promote writers in Israel and Israeli literature. “