The Shpiel on the power of Israeli poetry

What can a poet who helped shape Israel’s national consciousness teach us about the country’s moral and political dilemmas today? On this episode of The Shpiel on Hamilton, Israeli educator Rachel Korazim discusses The Mirror of the Times, her new bilingual anthology of poetry by Natan Alterman, who celebrated the sacrifices that made Israel possible while also challenging its leaders and confronting injustices committed in the state’s name. The conversation explores Alterman’s enduring relevance, Korazim’s commitment to bringing Hebrew poetry to English-speaking audiences, and another project she spearheaded, Shiva, a bilingual anthology of poetry written in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks. Together, these projects explore how poetry can help us understand Israel’s history, grapple with national trauma and make room for the difficult questions that shape its future.