The Newly Arrived Men of Letters

Sami Michael was an author, translator, editor, and civil rights activist. Born in Kamal Salah, Iraq, he immigrated to Israel in 1949. In 1974, Michael’s debut novel, Shavim ve-shavim yoter (All Men Are Equal—But Some Are More) was published, and he subsequently became an influential left-wing activist in Israel. He twice received the Prime Minister’s Prize and earned honorary doctorates from the Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion University. He also headed the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.