Borderlife
| Author | Dorit Rabinyan |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Published | 2014 |
| Pages | 344 |
Borderlife (Hebrew: גדר חיה "Gader Chaya", literally: "Hedgerow") is a 2014 novel written by Dorit Rabinyan,[1] published by Am Oved in May 2014.[2]
It became controversial in Israel after being disqualified from Israeli high school curricula for its subject matter of a love story between a Jewish Israeli woman and a Palestinian man.[1] The novel topped bestseller lists[3] once it was rejected by the Israel Education Ministry.[1][4][5] The controversy led to protests from high school teachers and principals and Knesset Opposition head, Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog.[6][7] Shortly afterward the ministry stated that the novel may be taught in advanced literature classes.[8]
The novel was a winner of the Bernstein Prize for young writers, an Israeli award for Hebrew literature.[1][9]
Plot
The novel, which is set in New York City, chronicles a love affair between a Palestinian artist named Hilmi and an Israeli translator named Liat. The two eventually separate, with the man going to Ramallah and the woman going to Tel Aviv.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Times of Israel Staff (December 31, 2015). "Book nixed for schools over ‘intermarriage’ fears flies off the shelves". The Times of Israel.
- 1 2 Kashti, Or. "Israel Bans Novel on Arab-Jewish Romance From Schools for 'Threatening Jewish Identity' " (Archive). Haaretz. December 31, 2015. Retrieved on January 25, 2016.
- ↑ The Guardian
- ↑ The Jewish Week
- ↑ NBC News
- ↑ Kershner, Isabel (2015-12-31). "Jewish-Arab Love Story Excluded From Israeli Classrooms". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ↑ Izikovich, Gili (January 7, 2016). "Demand for "Borderlife" Surges in Israel After Novel Is Banned From Schools". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ↑ Kashti, Or. "Bennett Backs School Ban on Novel About Jewish-Arab Love Affair." Haaretz. December 31, 2015. Retrieved on January 25, 2016.
- ↑ Lazareva, Inna (December 31, 2015). "Officials ban book depicting love story between Israeli and Palestinian from Israeli classrooms". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-01-07.