Acclaimed Israeli Author and Poet Yehuda Atlas Dies at 89

Acclaimed Israeli author and poet Yehuda Atlas passed away on Thursday at the age of 89. His family remembered him as an "eternal child" who acted out of a desire to help others, noting his work as an editor, children's author, and translator. In his later years, Atlas focused on writing about at-risk children, driven by a sense of mission.

Born in 1937 in the Ein Iron moshav, Atlas grew up with farming parents. He studied Oriental Studies and Philosophy at Tel Aviv University. He served as editor for the youth magazine "BaMachane Gadna" for five years and then worked for 35 years as a journalist and editor at "Yedioth Ahronoth."

Atlas's first children's book, "Ve'ha Yeled Ze Hu Ani" (And This Child Is Me), was published in 1977. The collection of short poems about children's daily lives achieved significant success and inspired further works. A record album of the same name followed two years later, with songs composed by Avner Kenner and performed by Kenner, David Broza, Mazi Cohen, and others. His poems became source material for prominent Israeli musicians, with Yoni Rechter composing "Ani Rotze Shift'om" sung by Arik Einstein, and Matti Caspi composing and performing "Oli Ze Me'aliv."

His well-known poems include "Ve'ha Yeled Ze Hu Ani," "Ani Muchan," "Ba'erev Shel Stav," and "El HaBayit Ba'ah Geveret." In 2001, a special television program based on his poems, titled "Ve'rak Ani Lo" (And Only I Don't), was produced for the Children's Channel.

Following the success of "Ve'ha Yeled Ze Hu Ani," he released "Ha'ylda She'ani Ohev" (The Girl I Love) in 1988. Throughout his career, Atlas authored 32 children's books, including prose and rhyming stories, as well as four books for adults. He also translated approximately 60 books, mostly illustrated. Atlas is survived by three children and four grandchildren.