Israeli Author Meira Barnea Goldberg Explains Ending of 'Karamel' Series and Shares Personal Journey
Meira Barnea Goldberg, a celebrated Israeli author known for her popular children's series "Karamel," will celebrate her 48th birthday on the upcoming 15th of Tishrei. Residing in Petah Tikva with her husband Hanan and their 16-and-a-half-year-old son Avishai, Barnea Goldberg reveals that the success of "Karamel" is deeply intertwined with her personal life and challenges. The character Vish, beloved in the series, was inspired by her son Avishai, who is on the autism spectrum. Writing helped her process her emotions, and the character even aided Avishai and other children in understanding themselves better. However, as Avishai grew older and entered middle and high school, he requested that she stop writing about him to protect his privacy. Respecting his wishes, Barnea Goldberg concluded Vish's story in the tenth and final installment of "Karamel," released last Hanukkah.
Following this, she began a new series titled "Ben-Ben and Dada," drawing on her own childhood experiences as a sensitive child in elementary school. All her books are published by Kinneret Zmora-Bitan. Barnea Goldberg started her career in 1999 as a bookstore clerk and overcame skepticism about making a living from writing in Israel by treating it as a profession. She emphasizes that modern authors must also be entrepreneurs, actively engaging with readers through social media platforms like Facebook while maintaining a clear boundary between her public and private life.
In addition to children's literature, she writes for adults. Her book "Grandma Runs Away from Home," released on the day of the Iranian attack, explores the special bond between her and her 99-year-old grandmother through a story about a grandmother and her grandson uncovering a family secret. An upcoming project, "Karamel in Plasticine," will allow children to create the world of the famous cat character with artist Gili Drober.
Barnea Goldberg expresses concern about declining reading skills among children, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the October war, noting many children give up on reading. To address this, she has adapted her books with larger fonts, illustrations, and vocalization of difficult words, as seen in her new series "Little Mrs. Bloom." She praises school libraries and the city of Modiin for continuing to fund librarians despite government budget cuts.
She maintains strong ties with the religious Zionist community, often appearing at book signings and festivals, and credits the Sabbath with fostering a love of books by reducing screen time. Reflecting on her childhood in a Petah Tikva housing project, she recalls harmonious relations among secular, religious Zionist, and Chabad families. Despite ongoing conflict, she insists on reaching readers across Israel, including in distant cities like Kiryat Shmona and Eilat.
Barnea Goldberg is the daughter of Asher Goldberg, a historian and senior football commentator. Though she briefly worked as a sports reporter, she ultimately pursued writing. Her lifelong love of books, nurtured by multiple library memberships and family heirlooms, continues as she provides Israeli children with their own "wonders and miracles," holding onto optimism about culture's power to unite the nation.
