When the Horrors of War Meet the Power of Literature: Reactions and Transformations

This episode features Sarai Shavit, writer, literary editor, and Research Fellow at Tel Aviv University, in conversation with Yael Segalovitz, Israel Institute Visiting Professor at the Helen Diller Institute and Assistant Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Sarai Shavit and fellow writer and literary editor, Dr. Rawya Burbara, have been collaborating on a project to edit a multilingual anthology of short stories written by authors from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. Shavit and Professor Segalovitz will discuss the complex and challenging process of putting together this literary anthology and the ways in which it was transformed by October 7 and the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War. This episode is drawn from an event that took place in April 2025. Featuring: Sarai Shavit, Poet, Writer, Literary Editor; Co-Editor, Moznayim; Lecturer, Research Fellow, Tel Aviv University; Recipient, ADEI WIZO Adelina Della Pergola Literary Prize   Yael Segalovitz (Moderator), 2024–2025 Israel Institute Visiting Professor at the Helen Diller Institute; Assistant Professor, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevAbout the Helen Diller Institute:The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu. Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.