Yitzhak Ogen — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

Poet 1909-1991

Born in Vilnius, a son of a Zionist family, and grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Nitzberg (known as "Damascus Eliezer"), author of the Responsa Sefer Damascus Eliezer (Vilnius, 1900), and Rabbi of Kovel, whose influence on Ogen was significant. His father, Yaakov-Michael, and mother, Rachel née Weinberg, raised their children with a Zionist Hebrew education. From 1916 to 1927, he was educated in a reformed cheder of the "Tarbut" network and at the Epstein Hebrew Gymnasium in Vilnius.

His first poem was published when he was fifteen in "Hacochav" of Warsaw, edited by Aharon Luboshitzky. As a gymnasium student, he edited youth periodicals, which featured his prose pieces and "poems." He completed his studies in 1927 at the "Herzliya" private gymnasium in Vilnius. After serving for a year as a Bible and Hebrew teacher in the town of Eishishok, he attempted to publish a newspaper named "Hanativ" in Vilnius, of which only one issue appeared. He joined the "Hechalutz" training movement, and in 1929, he immigrated to Palestine and enrolled as a student at the "Mikve Israel" Agricultural School, where he met Pinchas Lander, who would become his close friend for many years. After a short time, he left "Mikve Israel" for Jerusalem and joined the Hebrew Teachers' Seminary, directed by David Yellin, as a student. During his stay in Jerusalem, he was close to Rabbi David Cohen ("HaNazir") and was influenced by his philosophical and mystical approach. In 1931, his poems began to appear frequently in "HaOlam," "Bustanai," "HaPoel HaTzair," "Gazit," and "Ktuvim." In 1932, he traveled to Vienna to study medicine, but he switched to studying philosophy. Upon his return to Palestine, he became close to the circle of "Orcha" writers, who positioned themselves as a group unaligned with the "Ktuvim" group in its struggle with Bialik's followers. This group included Yosef Arichea, Mordechai Ovadyahu, Pinchas Lander, and Zvi Karol. This group, which used to gather at "Shenir" Cafe in Tel Aviv, published the collection "Orcha" (Schocken, 1934), which included a long poem by Ogen ("Ship Against the Wind"). Its members joined the poet Yitzhak Lamdan, founder of the "Gilyonot" periodical, and its members became regular contributors. From the time "Gilyonot" began to appear, Ogen was a central participant, and his poetry stood out in its quality compared to other poets who published their works there. From its beginning, his poetry was mature and complex, personal and introverted, in a symbolist style rich in mystical and pantheistic content. He distanced himself from social, political, and ideological topics, which were characteristic of the expressionist poetic hegemony of the Third Aliyah poets.

Although his poetic output was extensive, he decided to collect it only about a year after the founding of "Gilyonot." His first book, Behizdakchut ("Gilyonot," 1935), is one of the few poetry books that bears the name of the periodical as its publishing house. It appears that in this book, he fully expressed his talent as a mystical lyricist, a metaphysical poet, and a distant observer of the Zionist endeavor of his time. This book contains all the kernels of personal experience and all the mystical-philosophical themes that nourished his later poetry in the collections he published, including: Sha'ar HaKliya VeHaPele (illustrations: Alwail, 1939); BeZa'af Lail (1943); Al Gesher HaLail (1947); BeHatzrot Yareach (1947); collected edition: Shirim (1963); and subsequently HaHar VeHaIlan (1973); HaChesed VeHaDin (1981).

Ogen was the most prominent among the poets writing in Yitzhak Lamdan's "Gilyonot" periodical, perhaps with the exception of the poet S. Shalom and the poet Yitzhak Lamdan, the editor of the periodical. His mystical style was indeed close to the poetry of S. Shalom, especially in his debut collection Behizdakchut, and his national themes strongly resemble the style of his literary patron, Yitzhak Lamdan. As his poetry turned towards national writing in the mid-1930s, it lost its special power—as happened to all the poets of the group. Egan also served as an editor and translator.

From: Avidav Lipsker, Heksherim Lexicon of Israeli Literature