Shez (Shaz, ; born Efrat Yerushalmi, 30 October 1959)"ההפרדה בין כוחות ההרס וביני נעשית מאוד ברורה באמצעות הכתיבה" [The separation between the forces of destruction and between me becomes very clear through writing], by Boaz Kohen, Globes, October 25, 2010 is an Israeli writer, poet and playwright. Recipient of the 1999 for Poetry and the 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works. She is also a musician and a songwriter, described as "the first out lesbian performer in Israel".Encyclopedia of Gay Histories and Cultures: Volume 2, George Haggerty, p. 484: "Zhez" More recently she has become a facilitator of writing workshops and "weight loss through writing" workshops.המסלול העוקף: "לאט לאט אני לומדת להרפות" [The bypass route: "Slowly I learn to let it go"], Moshe Kutner, February 7, 2011, Makor Rishon
Early life Shez was born in Kiryat Ono to Avraham and Ada Yerushalmi. She was subject to incest, reflected in her poems and books.ילדה ושמה שז [A girl named Shaz], an interview by Aviva Lori, Haaretz, Jule 7, 2001 Trying to distance herself from the past, she changed her name ("Shez" is a Hebrew contraction of Shem Zmani (), "temporary name") at the age of 25.
Shez studied theatre at .
Creative career
Shez is described as a "provocative and extroverted lesbian" and her poetry is "outrageous, blunt and violent and leaves not even a narrow crack for sentimentality and compassion".
Albums 2002: Crazy Dance, music album based on the 1999 book 2020: להחזיר את הפיות (Return the Fairies) a music album in cooperation with Jonathan Bar Giora, released by Helicon Records
Books 1996: White Pearl Necklace, a play about childhood sexual abuse"Talent-spotting for a new Shakespeare in Acre", The Jerusalem Post, 1996 (archived text) 1999: The Crazy Dance (ריקוד המשוגעת) - songs 2001: Returning the Fairies to Eretz Israel: A Fake Autobiographical Novel (להחזיר את הפיות לארץ-ישראל)A review of the book Returning the Fairies by , July 20, 2001, Makor Rishon 2005" Tamed (מאולפת) - stories 2010: Away From His Absence (הרחק מהיעדרו), Am Oved Publishing. Written in the first person, it is a novel about the incestuous relationship between a father and a daughter. A screenplay by Keren Yedaya based on the book was chosen to take part in a Jerusalem Film Festival."Israeli Director Keren Yedaya Pitches Screenplay About Incest at Jerusalem Film Festival" Eventually, it resulted in the 2014 Israeli-French drama film with English title That Lovely Girl, screened at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival to compete in the section Un Certain Regard.
Awards 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works. 2004: Hero of Culture Award from the Israeli LGBT communityיקירי הקהילה: שז, אילנה ברגר, והזוג ירוס-חקק [Community loved ones: Shaz, Ilana Berger, and the couple Yaros-Hakak], gogay.co.il 1999 Ron Adler Prize for Poetry
References