Ayat Abou Shmeiss
Ayat Abou Shmeiss | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 Jaffa |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Known for | Poetry in Hebrew and Arabic exploring Arab-Israeli identity |
Ayat Abou Shmeiss (; born in 1984) is a poet of Arab-Israeli heritage originating from Jaffa.
Biography
Abou Shmeiss was born in Jaffa and inspired by her mother, who was illiterate, to seek extensive education. She attended the French-language institution College de Ferrer in Jaffa. Fluent in five languages—Arabic, Hebrew, French, English, and Spanish—she is the second child among four siblings.
Her first poetry collection, A Basket Full of Silent Languages (2013), was released in both Arabic and Hebrew. The follow-up volume, I Am Two (2018), also published bilingually, delves into the intricacies of her multifaceted identity.
Primarily composing in Hebrew, Abou Shmeiss was honored with the Emerging Poets Award by the Israeli Ministry of Culture in 2015. She openly discusses the conflict inherent in writing in Hebrew—a language she links to colonial history—while considering Arabic as a sacred tongue. This duality is evident in her work; some Israelis interpret her Palestinian-focused themes as disloyalty, whereas Palestinians sometimes critique her choice to write in Hebrew. She embraces this tension, expressing, "I have learned to live in halves."
Identifying as both a feminist and a practicing Muslim, Abou Shmeiss integrates contemporary and traditional aspects into her daily life. Her poetry reflects her experiences as a Palestinian citizen within Israel, a member of a marginalized minority, a woman, and a Jaffa resident. She has contributed to politically engaged poetry platforms such as Guerrilla Culture and Ars Poetica, established by Adi Keissar. Additionally, she has participated in international literary festivals and women's writing initiatives like "Women's Ramadan" (2016). Some of her poems have been translated into English.
In 2015, filmmaker Noga Kalinsky created the short film "Silent Languages," which profiles Abou Shmeiss.
Both of her poetry books have been met with positive critical reception.
Ayat Abou Shmeiss is married to Ahmed; they became engaged when she was 15 years old and wed at 18. The couple has one son named Mahmoud.
Works
- סל מלא שפות שותקות / A Basket Full of Silent Languages, Mitan, Tel Aviv 2013
- אני זה שניים / I Am Two, Mitan, Tel Aviv 2018
Awards
- Shulamit Aloni Prize (I Am Two, Arabic Culture Prize), 2019
- Sami Michael Award for Social Justice, 2020