Biography
Ephraim Kishon — satirist with roots in the Russian Empire
Ephraim Kishon (born Ferenc Hoffmann) was a Hungarian-born Israeli satirist, playwright and filmmaker. He survived the Holocaust, escaping while being transported to the Sobibor extermination camp, and emigrated to Israel in 1949. His books have been translated into 37 languages.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Budapest (Hungary)
Born Ferenc Hoffmann in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, on 23 August 1924. He emigrated to Israel in 1949.
Born in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary.
Family Tree
Subject
Ephraim Kishon🇮🇱 Israel
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Origin
Budapest (Hungary)🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
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Budapest (Hungary). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Two Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film — Sallah Shabati (1964) and The Policeman (1971)
02
Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the State (2002)
03
Author of the newspaper column Had Gadya
04
Books translated into 37 languages
"Satire is the weapon of the powerless against the powerful."
Ephraim Kishon
Sources