Published: 28 June 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
FROM AMOS TO AMOS there were none like Amos. Amos Oz was a literary giant and, as he was described by Prof. Dan Laor, “a guide unto the generations,” who is at the level of Haim Nahman Bialik and Natan Alterman, who not only wrote but also made a point verbally as well. I assume that due to his modesty Oz did not consider himself a prophet, but for me he was a prophet for generations.
About a year ago, on June 3, 2018, Oz delivered his last lecture from the podium of the Cymbalista Jewish Heritage Centre at Tel Aviv University. He died on December 28, 2018, and after the fact we know that this lecture – which he delivered uninterruptedly for 50 minutes, by heart and without any notes whatsoever – was a kind of last will and testament.
In an interview on Kan public radio, literary scholar Laor, director of the Cymbalista centre, who had invited Oz to speak, later recalled that before the latter went up to the podium, Laor asked him tactfully whether he had a written and prepared speech. Oz replied that he would decide what to say when he went up to speak.
FULL STORY Amos Oz's last prophecy: Zionism, violence and the future of Jews (Haaretz)
