Adi Keissar
An Israeli poet who founded the Ars Poetica collective, amplifying the voices and stories of Mizrahi Jews in contemporary literature.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Israeli poet·Birthday: December 11·Generation X
Biography
Adi Keissar didn't just write poems; she started a movement. Growing up in a Mizrahi (Jews of Middle Eastern and North African descent) family, she found the mainstream Israeli literary scene often sidelined her community's rich cultural tapestry. In response, in 2013, she founded Ars Poetica, a collective and performance series that became a roaring, necessary force. Keissar’s own poetry is direct, rhythmic, and unapologetic, blending Arabic and Hebrew, tackling themes of identity, displacement, and power with a visceral punch. Her work and activism have fundamentally shifted the conversation, creating a vibrant platform for a generation of Mizrahi artists and forcing Israeli culture to confront and celebrate its multifaceted self. She writes not from the margins, but from the center of a story she helped bring to light.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Adi was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Adi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded the influential Ars Poetica collective, a major platform for Mizrahi poetry and culture in Israel.
- Published the poetry collection 'Black On Black', which received critical and popular acclaim.
- Her work and activism have been featured in major Israeli media and sparked national discussions on identity.
Did You Know?
Ars Poetica events often feature live music and draw large, diverse crowds, breaking the mold of traditional poetry readings.
Keissar's family origins are in Yemen.
She has stated that the pop star Rihanna is one of her artistic influences.
“My Hebrew is flavored with cardamom and the dust of a different sun.”
