Ephraim Kishon
A Holocaust survivor who wielded a pen like a scalpel, dissecting the absurdities of Israeli life with humor that conquered the German-speaking world.
1924–2005 (age 81)·Israeli author and filmmaker·Birthday: August 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born Ferenc Hoffmann in Budapest, Ephraim Kishon survived the Holocaust through a combination of luck and wit, later noting that the Nazis were 'not exactly fussy' about their record-keeping. He arrived in the new state of Israel in 1949, determined to become a writer. He learned Hebrew by reading the newspaper with a dictionary, and within years was publishing a daily satirical column that became a national institution. Kishon's genius lay in his affectionate yet piercing observation of the Israeli character—the bureaucratic maze, the military mishaps, the eternal optimism. His plays packed theaters, and his film 'Sallah Shabati,' a comedy about immigrant absorption, was nominated for an Oscar. Remarkably, his work found a second home in Germany and Austria, where his humor, devoid of bitterness, helped bridge a painful historical chasm. He wrote with a twinkle in his eye, proving that laughter could be a powerful tool for survival and connection.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ephraim was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ephraim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Ephraim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2005Died at 81
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Wrote and directed 'Sallah Shabati' (1964), the first Israeli film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
- Authored the long-running satirical column 'Had Gadya' in the newspaper Ma'ariv, which shaped Israeli public humor for decades.
- Wrote over 50 books, which sold tens of millions of copies, particularly in German translation.
- His plays, including 'The Marriage Certificate' and 'Oh, Oh, Juliet,' were major hits in Israeli theater.
Did You Know?
He was a champion chess player in his youth and represented Hungary in junior tournaments.
He changed his surname to Kishon (from Hoffmann) after the Kishon River in Israel.
He was a prolific sculptor in his later years, working primarily in bronze.
In Germany, his books frequently topped bestseller lists for years, a unique phenomenon for a foreign-language humorist.
““The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true.””
