Moshe Ya´akov Ben-Gavriêl (1891–1965) – His Life and Diaries from 1927 to 1945

The writer and journalist Moshe Ya´akov Ben-gavriêl (born as Eugen Hoeflich in Vienna and died in 1965 in Jerusalem) kept diaries between 1915 and 1956 which can be considered as important documents of cultural history. The period from 1927 to 1945 was very import for this enthusiastic Cultural-Zionist, who worked in literary and in life for Jewish-Arabic rapprochement. Ben-gavriêl is the creator of the Panasiatic Idea. In this time he published a lot of articles about the political situation in Mandate Palestine in different European newspapers. A lot of his german written novels did not find a publisher in this time, but later (after 1945) with much success. Also as a Haganah-Fighter, at times a Ghaffir (British Palestine Police) and as a soldier of the Palestine Regiment (around Jerusalem and in Egypt) he took part of the fights in the region. He also stayed in close contact to his widely ramified circle of friends and acquaintances with which he exchanged views concerning literary and political questions; he did so also in his cosy house in Jerusalem. His main estate is located in the Jewish National and University Library (JNUL) and in the Central Zionist Archives (CZA).

An own panel (theme: Austrian Individuals in Palestine/Israel) will gather the research work of Evelyn Adunka (Wien) about Max Eisler and those of Patrizia Gruber (Graz) about Wolfgang von Weisl. Others may join this panel.