Naftali Herz Imber Figurine

Naftali Herz Imber (1856-1909) | Hebrew poet and writer, author of the national anthem "Hatikva". Born in Galicia in the Austrian Empire (now Ukraine). In his youth he received a Torah education and was considered a prodigy, but was inspired by the Haskala and world literature. First gained fame for his poem "Austria," dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph. At the age of 18, he traveled throughout Europe, when he wrote "Tikvateinu", whose first two stanzas became the official anthem of the Zionist movement in 1933, and the anthem of the State of Israel at its birth - "Hatikva". Arriving in Constantinople, he teamed up with Lawrence Oliphant, an English diplomat who persuaded him to follow him to Israel and become his personal secretary. In 1882 he settled in Haifa. He wrote and published songs, essays, and satires, and with the help of Oliphant learned the craft of watchmaking. Imber traveled the length and breadth of the country, meeting the pioneers of the First Aliyah and instilling hope in them through his patriotic songs. In 1892 he left for the United States, where he lived until his death at 53.