Poetry of Rachel Bluwstein still resonates a century later

In honor of the 122nd birthday of Rachel Bluwstein, known as "Rachel the Poetess," the Israel State Archives has published selected writings of the beloved writer. The writings, scanned onto the blog of the State Archives, are part of the collection of the late Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Israel's second president.

The collection also includes the writings of Ben-Zvi's sister, poetess and writer Shulamit Klugai. Klugai was Bluwstein's best friend since childhood. The writings are in fact an exchange of letters between the best friends, providing a glimpse of the lives of women in the 1920s. They mainly deal with their private lives, and not necessarily the pioneering and Zionist experiences that were the order of the day at the time.

In a letter to her friend, Rachel describes her way of life and also candidly reveals her personal woes, loves, desires for real companionship, and even anxieties about creative block.

Her writings also show her optimism and humor: "I am in absolute solitude and that is good for me." Rachel's writings to Shulamit included sharp and witty criticisms of actors, writers and poets.

Rachel died from tuberculosis on April 16, 1931 at the young age of 40. Her writings (in Hebrew) can be found at: http://israelidocuments.blogspot.co.il/2012/09/112.html