If you’re a fan of literature, no matter the language, you’re probably familiar with Israeli powerhouses such as David Grossman and Amos Oz. But you may be less familiar with top contemporary Israeli authors, particularly women.
To expand your horizons, reading list and quality time with a good book, check out our recommendations for some of the best female Israeli below – all the authors are available online and in English. Have a great read!
8 Best female Israeli authors
- Yochi Brandes
- Sarit Yishai-Levi
- Ayelet Tsabari
- Noa Yedlin
- Lihi Lapid
- Dorit Rabinyan
- Ayelet Gundar Goshen
- Yaari Shehori
1. Yochi Brandes
Yochi Brandes is one of the most popular female authors in Israel, and for good reason. Her novels usually focus on women in major turning points for the Jewish people, from the times of the biblical kings all the way to the beginning of modern Zionism.
An expert on Judaism and the Bible, her books are always meticulously researched, and the characters interesting, complex and original. We particularly recommend The Secret Book of Kings, which gives a critical feminist take on the most famous biblical royal family in an incredibly engaging way.
2. Sarit Yishai-Levi
Even if you have already watched the excellent hit series The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem on Netflix, the original book on the multigenerational, complex members of the Armoza family from Jerusalem is even more amazing. Sarit Yishai-Levi is the novelist behind the huge bestseller. Her more recent book, The Woman Beyond the Sea, a historical tale spanning the life stories of three women, a daughter, mother and grandmother, was published in English last winter.
3. Ayelet Tsabari
Ayelet Tsabari was born in Israel and lived and studied for many years in Canada before returning here. Luckily for English-speakers, she writes her books in English while still focusing on quintessential, perhaps lesser-known Israeli experiences, such as the personal journeys of Jews of Middle Eastern and North African heritage.
Her two previous books, The Best Place on Earth and The Art of Leaving , were critically acclaimed, and she has another one planned to be released this September.
4. Noa Yedlin
Noa Yedlin is a female Israeli author and journalist whose most famous book, Stockholm, was turned into a successful TV show of the same name in Israel and then adapted for TV in numerous European countries.
The book tells the story of a group of pensioners trying to hide the death of their friend days before he’s meant to receive the Nobel Prize. The TV show was beautifully performed by some of Israel’s finest veteran actors.
While Yedlin’s had a whole range of great books published in Hebrew over the last decade, Stockholm is the one readily available in English. We can only hope that more translations are in the works.
5. Lihi Lapid
For a short while, Lihi Lapid was the “first lady” of Israel when her husband, Yair Lapid, was prime minister for half of 2022. But aside from being a politician’s wife and advocate for Israelis with special needs, Lapid is an author and journalist whose writings are popular across the country.
Woman of Valor, her previous bestseller on the enormous undertaking that’s motherhood, was translated into English in 2013. Fans can now look forward to brand new release in the form of On Her Own, scheduled for March this year.
6. Dorit Rabinyan
Dorit Rabinyan is famous across Israel for having her book banned by the Education Ministry a few years ago. The said book is a novel called All the Rivers, and it’s actually pretty amazing, both in Hebrew and English, telling the story of the love and heartbreak experienced by an Israeli woman and Palestinian man who met in New York. A great book for both the story itself and what the whole brouhaha can tell you about Israeli society.
7. Ayelet Gundar Goshen
Ayelet Gundar Goshen is a critically acclaimed, bestselling female novelist here in Israel, and all her four books are readily available online in English.
Her first book, One Night, Markovitch, is an historical romance encompassing wartime Europe and the establishment of Israel. Her latest, Wolf Hunt, published last summer, is a thrilling examination of family, community, race and lies, as they manifest themselves in the story of an Israeli family living in Silicon Valley.
8. Yaari Shehori
Yaara Shehori is an author and editor at one of Israel’s biggest publishing houses, who’s written short stories, prose and poetry and five full-length books. In English, you can enjoy Aquarium, the unusual story of two deaf sisters growing up with their deaf parents, scorning the hearing world outside until a terrible secret is made known and the girls must learn how to tell their story anew. We also recommend her essay for the Jewish Book Council, describing her experience in the week following October 7.
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