‘IN THE HEART OF A GREAT FOREIGH HOMELAND': BI-ROOTED MIND-SET IN THE POEMS OF RACHEL BLUWSTEIN AND LEAS GOLDBERG

The biographical and poetic similarity between Rachel Bluwstein (1890-1931) and Lea Goldberg (1911-1970) calls for a comparative study of the two poetesses, which were undertaken in the specific context of migrant literature, in light of the term “bi-rootedness”. Both Bluwstein and Goldberg had “double roots”, in Russia and in the Land of Israel, and this can be clearly seen in a “bi-rooted” mind-set manifest in their poems, which will be examinedin this paper. In my analysis two manifestations of this “bi-rooted pain”will be observed: European memories and a yearning for the old homeland on the one hand, and the rejection of adapting to the new homeland on the other.

Migrant literature, exile, homeland, bi-rootedness, Russia, Land of Israel