Radu Klapper

Who is Radu Klapper?

Radu Klapper was an Israeli-Romanian poet and author.

Radu Klapper was born in 1937 in Bucharest in a Jewish-Romanian family and grew up in a multi-linguistic environment. He studied librarianship and philology in Bucharest faculty and after completing his studies published poetry in different anthologies, and worked as an art critic in varieties newspapers in Romania. In 1976 immigrated Klapper to Israel and became a theater and dance critic in foreign magazines in Israel and France like "dance in Israel" and "Saison de la dance". He also continued to publish his poetry in different Romanian anthologies. In 1991, he started to work in the Israeli library of dance and in 1993, he became the library's director. During his time at the dance library, Klapper became known as a great supporter of artists and dancers, young and old. His vast knowledge and unique character turn Radu and the library to a pilgrimage site.

His first Hebrew poem-book "The Hart Paces" came out in 1998, and in 2003, he published two more books "Forbidden Songs" and a prose book, "Jews Against their Will", that dealt with the relationship between famous figures and their Jewish identity, among them: French singer, Barbara, the actress, Simone Signoret, the psychiatrist Bruno Bettelheim and Romain Gary. Radu's poetry often dealt with homo-erotic desire and unfulfilled love, accompanied by wisdom and sharp insight. His writings introduced into Hebrew literature a touch of European poetry.