Amos Oz: Between Canon and Controversy

Amos Oz (1939-2018) was for many readers worldwide Israel’s post 1948 canonical writer. His 40 books, including novels, short story collections, essays and reportage, and children’s books, translated into 45 languages, and his journalistic articles and public appearances made him Israel’s best-known writer and an icon of its peace movement.

Following Oz’s death in 2018, renowned Israeli documentary film maker, Yair Qedar, worked closely with Oz’s family and closest friends to produce The Fourth Window, a documentary unveiling the life, work and tragedies of Amos Oz’s life. Two days after he completed the film a bombshell hit Israel: Oz’s youngest daughter, Galia Oz, released a book accusing Oz of abuse. Qedar went back to square one and conducted in-depth interviews with both Galia and her siblings, Fania Oz-Salzberger and Daniel Oz - who vehemently denied the accusations - to

represent the controversy, undoubtedly the last tragic chapter in Oz’s life and legacy.

New Lehrhaus is presenting an event featuring a screening of Yair Qedar’s film, The Fourth Window, followed by a panel discussion with Qedar, UC Berkeley’s Prof. Robert Alter (who is publishing a biography of Oz in the Jewish Lives Series of Yale U. Press) and Fania Oz-Salzberger (via zoom), on Sunday, November 20, at 11:00 am at the Magnes Museum in Berkeley.