Israeli and French Canadian writers and poets will meet for the first time in a week-long conference to be held this month in Israel. A delegation of French Canadian writers and professors left today for Israel. Initiated by the Montreal monthly. La Liberte, and the Israeli monthly, Keshet, the conference intends to pave the way for a permanent culture exchange of ideas and opinions between Quebec and Israeli writers, poets and essayists.
The French Canadian delegation is headed by Jean-Guy Pilon, director of La Liberte, and Includes Andre Belleau, art critic and professor at the University of Quebec; Jacques Godbout, novelist and film producer; and Fernand Ouellette, poet and essayist. Before departing, Pilon, who is also chief of the artistic section of CBC, said “There are many things in common between the two young literatures (of Quebec and Israel): their search for national identity and their striving for their national soil.”
The Keshet will publish this fall a special double issue dedicated to French Canadian literature, while La Liberte will do the same for Israeli literature. A meeting in May in Montreal has also been scheduled between Israeli and French Canadian writers and poets. While in Israel, the Quebec writers will address Hebrew University audiences on the theme: “Young Literature and National Conscience.”
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