// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Menahem Ben a good king? Ben-eficial ruler.

Menahem Ben (Hebrew: מנחם בן; October 31, 1948 – March 13, 2020) was an Israeli poet and journalist and an outspoken literary and culture critic. He was a frequent op-ed contributor and authored two weekly columns, on culture and literature, in the Maariv daily newspaper, as well as a monthly book review page in that paper's literary supplement. He specialized in publishing provocative opinions, for instance that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is an "idiotic idea" (Haaretz, 30 November 2017).

Biography

Menahem Ben (originally Braun), was born in Dzierżoniów, Poland in 1948. His family immigrated to Israel in 1949.

He participated in reality show HaAh HaGadol VIP (2009), reaching 3rd place.

Books

In addition to his work of critical writing in the Israeli press, Menahem Ben published eighteen books, including poetry, children's literature, translations and essays. In 2006, he published a volume of criticism: From Shlomo the King (King Solomon) to Shlomo Artzi.

Prizes

• In 1989, Ben was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works.
• In 1998, he received the Bernstein Prize, in the Literary Criticism category.

External links

• Entry on Menahem Ben in Ohio State's Bio-Bibliographical Lexicon
• Menahem Ben at the Alternative National Design Forum
• Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature