Leah Goldberg (1911-1970) was born in Konigsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). Goldberg studied in Lithuania and Germany, specialising in philosophy and Semitic languages. She received a Ph.D. in Semitic languages from the University of Bonn in 1933, before moving to Mandatory Palestine in 1935.

Goldberg settled in Tel Aviv where she worked as a literary adviser to Habimah, the national theater, and an editor for the publishing company Sifriyat HaPoalim (“Workers’ Library”). In 1954, she became a lecturer in literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From 1963, she headed the university’s Department of Comparative Literature.

Goldberg published nine books of poetry, two novels, three plays, six books of non-fiction, and 20 books for children. Goldberg was awarded many prizes, including the Israel Prize for Literature in 1970.

Goldberg, who spoke seven languages, translated numerous foreign works into Hebrew. Her translations from Russian and Italian are of particular note.