
Inside Out
Etgar Keret
With Inside Out, the Jewish Museum Berlin presented an exhibition by the Israeli writer Etgar Keret.
Taking memories of his mother as his point of departure, Keret had written new short stories specifically for this occasion, and this exhibition is their world premiere. The stories portray both day-to-day family life in Israel, where the author lives, and traumatic wartime experiences inspired by the life of the author’s mother, who was born in Poland in 1934.
Past exhibition

Where
Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Gallery
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
The short stories were presented alongside objects from the collections of the Jewish Museum Berlin as well as commissions created by contemporary artists in collaboration with Keret. The interplay of memories, objects, and artistic installations allowed visitors to enter new, evocative and associative spaces that deliberately defy conventional expectations of a museum visit.
In the titular introductory text, Inside Out, Etgar Keret presents his approach to the exhibition:
Inside Out
-
Etgar Keret: Inside Out
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Inside Out / ×××¤× ×× ×××׌×
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Inside Out
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Inside Out
When you’re an adult, you are just a little detail amid the infinite universe, a speck of dust resting on the edge of the endless plain known as the world. But when you’re a child, creation goes in the opposite direction: from the inside outward. You are the center of the world. What’s important to you is important, and what isn’t—simply doesn’t exist. My mother went through World War II as a child. She lost her entire family in the war, and when it was over she was left with no external, adult narrative to mediate between her experiences and the world. All she had was a giant mosaic composed of countless shards of memories and experience-fragments. A history devoid of dates and names, a chronicle of sensations and fears and smells: her own private history.
In Jewish culture, an ancient tradition stems from the Exodus verse, “And you shall tell your children.” Every Jewish person is obliged to relay to their children what happened to their ancestors, and to their ancestors’ ancestors, to preserve the nation’s heritage. My mother did not hesitate to share our family history with me, as she remembered it: without names, without dates. From the inside out. Continuing this tradition, I try to share this history with my son, and now—with you.

Etgar Keret: Inside Out / ×××¤× ×× ×××׌×
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
×××¤× ×× ×××׌×
×׊××Ş× ××××ר ××Ş× ×¨×§ ×¤×¨× ×§×× ×××§×× ×××× ×Ą×פ×, ×ר×ר ×××§ ×× × ×׊××× ×××Ş× ××׊×ר ×××Ş× × ××ר ×× ×§×¨× ×˘×××. ××× ×׊××Ş× ×××, ××× × ××¨× ×××××§ ×××פ×: ×××¤× ×× ×××׌×. ××Ş× ×ר×× ×ע×××. ×× ×Š×׊×× ×× ×׊××, ××× ×Š×× - פ׊×× ×× ×§×××. ×××× ×˘××¨× ×ת ××××ת ×ע××× ××Š× ××× ×××××. ××××× ×××××× ××× ××××× ×ת ×× ×׊פ×ת×, ××ץ×××× × ××Ş×¨× ×××× ××× ×Š×× ×§×¨×× ×× ××ר ׊×× ×Ą× ×פ׊ר ××× ×××××ת×× ××¤× ××××ת ×××× ×ע××× ×Š×××׼, רק ×˘× ×¤×Ą×פץ ע׌×× ×Š× ×Š××¨× ×××ר×× ×ת ×רץ××Ą× ×××××ת: ××ץ××ר×× × ×××ת ת×ר×××× ×׊××ת, ××ץ××ר×× ×Š× ×Ş××׊×ת ×פ×××× ×ר×××ת, ×××ץ××ר×× ×פר××ת ׊××. ×תר××ת ××××××ת ×§×××ת ×ץ×רת עת×קת ××××× ×Š× "×××ת ××× ×", ×Š×˘× ×¤×× ×׌××× ×× ××××× ×ץפר ×××××× ×ת ×Š×§×¨× ××××ת×× ×××××ת ×××ת××, ××× ×Š×××ר׊ת ×Š× ××˘× ×× ×Ş×ע××. ×××× ×× ×××Ą×Ą× ×××××§ ×××Ş× ×ת ץ×פ×ר ×׊פ××Ş× × ××¤× ×Š×××¨× ××ת×, ××× ××××, ×××¤× ×× ×××׌×: ××× ×Š××ת, ××× ×Ş×ר××××, ק׌ת ××× ××××; ץ×פ×ר ׊××ת×, ××׌××ת ××ץ×רת ××××××ת, ×× × ××××§ ××××¨× ××Š× ×× ×˘× ×× ×, ×׊×׊×× ×××××§ ×× ××ת××.
You can read and listen to the nine short stories Etgar Keret wrote for the exhibition right here. Keret has narrated the Hebrew originals and the English translations himself. The German versions are narrated by Daniel Kehlmann, a friend of Etgar Keret. (You can find the German audio versions on the German webpage for the exhibition).
Razor
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Etgar Keret: Razor
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Razor / ץ××× ×××××
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Razor
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Razor
When I was a child, my mother hugged me all the time. All mothers hug their kids a lot, I know, but my mother hugged me more than a lot. I liked it. I loved the way she was always touching me: kissing, enveloping, stroking. But over time I began to notice that when she touched me, it was always with the back of her hand, never the palm.
One evening at bedtime, my mom finished reading me a story and then stroked my face with the back of her hand. “Mom,” I asked her, “how come all the other moms stroke like this…” (I demonstrated a caress with the palm of my hand) “and you’re the only one who strokes like this?” (I demonstrated again).
My mother smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “When I was little,” she said, “I didn’t have a home like you do, only an orphanage. And the people there, some of them didn’t always want to be good to me. So to be on the safe side, I stuck a piece of gum to the palm of my hand, and I lodged a razor blade in the gum.” She showed me how she stuck the gum to her hand, then inserted an imaginary blade into the invisible gum. When she’d finished, she held the back of her hand to my face and caressed me gently. “This,” she whispered secretively, “is how I stroked the people I liked. And this…” – she let the palm of her hand hover millimeters from my face without touching it – “is how I stroked the ones I didn’t like so much.”
The palm of my mom’s hand was so close to my face that I could feel its warmth. The blade didn’t touch me, but I knew it was there. Palm of the hand, back of the hand – until that evening, I’d never know they were so different.

Etgar Keret: Razor / ץ××× ×××××
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
ץ××× ×××××
×׊××××Ş× ×××, ××× ×Š×× ××××§× ×××Ş× ××××. ×× ×××××ת ××××§×ת ×ת ×××××× ×Š××× ×ר××, ×× × ×××ע, ××× ××× ×Š×× ××××§× ×××Ş× ×ר×× ××××××. ××××Ş× ×ת ××. ××××Ş× ×Š× ××˘× ×× ×× ××××: × ×׊ק×, ע×פ×, ××××¤× ×ת ×¤× ××. ××× ×˘× ×××× ×Š××Ş× ×× ×Š××Š× ××˘× ××, ×× ×Ş××× ××× ×˘× ××Ś× ×××׌×× × ×Š× ×ף ×××, ×ף ×¤×˘× ×× ×˘× ××Ś× ××¤× ×××.
×˘×¨× ×××, ×׊׊×××Ş× ××××× ×××××, ׊×××××§ ץ×××× ×ץפר ×× ×Ą×פ×ר ××¤× × ×׊×× ×, ××××¤× ×ת ×¤× ×× ××× ×××, ׊×××Ş× ××ת×: ×´×××, ××× ×× ×××××ת ×××ר×ת ××× ×××פ×ת ×××…×´ ××××××Ş× ××××ף ×˘× ××Ś× ××¤× ××× ×Š× ×ף ×××, ×´×רק ×ת ×××פת ×××?×´ ×××××Ş× ×Š××.
××× ×Š×× ××××× ×× ××Š×§× ×××Ş× ×˘× ××׌×. ×´×׊××××Ş× ×§×× ×,×´ ××× ×Ą×פר×, ×´×× ××× ×× ××ת ××× ×Š×׊ ××, רק ××ת ×ת××××, ×××× ×Š×× ×Š× ×× ×Ş××× ×¨×Ś× ×ע׊×ת ×× ××ר×× ×××××. ×× ××תר ×××××× ××××§×Ş× ×ת××ת ×ץ×××§ ××Ś× ××¤× ××× ×Š× ×ף ××× ×Š××, ×××ץ×××§ ×׌×××Ş× ×Ą××× ×××××.×´ ××× ×Š×× ×××××× ×ת ×Ş× ×עת ×××קת ××ץ×××§, ××× ×׌×××× ××ץ×××§ ××××Ş× × ×¨×× ×Ą××× ××××× ××××× ×ת. ×׊ץ×××× ××× ×§×¨×× ×ת ×× ××× ×× ×¤× ×× ×××××¤× ×××Ş× ×ע××× ×ת. ×´×××,×´ ××× ×××Š× ×××ת×קת ץ××, ×´××××¤×Ş× ×ת ×× ×Š×××ת×. ××××...×´ ××× ×××¨× ××××××× ×Ş× ×עת ××××ף ×˘× ×ף ××× ×Š×¨×××¤× ××××××ר×× ×××××, ×´××× ××××¤×Ş× ×ת ××× ×Š××××Ş× ×¤××ת.×´ ×ף ××× ×Š× ××× ×××Ş× ×× ×× ×§×¨××× ××¤× ××, ׊×××××Ş× ××ר××׊ ×ת ××× ××פ×, ××ף ׊×× ××Š×Ş× ×××× ×ץ××× ×××˘×Ş× ×Š××× × ××Ś× ×Š×. ×ף ××-×× ××, ×˘× ×××Ş× ×˘×¨× ×× ×××˘×Ş× ×Š×׊ ××× ××× ××× ××××.
Fabric
-
Etgar Keret: Fabric
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Fabric / ××
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Fabric
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Fabric
Before I was born, my mother worked at an advertising firm in Tel Aviv. It was a demanding job, and she wanted to devote as much time as possible to her kids, so when I was a baby, she quit her job and opened a fabric store on a little street in our town of Ramat Gan. “Fabric Basement” was on a basement floor with no windows, and it looked a bit like a musty cellar, but everything inside the store was decorated in good taste. Mom used to take me with her to work every day, put me on the counter in a bassinet, and there I spent my hours listening to her stern pronouncements on questions of cleavage and rivets, and inquisitively watching the eager women who entered the dimly lit basement to search for the perfect fabric and cut for the dress of their dreams. Mom liked to say that because of all those hours I spent in the store, I learned how to pay compliments to older women long before I learned how to walk.
I remember my mother hoisting heavy rolls of fabric around in that narrow, dark space. It was hard work and not very rewarding, but when I was little, the “Fabric Basement” seemed to me like a sort of secret kingdom, where my mother reigned supreme. Her subjects came to her with their hopes and dreams, and she, the queen mother, proclaimed which options made them look thinner and which fatter, what was flattering and what looked cheap. She spoke with no hesitation or excessive politeness, just as a queen should. And the women kept coming to that little side street in Ramat Gan from all over the country, so that my mother could flip through the stacks of Burda magazines piled neatly on the counter and select the patterns that would accentuate their advantages and conceal everything else. “Not everyone can be beautiful,” Mom told me once, “but if you make an effort and you don’t give up, you can always be less ugly.”

Etgar Keret: Fabric / ××
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
××
××¤× × ×Š× ×××ת×, ××× ×Š×× ×˘××× ×××Š×¨× ×¤×רץ×× ××Ş× ××××. ׊ע×ת ×ע×××× ××× ×Ş×××˘× ××ת, ×××Š× ×××ת×, ××××, ×Š×¨×Ś×Ş× ×××§××׊ ××× ×¨× ××× ××פ׊ר ××××××, ×תפ××¨× ×פת×× ×× ×ת ×××× ×ר××× ××§×× ×ר×ת ×× ×Š×× ××¨× ×. ××× ×ת ××××× ×Š× ×××× ×§×¨×× "×××Ą× ××××". ××× ×××Ş× ×רתפ×ת ×× ×××ת ×××× ×ת ×× ×¨××Ş× ×¤××ת ××× ×× ×ת ×××תר ××× ×רתף ×× ××§×× ××××, ××× ×× ×× ×Š××× ×ת××× ××× ×˘×Š×× ×××× ×ע×. ×׊××××Ş× ×¤×˘×× ×××Ş× ×××× ×××§×ת ×××Ş× ×××Ş× ××× ×ת ××× ×××, ×× ××× ×××Ş× ×ער××Ą× ×˘× ×××פק, ××× ××××Ş× ×××× ×Š×˘×ת: ××××× ××§××ע×ת ×× ×ר׌×ת ×Š× ×××× ×ץ××××ת ××׊×פ×× ××Š× ××××, ××ת××× × ××Ą×§×¨× ×ת ××× ×× ×Š×× ×× ×¨×׊×ת ׊××××˘× ××רתף ××פ×××× ××ץע ×××פ×׊ ×××¨× ××× ×××××¨× ×× ××× ×× ×׊××ת ×××××ת×××. ××× ×Š×× ×××× ×ץפר ׊×××× ×׊ע×ת ×ר××ת ׊×××××Ş× ×˘× ××פק ××× ×ת ×××˘×Ş× ×××××× ×× ×Š×× ××××ר×ת ×ר×× ××¤× × ×Š×××˘×Ş× ×××ת.
×× × ×××ר ×ת ×××× ×× ××¤× ××××× ×× ××××× ××××Ş× ××× ×Ś×¨ ×××××. ××ת ×××Ş× ×˘×××× ×§×Š× ××× ×××× ×ת×××ת, ××× ××××, ×ר××Š×Ş× ××××× "×××Ą× ××××" ××× ×ע×× ××××× ×Ą×××ת ×Š× ××××, ××§×× ×Š×× ×××Ş× ××׊×× ××× ×¨××. ×× ×Ş×× ×× ××××˘× ×××× ×˘× ×ק׊×ת××× ××××××ת×××, ××××, ××××× ×××, ×××Ş× ×§××עת ×× ×׊××× ××× ×× ×××, ×× ××××× ××× ×××, ××× ××ץ×ץ ×××× ×××¨× × ×××ץ ×××תר××, ×××××§ ××¤× ×Š×××× ××××¨× ×פץ××§. ××× ×Š×× ××× ××׊×××ת ××××ע ××× ×§×Ś××ת ××ר׼ ××××Ş× ×¨××× ×Ś××× ×ר×ת ××, ×תק××× ×Š×××× ×Ş×Ś××× ××׌×× ×××˘× ×, ×××× ×ע׊ר×ת ×××××× ×ת ×××ר×× ×Š× ×˘×¨×× ×˘× ×××פק ×ץ×ר ××פת×, ×ת ××××¨× ×××× ×××׊×××× ×Š×××××× ×ת ×× ×× ×Š×××× ×××××× ××× ××ץת××¨× ×ת ×× ×׊×ר. "×× ×× ××× ×××× ××××ת ×פ×," ×××¨× ×× ×¤×˘× ××××, "××× ×× ×× ×Ą××, ×׊ת××××, ××× ×××תר××, ת××× ×פ׊ר ××××ת פ××ת ×××ער."
Birthdays
-
Etgar Keret: Birthdays
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Birthdays / ××× ××××ת
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Birthdays
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Birthdays
When I was a little boy, I envied my sister’s birthday. Because Dana was born on November 21, the same date as my mother, while I was born on just an ordinary date. My sister and mother used to celebrate their birthdays together, with a shared cake and a shared party that was always joyful and festive and made all other birthdays seem lonely and sad. Mom said it was natural for my sister and her, the only girls in our family, to have been born on the same date, and that if my brother and I had been as responsible as Dana, we would have made sure to be born on our dad’s birthday. When my sister became ultra-Orthodox, she began marking her birthday according to the Hebrew calendar, and that was the end of the joint celebrations.
On my mother’s eightieth birthday, my brother and I took her to Warsaw. We wanted to do something special for this momentous occasion, and what could be more special than my mother’s first visit to Poland since the war? Her reunion with the place and language she had known as a child was extremely moving. While we were there, we visited the local archives and asked to see my mother’s papers. To our surprise, we discovered that the date on which we’d celebrated her birthday for decades was not her real date of birth: she was born in January. Mom turned slightly pale as she studied her birth certificate, and asked us to find her somewhere to sit and, if possible, a cigarette and an espresso. “Are you all right?” I asked as we sat down at a nearby café. She nodded: “I’m fine, just a little surprised.” After sipping some coffee, she added with a sigh, “Not that it makes any difference. I’ll never get those ten months of social security payments back.”

Etgar Keret: Birthdays / ××× ××××ת
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
××× ××××ת
×׊××××Ş× ××× ×§×× ××Ş× ×××× ×××××ת ×Š× ×××ת×. ×××ת×, ×× ×, × ×××× ×ע׊ר×× ×××× ×× ××××ר, ×ת×ר×× ×Š×× × ×××× ××××, ××××× ×× × × ××××Ş× ××Ą×Ş× ×××. ××××Ş× ××××× ××× ×××××ת ×ת ××× ×××××Ş× ×××, ×˘× ×˘××× ×׊×תפת ××ץ××× ×׊×תפת, ×××ת ת××× ×××Ş× ×ץ××× ×Š××× ××××××ת ׊×ר×× ××× ××× ×××××ת ×××ר×× ×××ר××ת ×××××× ×ע׌××××. ××× ×Š×× ×××¨× ×Š×× ×× ×××˘× ×Š××××Ş× ××××, ××× ×ת ××××××ת ××׊פ××Ş× ×, ××××××× ××××Ş× ××××, ×׊×× ××× ××× × ×××× × ××ר×××× ××× ×× ×, ×××× × ×קפ×××× ××××××× ×××× ×××××Ş× ×Š× ×××× ×. ×׊××××Ş× ×××¨× ×ת׊×××, ××× ×××× ××××× ×ת ××× ×××××Ş× ××¤× ××× ××Š× × ×ע×ר×, ×××××ת ××× ×××××ת ××׊×תפ×× ×Ş××.
×××× ×××××Ş× ×׊××× ×× ×Š× ×××× × ×Ą×˘× × ×××Ş× ××× ××× × ×××ר׊×. ר׌×× × ××××× ×ת ××× ×××××ת ×ע××× ×××ר׊×× ××× ××××¤× ×××××, ××× ××× ×××× ××××ת ××××× ××תר ××××§×ר ר×׊×× ×Š× ×××× ×פ×××× ××× ××××××? ××פ×׊ ×××××׊ ×˘× ××§×× ××Š×¤× ×Š××××¨× ××××× ××× ×ר×׊ ×˘× ××ע×ת. ××××× ××××§×ר, פק×× × ×ת ××ר××× ×××§×××, ××׊×××§×Š× × ×ע××× ×ת××§ ×Š× ×××× ××××× × ×××¤×Ş×˘×Ş× × ×Š×ת×ר×× ×Š×× ×××× × ×××Ş× ×ת ××× ×××××Ş× ×˘×Š×¨×ת ×Š× ×× ××× × ×Ş×ר×× ×××××Ş× ××××ת×, ×׊×××× × ×××× ××× ××ר ×Š× ×××Ş× ×Š× ×. ×׊××× ×¨××Ş× ×ת תע××ת ××××× ××ר×××, ××× ×××§×Š× ×Š× ××Ś× ×× ××§×× ×׊×ת ××, ××× ×פ׊ר, ×× ×Ą××ר×× ××Ą×¤× ×ץפרץ×. "×ת ×ץ×ר?" ׊×××Ş× ×××Ş× ×××¨× ×Š×ת××׊×× × ×××ת ×§×¤× ×Ą×××, ×××× ×× ×× × ×××ר×, "×× × ×ץ×ר ×××ר, ××× ×× ×× ×××ת×, ×× ×× ×××ת ××Š× ×," ××××¨× ×Š×××× ×××§×¤× ××ץ×פ×, "×ת ע׊רת ××××׊×× ×Š× ×Ş×Š×××× ×××××× ×××××× ×Š×פץ×ת×, ××ר ×× × ×§×× ×ע×××".
Cabbage Fields
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Etgar Keret: Cabbage Fields
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Cabbage Fields / ׊××ת ×ר××
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Over and Over
Animation: Tatia Rosenthal
Music: Traveling Nightmare by Christopher Bowen
Commissioned work based on Cabbage Fields
New York 2022

Etgar Keret: Cabbage Fields
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Cabbage Fields
I only heard my mother’s stories about the war once. She never told me them again, and I never asked her to. All except for one story, which I begged her to tell me over and over.
It’s a memory of hers from the early days of the war. The Germans were about to enter Mszczonów, and my grandmother decided, as did many residents, to take my mother and her little brother and leave. As my mother tells it, they walked as fast as they could, fearing the Germans would soon catch up. But my grandmother – carrying a baby in her arms – and my mother, couldn’t keep up with all the other locals who were fleeing the village. The people rushing past them got farther and farther away, until they disappeared around a bend, and the only person matching their slow and steady pace was a tall man who walked a few yards ahead of them with an enormous pendulum clock strapped to his back. My mother was delighted by the giant clock, and thought it very fortunate that even here, in the middle of the countryside on a dirt road winding its way through endless fields of cabbage, she could always tell what time it was.
After walking for a long time, the clock and its carrier began to slow down. Just as they had almost caught up with him, the tall man fell to the ground with the clock still on his back. My mother and grandmother were also exhausted, and when they saw a vehicle coming towards them from some distance, Grandma told my mom they would have to hide. They ran into the field, and my mother’s little brother, clearly startled by the sudden dash, began to cry. They lay down on the ground among the cabbages, and my grandmother breastfed her whimpering son. She knew they hadn’t got far enough from the road, and that the sound of a crying baby would give them away.
The three of them lay silently in the middle of a cabbage field while the baby nursed. My mother said that she felt a brief sense of peacefulness. For a moment, all the overwhelming anxieties and fears gave way to a world with no malice, no hatred, no danger. A world in which there was nothing but them, and the damp soil, and the cabbages. But then she sensed a figure blocking the sunlight. She looked up and saw a German soldier with a helmet and a rifle watching, transfixed, as my grandmother nursed her child. Grandma saw him, but she did not know what she could do or say, so she simply ignored him and continued to breastfeed. Mom said the soldier stood over them for a long time, then turned his back and walked away, leaving the mother and her two children in their own world—a world of cabbage.

Etgar Keret: Cabbage Fields / ׊××ת ×ר××
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
׊××ת ×ר××
×ת ×ץ×פ×ר×× ×Š× ×××× ×תק×פת ×××××× ×Š××˘×Ş× ×¨×§ ×¤×˘× ××ת. ××× ×× ×Ą××¤×¨× ×××Ş× ×Š×× ××× × ×× ××ק׊ת×. ×××× ×Ą×פ×ר ×××, ׊×××Ş× ×ת×× × ×Ş× ×Š×Ş×Ą×¤×¨ ׊×× ×׊××. ×× ×Ą×פ×ר ×××××× ×ר×׊×× ×× ×Š× ××××××. ××ר×× ×× ×˘××× ××××× ×Ą ×××׊׌'×× ××, ×ץ×ת×, ××× ×¨××× ××ר××, ××§×× ×××Ş× ×ת ×××××, ×××× ×ת ×××׊ ××××× ×פע××, ×× ×××× ××ע××ר×. ××× ×Š×× ×Ą××¤×¨× ×Š×× ×תק××× ××ר ××× ×Š××××, ×× ×××× ××§×× ×× × ×ץ×ת×, ×Š× ×Š×× ×ת ×ת×× ××§ ××ר×ע×ת××, ×× ×׌×××× ×ע××× ××§×Ś× ×Š× ×× ×× ××××× ×××ר××. ××× ×Š×× ×Š×˘×§×¤× ×ת ×××× ××ת ץ××Ş× ×××× ××תר××§× ××× ×˘× ×Š× ×˘××× ×פ×ת×× ××ר×, ×××××× ×Š××׊×× ×׊××ר ×˘× ×§×Ś× ×××× ××§××ע ××× ××ר ת××ר ×Š×Ś×˘× ××× ×˘×Š×¨×ת ××ר×× ××¤× ××× ×× ×Š× ×˘× ××× ×Š×˘×× ×××××ת ×˘× ×§×. ××× ×Š×× ×Ą××¤×¨× ×Š×Š×˘×× ××××××ת ×ע׌×× ×Š××× ×××Ş× ×××× ×ר×××Š× ×ת ××× ×Š×פ××× ×××, ×××׌ע ×××׊ עפר ××¤×¨× ××× ×Š××ת ×ר×× ×××Ş× × ××ר××, ××× ×××× ××עת ××× ×¨×ע ×× ×׊ע×. ×××¨× ××§×ת ×ר×××ת ×Š× ×Ś×˘×××, ׊ע×× ××××××ת ׊××¤× ××× ××× ×××× ×ת ׌ע×××, ××׊××ר ××× ××׊ קר×××ת ××××, ×׊תרע ×××ר ×ת××ר ×˘× ××××׊ ×׊×׊ע×× ×˘×××× ×§×Š×ר ××××. ×× ××××× ××ץ××Ş× ××× ×××××ר ××××, ××׊ר×× ××ר××§ ר×× ×× ×ץע ×××××× ×, ×××¨× ×Ą××Ş× ××××× ×Š×× ×××××ת ××××× ×Ą ×ת×× ×Š×× ××ר×× ×××ץתתר ××. ×× ×¨×Ś× ×ת×× ×׊××. ×××× ×פע×× ×Š× ××××, ׊×× ×¨×× × ××× ××תק××××Ş× ×פת××××ת ××פ×××, ××× ××××ת. ×× ××Š×Ş×¨×˘× ×˘× ×קרקע ××× ×××××× ××ר××. ץ××Ş× ×××Ś× ×Š× ××× ××× ××§ ×ת ×ת×× ××§ ××××××. ××× ×××˘× ×Š×× ×× ×ץפ××§× ××תר××§ ×××××׊ ×׊×××× ×Š× ×ת×× ××§ ע××× ××ץ××ר ×ת ×××§×××.
×××× ×Š× ×××× ×ץ××× ××× ××§. ××× ×Š××× ×Š×××Š×Ş× ×׊ת××§× ××× ×Š×× ×ר××. ××× ×Š×× ×××רת ׊פת××× ××× ××Š× ×Š××××, ×׊×× ××ר××ת ××פ×××× ×Š×׌××¤× ×××Ş× ×פ×× ×× ×¨×ע ×ע××× × ××× ××××, × ××× ×Š× ××, × ××× ×Ą×× ×, ע××× ×Š××× ×× ××ר ×××××, ××׼ ××××× ××× ××ר××. ×פתע ×ר×××Š× ×××× ×Š×׊×× ×××Ą× ×ת ×׊×׊. ××× ×ר××× ×ת ×××× ×××××Ş× ×Š×ע××× ×˘××× ×××× ×ר×× × ×××׊ ×××׊ ×קץ×× ××××× ×××××¤× × ×ץ××Ş× ××ת×× ××§ ×××× ×§ ××× ×. ץ××Ş× ××××× × ×××××, ×× ×××××× ×Š××××× ×× ×××˘× ×× ×ע׊×ת ×× ×××ר, פ׊×× ×תע××× ××§×××× ×××׊××× ××× ××§. ×××× ×××רת ׊××××× ×˘×× ×ע×××× ×¨×ע ×ר××, ××× ××¤× × ×ת ××× ××תר××§ ×׊×, ××׊××ר ×ת ××××, ×ת ץ××Ş× ××ת ×××× ×פע×× ×ע××××, ע××× ×Š×××× ×ר××.
Music
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Etgar Keret: Music
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Music / ×××××§×
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Music
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Music
When I was growing up, we had a black wooden piano in the living room. My parents never played it, and even though my brother and sister and I all took lessons, none of us kept up with it. The piano sat there, bereft, for more than fifty years, and we only gave it away after my mother died. Throughout those fifty years, I never asked myself why the piano that no one ever touched was still there. To me, it was a black wooden memorial to my mother’s great love of music: a monument designed to make sure everyone who happened to find themselves in our living room knew that the Kerets could not live without music.
When my mother used to come home from her fabric shop in the evenings, she would start making dinner for the family. While she cooked, she listened to clamorous current affairs shows on the radio. But after dinner, when she’d finished cleaning and tidying up, she would put on a record, sit down at the kitchen table, light a cigarette and listen to music. On peaceful evenings it might be Chopin’s Nocturnes or Satie’s Gymnopédies, but when someone got on her nerves or if, conversely, she was in an unusually good mood, she would sometimes play a little Wagner.
At that time in Israel, Wagner’s music was taboo. His antisemitic positions, and the admiration he’d earned from Hitler, meant that the composer’s work was never performed or played on Israeli radio and television. Fortunately for us, our neighbors in Ramat Gan didn’t know enough about classical music to identify The Rhein’s Gold or Tristan and Isolde. But one evening, the downstairs neighbor came up to borrow some eggs, interrupting my mother in the middle of her cigarette. Impressed by the bellowing music, she asked who the composer was, and when my mother replied that it was Richard Wagner, the neighbor turned pale. “Mrs. Keret,” she cried, “you can’t play Wagner in your home! Especially not in front of the children. He’s an antisemite.” “More than that, though,” said my mother, “he’s dead.” “Yes, but the Nazis loved his music,” the neighbor insisted. “So they loved it,” Mom muttered impatiently, “they loved apple strudel, too – so I should stop eating apples?”

Etgar Keret: Music / ×××××§×
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
×××××§×
×ץ××× ×××Ş× × ×˘×× ×¤×Ą× ×Ş×¨ ע׼ ׊××ר. ×××¨× ×× × ××× × ×× ×ע×××, ××ף ×˘× ×¤× ×Š×××, ××××Ş× ××× × ×§×××× × ××××××Ş× × ××× ×Š×ע××¨× ×¤×Ą× ×Ş×¨, ×ף ××× ××××Ş× × ×× ×ת××× ×××. ××¤×Ą× ×Ş×¨ ×׊××ר × ××Ś× ××××Ş× ××××Ş× × ××תר ××××׊×× ×Š× ×, ×רק ×××¨× ×××Ş× ×Š× ×××× ××× × ×ץר. ×××Š× ×××Ş× ×××׊×× ×Š× × ×× ×Š×××Ş× ×ת ע׌×× ×ף ×¤×˘× ×××ע × ×תר ××¤×Ą× ×Ş×¨ ××× ×××ת, ×ף ×˘× ×¤× ×Š×˘×Š×¨×ת ×Š× ×× ××׊ ×× × ×ע ××§×××××. ×׊×××× ××× ××¤×Ą× ×Ş×¨ ×× ×ר×ת ע׼ ׊×××¨× ×××××Ş× ×××××× ×Š× ×××× ××××××§×, ××× ××× × ×Š×Ş×¤×§××× ×××××ר ××× ×˘××ר ×××¨× ×Š××§×ע ×ץ××× ×Š×× × ×Š×××ת ×׊פ×ת קרת ×× ×××××× ××××ת ××× ×××××§×.
××××, ×׊×××Ş× ×××רת ××˘×¨× ××× ×ת ××××× ×Š××, ××× ×××Ş× ×ת×××× ××××× ×ת ×ר××ת ××˘×¨× ××׊פ×ת×ת, ××××× ×Š××׊×× ×× ××××× × ××××××§×, רק ×׊××××¨× ×××§×××××× ××§××× ××× ×ר×××. ××× ×××¨× ××ר×××, ×××ר ׊×××Ş× ×ץ×××ת ×× ×§×ת ××ץ×ר, ××× ×××Ş× ×Š×× ×Ş×§××× ×פ××פ××, ×ת××׊×ת ××××Ą× ×ע׼ ×××××, ×××××§× ×ע׌×× ×Ą××ר×× ××ק׊××× ××××××§×. ×ער××× ×××תר ׊××××× ×××Ş× ××××× ×××××× ×× ××§×××¨× ×× ×Š× ×Š××¤× ×× ××'××× ×פ××× ×Š× ×Ą×××, ××× ×× ××׊×× ×ר××× ×××Ş× ×× ×׊×××Ş× ×Š××× ××××××, ×××Ş× ×Š×× ×Ş×§××× ×Š× ××× ×¨.
××׊ר××, ××Š× ×× ×××, ××××××§× ×Š× ××× ×¨ ×××Ş× ××××. ×ע×ת×× ××× ××׊×××ת ×Š× ××××××, ××× ×× ×ע×××× ×Š××× × ×˘×¨×Ľ ×˘× ××××ר, ×ר×× ××× ×Š×׌×ר×ת×× ×× × ××× × ××§×× ×Ś×¨××× ××׊ר×× ××× ××׊××˘× ×ר××× ××××××××××. ××××× ×, ×׊×× ×× ×Š×× × ×ר×ת ×× ×× ××× ××§×××× ×ץפ××§ ××××××§× ×§××ץ×ת ×××× ××××ת ×ת "××× ×ר×××" ×× ×ת "×ר×ץ×× ××××××××". ×˘× ×Š×˘×¨× ××× ×פר××˘× ×׊×× × ××××× ××××× ×××××§ ×××׌ע ×ץ××ר×× ×Š×× ××××§×Š× ×׊××× ××× ××׌××. ×׊×× ×, ׊×××× ×תר׊×× ×××××××§× ×ר×ע×ת, ׊××× ×× ×××ר ××ת×, ××׊×××× ×××¨× ×× ×Š×××××× ××× ×¨×××¨× ××× ×¨, ××× ××××××¨× ×××. "××רת קרת," ×××¨× ×׊×× × ××××× ××§×× × ×Ą×˘×¨, "×ת ×× ××××× ××׊××ע ××× ×¨ ×׌×× ×××ת, ×ע×× ××× ××××××! ××× ×× ××׊××." "××× ×ע×קר ×ת," ×××¨× ××××. "××× ×× ×׌××..." ××Ş×˘×§×Š× ×׊×× ×, "×× ×××× ×ת ××××××§× ×××ת." "×× ×× ××××," ר×× × ×××× ××§×׌ר ר××, "×× ×××× ×× ××¤×¤× ×Š×ר×××, ×× ××, ׊×× × ×פץ××§ ××××× ×Ş×¤×××× ?"
Bedtime Story
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Etgar Keret: Bedtime Story
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Bedtime Story / ץ×פ×ר ××¤× × ×׊×× ×
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Bedtime Story
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Bedtime Story
The first time my mother told me about her father, I was a kindergartener. I remember lying in bed in my pajamas, while Mom sat on the edge of my bed and proudly relayed the story. Soon after the Germans occupied Poland, she told me, one of my mother’s non-Jewish neighbors began collaborating with the Nazis. He was a short man with black hair and a large nose. As my mother said, “he looked like a caricature of a Jew,” and he took advantage of this to pose as one, which allowed him to uncover the hiding places used by his Jewish neighbors and turn them in. After Mom and her family were moved into the ghetto, they no longer saw this neighbor, although they continued to hear horrific stories about his informing on people. One morning, my mother and her father walked out of the ghetto with a simple plan: they would buy a loaf of bread on the black market, sell individual slices in the ghetto to cover their costs, and keep a couple of pieces for the hungry family. They slipped out and walked down the streets of Warsaw without wearing their yellow stars. This was extremely dangerous, but since they were both fair-haired, they hoped they wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.
In the crowded town square, they happened to come across their informant neighbor, who didn’t think twice before grabbing my grandfather by the shirt collar and yelling, “Jews! Jews!” My grandfather tried to break free, but he realized that even if he could, they would instantly be surrounded by passersby who would never let them escape. He looked at my mother and gave her a wink meant to reassure her, or at least make sure she knew that even in this terrifying moment, he was thinking only of her. Then he grabbed the neighbor by his collar and shouted, “Jew! Jew! I caught a Jew!” The crowd that had gathered looked on in confusion at the two men: my tall, fair-haired grandfather, and the short, black-haired neighbor (who looked, according to my mother’s description, a bit like me), clutching each other’s clothes and screeching, “Jew!” Within seconds, a few of them fell on the neighbor, pinned him to the ground, and kicked him in the head and body until he was dead.
“And that was your grandfather,” declared Mom with a smile and stood up. Before leaving my room, she leaned over, kissed my forehead, and said, “Sweet dreams!”

Etgar Keret: Bedtime Story / ץ×פ×ר ××¤× × ×׊×× ×
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
ץ×פ×ר ××¤× × ×׊×× ×
××¤×˘× ×ר×׊×× × ×Š×××× ×Ą××¤×¨× ×× ×˘× ×××× ×××Ş× ×׊××××Ş× ×××× ×××. ×× × ×××ר ×××Ş× ×Š××× ××××× ×פ××'×× ××ת ×××× ××׊×ת ×˘× ×§×Ś× ××××Ş× ××ץפרת ×× ×ת ×ץ×פ×ר ××× ××××××: ××× ×××¨× ×Š××ר×× ×× ×××Š× ×ת פ××××, ××¤× ××× ×׊×× ×× ××× ×××××× ×Š× ×׊פ××Ş× ×Š× ×××× ××׊תף פע××× ×˘× ×× ×׌××.×׊×× ××× ××× ×Š×ער ׊××ר, ×××× ××× × ××× ×××˘× ×ף ××××, ×˘× ×¤× ×××× ××× "× ×¨×× ××× ×§×¨××§×××¨× ×Š× ×××××", ×××× × ××Ś× ××ת ××× ××ת×××ת ××××, ××× ××׊×ף ××§×××ת ×ץת×ר ×Š× ×××××× ×××ץ××ר×. ×××× ×Š××ע××¨× ×××× ×× ×× ×¤××Š× ×Š×× ××××Ş× ×Š××, ××× ×ץ×פ×ר×× ×× ×ר××× ×˘× ×××Š× ×ת×× ××˘× ×§×ר×× ×ת××× ××׊××× ××××ע. ××קר ××× ×׌×× ×Ą×× ××××× ×××××. ×ת××× ×ת ׊××× ×××Ş× ×¤×Š×××: ×ר××׊ ×××ר ××× ×׊××§ ×׊××ר, ×פר×ץ ××ת×, ×××ר ×× ××××ר ×ת ×פר×ץ×ת ×××× ××××ר ׊×××Ą× ×ת ע××ת ××××ר ×ע×××× ×׊××ר פר××Ą× ×× ×Š×Ş××× ××× × ××׊פ×× ×רע×××. ץ×× ××××× ×ת×× ×× ×× ×××׼ ×××× ×׌ע×× ×ר××××ת ××¨×Š× ××× ×××× ×Ś×××. ×× ××× ×ץ××× ××××, ××× ×Ą×× ×××××, ׊××× ××××¨× ×Š×ער, ×§××× ×Š××׊ ×× ××׊×× ×××.
×××ת ××××ר×ת ×׌פ×פ×ת ×ע×ר ×× × ×Ş×§×× ×¤×Ş××× ×׊×× ×××׊×. ×׊×× ×× ××ץץ ×ר×ע: ××× ××× ××× ××׊ ××××Ś×Ş× ×Š× ×Ą×× ×××× ×׌ע××§, "××××××! ××××××!" ץ××, ×Š× ××Ą× ××׊ת×רר ××פ×תת×, ×××× ×Š×ת×× ××× ×¨×ע×× ××ר ××××Ş×¨× ×ע××ר×-××ר×, ×׊×× ×× ×׌××× ××׊ת×רר, ××××× ××××ר ×× ×××Ş× ××××× ××× ××××××. ××× ××¤× × ×ת ×××× ×ע×ר ×××× ×קר׼ קר××Ś× ×Š× ×ע×× ××ר××ע ××ת×, ×× ×פ××ת ×××××ר ×× ×Š×× ×ר×ע ××פ××× ××× ××× ×˘×××× ×××Š× ×˘×××. רק ע×××.
ץ×× ×Ş×¤×Ą ×ת ×׊×× ×××Š× ××××Ś×Ş× ×××× ×׌ע××§, "×××××! ×××××! ×Ş×¤×Ą×Ş× ×××××!" ××××× ×Š× ×ץף ץ×××× ×××× ×××××× ××Š× × ×××ר×× - ץ×× ×ת××ר ××××ר ×׊×ער, ××׊×× ×× ×××, ׊××ר ×׊×ער, ×Š×˘× ×¤× ×Ş××××¨× ×Š× ×××× × ×¨×× ×§×Ś×Ş ×××× × - ׊×××× ×× ××××× ×× ××Ś×˘×§× ××ר×× ×ת × ××ר××, "×××××!" ××ע××ר ר×ע ×Š× ××ץ×ץ ××Ą×Ş×˘×¨× ××× ×× ×Š×× ××§×× ×˘× ×׊××, ×׌×××× ×××Ş× ×קרקע ××ע×× ×ר××Š× ××׊×ר ×××§× ×××¤× ×˘× ×Š× ×¤× ×ת × ×Š×ת×. "××× ××× ×Ą×× ×Š××," ×××¨× ×××× ××××××, ×××¤× × ×Š×׌×× ××××ר ×ת××פפ×, × ×Š×§× ××׌×× ×××ר×, "×××× ×××!"
Languages
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Etgar Keret: Languages
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: Languages / ׊פ×ת
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: Languages
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
Languages
My mother could speak six languages. Since my father also read and wrote a similar number of languages, as a child I thought this was commonplace, and that languages, just like facial hair, were something I would naturally grow when I got older.
Polish and Yiddish were my mother’s native tongues. French, she learned in the orphanage in France where she was sent with other Jewish children after the war. Hebrew and English came when she made it to Israel as an illegal immigrant. She’d learned German as a little girl, when her father insisted on teaching her during the war. “This might save your life,” he explained, “it’s much harder for people to deny your humanity when you speak their language.” My mother listened and studied diligently.
One day in 1995, the phone rang at my parents’ house. The courteous caller said he was from a German cultural institution and wanted to invite me to speak at an event in Frankfurt. My mother, who introduced herself as my secretary, refused to give him my phone number but agreed to relay a message. At first they’d spoken in English, but as soon as he mentioned that he wanted to invite me to Germany, my mother switched to German. Later in the conversation, he explained that in fact he was originally from Poland but had immigrated to Germany as a boy. “Poland?” my mother replied in her perfect Polish, “I apologize. If you’d told me sooner, I would have spoken to you in Polish from the beginning.”
When I arrived at the Frankfurt event and met the man from the German cultural institution, he politely complimented my writing, but he seemed far more impressed by my private secretary than by my work. “I know from experience how hard it can be to hire a secretary with such proficiency in so many languages,” he gushed, “how did you find her?” “I don’t know,” I replied with a grin, “I just opened my eyes and there she was.”

Etgar Keret: Languages / ׊פ×ת
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
׊פ×ת
××× ×Š×× ×××˘× ×××ר ×׊׊ ׊פ×ת. ×××××× ×Š×× ××× ××ע ×קר×× ×××ת×× ×ץפר ×××× ×Š× ×Š×¤×ת, ×׊××Ş× ×ע׌××, ××××, ׊××××ר ×ת×××× ××ע×, ×׊×××עת ׊פ×ת, ×××××§ ××× ×Š×ער ×¤× ××, ××× ×׊×× ×Š×׌×× ×× ×ע׌×× ×׊×ת××ר.
פ××× ×ת ×××××׊ ××× ×׊פ×ת ×ר×׊×× ×ת ׊×××× ×¨×׊×. ׌רפת×ת ××× ×××× ×××ת ××ת×××× ×׌רפת, ׊×××× ××××˘× ×˘× ××××× ×××××× ××ר×× ×××¨× ××××××. ×ע×ר×ת ×××× ×××ת ××××˘× ×××ר ׊ע××Ş× ××××¤× ×××Ş× ××××× ××׊ר××. ×ת ××ר×× ×ת ׊×× ××× ×××× ××××× ×§×× × ×××××, ׊×תעק׊ ××ע××ר ×× ×Š×ע×ר×× ××ר×× ×ת ×××× ××××××. "×× ×××× ×׌×× ×ת ××××," ××× ×ץ××ר ××, "××× ×Š×× ×ר×× ××תר ×§×Š× ×××××׊ ×ת ××× ×׊××ת ׊×× ×׊×ת ×××רת ×ת ׊פת×." ××××× ×ק׊××× ××××× ×׊ק×× ×ת.
××Š× ×Ş 1995 ×תק׊ר ×××ת ×××¨× ××× ×××× ×Š×׌×× ×ת ע׌×× ×ע××× ×××Š×¨× ×תר××ת ××ר×× × ×××ק׊ ×××××× ×××Ş× ×××ר ×××ר×ע ××¤×¨× ×§×¤×ר×. ××××, ׊×׌××× ×ת ע׌×× ×׊××× ××××××¨× ×Š××, ץ×ר×× ×תת ×× ×ת ×ץפר ×××פ×× ××××¨× ×Š×× ×ת×××¨×¨×Ş× ××××Ş× ×˘×Ş, ××× ×ץ×××× ××ץ×ר ×× ×××ע×. ×׊××× ××× ×˘××× ××Š×¨× ×תר××ת ××ר×× × ××××× ×××× ××× ×××ת, ××× ×ר×ע ׊׌××× ×Š××× ×ע×× ××× ×××××× ×××Ş× ××ר×× ××, ×××Š× ×××× ××× ××ר×× ×ת. ×׊×× ××××ר ××תר ×׊××× ×Ą×פר ×× ××׊ ××Š×¨× ×תר××ת ׊××× ××˘×Ś× ×××× ×¤×××× ×Š×××ר ×× ×˘×ר×× ××ר×× ××. "פ××× ×?" ×××¨× ×× ×××× ×פ××× ×ת ×××׊××ת ׊××, "×× × ××Ş× ×Ś×ת. ×× ×××ת ×××ר ×× ×ת ×× ×××§×× ××תר, ××××Ş× ×¤×× × ×××× ×פ××× ×ת ×××ת××××."
××׊ר ×××˘×Ş× ×××ר×ע ×××××ר ××¤×¨× ×§×¤××¨× ×פ××Š×Ş× ×ר×׊×× ×× ×¤× ×× ×× ×¤× ×× ×ת ××׊ ××Š×¨× ×תר××ת ××ר×× ×, ××× ××××× ×× ×××ץ ××ת××ת×, ××× × ×¨×× ×Š××תר ×׊×ת××× ××Ą×¤×¨× ××× ××Ş×¤×˘× ×××××××¨× ×פר××ת ׊××. "×× ×ץ×××," ××× ××ר, "×× × ×××ע ××× ×§×Š× ××׌×× ×××××¨× ×Š×Š×××ת ×ר×× ××××× ××× ××× ×× ×ר×× ×Š×¤×ת. ××× ×׌××ת ××׌×× ××ת×?" "×× ×××ע," ×˘× ××Ş× ×××××, "פק××Ş× ×ת ע×× ×× ×××× ×¤×Š×× ×××Ş× ×Š×."
The First Angel You See
-
Etgar Keret: The First Angel You See
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: The First Angel You See / ××××× ×ר×׊××
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: The First Angel You See
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
The First Angel You See
I only ever heard this story once. My parents had just come home from a wedding, and my mother was completely drunk. If she’d had one fewer drinks that night, I probably wouldn’t be able to share this story with you. It’s a little hazy in my imagination, but in the story, my grandmother holds my mom’s little hand while carrying Mom’s baby brother, and the three of them race up the stairs in their building. Mom can hear the footsteps of the people chasing them. When they get to the roof, my grandmother tells Mom to run as fast as she can and jump onto the adjacent rooftop, which is slightly lower. “Don’t be scared,” she says, “you can do it.” Mom waits, expecting her mother to say, “And I’ll be right behind you,” but she just stands there, out of breath from the run. “When will I see you again?” my mother asks, and her mother bends over so that their faces are very close, and says, “You’re going to run as fast as you can, and then jump as far as you can, and as soon as you land you’re going to keep running and not stop until you get to Daddy. After that, you will grow up into a woman, and you will love another man and start a family with him, and in the end you’ll grow old and die. And right after you die, go up to the first angel you see and tell him: I’m going to see my mom. And he’ll know, because I’ll talk to him before you get there, and he’ll bring you to me.”
This is not where the story ends. After my mom jumped onto the other roof, she did not run as fast as she could, the way her mother had instructed her. Instead, she hid and watched the Nazi soldiers kill her mother and shatter her little brother’s head against a brick wall.
When she told me this, I could feel the heavy guilt engulfing her. But I also sensed how proud she was of her mother, who even in the last moments of her life refused to lie to her daughter. Forty-seven years after she told me the story that evening, my mother died. And the last words she said were, “I’m going to see my mom.”

Etgar Keret: The First Angel You See / ××××× ×ר×׊××
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
××××× ×ר×׊××
×ת ×ץ×פ×ר ××× ×Š××˘×Ş× ×¨×§ ×¤×˘× ××ת. ××× ×Š×× ×××××§ ×××¨× ×˘× ××× ××ת×× × ××××Ş× ××××¨× ×Š×××ר×. ×××× ×Š×Ş×Ş× ××××Ş× ×××× ×פ××× ×¨×§ ××ץ×ת ××ת פ××ת, ×× ×¨×× ×× ××××Ş× ×××× ×××××§ ×××Ş× ××ת×× ××××. ×× × ×××××× ×××Ş× ×§×Ś×Ş ×××׊×׊. ×ץ×פ×ר, ××× ×Š× ××× ×Š×× ××××ת ×ת ×ף ××× ××§×× × ×Š× ×××× ××× ××ת, ××××× ×××רת ××× ×ר××× ×ת ×××× ×פע×× ×Š× ××××, ××× ×Š×ע××ת ××ע×× ××ר××ת. ××× ×Š×× ×Š××עת ××××ר ×ת × ×§×׊×ת ׌ע×××× ×Š× ×× ×Š××××§×× ××ר×××. ×׊×× ×××ע×ת ×××, ××× ×Š× ××× ×Š×× ××ק׊ת ××× × ×Š×Ş×¨×׼ ××× ××××, ××× ×Ş×§×¤×׼ ××× ×קר××, ×××˘× × ××× ××תר. "×× ×Ş×¤×××," ××× ×××רת ××, "×ת ת׌××××." ××× ×Š×× ××ת×× × ×¨×ע, ××× ×××× ×Š××× ×Ş××ר, "×××× ××ר××× ×× ×× × ×קפ×׼," ××× ××× ×××Ş× ×Š×¤×Ş ××ר××Ś× ×××ר××ת ×× ××ץ××¤× ××ר. "×××Ş× ×× × ×ר×× ×××Ş× ×Š××?" ׊×××ת ××××, ×××× ×Š×× ×ת××פפת, ×קר×ת ×××× ×ת ×¤× ×× ××××רת, "ע×׊×× ×ת תר××Ś× ××× ××ר ׊×ת ××××× ××Ş×§×¤×Ś× ××× ×¨×××§ ׊ת××××, ××××¨× ×Š×Ş× ××Ş× ×ת ת×׊××× ×ר×׼ ××× ×××× ××× ×Ş×˘×Ś×¨× ×˘× ×Š×Ş×××˘× ××××. ×××ר ×× ×ת ת×××× ×ת××× ×××׊×, ×תפ××Š× ××׊, ×××Ş× ×Ş×××× ×ת××× ××× ×׊פ××, ××ץ×ף ת××× ××§× × ×ת××ת×. ×××× ×××¨× ×Š×Ş××ת×, ת×××Š× ××××× ×ר×׊×× ×Š×ת ר××× ×ת×××× ××, '×× × ××××ת ×פ××׊ ×ת ××× ×Š××', ×××× ××ר ×××ע, ×× ×× × ×××ר ×××Ş× ×§×××, ××× ××ר ×××ע ××××× ×××Ş× ×××." ×ץ×פ×ר ×× × ××ר ×××. ×××¨× ×Š×××× ×§×¤×Ś× ××× ××Š× ×, ××× ×× ××׊××× ×ר×׼ ××× ×××× ××× ×Š××× ×Š×× ××ק׊×, ××× ××Ą×Ş×Ş×¨× ×ר××Ş× ××× ××××××× ×× ×׌×× ××ר××× ×ת ××× ×Š×× ××ר×׌׌×× ×ת ×××××××ת ×Š× ×××× ×פע×× ×× ×× ×§×ר ××× ××. ×׊ץ××¤×¨× ×× ×ת ×× ×ר××Š×Ş× ×ת ת××׊ת ××׊×× ××××× ×Š×˘××¤× ××ת×, ××× ×× ×ת ×××××× ×Š×× ×××× ×Š××, ׊×פ××× ×¨×ע ××¤× × ×Š×¤××Š× ×ת ×××Ş× ×× ×ץ×××× ×׊קר ××ת×. ×ר×ע×× ×׊×ע ×Š× ×× ×××¨× ××××× ×Š×× ×Ą××¤×¨× ×× ×ת ×× ××× ×Š×× ×ת×. ×××Š×¤× ×××ר×× ×Š×××¨× ××¤× × ×Š×˘××× ×××, "×× × ××××ת ×פ××׊ ×ת ××× ×Š××."
A Good Day
-
Etgar Keret: A Good Day
Audio as text
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka -
Etgar Keret: A Good Day / ××× ×××
Audio as text
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka

Etgar Keret: A Good Day
Translation: Jessica Cohen
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
A Good Day
When I was a kid, I absolutely loved eating at restaurants. It’s not that I was some kind of foodie, it’s just that in those days, in socialist Israel of the nineteen-seventies, going out for dinner was such a rare and decadent event that it was impossible not to get excited about it. Once every few months, we’d drive to Victor’s Place, a Tel Aviv eatery located next to a junk yard. After dinner, while Mom and Dad sipped Turkish coffee and smoked a cigarette, my brother would take my sister and me on an exhilarating tour of the junk yard, which we called “the car cemetery.” We’d stop at each crumpled vehicle and try to guess how it had ended up there: trampled by an elephant, shot out of a cannon, or just driven too quickly and rammed into a stoplight.
One Saturday, when I was about six, we went to Victor’s Place for my mother’s and sister’s birthday, since they were born on the same date. The mustachioed waiter wiped the table with a damp cloth and informed us apologetically that, due to a kitchen malfunction, the restaurant would not be serving fries. The rest of the family received this news somewhat indifferently, but I took it really hard. Instead of a big pile of delicious, greasy fries, the waiter put a dish of white rice on the table, and within seconds the lavish feast I’d been looking forward to for weeks turned into just another family dinner. My mother, sensing my frustration, asked me if everything was all right. Nothing was all right, I snapped: If I couldn’t have fries, the whole meal was a waste of time, and this birthday, which was supposed to be fun, was now the worst day of my life.
Mom listened patiently to my vitriolic complaints, and when I was done, she put the back of her warm hand on my nape and asked me in a half-whisper to tell her how many people were sitting in the restaurant. Being a good boy, I methodically counted them all. Saturday afternoon was one of the busiest times of week at Victor’s, and other than our table there were twenty-six diners. “Twenty-six?” my mom exclaimed with a whistle, “That’s a lot! Now, could you please tell me what all these people are holding in their hands?” “Oh, come on,” I said with a grin, “that’s easy. It’s a restaurant. They’re holding knives and forks.” Mom was impressed: “Twenty-six people! Twenty-six hungry humans sitting at their tables, each eating only what’s on their own plate. Twenty-six people holding knives, and yet not a single one of them is stabbing anyone else.” She leaned over, planted a soft kiss on my forehead, and said, “Let’s agree that this is actually a pretty good day.”

Etgar Keret: A Good Day / ××× ×××
Original Hebrew version
Narrated by: Etgar Keret
Illustration: Asaf Hanuka
Read along:
××× ×××
×׊××××Ş× ××× ×××ר ׊××× ××××Ş× ××× ×××ת ××ץע××ת. ××× ×× ×Š××××Ş× ×¤××× ×Š×קר. פ׊×× ××, ××Š× ×ת ×׊×ע×× ××׊ר×× ×ץ×׌××××ץ××ת, ×׌×ת ××××× ××ץע×× ××× ××ר×ע ×× ×× × ××ר ×××׊×ת, ׊×× ××××ת ׊×× ××תר×׊ ××× ×. ×¤×˘× ×××× ×××׊×× ×××× × × ×ץע×× ×"×פ×׊ ×××§××ר", ץ××§××× ×Ş× ×××××ת ע×××ת ׊×××× ×××ר׊ ×ר××××ת. ×××¨× ×××××, ×׊××× ×××× ××× ×Š×ת×× ×§×¤× ×Š××ר ×××˘×Š× ×× ×Ą××ר××, ××× ××× ××××× ×ת ××××Ş× ××××Ş× ×ץ××ר ×ץע×ר ×××ר׊ ××ר××××ת ׊×××Ş× ××× ×× × "××ת ×§×ר×ת ××××× ××ת". ××× ×¤×˘× ×××× × ×˘×׌ר×× ××× ×¨×× ×ע×× ××ר ××× ×Ą×× ×× ×׊ ×××Ś× ×××ע ××××: ××× × ×¨×ץ ×˘× ××× ×¤××, × ××¨× ×××ע ת×ת×, ×× ×Ą×Ş×, × ×Ą×˘ ××ר ××× ×××Ş× ×׊ ×ר×××ר.
׊×ת ××ת, ×׊××××Ş× ×× ×Š×Š ×ער×, × ×Ą×˘× × ×"×פ×׊ ×××§××ר" ××××× ×ת ××× ×××××Ş× ×Š× ×××× ××Š× ××××Ş× ×Š× ×××× ××××Ş× ×Ş×ר××. ×××׌ר ××׊×פ×, ×Š× ××§× ×ת ×׊×××× ×××××ת ר××××, ××××ע ×× × ×××× ××Ş× ×Ś× ×Š×××× ×¤×׊×× ×Š× ××××, ××ץע×× ×× ×Ş××׊ ×××× ×Ś'×פץ. ׊×ר ××׊פ×× ×§×××× ×ת ×ע×××× ××××׊×ת ×ץ××××ת, ××× ×× × ××§××Ş× ×××Ş× ×§×Š× ××××. ×××§×× ×Ś'×פץ ××××× ×Š×× ×× × ××ע××, ×××׊ ×××׌ר ×׊×××× ×Ś××ת ××ר×, ××ת×× ×Š× ××× ×פ×× ××ר××× ×פר××ת ××××׊×תת ׊׌פ××Ş× ×× ×Š××ע×ת ×ע×× ×ר××× ×׊פ×ת×ת ר××××. ××××, ׊×ר×××Š× ×ת ×תץ××× ×Š××, ׊××× ×××Ş× ×× ××× ×ץ×ר. ×˘× ××Ş× ×× ×××˘× ×Š×Š×× ××ר ×× ×ץ×ר, ×׊××× ×Ś'×פץ ×× ××ר××× ××× ×× ×Š××× ××××, ×׊××× ×××××ת ×××, ׊××× ×××ר ××××ת ××××¤× ×××× ×, ××¤× ×ר×ע ×××× ××× ×˘×Ś×× ××××.
×××× ×ק׊××× ×ץ××× ×ת ××× ×Ş××× ×ת×× ××רר×ת××, ××׊ץ×××ת×, ×××§×× ××˘× ×ת, ×× ××× ×ת ×× ××× ×××××× ×˘× ×Ś××××¨× ××××§×Š× ××× × ×××Ś× ××××Š× ×ץפ×ר ×׊×××× ××× ××§×××ת × ×׌××× ×ר×ע ×× ××ץע××. ××× ××× ××× ×× ××Ş× ×קפ×× ×ת ×ת ××××. ׊×ת ×׌×ר××× ××× ××× ×××ע××× ×פ×פ××ר××× ×׊××ע ×"×פ×׊ ×××§××ר", ×××׼ ××׊×××× ×Š×× × ××× ××ץע×× ×˘×× ×ע׊ר×× ×׊××Š× ×Ą×ע×××. "ע׊ר×× ×׊×׊×?" ×Š×¨×§× ×××× ××ער××, "×× ××××! ת××× ×××§×Š× ××××× ×× ×× ×× ××× ×Š×× ×××× ×××××§×× ×××?" "× ×, ×××ת," ×××¨×Ş× ××××××Ş× ×× ××××, "×× ×§×. ××ת ×ץע××. ×× ×××××§×× ×Ą××× ×××××." "ע׊ר×× ×׊××Š× ×× ×Š××," ×××¨× ×××× ××תפע××ת, "ע׊ר×× ×׊××Š× ×× × ××× ×¨×˘××× ××׊××× ××× ×Š×××× ×ת ××× ××× ×××× ×¨×§ ××׌××ת ׊××. ע׊ר×× ×׊××Š× ×× × ××× ×××××§×× ×××××× ×Ą××× ××, ×××× ××ת, ×ף ××× ×× ××קר ×ף ×××." ××× ×ת××פפ×, × ×Š×§× × ×Š××§× ×˘××× × ××׌×× ×××ר×, "××× × ×Ą××× ××× ×× × ×Š××××ר ×××× ×××."
Photos of the Exhibition

Fabric:
The Big Dress of Everything, commissioned work by Katharina Trudzinski, Berlin 2022
Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Roman März

Birthdays:
One Sheet, commissioned work by Yair Kira, Berlin 2022
Composition: Amir Shpilman
Programming: Eric Medine
Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Roman März

Cabbage Fields:
Over and Over, commissioned work by Tatia Rosenthal, New York 2022
Music: Traveling Nightmare by Christopher Bowen
Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Roman März

The exhibition also features a gumball machine filled with half-baked stories by Etgar Keret. As Keret puts it:
“It’s hard to tell the story of the person you were closer to than anyone in the world, No matter how hard you try, most of the time it doesn’t work out. Here are the stories that didn’t make it.”
Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Roman März
Credits
Artistic Direction
Etgar Keret
Project Team Jewish Museum Berlin
Daniel Ihde, Project manager
Leonore Maier, Curator of Collections
Team Etgar Keret, Tel Aviv
Gal Ber, Gal Canetti, Noa Gana
Exhibition Design
studio.a, Berlin (Anne Binder)
Graphic Design
Team Mao, Berlin (Siyu Mao and Moritz Böhm)
Artists of the commissioned works
Asaf Hanuka, Yair Kira, Tatia Rosenthal, Katharina Trudzinski
Literary Translations
Jessica Cohen (HE-EN), Dr. Barbara Linner (HE-GER)
Voice Recordings
German:
tonstudio schieffer, Berlin
Speaker: Daniel Kehlmann
English and Hebrew:
Soundhouse, Tel Aviv
Speaker: Etgar Keret
Construction of exhibition and display cases
Tischlerei Holzmanufaktur in Berlin GmbH
Graphics Production
Heerlein Werbetechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin
Art Handling
Fißler & Kollegen GmbH
Exhibition Maintenance
Leitwerk Servicing
Marketing Campaign Design
buerominimal, Berlin
With many thanks to all the colleagues at the Jewish Museum Berlin who contributed to the exhibition and its accompanying programs.
An exhibition by the Jewish Museum Berlin in collaboration with Etgar Keret, Tel Aviv

Exhibition Inside Out – Etgar Keret: Features & Programs
- Exhibition Webpage
- Current page: Inside Out – Etgar Keret: 21 Oct 2022 to 19 Mar 2023
- Digital Content
- A Peculiar Kinship: Etgar Keret and Daniel Kehlmann in cConversation: Video recording, 2022
- My mother’s favorite music: Exhibition playlist on Spotify
- See also
- Etgar Keret, Author and Screenwriter
- Etgar Keret’s website
Exhibition Information at a Glance
- When 21 Oct 2022 to 19 Mar 2023
- Where Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Gallery
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
See Location on Map