Michael Dekel

About me:

Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor

Jerusalem Imagined & Recalled: Poems and Other Expressions—a collection of poems, prose and photographs by Michael Dickel—vividly explores contemporary Jewish themes and Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) within the context of 21st century politics, contemporary (post-modern, post-post modern) poetics, and human sensuality. The poems in this collection begin in a time of promise for the Middle East, 1998. Even then they convey the dissonance and uncertainty that the coming years saw blossom into more, not less, conflict. The poems continue through the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict. Personal experience, current events, and ancient texts blend, transcending simple understandings, taking readers to the edge of articulation with contradictions and paradox held in juxtaposition by strong imagery. Accompanying photos and digital art throughout the book convey visual images of Israel as reflected in the poetry. Two essays blend a personal voice with current events and mysticism to move beyond the immediate moment of history to abstract sense, if not sensibility.

..Michael Dickel.. is a poet and photographer with degrees in psychology, creative writing, and English literature from the University of Minnesota. He visited Israel in 1998, 2004, and 2006 and has studied Torah and Kabbalah in Minnesota and Israel. He recently returned to Israel to continue studying, photographing, and writing. He taught writing at various colleges and Universities for nearly 20 years. He is available as a photographer for hire or writer for hire, to do poetry readings, teach workshops, or exhibit his photography and digital images.

Poems from his collection have recently been published in: Poetica Magazine—Reflections on Jewish Thought, why vandalism?,Zone Magazine: International Forum for Experimental Poetry and Prose and Blue Earth Review.

“I love the way Michael Dickel’s poetry mixes eros and kabbalah with politics…beautiful, disturbing, soaring.”.. —Adeena Karasick, poet, cultural theorist and performance artist, and the award-winning author of six books of poetry and poetic theory, most recently The House That Hijack Built (Talon Books 2004)...

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

For more of Michael's photos and links to his writing, go to Michael Dickel's home page .

Michael studied Kaballah (Jewish mysticism) in the US and in Israel. His poetry intertwines mysticism, politics, sensuality, eroticism, and every day images. He's looking for a publisher for his book. Check here to keep posted. Join Michael's friends network to keep updated on my journey to Israel, the publication process, and new publications.