Etzbeoni

Etzbeoni is an Israeli children’s newspaper founded in 1952. Established by journalist and writer Michael Shir and sculptor Shoshana Shir, it has been published continuously since its creation. The newspaper was designed as a publication for children themselves: accessible, curious, educational and connected to their everyday world. Over the decades, Etzbeoni became a familiar part of Israeli childhood culture, bringing together literature, knowledge, games and social values.

A newspaper built around young readers

Etzbeoni is aimed primarily at children ages seven to eleven, roughly corresponding to grades two through five. Its contents combine stories, features on nature, science and history, an English corner, puzzles and games. The text is vowel-pointed and written in clear, simplified language, while the matte coated paper was chosen to make the newspaper inviting and easy for children to read independently.

Alongside information and entertainment, the newspaper addresses social and educational subjects, including acceptance of difference, environmental quality, human rights and the welfare of animals. In this way, it gives young readers more than facts: it encourages curiosity, sensitivity and a sense of responsibility toward the world around them.

Educators, writers and scientists have contributed to Etzbeoni. Its writers have included Tamar Bornstein-Lazar, creator of the Koofiko character; Zohar Aviv, author of the Power-Brain Gang and Yad HaPele series; Meira Barnea-Goldberg, author of the Kramel series; and Tamar Fish Nahshon. The participation of creators and professionals from different fields allowed the newspaper to combine literary writing with educational and experiential content.

A family publishing tradition

Michael Shir edited the newspaper for many years. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, it has been edited by his son, Rami Shir, who also publishes children’s stories in its pages. This generational transition has preserved Etzbeoni as a family-created and family-led cultural institution while enabling it to continue reaching new readers.

The first issue was not assigned a serial number because its editor did not assume that another issue would follow. Etzbeoni nevertheless continued to appear and became one of Israel’s best-known and longest-running children’s newspapers. The Etzbeoni publishing house also publishes additional children’s newspapers, extending its work beyond the original title.

A name connected to Bialik

According to the story told by Rami Shir, the newspaper’s name is connected to the Hebrew poet Hayim Nahman Bialik. On Michael Shir’s fifth birthday, Bialik reportedly came to the celebration and gave him a copy of Katina Kalbo. Bialik wrote a verse dedication, but the child, who could not yet read, repeatedly tore the book until it was badly damaged. As an adult, Michael Shir named the newspaper after Bialik’s poem “Etzbeoni.” The story links the newspaper with the early Hebrew literary tradition for children and with a formative memory of Israeli culture.

A children’s newspaper that sometimes covered the news

During certain periods, Etzbeoni included a news section that followed current events, at times with the help of investigative reporters. The section operated as a genuine news desk and occasionally addressed security matters of particular sensitivity in Israel.

In the 1970s, Michael Shir photographed new Israeli Navy missile boats in Haifa Port, and the report appeared in Etzbeoni. The military censor prohibited publication of the information in Israel, but at the time the children’s newspaper was not required to submit the report for prior approval. Daily newspapers quoted Etzbeoni’s exclusive report, and the publication led to a severe reprimand from the censor. In another case, the newspaper reported that Israel Aerospace Industries was preparing to launch the Ofek 1 reconnaissance satellite. These episodes show that Etzbeoni did not always limit itself to conventional children’s features; on occasion, it also entered Israel’s wider news and public sphere.

Why Etzbeoni belongs in Moreshet

Etzbeoni merits inclusion in Moreshet because it documents and represents an important chapter in Israeli childhood culture. Since 1952, it has given generations of children access to stories, knowledge and readable Hebrew while strengthening the connection between reading, curiosity and social values. Its work also preserved a family tradition of journalism and publishing and brought writers, educators, scientists and young readers into a shared cultural space.

The newspaper’s stories, educational features and attention to subjects such as acceptance of difference and environmental responsibility show how children’s journalism can influence education and community life. Its occasional news scoops, including reports on Israeli Navy vessels and Ofek 1, also give it a distinctive place in the history of Israeli media. For these reasons, Etzbeoni is a natural subject for Moreshet.com: not merely a long-running newspaper, but a cultural institution that connected generations of children with Hebrew literature, knowledge and Israeli society.