Emil Makai


Emil Makai, born Emil Fischer, was a Hungarian-Jewish poet, journalist, dramatist, and translator.

Biography

Born to Rabbi Antal Enoch Fischer in Makó, Makkai went to Budapest in 1884, where he distinguished himself at the Budapest rabbinical seminary as a student by his poetical talent.
In 1888, Makai published his first volume of poetry, Vallásos énekek. This was followed by a Biblical drama, Absalon, and Zsidó költők, translations of medieval Hebrew poetry, including the works of Shlomo ibn Gabirol, Yehudah ha-Levi, Shmuel ha-Nagid, Moshe ibn Ezra, Avraham ibn Ezra, Yehuda al-Harizi, and Imanuel ha-Romi. In 1893, his version of the Song of Songs was published. From 1892 Makai translated more than 100 dramas and operettas, included Abraham Goldfaden's Sulamit and Bar Kochba.

Works