Pnina Moed Kass has been living in Israel since 1969. After teaching high school English for a number of years she decided to take a break and go back to writing.
Her writing background in the U.S. has been as a lyricist (ASCAP member), a staffer at the magazine, Opera News, a publicist for a record company and a variety of other jobs that called for writing skills.
The switch in Israel from teaching to writing worked out.
After a few years she had authored children’s books , scripted a TV series, and done a lot of freelance writing both in Hebrew and in English. She had also garnered awards and recognition for her short stories and her contemporary novel set in the Middle East. Among them: the international Reading Award for Best YA Short Story, inclusion in the Cricket Magazine 25 year Anthology (“Celebrate”,) and other citations by librarians and teachers.
Her novel, REAL TIME, won the prestigious National Jewish Book Award, The Sydney Taylor Award and other accolades.
The eight books of the picture book series “Berale” about a shy but adventurous snail can be found on the shelves of kindergartens and local libraries throughout Israel. Also popular is the website www.berale.com
Though she lives in Israel, in the city of Herzliya, Moed Kass has traveled to speak about children's literature, about contemporary life in Israel, and about her work both in Europe and the U.S. In Israel, she makes frequent appearances, reading the “Berale” stories at libraries and community centers. Her children used to be part of her audience, now it’s her grandchildren.
Biographical material and reviews
Assoc. of Jewish Libraries websiteAnswer.com
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by Pnina Moed Kass
The story of the discovery and salvage of a 2000 year
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old waterlogged wooden boat from the Sea of Galilee stretching over fourteen emotive years.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
To stand in line is endemic to Israeli society. It
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used to be where you first learnt the basics of Hebrew and the nuances of Israeli reasoning. Today we have numbers and a great tradition is, in a sense, lost.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
Pnina Moed Kass reviews The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn
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and A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz, both memoirs of modern Jewish history.
Mendelsohn mixes his personal history with 20th century events when he sets out to find out what happened to members of his own family. Oz writes about his early life in Israel with his intellectual parents and the problems they had compared with the comparable ease which his own life took.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
Pnina Moed Kass gives the highest praise to the Jerusalem
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Review. Published in English this magazine is packed with wonderful articles – food for the intellect. An excellent Israeli product, sent round the world, and it does not need an export license!
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by Pnina Moed Kass
A well written spy thriller which spans time from apartheid
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South Africa in the nineties to the Middle East and Israel today bound to be enjoyed by ex South Africans in particular.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
A recommended read telling the story of a single Quaker
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girl with a child facing
her background and her own feelings of love, care and loyalty to protect her
daughter.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
Pnina reviews Richelle Shem-Tov's book which she says
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gives us a fascinating glimpse into lives of Jews who moved to Africa
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by Pnina Moed Kass
"I consider this book a true gift – a guide for the
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perplexed" writes Pnina Moed Kass, who admits that previously she knew little of Rav Kook's philosophical writing and spiritual teachings. "The print format allows the reader to choose topics as he wishes". She sums up: "Highly recommended"
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by Pnina Moed Kass
Pnina gives her own special humorous take on the phenomenon
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of the "waiting in line" that was part of her early experiences of living in Israel. With all the bother and frustration that accompanied this endless waiting, she bemoans the fact that today we no longer need to wait in line.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
A compelling review of the English translation of Elazer
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Stern’s book describing the painful emotions, decisions and confrontations he faced as a general in the Israeli army for 30 years. A must read.
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by Pnina Moed Kass
A touching and illuminating story of a schoolchild
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enduring the fate of a city under attack, and the teacher who helped him.
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Pnina Moed Kass