Who Was the German Jewish Poet Else Lasker- Schüler?

 

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Else Lasker-Schüler, the famous poet, playwright, and novelist, was born on February 11, 1869, in Elberfeld, Germany to an upper-middle-class family. Her family’s history reflected the growth and integration of German Jews into German society in the 19th century, as her great-grandfather was a rabbi, and a cousin was a member of the Reichstag (parliament).

Else left school in her early teens. She said it was due to health reasons, but many speculated that she was met with antisemitic taunts, creating a nervous disorder. After her recovery, she was homeschooled for the remainder of her studies. In 1894, she married Berthold Lasker and together, moved to Berlin.

In literary circles, Else met composer Georg Levin (Herwarth Walden) whom she married after she divorced Lasker in 1903. Else divorced Levin in 1912, and lived in tremendous financial difficulties through the 1920s.

In March 1933, Else left for Switzerland after she was given the Kleist Prize in 1932. Her poems which appeared in avant-garde journals were honored and she was frequently invited to give readings throughout Germany and Switzerland.

Else’s work often delved into her mystical love of nature and her deep religiosity. She wrote several poems after visiting the British Mandate of Palestine for the first time, including Das Hebräerland (Land of the Hebrews). Else also wrote three widely different plays about desire and faith, one of which was a call to combat antisemitism by recognizing the roots of Judaism.

Else was vocal about the issues of her time. She protested against the poor treatment of animals, Nazi censorship, and the White Papers. Else was also an advocate of women’s rights, as well as building schools for lower-class Arab children in the British Mandate of Palestine.

Else passed away in Jerusalem on January 23, 1945 and was buried on the Mount of Olives.