The first Kingdom of Israel was established in the 11th century and survived sporadically for the next 400 years.
Its independence as the state of Israel in 1948 and its subsequent conflicts, has defined the works of literature published ever since. Some authors directly reference the conflicts in historical fiction, while others draw on their experiences of Israel and apply it to stories set in other countries.
Despite having a thriving community of local authors writing in three main languages, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Arabic, almost half of the best-sellers list at any given time will be translations of Western literature. Many authors now popular in the West, actually first found a substantial readership in Israel. The bustling book industry of 9 million readers, remains an integral part of the state itself. To such an extent, that by law, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Jewish National and University Library receives two copies of every single book published in Israel.
This initial batch of Israel literary agencies, most of whom do not have websites, will expand throughout the year. If they have a Twitter account it is also included below. Where they do not have a main agency account, the individual accounts of their literary agents are provided instead. However, please do not pitch submissions via Twitter. Always stick to the individual requirements of the agency.
If you are unsure of any of the genre and sub-genre categories, a guide to the definitions can be found here.
As for Western writers, these agencies predominately handle translation rights, but in some cases they will represent Western authors directly. In these cases, it will be highlighted in their listing below.
Unless otherwise indicated, these Israel literary agencies are based in Jerusalem.
To view their website, send them an e-mail, or follow them on Twitter, simply click on the relevant links provided.
A-F
Carmel Academic Literary Agency
Genres: Non-Fiction
Postal submissions only: Carmel Academic Literary Agency, POB 54, Gan Yavne 70800, Israel
Address to sole agent:
Steve Franklin: Non-Fiction
Query letter, bio, a book proposal, and return postage.
Ora Cummings Literary Agency
The agency is based in Rehovot, Israel.
Genres: Fiction | YA | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: Agent specified.
Ora Cummings: Non-Fiction | ora_c@netvision.net.il
Judith Cummings: Commercial Fiction | Romance | Science-Fiction | Fantasy | Children's | YA | Non-Fiction | Holocaust Featured | Mind, Body & Spirit | History | Politics | judithcummings@yahoo.com
The agency charge a non-returnable signing-on fee, which goes toward initial office expenses, preparing and/or translating your synopsis, editing texts, participation in trade fairs, and mailing manuscripts.
Twitter: Literary agents Ora Cummings @CummingsOra
Dorith Daliot Literary Agency
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Dorith Daliot Literary Agency, BP 47 Caesarea 38900, Israel
E-mail submissions: Agent specified.
Address to sole agent:
Dorith Daliot: Literary Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Women's | Non-Fiction | daliot dorith.d@gmail.com
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a book proposal.
The agency predominately handles translation rights, offers editing services, and handles French works of literature.
Sharon Friedman Literary Agency
Genres: Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: sfbooks@netvision.net.il
Address to sole agent:
Sharon Friedman: Non-Fiction | Cookery | Cultural Issues | Politics | Religion | Multi-Cultural | Jewish Themes | Current Affairs
Query letter, bio, and a book proposal.
Writers can live anywhere as long as the work concerns life in the Middle East.
The agency also have an office in New York.
G-L
Generes: Fiction | Picture Books | Middle Grade | YA | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: The Deborah Harris Agency, P.O. Box 8528, Jerusalem 91083, Israel
E-mail submissions: Agent specified.
Rena Rossner: Literary Fiction | Science-Fiction | Fantasy | Picture Books | Middle Grade | YA | rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first 50 pages.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a book proposal.
Hebrew submissions: Hadar Makov-Hasson will review and pass on to a suitable agent.
The agency reps internationally based authors, and is the largest literary agency in Israel.
Twitter: Literary agents Rena Rossner @renarossner
M- Z
Gershom Mendlovitz Literary Agency
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Gershom Mendlovitz Literary Agency, 56/3 Sederot Herzl, Kiryat Moshe, Jerusalem, Israel
E-mail submissions: Agent specified.
Address to sole agent:
Gershom Mendlovitz: Fiction | Non-Fiction | gjanowski1@hotmail.com
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first 35 pages.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a book proposal.
The agency reps international authors but books must be focused on the region.
Pikarski Ltd Literary Agency
Genres: Fiction | Children's Books | Middle Grade | YA | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Pikarski Ltd Literary Agency, 200 Hayarkon Street, Box 4006, Tel Aviv, Israel
E-mail submissions: Agent specified.
Gal Pikarski: Fiction | Non-Fiction | gal@pikarskiagency.co.il
Dalia Ever-Hadani: Children's | MG | YA | dalia@pikarskiagency.co.il
Gabi Herztmann: Children's | MG | YA | gabi@pikarskiagency.co.il
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a book proposal.
The agency predominately handles translation rights for Western based agencies and publishers.