Tamar Hess

Tamar Hess is a scholar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she teaches modern Hebrew literature. Her work focuses on feminist and gender-conscious literary analysis, modern Hebrew poetry and fiction, and literature within historical, social, and ethnic frameworks.

• Current affiliation: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2025–2026 Ellie and Herbert D. Katz Distinguished Fellow

Research Interests: Her scholarship examines intersections of gender, ethnicity, and cultural identity in Hebrew literature, with a particular emphasis on autobiographical forms and contemporary Israeli religious Zionist texts. She explores how literary works reflect and contest historical and social contexts.

Publications: Hess’s notable works include Self as Nation: Contemporary Hebrew Autobiography (2016) and co-edited papers on Dahlia Ravikovitch (2011). These publications highlight her focus on identity, gender, and cultural narratives in Hebrew literature.

Grants and Leadership: As a 2025–2026 Katz Distinguished Fellow, she contributes to Jewish Life research initiatives. She has chaired the Agnon Prize in Hebrew Fiction committee (2024) and serves on the editorial board of Prooftexts.