A Guest for the NIght

About the Translator and Editor

Misha Louvish (1909–2001) was born in Kimpolung, Austria (modern day north-eastern Romania), son of Nathan, a letterpress printer. In his youth the family emigrated to Scotland (where they were also known by the surname Lewis). Louvish graduated M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1931. After serving with the British Army in Europe he arrived in Israel in 1949, where he worked as a journalist and editor of several publications, including at the Jerusalem Post, and used his English skills as a translator of novels, articles, and political speeches. He was employed as editor of English publications in the Israel Government Press Office during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, and as a Deputy Editor of the Encyclopedia Judaica.

Louvish also translated a number of Agnon’s short stories. For his work on A Guest for the Night, he had the cooperation of Professors Naftali C. Brandwein, Allen Mandelbaum, and Oscar Shaftel.

Jeffrey Saks, founding director of ATID — the Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions in Jerusalem, is the Series Editor of The Toby Press S.Y. Agnon Library. His frequent lectures at the Agnon House are broadcast on WebYeshiva.org/Agnon.