Professor Moshe Liba (1931–2021)

Moshe Liba was born in Romania in 1931 and immigrated to Israel through refugee camps in Cyprus in 1948. He was a poet, author, playwright, literary critic, painter, and sculptor. He served as a member of Kibbutz Mishmar David, an army officer, journalist, lecturer, professor, and diplomat. He represented the State of Israel for 31 years as ambassador and consul general in 15 countries.

Liba held senior positions including Director General of the Institute for Cultural Relations, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of Training, Deputy Director of International Cooperation, and Director of the Africa Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He held 12 academic degrees, including a doctorate in international law and public relations from the University of Paris.

He was a professor at four universities in Israel, Cameroon, and New Zealand (his last role being Professor of International Relations and European Literature at the University of Auckland). He was a member of the Hebrew Writers Association in Israel and other international literary organizations. He published in multiple languages and was included in various anthologies.

Liba regularly published poems, stories, essays, articles, book reviews, and academic studies in journals, newspapers, yearbooks, and online platforms. He wrote fluently in six languages and translated his own works. He published 83 books, including 35 collections of poetry. He received honorary titles and participated in national and international literary conferences. His plays and adaptations were performed on stage in Israel and the Netherlands. His book "Jewish Child Slaves in Sao Tome" is the basis for a documentary film currently in production by "Lily Films" (Israel).

A classical concert titled "5 Tragic Songs," composed by Leon Barioti to Liba's lyrics, premiered at the National Library in Jerusalem in 2012.

He was a member of the Association of Painters and Sculptors in Israel and the Netherlands, served on the board of the Fine Arts Academy of New Zealand, and participated in various artists' organizations globally. He curated exhibitions and facilitated international art exchanges.

Liba held 47 solo exhibitions and took part in over 300 group exhibitions. He received creative awards, illustrated books, albums, journals, films, and newspapers. His paintings were used as backdrops in the French film "The Great Forgiveness 2" by Alexander Films (Paris, 1993). His artworks are displayed in institutions, galleries, universities, public libraries, and private collections worldwide.

His works appear in albums, anthologies, and online. His books have been reviewed extensively and are available in rare and specialty bookstores and online.

Chronological Highlights:

• 1948–1949: Immigrated to Israel via Cyprus; member of Hulda pioneering group and later Kibbutz Mishmar David.
• 1949–1963: Career army service, retired as major.
• 1954–1958: Studied law, political science, and public administration at Tel Aviv School of Law and Economics; B.A. in three subjects.
• 1954–1962: Postgraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Paris; international law.
• 1963–1965: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Deputy Director of International Cooperation; head of West Africa operations.
• 1965–1969: Ambassador to Lomé, Togo.
• 1969–1973: Ambassador to Togo and Senegal; non-resident ambassador to Gambia.
• 1972–1976: Lecturer in economics and social sciences, Dean of Students, Tel Aviv University.
• 1972–1973: Deputy Director of the Africa Department.
• 1973–1974: Director of the Africa Department.
• 1974–1978: Director of the Training Department.
• 1978–1981: Ambassador to Caracas, Venezuela; non-resident ambassador to Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Netherlands Antilles.
• 1981–1983: Consul General, Sydney, Australia.
• 1983–1989: Consul General, Miami, USA; non-resident ambassador to Puerto Rico.
• 1983–1989: Director General, Central Institute for Cultural Relations with Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.
• 1986: Appointed Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• 1988: Awarded "Outstanding Employee" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• 1993–1996: Ambassador to Yaoundé, Cameroon, Non-resident ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe.
• 1996–2000: Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington; exhibited artworks in solo and group shows.
• 2000–2021: Lecturer at Dutch universities; participated in solo and group exhibitions across Europe.

Languages

Fluent in French, English, Romanian, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Ladino, and Yiddish.

Passing

Prof. Moshe Liba passed away on July 14, 2021, in The Hague, Netherlands.