Shiri Cohen: "Comics Can Convey Important Messages - Through the Front Door"

The newspaper that arrives at our home every Thursday is always first recognized by my six-year-old son who eagerly awaits it. Soon, the cover is torn, the newspaper sections are scattered on the floor, and he holds in his hands, like a trophy, the children's newspaper. Impatiently, he flips through until he finds what he's looking for: two pages of a Shiri Cohen comic story. Before long, I receive updates like: 'Wow, look what happened to that wicked Greek.' or: 'Wow, the people of Israel are crossing the Jordan!' These historical news flashes are the result of Shiri Cohen's expertise in historical comic stories, specializing for several years in historical stories based on Jewish history.

How did you start illustrating historical stories?

"My initial encounter with the first historical story by Rabbi Meiri was completely magnetic. I received an offer to illustrate an unusual comic book, intended to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt from a personal perspective, as if the reader himself had left there. I connected to the material in an unprecedented way and shed quite a few tears while working. The author brought the story to such a personal and emotional, and real! It was hard work but fulfilling and enjoyable, and the audience responded with very high satisfaction, especially for a first book of an unknown one. And from there, as they say—and it fits particularly in this context—it's all history. The 'Children' newspaper of the Mishpacha hosted the stories on a weekly basis, and since then a book on Chanukah, the entry to the land, first fruits, and all in captivating, suspenseful, and humorous stories, well-directed. It's a pleasure for me as an illustrator."

From the comic 'The Conquerors Across the River'

From the comic 'The Conquerors Across the River'

From the comic 'The Conquerors Across the River'

Rabbi Eliezer Meiri, who wrote most of the historical stories illustrated by Shiri Cohen, explains: "My desire was to take fundamental historical stories, so familiar that we almost stopped thinking about them, and transform them into something alive. That's why I make an effort to take foundational stories on purpose (like the Exodus from Egypt, or—in the last book—the entry of the people of Israel into the Land of Israel) and tell them as if anew. To do this, I search each time for an original angle that provides an 'insider's view' on the event and makes readers feel part of the story.

"The main research involves checking sources in the Talmud and early commentaries about the period and the events that occurred in it. I strive to ensure even the side details mentioned in passing, align with the words of our rabbis. For instance, in the last book, the verse 'Canaan holds deceitful scales in his hand' (Hosea 12:8) is mentioned. The Talmud in Pesachim explains that this verse doesn't specifically refer to Canaanites but to merchants. I included a reference to this commentary in the story

What inspired you to go as far as a story that took place in the days of Joshua? Why choose to present the story specifically from the perspective of a Canaanite child?

"Several times, I was approached with a request—to write a story that speaks about the connection of the people of Israel to the Land of Israel. The Land of Israel itself is a topic that needs to be lived—not viewed indifferently. The story of the miracles that accompanied the entry of the people of Israel into the Land is a very foundational point on this topic. I chose the perspective of a Gibeonite child, as mentioned, to retell the story and live it from the opposing angle. In this way, it is strongly emphasized how 'all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away' before the people of Hashem."

Shiri, until now Rabbi Meiri wrote the stories, and you illustrated. But in the current story you are serializing, 'Escape from the King's House,' you are both the writer and the illustrator...

"Indeed, this time the writing is entirely mine, Rabbi Meiri took a break—I decided to devote myself to my favorite story since childhood, about the daughter of the Shach who grew up in the king's palace. I find it hard to count how many times I read or told this story... Generally, I based it on the story as originally written by Rabbi Lehmann, in the old original books, but the text is my creation and imagination, as well as the storyline, which differs in a way more suitable for a comic than just a textual book, including colorful additions in the form of various colorful and rounded background characters."

From the comic 'Points of Fire'

From the comic 'Points of Fire'

Did you choose intentionally to bring female protagonists to the forefront this time?

"First of all, as I said, it's my favorite story, so it wasn't really intentional. But in hindsight, I'm glad to bring a story full of femininity, princesses, girls. I think there's a lack in this field in our sector, and this comic offers something that hasn't been there before. I hear a lot of gratitude-filled responses; I see that it was indeed missing, and I'm very happy to be in this place—hoping to pave the way for more books of this type. Especially since the 'boys' also love the story, simply because it's compelling and high-quality, without missing the tension, emotion, and plot characteristic of beloved and popular comic stories."

When you hear from kids, is there a sub-genre of comics they prefer more? Any particularly popular character you've created?

"Each child connects to a different style, naturally. Is there something that connects all the children? I think all children love to laugh and be happy, and indeed even in the most dramatic stories I include humor, a funny character, a recurring phrase that makes them laugh... that's my fun. Many children also love tension, which of course exists in any storyline. Perhaps all children, when I think about it, love comics that speak to their hearts, their lives, their experiences, and their dilemmas.

One of the more popular characters I created is a character named 'Libo', not a human—rather an imaginary creature resembling the human heart, teaching about a healthy lifestyle in comics. ('The Brave Journey of Avigdor') He's assertive, determined, and amusing, and resonates well with children's hearts.

There's also an Egyptian, equally foolish and wicked, in the book about the Exodus ('He Took Me Out from There') that truly imprints in memory, confirming my theory that all children love to laugh!"

From the comic 'He Took Me Out from There'

From the comic 'He Took Me Out from There'

Do you have future plans for historical background stories you want to turn into comics?

"Currently, I'm entirely immersed in 'The King's House', with Esther struggling with her heart's dilemmas in the palace, and her father searching for her simultaneously (the peak of tension at this stage!), we face the great fire... afterward, I'll think further if Hashem wills. What is certain, my ambition is to continue creating quality comics that convey important information and messages, that when they come in an exciting and tempting comic form—they enter the mind and heart through the front door."