Aluda Ketelauri

Set in Khevsureti, a remote mountain region on the border between Christian Georgia and Muslim Chechnya, the poem portrays a community shaped by strict traditions of honor, loyalty, and retribution. Aluda Ketelauri, a highland warrior, kills his enemy but refuses to follow the traditional ritual of severing his opponent’s hand. Rooted in empathy and personal moral conviction, his refusal sparks a dramatic confrontation with his community. Aluda is ostracized, his home destroyed, and he is forced into exile, revealing the tragic clash between individual conscience and the collective force of religion, tradition, and communal law.
Stylistically, the poem is distinctive and daring, moving between epic and lyrical modes, formal and plain language, vivid natural imagery, and introspective, dreamlike passages. The volume includes an introduction on Vazha Pshavela’s life and literary legacy, the culture of the Georgian highlands, and the translation process. This edition was published with the support of the Georgian National Book Center.
The translation was completed by Professor Memoka Buchcharikidze and adapted for Hebrew readers in collaboration with Hedva Rokach and Itay Bahur. It seeks to preserve not only the meaning of the original text but also the cultural spirit of Khevsureti, creating a meaningful bridge between Georgian and Hebrew literary traditions.

Vazha Pshavela is one of Georgia’s most celebrated poets and the leading literary figure of the 19th century. His work is rooted in highland folklore, featuring concise and powerful language, striking shifts between formal and everyday speech, and a unique voice in epic poetry.