Ben-Arroyo, Abraham Freddy

Freddy Ben-Arroyo

(21 March 1924 – 6 July 2025)

Freddy Ben-Arroyo was born on 21 March 1924 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and immigrated to Israel in 1944, during World War II. He studied Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where he later became a professor of engineering, admired and deeply appreciated by generations of students—especially architects. Alongside his academic career, he worked as a structural engineer, contributing to the design of distinctive buildings in Israel and New York City. Remarkably, he continued teaching at the Technion until retiring at the age of 93.

In 1973, Freddy lost his eldest son during the Yom Kippur War.

Beyond his professional achievements, Freddy loved listening to music, and was a devoted traveler. He loved being in nature, examining architectural masterpieces, and watching people. He lived with modesty, minimalism, and subtle humor.

Freddy began writing haiku more than 35 years ago, following Zen training. His poetry was published internationally and translated into Hebrew, Russian, Bulgarian, and Chinese. He explored a variety of Japanese forms—including haiku, haibun, and haiga—featured in respected journals worldwide.

Freddy passed away on 6 July 2025 in Haifa. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Published book:

Jazz Trio(Writers & Lovers Studio, 2014)
Available to read at: https://www.calameo.com/read/0010953722657dcf759b6

Here is a list of some journals, anthologies and contests that Freddy published in:

Air, Antenne, Ardea, Asahi Haikuist Network, A Hundred Gourds, Blithe Spirit, Bones, Blo͞o Outlier Journal,City (2020 BHS Members’ Anthology), Ershik, European Quarterly Kukai, Frogpond, Indian Kukai, Kernels, Multiverses, Notes from the Gean, Prune Juice, Sharpening the Green Pencil, Sonic Boom, Tamarind Magazine, Temple (2021 BHS Members’ Anthology), The Mainichi, The Red Moon Haiku Anthology, The Best of Mijikai Haiku, The Heron’s Nest, The Other Bunny, Under the Basho, Wild Lilacs, Writers & Lovers Café, etc.

We are deeply grateful to Irith Hartman, Freddy’s daughter, for her generous assistance in providing the biographical material.

Selected work:

on cold stone and red poppies bleeding soldier

(Bones No.1, December 2012)

Sabbatical
just one key
in my pocket

(Ardea, Issue 3, 2013; Jazz Trio, 2014)

swallows and minarets
shooting through the sky
in Sarajevo

(Notes from the Gean 3:3, December 2011; Jazz Trio, 2014)

the first one
and one more over there—
city lights

(Mainichi – annual selection 2015)

jazz trio
floating pizzicato notes –
scotch on the rocks

(The Mainichi Daily News, January 4, 2014; Jazz Trio, 2014)

Tears and blood sacred stones in Jerusalem

(Temple, 2021)

Dostoevsky and I
strolling in St Petersburg then
white nights

(The Mainichi Daily News, September 19, 2012; Jazz Trio, 2014)

a winding path up Mt. Carmel spring leaves

(Blithe Spirit 31.3)

London East End
Sunday flower market
‘Two for a fiver’

(City, 2020)

sipping cognac
with my dead friends—
winter solstice

(Frogpond 37:3)

buying a jeans belt
the salesgirl measures me –
I hold my stomach in

(Ershik: A Journal of Senryu and Kyoka, Special Issue, April 2014)

green pines–
even her off-key singing
sounds beautiful

(Blo͞o Outlier Journal, Winter 2020)

time stands still empty church

(The Best of Mijikai Haiku 2013)

returning home
after living abroad—
the smell of thyme

(The Heron’s Nest, Volume XVII, Number 2: June 2015)

memorial wall my son’s name carved on sirens

(Per Diem Archive, March 2018)

Additional sources:

Ben-Arroyo, Abraham Freddy

Abraham Freddy Ben-Arroyo

Born 1924 in Sofia, Bulgaria
Lived in Haifa, Israel until his death in July 2025

His book Jazz Trio (2014) is available to read online

Lyakhovetsky, Roman

Roman Lyakhovetsky

Originally from Russia, Roman Lyakhovetsky now lives in Israel. His haiku and tanka appeared in various journals including Modern Haiku, Frogpond, Scifaikuest, and A Hundred Gourds, among others.

Odeh, Rita

Rita Odeh

Born 1960 in Nazareth, Israel
Resides in Nazareth, Israel
Website/Blog: http://rita-odeh.blogspot.com/

I have B.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Haifa University. I am a high school teacher for English and Creative Writing in my town. I write poetry, short stories, novels and literary articles. I am fond of writing short poems, haiku, tanka and creating haiga. Many of my poems and short stories, as well as some literary articles and book reviews and translated texts, have been published in a number of journals and newspapers in my country as well as online journals. I was chosen to be a contributor for Daily Haiku in the 5th cycle: April 2008 to September 2008. My haiku have been published in Daily Haiku, Simply Haiku, tinywords and other journals.