Primo Levi had a passion for languages. This was apparent in his direct involvement in the translations of his books, starting with If this is a man, which I translated with him. He translated Kafka, and was fascinated with the world of askenazi Jews and Yiddish. His testimony of the holocaust remained central through his life, and underlay his growing concern at the emergence of new forms of the extreme right and denial of the extermination camps. He was proud of the state of Israel, but strongly critical of Begin’s invasion of Lebanon.
Keywords: Primo Levi, olocausto, traduzioni, yiddish, Stato di Israele, Kafka