Born Joel Lipsky on December 31, 1915, in New York City, Carmichael was the youngest son of Charlotte Schacht and Louis Lipsky, a founder of the American Zionist movement, President of the Zionist Organization of America. His oldest brother, David (1907–1996) became a publicist; his middle brother, Eleazar (1911–1993), was a lawyer, novelist, journalist, playwright and active Zionist.[1]
Following graduation from high school, he was sent for a year to Palestine. There he began learning Arabic before returning to New York and attending Columbia University. In England, a chance meeting with an Oxford don turned him to read Greek and Russian at Oxford.[2]
Careeredit
His first book, a translation of a memoir of the Russian Revolution, helped Carmichael land a contract with Oxford University Press.[2] From there, he wrote numerous titles on early Christianity, Arab history and Russian history, and translated Anna Karenina for a new paperback edition. One book, The Death of Jesus, was translated into eight languages. Carmichael was also editor of Midstream, a Zionist magazine, for 24 years, serving from 1975–1988 and 1990-2001.
Marriage and familyedit
Carmichael was married twice: first to the journalist Mary Carr Thomas, then to sculptor Elizabeth de Cuevas in 1960.[3] He had three children.
^Wolfe, Bertram D. (1955-05-15). "A BUSYBODY'S NOTES ON REVOLUTION; One Man's Account of the Scenes, Moods And Deeds in Russia's Year of Decision". New York Times.
^Baumbach, Jonathan (1965-06-13). "Weird Like Reality; THE GIANT DWARFS: A Contribution". New York Times.
External linksedit
Lipsky Family Papers; P-858; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.