Etgar Keret

Etgar Keret is about as Israeli as falafel, but with more existential dread. Born in Ramat Gan to Holocaust survivors, his upbringing clearly informed his often bleak, albeit hilarious, worldview. He even performed in the Israeli Defense Forces, which is probably where he got all the good material for his darkly comedic tales.

His short stories are so short, they practically blink and you miss them, but they pack a punch like a tiny, well-aimed metaphor. He's won so many awards, he probably needs a separate room just for his trophies. And let's not forget his work in film; his directorial debut,