Israeli Radio Personality and Composer Galad Ben Shach Dies at 85

Galad Ben Shach, a prominent Israeli radio personality and composer, has passed away at the age of 85. His family remembered him as a devoted family man, a noble soul, and a lover of humanity, dedicated to "the Hebrew song, its preservation and cultivation." Ben Shach, a native of Gedera, began composing songs in the 1960s. In 1969, he joined Kol Yisrael, the national public broadcaster, where he served as a music editor for programs such as "Ba'chazi HaYom," "Keshet V'Efarchaset," and "Oti Zeh Matz'chik." By the mid-1970s, he had risen to become the director of the entertainment department at Kol Yisrael. Among his notable compositions are the songs "L'chol Adam Kochav" and "Sigaliyot," performed by the duo Ilan Ve'ilanit.

Sahar Pinto, the head of the local council of Gedera, eulogized Ben Shach, stating, "Gili carried Gedera in his heart throughout his life and was a great source of pride for us." Pinto added that Ben Shach, with his immense talent as a writer, composer, radio personality, and cultural figure, left a significant mark on Israeli music and culture. "Wherever he went, Gili was also a representative of home, of Gedera, its roots, and its people. We were fortunate that a person with such a rich body of work grew up here, in our colony. His passing is a painful loss for his family, for Gedera, and for the world of Hebrew song and culture. On behalf of the residents of Gedera, I send my deepest condolences to the Ben Shach family. May his memory be blessed."

Ben Shach will be laid to rest on Friday at the cemetery in Gedera.