Veteran Israeli Actor and Singer Eli Gorenlitzky Dies at 91

Eli Gorenlitzky, a prominent Israeli actor, singer, and cultural figure, passed away on Monday at the age of 91. Gorenlitzky, who was active in Israeli culture for over seven decades, was a recognizable personality in Israeli theater and music from the 1950s and 1960s.

Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Gorenlitzky joined the Cameri Theater's drama school at 17. After serving in the Central Command Troupe, he returned to the Cameri, becoming one of its leading actors. A defining role came in 1964 when he starred in the musical "King Solomon and Shlomi the Shoemaker." The production's success made Gorenlitzky, along with Yona Atari and Rachel Attas, national stars.

His stage partnership with Atari continued the following year with "Shuk Ha'Metsiut" (The Reality Market), featuring songs by Nathan Alterman. Their rendition of "Concertina Ve'Guitar," with lyrics by Alterman and music by Sasha Argov, became a memorable performance.

Gorenlitzky also appeared in films and television, including "Habura She'zot," "Shlosha Yamim Ve'yeled," "Sayarim," and "Tuvia and His Seven Daughters." He voiced Kaa the snake in the Hebrew dub of "The Jungle Book."

He was a founder of AMI (Artists' Association of Israel) and in 1983 established "Ashkolot," the company for performers' rights, which he managed for decades. Gorenlitzky also published two books on writing and philosophy. In 2019, he was honored as a "Yakir Tel Aviv-Yafo" (Beloved of Tel Aviv-Yafo) for his extensive work. He continued to participate in Israeli theater events, including the Cameri Theater's 80th-anniversary celebration in 2024.