Singer-songwriter Ester Shamir dies at 71

Singer and songwriter Ester Shamir, one of the most important musicians in the Israeli soundtrack, died today, Thursday, after battling cancer. Shamir was 71 when she died, and details of her funeral have not yet been announced. Shamir was one of the pioneering women in female rock and was credited with dozens of songs and enduring hits, including "In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv," "I Only Passed By to Look," "Stronger Than the Wind" and "Mid-September." Shamir was born in 1955 in Jerusalem as Ester Hirshberg.

She began her musical career in the Nahal Band, where she met her first husband and creative partner, Ephraim Shamir. After being discharged from the army, she performed in the duo "Ephraim and Ester Shamir," and first became famous with the release of "I Only Passed By to Look," which was a huge success. In the 1980s, Shamir sparked a revolution in the local music industry. In 1982 she released her debut album, "In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv," on which she wrote and composed all the songs. The album, which included hits such as "In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv" and "A Man for One Night," cemented her status as an independent and groundbreaking creator at a time when most female singers performed material written by others. In 1984 she released the album "Strong Card," in 1987 "Until the End," and in 1988 "Coexistence in Love." At the same time, "Mid-September," the title track she wrote for Gali Atari's album, became a huge success.

At the end of the 1980s, Shamir's career took a turn. She moved away from the spotlight and focused on complementary medicine and spiritual development. She developed the "Kol HaRuach" method, a healing approach combining vocal work, therapy and spirituality, and devoted many years to teaching and treatment. Even during her years as a therapist, Shamir did not completely abandon music. She released the albums "Because of the People I Love" (2003), "It Is Between You and God" (2011), "The Night Love Won" (2017) and "Milk Songs" (2023). She also continued writing songs for other artists, including Gali Atari ("Stronger Than the Wind," "The Day After"), Rita ("Station of Time"), Yardena Arazi ("Barefoot Girl") and others. In 2023, she was awarded a special prize by the ACUM board for her contribution to Israeli music and culture. Shamir is survived by her partner, Ofer Wintraub, and two daughters, Hili and Uri, from her marriage to journalist Roni Shir. Her first husband was musician Ephraim Shamir.

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