Moshe Hillel, 'The Singing Paratrooper,' Dies at 80
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Singer Moshe Hillel, known as "The Singing Paratrooper," died Friday at age 80 following a severe fall three and a half years ago that left him disabled. Hillel gained prominence in the 1970s, participating in the Eastern Music Festival and achieving success with hits like "Yaakov Ha'Tamin." He also performed during the Yom Kippur War and acted in the film "Kazablan." Hillel later expressed feeling stigmatized by his association with Eastern music.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Singer Moshe Hillel, "The Singing Paratrooper," died Friday at age 80.
- Hillel was known for his hits from the 1970s, including "Yaakov Ha'Tamin."
- He achieved success at the Eastern Music Festival, winning in 1976.
- A severe fall three and a half years ago led to his declining health and disability.
- Hillel believed his "Mizrachi-ist" label negatively impacted his career.
Moshe Hillel, the singer known as "The Singing Paratrooper" who rose to fame in the 1970s, particularly for his performances at the Eastern Music Festival, passed away Friday at the age of 80. His wife, Sarit, confirmed his death, stating that a severe fall three and a half years prior left him disabled with a heart pacemaker and unable to walk, leading to a decline in his health. He had been living in a geriatric center near their home.
Born in Petah Tikva in 1946, Hillel was orphaned at a young age and moved to Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael. After serving in the Paratroopers Brigade, he performed at variety shows hosted by Dan Ben Amotz and Uri Zohar at the Ha'Chamam club in Jaffa, where they coined his famous nickname. He first gained public recognition in 1970 with the song "The Boy with the Banjo." He participated multiple times in the Eastern Music Festival, achieving third place in 1971 with "Yaakov Ha'Tamin" (also known by its opening line "Do Not Fear Israel"), which became a major hit. He secured second place in 1972 with "Beauty is Not Vanity, Grace is Not a Lie" and won first place in 1976 with "Chag Li."
During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Hillel recorded the song "On Three Sins of Damascus" with the Golani Brigade's entertainment troupe. That same year, he had a small role in Menachem Golan's film "Kazablan," performing a verse in the song "We Are All Jews." He released his self-titled debut album the following year. In 1987, he performed "Stolen Life," the theme song for the first "Abba Ganuv" film.
Hillel struggled to replicate his earlier success and faded from public view. He believed his association with the Eastern Music Festival had been detrimental, feeling he was stigmatized as "Mizrachi-ist" and paid a price for his Sephardic heritage, as he stated in an interview with Maariv. In the 1980s, he opened pubs and clubs, and later worked in car tracking and security services.
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