Pinina Rosenblum Reflects on Life, Career, and Aspiration to Be Israel’s President

Pinina Rosenblum, a well-known Israeli public figure, recently opened up about her multifaceted life in a documentary aired on Keshet 12. At 71, Rosenblum reflected on her journey from a difficult childhood in poverty in Petah Tikva to becoming a model, actress, businesswoman, cosmetics guru, Knesset member, singer, and songwriter. Despite public perceptions, she remains unapologetic and confident, famously saying, "It doesn’t matter if they write good or bad, as long as they spell your name right."

Rosenblum described her early life hardships, including her father’s imprisonment and her mother’s struggle to care for her in a tiny shack. Her sister, attorney Lily Rosenblum, also appeared in the interview, highlighting their different upbringings and relationships with their mother. Pinina recounted traumatic experiences during her youth, including sexual harassment and assault, which she said were common but rarely publicly discussed at the time.

Her career took off in the 1970s, starting with modeling and acting, including a controversial nude scene at age 16. She later moved to London, adopting the name "Pinina Golan," and mingled with celebrities and wealthy figures, including an English-Jewish billionaire. Returning to Israel, she faced challenges shedding her public image and struggled financially before launching a successful cosmetics business. By her second year, her company’s revenue reached $1.5 million.

Rosenblum also shared personal aspects of her life, including a long-term relationship with her childhood love, Yoval, and later marriage to Moshe Chaim, with whom she adopted two children after fertility struggles. She candidly discussed the difficulties in her relationships and her openness about infertility, which was groundbreaking in Israeli media.

Politically, Rosenblum served as a Knesset member and expressed pride in her public service. She believes she could be Israel’s best president after Shimon Peres, emphasizing the role’s need to unite and connect with people. In recent years, she gained popularity among younger audiences through viral songs on social media, despite mixed critical reception.

Rosenblum remains driven and unrelenting, rejecting the idea of slowing down despite her age. She credits her success to taking risks, hard work, and resilience. Her partner of 22 years, Roni Simanovitz, describes their relationship as based on friendship, respect, and love. Her sister suggests it’s time for her to rest, but Rosenblum insists life without goals would be boring. She concludes, "I don’t regret anything I did in life. I learned from everything and never repeated the same mistakes twice."