Israeli Actress and Singer Shoshik Shani Dies at 91

Shoshik Shani, a renowned Israeli actress, singer, and comedian, passed away at the age of 91. Born Shoshana Sprung in Tel Aviv in 1935, she began her acting career in the 1950s and became a prominent figure in Israeli culture through theater, film, and television. Shani was especially known for her role as the Miller's Daughter in the beloved children's musical "Otz Li Gutz Li," which became a milestone in her career.

Throughout her extensive career, Shani appeared in numerous plays such as "The Good Person of Szechwan," "He Walked in the Fields," and "Champion of the Builders," and starred in films including "Hole in the Moon," "Operation Jonathan," "Lupo," and "The Unemployed in Tito." She also recorded children's songs, contributed to dubbing projects like the Hebrew versions of Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "The Little Mermaid," and taught acting and diction at Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts and other institutions.

In 1957, Shani married singer and actor Arik Lavie, who co-starred with her in "Otz Li Gutz Li." The couple lived in New York for four years, where Shani studied acting with Ota Hagen. After returning to Israel in 1963, they collaborated on various projects, including the entertainment show "He and She" written by Ephraim Kishon, and performed together in theatrical productions and tours in Germany. They had two daughters, Noa Lavie, a sociologist and television researcher, and Yael Lavie, a journalist and documentary filmmaker.

Shani's daughter Noa described her mother as an extraordinary woman who passed away peacefully, emphasizing her deep love for Israel and her wish for people to live with integrity and care for the country. In 2012, Shani published her autobiography "I Will Sing to You," chronicling her personal and artistic journey with Lavie. In 2022, she was honored with the Yakirat Tel Aviv-Yafo award, recognizing her lifelong contributions to the city where she was born and began her career.