MasterChef Contestant Bar Levi Opens Up About Losing His Mother to Cancer

Bar Levi, a contestant on the Israeli reality cooking show MasterChef: Dream Team, shared the emotional challenges he faces following the death of his mother from cancer. His mother was diagnosed when he was 15 and underwent difficult treatments. She inspired him to pursue cooking and become the culinary cornerstone of his family, providing stability and joy through food.

Levi began auditioning for MasterChef's 11th season just two months after her passing, a time he describes as very raw and painful. He recently marked the third anniversary of her death, reflecting on how deeply he misses her and how memories of her remain strongly tied to his cooking journey. "The more someone means to you, the more you miss them," he said tearfully, adding that he feels her presence and protection while cooking.

In a 2024 interview with mako, Levi recounted how the trauma brought his community together but also how nothing replaced his mother's cooking. He turned to YouTube to learn how to cook, filling the void left by her absence. His story is featured in a new episode airing on Channel 12 following the evening news.