Israeli Journalist Oren Nahari Dies at 70 After ALS Battle, Leaves Emotional Farewell Letter

Oren Nahari, a respected Israeli journalist and media personality, passed away at the age of 70 on Thursday after a prolonged battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). His funeral took place at the Menucha Nechona cemetery in Petah Tikva, attended by hundreds, including prominent figures from Israeli television and journalism such as Boaz Shapira, Emmanuel Halperin, Yoav Limor, Yossi Melman, Anat Sergosti, Ilan Lokatch, and Moshe Morg.

The ceremony began with a moment of silence and a performance of "Touch the Dream" by the vocal ensemble Koral, which includes Nahari's wife, Vered. Vered delivered a heartfelt eulogy, expressing her disbelief at losing her husband of nearly 20 years and recalling their shared life and struggles, including witnessing the country's difficult times. Close friend Arnon Shiran read Nahari's farewell letter, revealing his unfulfilled plans to slow down, write books, and spend more time with family.

In his letter, Nahari addressed his wife, sister, and children, expressing gratitude for their love and support. He acknowledged his regrets but emphasized the good life he led and his dedication to being a good person to the world, family, friends, and work. He also left a message to his colleagues at Channel One, highlighting his pride in his career and the memories he created.

Nahari's children shared personal memories, highlighting his humor and unique voice. Nahari had publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis in March and had to stop working five days before his death. His final broadcast on Kan Reshet Bet included a message urging listeners to remain curious and engaged with the world.

Born in Haifa, Nahari began his media career in the late 1970s in sports before moving to foreign news reporting and editing at Channel One. He was a founding figure of the influential foreign news programs "Seeing the World" and "Globus." Alongside television, he worked in radio, wrote columns for ynet, and authored books. In recent years, he was known for his current affairs and history program "Saturday with Oren Nahari" and the podcast "A Year in an Hour." Despite his illness, he continued broadcasting until shortly before his death.