Israeli Singer and Actor Moshe Hallel Dies at 80
Israeli singer and actor Moshe Hallel, renowned as the "singing paratrooper" and a staple of 1970s culture, has passed away at 80, leaving behind a rich musical legacy.
The Israeli music world is mourning the loss of singer and actor Moshe Hallel, who passed away at the age of 80. Known affectionately as the "singing paratrooper," Hallel became one of the most recognizable voices of Israel's 1970s musical soundtrack, leaving behind a rich cultural legacy.
Born in Petah Tikva in 1946, Hallel was orphaned at a young age and raised on Kibbutz Maagan Michael. He served his mandatory military service in the Paratroopers Brigade, a background that earned him his lifelong moniker. After his discharge from the IDF, he began performing at the legendary Hamam club in Jaffa, where cultural figures Dan Ben-Amotz and Uri Zohar popularized the nickname "the singing paratrooper."
Hallel's major breakthrough came in 1970 with the hit single "The Boy with the Banjo," which topped the national music charts. A year later, he secured third place at the Oriental Song Festival with "Yaakov HaTamim"—universally known as "Al Tirah Yisrael" (Fear Not, Israel). He continued his festival success by capturing second place in 1972 with "Hevel HaYofi" and winning the annual charts in 1976 with "Hag Li."
Beyond his singing career, Hallel made memorable contributions to Israeli cinema and theater. In 1973, he appeared in the iconic film Kazablan, playing a market vendor and a mohel while singing a verse in the famous ensemble track "Kulanu Yehudim." He also starred in Giora Godik's musical Mazal Dagim and performed the theme song for Yehuda Barkan's beloved film Abba Ganuv. During the Yom Kippur War, he actively boosted troop morale by performing alongside the Golani Brigade entertainment troupe.
In his later years, Hallel received renewed recognition for his lifelong artistic contributions. He won first place at the "Next Song" festival in 2020, and in 2022, he was honored with a special lifetime achievement award at the same festival for his enduring impact on Hebrew song and culture.
