Yossi Marshak on the economic crisis: "For 5 years I struggled to make a living"
Actor Yossi Marshak shared the economic difficulties that led him to abandon the stage, the painful rift with his father in his childhood, and the dramatic decision to take part in public activity for the return of the hostages following the events of October 7.
Actor Yossi Marshak, one of the stars of the TV series "The Jews Are Coming" and former partner of actress Naomi Levov, shared his complex relationship with his father, his decision to dedicate himself to activism following the events of October 7, and the economic difficulties that led him to re-examine his professional path after many years in the acting world.
At the beginning of the interview, Marshak addressed his childhood and the moment his father left home, an event that left a deep mark on him:
"When my father left home, a rift was created. He denied his entire previous life. I would go downstairs, call him from a public phone, and ask him to come pick me up. He never called me."
Marshak later said that for a long time he felt exhausted by the acting world and lost his sense of professional challenge. "I am no longer challenged. In 'The Jews Are Coming,' I would look at Moni Moshonov, at his hunger to pounce on a role, even a line. It was stunning to see that, and it made me ask myself why I don't fly like that."
Later in the interview, he revealed that he had dealt with economic difficulties for more than four years, and described the moment he realized he had to make a professional change:
"Five years I struggled to make a living. In the play 'The Elephant Who Wanted to Be the Most,' I was a flower, Mr. Grass, a monkey, and an elephant. And then came the play where, during a set change, I brought in the trees while wearing underwear and an undershirt, and suddenly the light turned on me. I stood there, looked at the children, looked at myself, and said, 'We're done.'"
He also addressed the impact of the events of October 7 on his life. According to him, the war led him to enlist in the struggle for the families of the hostages and to act publicly for their return:
"At a fairly early stage, they asked me to upload a video, to call on people to come to a demonstration for the return of the hostages. They asked me to host the demonstration. I told myself that I am committed to this thing, I am enlisting in the mission to help return hostages."
Marshak also said that he received an offer to join politics, but chose not to accept it. "There was some offer from a party, but it's not for me. I feel that through the podcast I contribute much more to the change in Israeli reality."
