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Israeli Mizrahi Legend Yishai Levi Dies at 63
Israeli Mizrahi icon Yishai Levi passed away overnight on Saturday, 7 June 2026, after a prolonged hospitalization that had left the music world stunned. The 63‑year‑old, born on 20 January 1963 in Rosh HaAyin to a Yemenite Jewish family, had been a pillar of Israel’s Mizrahi scene for more than forty years.
Levi’s family released a terse statement that evening: “With unimaginable pain, we announce the passing of Yishai Levi last night. There are no words right now.” No cause of death was disclosed. The singer is survived by his wife, Iris, four children and several grandchildren.
The nation’s leaders joined in mourning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X: “My wife, Sara, and I convey our sorrow over the passing of the beloved artist Yishai Levi; may his memory be a blessing. Yishai was a unique voice in Israeli music—a voice of soul, joy, pain and love for humanity. Yishai touched the hearts of millions of Israelis with his songs. He crossed generations, communities and sectors, becoming an inseparable part of the soundtrack of our lives.” Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar echoed the sentiment, calling Levi “one of the pioneers of Mizrahi music in Israel and one of the greatest and most moving voices in Israeli music.” He added that Levi “managed to touch the hearts of entire generations and become an inseparable part of the soundtrack of the State of Israel.”
Yemenite‑born Mizrahi singer Margalit Tzanani, a close friend, praised Levi’s talent: “Everyone who met him understood that he was a master. He knew how to love a song and perform it in the best possible way.”
Levi’s musical journey began in the 1980s, when he performed at clubs and family celebrations as a teenager. His debut album, Hafla Im Ben‑Moshe (“Party with Ben‑Moshe”), produced by guitarist and producer Moshe Ben‑Moshe, launched him into the spotlight. The breakthrough came with Hineh Ba Hayom (“Here Comes the Day”), which yielded enduring hits such as “Ra’aya,” “Halom,” “Ahat VeYehida” and “Tzlil Anbalim.” Over the next four decades he released dozens of albums. Romantic classics like “Rikdi” (“Dance”), “Rikud Romanti” (“Romantic Dance”), “Ha’achat Sheli” (“My One”) and “Od Hayom” (“Still Today”) became staples of Israeli radio. Even into the 2020s, Levi remained a popular performer, appearing in season four of the Israeli TV show The Masked Singer in 2025.
The singer’s life was not without hardship. A period of drug addiction interrupted his career, but Levi spoke openly about his struggles and emerged as a symbol of resilience. His comeback albums and performances earned him renewed popularity, and songs such as “Taltalim Shehorim” (“Black Curls”) and “Rikud Romanti” introduced his music to new generations.
Three years before his death, Levi reflected on his legacy in a social‑media post that resurfaced after his passing. He wrote: “I am 60 years old, and for the first time in my life I wonder what people will say after I’m gone. I know how to sing. That’s what I have to give and that’s what I will leave behind.” The post followed the death of fellow Israeli singer Yitzhak Klepter in December 2022 and included a plea to honor veteran artists while they are still alive: “Don’t cast us aside in old age.” The message was widely shared by Israelis after Levi’s death.
Levi’s passing marks the loss of a voice that bridged generations and communities. His music remains a fixture on Israeli radio and streaming playlists, and his influence continues to shape the Mizrahi genre.
The cause of death remains undisclosed, and no further details have been released by the family or medical authorities. Levi’s legacy is being honored by state officials, fellow musicians, and fans across the country.
Levi’s family released a terse statement that evening: “With unimaginable pain, we announce the passing of Yishai Levi last night. There are no words right now.” No cause of death was disclosed. The singer is survived by his wife, Iris, four children and several grandchildren.
The nation’s leaders joined in mourning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X: “My wife, Sara, and I convey our sorrow over the passing of the beloved artist Yishai Levi; may his memory be a blessing. Yishai was a unique voice in Israeli music—a voice of soul, joy, pain and love for humanity. Yishai touched the hearts of millions of Israelis with his songs. He crossed generations, communities and sectors, becoming an inseparable part of the soundtrack of our lives.” Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar echoed the sentiment, calling Levi “one of the pioneers of Mizrahi music in Israel and one of the greatest and most moving voices in Israeli music.” He added that Levi “managed to touch the hearts of entire generations and become an inseparable part of the soundtrack of the State of Israel.”
Yemenite‑born Mizrahi singer Margalit Tzanani, a close friend, praised Levi’s talent: “Everyone who met him understood that he was a master. He knew how to love a song and perform it in the best possible way.”
Levi’s musical journey began in the 1980s, when he performed at clubs and family celebrations as a teenager. His debut album, Hafla Im Ben‑Moshe (“Party with Ben‑Moshe”), produced by guitarist and producer Moshe Ben‑Moshe, launched him into the spotlight. The breakthrough came with Hineh Ba Hayom (“Here Comes the Day”), which yielded enduring hits such as “Ra’aya,” “Halom,” “Ahat VeYehida” and “Tzlil Anbalim.” Over the next four decades he released dozens of albums. Romantic classics like “Rikdi” (“Dance”), “Rikud Romanti” (“Romantic Dance”), “Ha’achat Sheli” (“My One”) and “Od Hayom” (“Still Today”) became staples of Israeli radio. Even into the 2020s, Levi remained a popular performer, appearing in season four of the Israeli TV show The Masked Singer in 2025.
The singer’s life was not without hardship. A period of drug addiction interrupted his career, but Levi spoke openly about his struggles and emerged as a symbol of resilience. His comeback albums and performances earned him renewed popularity, and songs such as “Taltalim Shehorim” (“Black Curls”) and “Rikud Romanti” introduced his music to new generations.
Three years before his death, Levi reflected on his legacy in a social‑media post that resurfaced after his passing. He wrote: “I am 60 years old, and for the first time in my life I wonder what people will say after I’m gone. I know how to sing. That’s what I have to give and that’s what I will leave behind.” The post followed the death of fellow Israeli singer Yitzhak Klepter in December 2022 and included a plea to honor veteran artists while they are still alive: “Don’t cast us aside in old age.” The message was widely shared by Israelis after Levi’s death.
Levi’s passing marks the loss of a voice that bridged generations and communities. His music remains a fixture on Israeli radio and streaming playlists, and his influence continues to shape the Mizrahi genre.
The cause of death remains undisclosed, and no further details have been released by the family or medical authorities. Levi’s legacy is being honored by state officials, fellow musicians, and fans across the country.
