Gilad Ben Shach

Gilad Ben Shach was an Israeli composer, radio music editor and broadcaster whose work shaped Hebrew popular song on public radio for decades. He died on 1 October 2026 at the age of 85. He was born in Gedera on 21 April 1941, the eldest son of Yehuda ("HaGederati") and Batya Shchavitz. His father was a writer and journalist, and his grandfather Mordechai was among Gedera's founders and served as its mukhtar.

He served for seven years as a police officer in Israel's Southern District before turning fully to music and broadcasting. In the 1960s he composed and translated songs for performers, especially the duo Ilan and Ilanit, including "Everyone Has a Star" and "Violets". Other early credits included translations and songs for Gidi Tsach and Gila, Gila Edri, Michal Tal and later Dana International. After meeting radio editors at university he joined Kol Israel in 1969. He was the first music editor of the programme "At Noon" (Bachatzi HaYom) and later edited "Keset VeAfarkeset" and "Oti Ze Matzhik".

When Reshet Gimmel launched in June 1976 he became head of the station's entertainment department. From 1978 to 1993 he edited "Al Batuch" and wrote its theme song, and in later years he edited series such as "Zemer Shekaze", "Agadat Deshe", "Matok Me'az" and "Yelid HaAretz". He also produced special broadcasts including hit-parade marathons and a Gazash HaChiver marathon, and in 1998 sat on the Israel Prize jury for Hebrew song. He published several song collections with the Broadcasting Authority and with Amnon Shiloni, as well as a book and CD on the Chizbatron army entertainment troupe.

His family remembered him as devoted to Hebrew song, its preservation and cultivation. Gedera council head Sahar Pinto called him a source of pride for the colony and a lasting mark on Israeli culture. He died on 1 October 2026; the funeral was set for 2 October at 11:30 at the Gedera cemetery. A cause of death was not published in the initial reports.

Ben Shach's career linked composition for major Israeli acts with decades of editorial work that brought Hebrew song into daily radio life. Listeners who grew up with Reshet Gimmel and Kol Israel's entertainment strand knew his programmes as part of the soundtrack of ordinary days, and his Gedera roots remained part of how colleagues and neighbours spoke of him after he died.