Yaakov "Yankele" Rotblit is an Israeli songwriter, singer, composer, and journalist best known for writing the lyrics for the Shir LaShalom.
Early life
Rotblit was born in Haifa in 1945. He was a member of Agudat Yordei Yam Zebulon and Hashomer Hatzair. After finishing his secondary education in Hugim high school, he enlisted to Nahal with a Hashomer Hatzair group formed for the completion of Kibbutz Metzer. After his discharge from the IDF he attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he studied history and international relations. While he was in university, the Six-Day War started and he left his studies to fight as a platoon leader in the 63rd battalion of the Jerusalem Brigade. During the battle over Abu Tor, Rotblit was severely wounded in his hand, and lost a leg.
Musical career
Songwriting
Rotblit's first song, "Zemer Shekazeh" was recorded in 1968. His second song, "Shir LaShalom" was written in 1969 and became an anthem of the Israeli peace movement. The song was set to music by Yair Rosenblum and was first performed in 1969 by the Infantry Ensemble of the Israel Defense Forces as part of its Sinai Infantry Outpost program, during the War of Attrition between Israel and Egypt. It featured the soloist Miri Aloni, who later became a celebrated folk singer and actor. At the close of a peace rally on November 4, 1995, the vocalist Miri Aloni, the groups Gevatron and Irusim, Shimon Peres and Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin led the crowd in singing Shir LaShalom. Just after the rally ended, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. In his shirt pocket was found a page with the song's lyrics, stained with his blood. During his musical career, Rotblit wrote dozens of popular songs, among them "Ima Adama", "Kama Tov SheBata HaBaita", "Ani Roeh Otah BaDerech LaGimnasia", "Kafe Turki", "Shabatot VeHagim", "Ba'a MeAhava", "Ahrei Estrim Shana", "Hoze Leh Brach", "Loah VaGir", "Dvarim SheRaziti Lomar", "Roim Rahok Roim Shakuf", and "Darchenu". Rotblit wrote songs for the most popular singers in Israel, among them Arik Einstein, Shmulik Kraus, Yehudit Ravitz, Shalom Hanoch, Matti Caspi, Nurit Galron, Riki Gal, Korin Elal, Yehuda Poliker, Shlomo Artzi, Miki Gavrielov, Josie Katz, T-Slam, Izhar Ashdot, Ahrit Hayamim, Danni Bassan, Yigal Bashan, Ariel Zilber, and Ninet Tayeb. Several artists released entire albums in collaboration with Rotblit, including Arik Einstein's BaDeshe Etzel Avigdor, Yehudit Ravitz's Baa MeAhava, Danni Bassan's eponymous album, Shmulik Kraus's Galgal Mistovev, Ahrei Esrim Shana, Yedidoti LaSviva, and Yom Rodef Yom.
Solo albums
In 1978 Rotblit released his first solo album, Kach Shihrarti Et Yerushalaim, also called "The Victory Album". The album was not allowed on the air for a certain period, but nonetheless received a fan following. The ten songs on the album include pacifist protest songs as well as songs about love and personal experiences. In 1989 Rotblit released a second album titled Mikhtavim M'Bait Revii. This album also included sociopolitical songs alongside love songs and other personal songs.
HaHazer HaAchorit
In 2011, Rotblit formed the rock group HaHazer HaAchorit with Tomer Yosef, Itamar Ziegler, and Gdi Ronen. The group released an album by the same name in 2013. Many of the songs on the album are protest songs about the social and political realities in Israel.
Journalistic career
Between 1970 and 1973 Rotblit authored a satirical column Sahek Ota in a supplement of Haaretz, as well as a column called Galgel Ota in the mid-week edition of that paper. In later years he wrote personal columns and articles in the newspapers Hadashot, HaOlam HaZeh, Davar, Maariv, Ha'ir, and others.
Personal life
In 1982 he married Orna, who died in 1998 following an illness. Rotblit was left with their three children, Alia, Orian, and Adam. Rotblit moved to Jerusalem in 1996 after several years of living in various places in Israel and abroad. In 2005, Rotblit was elected as chairman of the board at ACUM.
