Ofra Haza, 1957-2000

Born into a Yemeni family in Tel Aviv, singer Haza helped popularize Mizrahi culture. Her song “Ga’agu’im” (“Yearning”) launched her career in 1973. She was Israel’s Singer of the Year from 1980 to 1983 and finished second in the 1983 Eurovision. She recorded “Deliver Us” for the animated film “Prince of Egypt” in 29 languages and voiced Moses’ mother, Yocheved. Her death from AIDS complications helped open public discourse about the disease.

Photo: Ya’acov Sa’ar, Israeli Government Press Office