Yaakov Rotblit

Yaakov "Yankele" Rotblit (Hebrew: יעקב רוֹטְבְּלִיט; born in 1945) is an Israeli songwriter, singer, composer, and journalist best known for writing the lyrics for the Shir LaShalom.

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.

At the close of a peace rally on 4 November 1995, the vocalist Miri Aloni, the groups Gevatron and Irusim, Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin led the crowd in singing Shir LaShalom.

During his musical career, Rotblit wrote dozens of popular songs, among them "Ima Adama" (אמא אדמה), "Kama Tov SheBata HaBaita" (כמה טוב שבאת הביתה), "Ani Roeh Otah BaDerech LaGimnasia" (אני רואה אותה בדרך לגימנסיה), "Kafe Turki" (קפה טורקי), "Shabatot VeHagim" (שבתות וחגים), "Ba'a MeAhava" (באה מאהבה), "Ahrei Estrim Shana" (אחרי עשרים שנה), "Hoze Leh Brach" (חוזה לך ברח), "Loah VaGir" (לוח וגיר), "Dvarim SheRaziti Lomar" (דברים שרציתי לומר), "Roim Rahok Roim Shakuf" (רואים רחוק רואים שקוף), and "Darchenu" (דרכנו).

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 (1971), Yehudit Ravitz's Baa MeAhava (1987), Danni Bassan's eponymous album (1986), Shmulik Kraus's Galgal Mistovev (1982), Ahrei Esrim Shana (1988), Yedidoti LaSviva (1994), and Yom Rodef Yom (2003).

In 1989 Rotblit released a second album titled Mikhtavim M'Bait Revii (מכתבים מבית רביעי, Letters From The Fourth Temple).

Yaakov Rotblit (front) with members of HaHazer HaAchorit. Left to Right: Gdi Ronen, Tomer Yosef, and Itamar Ziegler.