Journalist, historian, and radio broadcaster Oren Nahari died at the age of 70 after battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, his family announced on Thursday.
On August 8, Nahari broadcast his popular program Saturday with Oren Nahari and the podcast A Year in an Hour on Reshet Bet and KAN News for the last time. He announced in March that he was suffering from ALS.
In recent months, listeners could hear that he struggled to get out his words, although the quality of his work was undiminished.
In his final broadcast, he exhorted his listeners: “Remember, the world is wide, complex; you need to look at it with open eyes. This was my mission, this is my last request to you: Keep looking, listening, asking questions; and don’t take things for granted. And keep taking an interest.”
Israelis loved to tune in to these shows to hear this incredibly knowledgeable broadcaster, a true Renaissance man, who was an expert on virtually every subject, discuss both recent events and history. He was more than a cut above other journalists in the depth that he brought to his reporting and commentary. To listen to him was to learn.
More than a cut above
He was a cut above - more than a cut above - other journalists in the depth that he brought to his reporting and commentary. To listen to him was to learn. He had a knack for bringing complex concepts and events into sharp focus in a way that was both informative and entertaining.
Nahari had a knack for bringing complex concepts and events into sharp focus in a way that was informative and entertaining. He would invite experts to discuss various topics, but his own well of knowledge always rivaled theirs, and he asked them sophisticated questions; not to show off his erudition but to illuminate the subject at hand.
During the turbulence of the past three years, he often looked into aspects of the political situation that were influencing the headlines in ways most listeners would never have guessed.
In a recent program, for example, he examined the history of the Kurds and Kurdistan and linked it to current unrest in the region.
A Year in an Hour was an especially beloved program, in which Nahari would take one year and discuss all aspects of it: politics, science, sports, literature, movies, theater, art, television, and music. This program featured carefully chosen songs that added to the fun.
In a broadcast this summer about the year 1960, he played a classic pop tune from that year, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” by Brian Hyland. He was an aficionado of all culture, from high to low. He did not talk down to his listeners but explained the world in a way that even someone who had no knowledge of a topic could learn from.
Recently, he also hosted the program series The American Experiment with Eran Cicurel, marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
Earlier in his career, Nahari held many positions in journalism, including as foreign news editor of Channel One from the early 1990s, a position for which he was well known. KAN (Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation) praised his work, saying he “laid the foundations for foreign news coverage in Israel.” Over the years, he held senior positions in several departments and programs for Israel’s public broadcaster and other news outlets.
KAN paid tribute to Nahari on social media: “He was one of the most prominent symbols of public broadcasting in Israel – from the days of the Israel Broadcasting Authority [IBA] to very recent days – in KAN News broadcasts on Reshet Bet. For years, Oren conveyed – with love, curiosity, talent and a sense of true journalistic mission – what was happening in the world to the listeners and viewers of public broadcasting.”
President Isaac Herzog posted on X/Twitter, “With profound sorrow, I received the news of the passing of Oren Nahari – may his memory be blessed – one of Israel’s foremost journalists and media figures. Just a few days ago, I wished him well during his broadcast in his final program. For decades, Oren opened a window to the wide world for all of us, and he did so with rare talent, curiosity, professionalism, and an open heart.
“Oren leaves behind a rich journalistic and cultural legacy and a unique voice that will be greatly missed. My deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. May his memory be a blessing."
Oren Nahari was a voice of culture, sanity, broad education, and genuine intellectual curiosity
Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid also shared his condolences, saying, “In a world of fast communication and instant gratification, Oren Nahari was a voice of culture, sanity, broad education, and genuine intellectual curiosity. May his memory be blessed.”
He was also a prolific author who published more than 10 books on such subjects as famous battles, food, and, of course, history.
In recent years, he expressed fear that the Israeli government had not learned the lessons of history and was taking the country down a dangerous path.
Nahari’s funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon in Petach Tikva.
In a recent interview with KAN News, he expressed regret at the rapid progression of his disease. “I’m sad about the years that I could have spent with [my wife] Vered and the children and the grandchildren. I could have been one of the best grandfathers in history. I could have taken them on trips and told them about the Caesars and the Minotaurs and the Trojan War.”
His many listeners, whom he took on many such trips through his radio shows, certainly share his regret.