Israeli Elections: Daniel Galay, Avremi Zaks, Leybl Botwinik

Highlights: The upcoming Israeli elections are discussed in unhurried conversations with three frequent guests of The Yiddish Voice: Daniel Galay (דניאל גלאי) is a composer, pianist, playwright, writer, educator and Yiddish activist, and Chairman of Leyvik House, the Yiddish cultural center in Tel Aviv that houses Israel’s Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists. Born in Argentina in 1945 and raised in a Yiddish-speaking home, he moved to Israel in 1965. Avremi Zaks (אבֿרהמי זאַקס) is a Jerusalem-based radio journalist and previously served for many years as host of the Kan Yiddish (כאן יידיש) radio show, Israel’s public Yiddish-language broadcast. He has reported for us regularly on Israeli affairs, most recently on the war with Iran and the “Lion’s Roar” operation. Leybl Botwinik (לײבל באָטװיניק) is a writer of science fiction, poetry and songs in both Yiddish and English who grew up in Montreal’s vibrant Yiddish cultural scene. He is the son of the late Dovid Botwinik, a composer of Yiddish songs, music educator and Yiddish activist, and the brother of Sender Botwinik, a Yiddish educator, choral director and music producer. He has lived in Israel for many years and has passed Yiddish on to his children. The conversations are interspersed with songs from new recordings by Daniella Rabbani and The Bashevis Singers. (See credits below.) We spoke with Galay, Zaks and Botwinik at their homes in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Netanya, respectively, via Zoom on Oct. 21, 2026. Music Daniella Rabbani: Dona, Dona The Bashevis Singers: Levones Milkh Daniella Rabbani: Papir Iz Dokh Vays The Bashevis Singers: Krishlekh Fayer The Bashevis Singers: Eyn Ton Instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air date: October 21, 2026