Yisrael Poliakov, a member of Israel’s fabled comic trio Hagashash Hahiver (The Pale Tracker), died.
Poliakov, who was known to his fans as “Poli,” succumbed early Tuesday to a lengthy illness. He was 66.
The Pale Tracker’s sketches appealed to Israel’s working class and intelligentsia alike for their elaborate word play, which became known as “gashasheet.”
Poliakov, who also made regular appearances in television and film, won an Israel Prize for his contributions to entertainment. President Shimon Peres issued a statement mourning his loss.
“Generations upon generations watched him and fell captive to his charm,” Peres said.
Reporting the stories that define our era. When history unfolds in real-time, the Jewish world turns to JTA. Your support ensures we can document the complexities of war and the resilience of Jewish communities with integrity.
