AI to revive Ofra Haza, other deceased singers for Independence Day
Artists who passed away years ago, including Shoshana Damari, Uzi Hitman and Jo Amar, will posthumously participate in torch-lighting ceremony
Artificial intelligence technology will be used to bring the likeness of deceased Israeli singers to perform at the coming Independence Day ceremony.
Ofra Haza, who died 25 years ago; Shoshana Damari, who passed away in 2006; Uzi Hitman, who died in 2004; and Jo Amar, who died in 2009, will all “participate” using AI-generated imagery and sound.
Organizers originally wanted (living) artist Yardena Arazi to sing a duet with the artificial Haza. But Arazi declined an offer to light a torch at the ceremony or even participate, citing the troubled national mood amid the ongoing war, the hostage crisis and the divisive hard-right government.
The torch-lighting ceremony will open Israel’s 77th Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday evening.
Each year, a selection of people are given the honor of lighting one of 12 torches at the ceremony.
Arazi said last week that she was very moved by the offer to light a torch, but thought that “it is a state ceremony, but these are not stately times.”
“Therefore, despite the great honor, I felt I couldn’t be part of it this year,” she wrote on Instagram. “More than any ceremony or moving occasion, I want to see the hostages come back to us.”
This year’s torch lighters at the official ceremony on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl include released hostage Emily Damari; October 7 heroine Rachel Edri from Ofakim, who was held hostage for hours by Hamas terrorists in her home; judoka Oren Smadga, winner of a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics, whose son Omer was killed in battle in Gaza in June 2024; Ben Shapiro, a right-wing American Jewish pundit who is an outspoken supporter of Israel; and transgender singer Dana International, who at first hesitated to accept the honor.
The Times of Israel Community.