Esther – The Life of Esther Ofarim

Our Heidelberg Jewish Film Club is screening the film “Esther,” which chronicles the life and extraordinary career of Israeli singer and actress Esther Ofarim. (In Hebrew with English subtitles)

Esther Ofarim rose to fame in Israel and enjoyed international success alongside her then-husband, Abi Ofarim. With her unmistakable voice and charismatic stage presence, she conquered the major stages of Europe and became an internationally renowned artist. But behind her career in the spotlight lies the story of a woman who sought her own artistic path and continually reinvented herself.

The film tells the story of her rise to fame and success, of personal and artistic turning points, and of an extraordinary Jewish-Israeli artistic personality.

Following the screening, Prof. Dr. Lea Wohl von Haselberg will be available to answer questions and discuss the film. The film and media scholar conducts research at the intersection of Jewish Studies and film studies, focusing in particular on Jewish film history and audiovisual cultures of memory. Since 2026, she has been a professor of Jewish Film and Audiovisual Memory at the Film University Babelsberg.

An event organized by the HfJS Heidelberg in cooperation with the Karlstorkino, sponsored by the City of Heidelberg and the Office for Equal Opportunity.