Harel Skaat

Skaat was born on August 8, 1981, to Ahuva and Avner. As a child he sang along to his father’s guitar, won a children’s talent competition and appeared on the children’s television program Parpar Nechmad. He also became known for singing at school ceremonies at Sharon elementary school and Galili High School in Kfar Saba.[1]

He made his first stage appearance at age six, winning a children’s-song festival in Kfar Saba, and later sang in his high-school band. After completing military service, he studied at Beit Zvi acting school while pursuing a singing career. Before A Star Is Born, he released the unsuccessful single “Ein Od Sikui” and finished sixth in the television competition The Next King.[2] He left Beit Zvi after two years to take part in A Star Is Born.[9]

Accounts differ on his military music service. Shironet describes Skaat as having served in the Communications Corps band; in a 2004 interview, Skaat said he had not joined a formal military band, but served in the Communications Corps and later its entertainment team. He also recalled assignments including barber and office work.[1][2]

Skaat became widely known in 2004 through the second season of A Star Is Born (Kochav Nolad), where he finished second to Harel Moyal. He was a favorite with viewers and judges, and his finale performance of Yehoram Gaon’s “Hineini Kan” remained at the top of the official Israeli Music Channel charts for 80 days.[2][10] His fan support remained particularly strong despite the second-place result.[1][3]

His first album, Harel Skaat, was released by Hed Arzi in 2006. The ten-track record took almost a year to make and included songs written by Keren Peles, Ohad Hitman, Peter Roth and Esther Shamir; Skaat composed the music for “Afilu Shesrifot” (“Even in Flames”).[3] It sold 20,000 copies in its first month, reached gold status after three weeks and later achieved platinum status.[3][10]

“Ve’at” (“And You”), written by Peles, was identified as the album’s biggest hit at the time, while “Kama Od Efshar” (“How Much More Is Possible”), “Mashehu Mimeni” (“Something from Me”) and “Kol Hatziporim” (“All the Birds”) also received attention and radio play.[2][3] Skaat’s singing and interpretation were praised, although the album’s production also drew criticism. “Ve’at” was named song of the year by Galgalatz and Reshet Gimel, and Skaat received music and singer-of-the-year recognition.[2][3]

During 2007 and 2008, Skaat undertook a tour involving 200 performances.[10] In May 2008, Hed Artzi sued him, alleging that he had recorded a new album without the company’s authorization or involvement, and sought an injunction against its release. The parties eventually reached an agreement, and his second album, Dmutot, was released by Aroma Music in September 2009.[2] In a later profile, Skaat described the court experience as unbearable and unforgivable.[9]

His third album, Shuv Me’ushar, was reported to be doing well in 2012, when he was also appearing in the musical Almost Normal at Habima Theatre.[9] By 2018, his work included four albums, musical-theatre roles, appearances in Festigal productions and judging on The Next Star for Eurovision. He said he recognized Neta Barzilai’s potential when she first appeared on the show and advised the production that she should win if Israel wanted to host Eurovision.[6]

The Israel Broadcasting Authority selected Skaat to represent Israel at Eurovision in 2010.[10] A televised pre-Eurovision program featuring four songs chose “Milim” (“Words”), written by Noam Horev and composed by Tomer Hadadi. Skaat dedicated the song to his grandfather, Avraham Shimon, who had died the week before.[11]

At the final in Oslo, “Milim” placed 14th among 25 countries, earning 71 points. Finland and the Netherlands each awarded Israel 10 points, while Slovakia awarded eight. Skaat said he was proud of the performance and that “We brought artistic respect to Israel.”[4] The song and its creators also received three awards from Eurovision creators, journalists and commentators; the report described this as the first time one country had received all three.[4]

In 2017, Skaat released Ahava Mesovevet Hakol and marked a decade since his debut with a concert at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv.[5] In a 2022 interview, he said he continued working on songs and took time refining lyrics so he could still sing them decades later. He also hosted the podcast Harel Skaat Has to Ask, featuring conversations about psychology, real estate, economics and politics.[7]

In October 2010, a Channel 2 documentary marked Skaat’s public coming out. Before its broadcast, he said he was protective of his privacy but was not hiding anything, and that he would not conceal a future partner at home.[12] He later described the change as learning to love openly and freely, and began appearing publicly with Idan Roll in early 2011.[9] In a 2017 interview, he said that after coming out he stopped becoming physically ill and recalled the period before it as the saddest time of his life.[5]

Skaat and Roll pursued surrogacy in the United States after deciding to have a child together. Skaat described the process as lengthy and emotionally difficult; their son Ari was born by cesarean section in Tulsa on August 28, 2018. Skaat recalled that he and Roll held the surrogate’s hands during the birth.[6] The couple married in a small family ceremony at home on March 5, 2021, with Ari bringing them the rings.[8] By 2022, they had two children, Ari and Isla.[7]

Skaat’s career has combined recording, live performance, musical theatre, Eurovision participation and television judging. By 2018, he had released four albums and built a career spanning stage productions, Festigal appearances and prime-time television.[6] His debut album’s sales, platinum status and song- and singer-of-the-year honors established his early commercial and critical profile.[2][3]

His public work has also extended beyond entertainment. In 2023, Skaat took part in an album project intended to connect younger generations with Holocaust survivors and the history of the Holocaust. Paired with Guy Mezig, he co-wrote “The Number Song” with Mezig, Doron Medalie and Tal Kastiel. The song concerned Mordechai, a 99-year-old survivor who told the musicians about the number tattooed on his arm.[13] Skaat has also used his public platform to argue for equal rights for LGBTQ+ Israelis.[6]

Skaat’s selection as Israel’s Eurovision representative drew criticism at a Knesset Education Committee session in December 2009. The Israel Broadcasting Authority had selected him unanimously without first consulting its board and without holding the preliminary competition used in earlier selection processes. The committee referred the matter to the State Comptroller’s Office for investigation; the authority’s head said other artists had declined and that it had decided to proceed with one singer.[14]

A separate Eurovision-related report noted that a map shown before Skaat’s performance depicted Israel along the 1967 lines without the West Bank — known by its original, indigenous Jewish name of Judea and Samaria. The map had not appeared in the semi-final; following an appeal by Ynet, the Israeli delegation and Israel’s Foreign Ministry, it was shown before the final performance.[4]

In July 2017, after the state submitted its position to the High Court opposing adoption by same-sex couples, Skaat urged gay youth not to enlist in the IDF or pay taxes. He framed the message as a protest against unequal rights and later said he had intended to provoke discussion, not to call for draft evasion. The post prompted a public debate, and Skaat said he did not regret speaking out.[6]