Honoring Yaakov Cohen: Haifa Soup Kitchen Dedicated to Late Actor
Two years after the passing of iconic Israeli actor Yaakov Cohen, a Haifa soup kitchen is being dedicated to his memory, highlighting a lifetime of quiet philanthropy, humility, and devotion to the stage.
Almost two years after the passing of beloved Israeli actor and comedian Yaakov Cohen, his memory is being honored through a deeply meaningful tribute. The Yad Ezer LaChaver association is dedicating its soup kitchen at 17 Ben Yehuda Street in Haifa to his memory. For his widow, artist and photographer Tiranit Barzilai Cohen, the initiative reflects the quiet benevolence that defined her husband's life away from the spotlight.
"He never attached his name to anything we or he did," Barzilai Cohen shares in an interview. "He didn't boast or show off what he was doing, giving, and contributing—never. Sometimes he wouldn't even tell me." According to Shimon Sabag, founder and CEO of the association, the soup kitchen provides between 400 and 500 hot meals daily in takeaway trays, alongside clothing and dry goods, relying on donations from the IDF, major technological companies, and community contributors.
A Legacy of Humility and Hidden Kindness
Born in Meknes, Morocco, in 1958, Cohen immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of six and grew up in Migdal HaEmek. After graduating from the Beit Zvi acting school in 1984, he built a prolific career spanning theater, stand-up comedy, film, and television. Yet, those close to him remember him first and foremost for his profound humility and endless capacity for giving.
Even after his passing, stories continue to emerge about voluntary performances, late-night conversations with individuals in emotional distress, and quiet acts of charity that he never mentioned. "He was a bunker, he wouldn't tell a thing," his widow recalls, noting that the delayed revelations of his generosity leave her deeply moved.
Finding Healing Through Art and Giving
The connection to the Haifa soup kitchen arose organically through Barzilai Cohen's artistic circles and a chance meeting with the association's leadership. Returning to professional life as a gallery curator following a period of profound grief—helped by former Mediatheque CEO Odelia Friedman—has provided a vital anchor for her and her two sons as they navigate life without him.
Reflecting on the soup kitchen bearing her late husband's name, Barzilai Cohen emphasizes that the focus should remain entirely on the people receiving the meals rather than the memorial itself. "To do such an act of kindness, it is something that heals," she reflects. "Giving is a cure, it is healing—for us even more than for those who eat."