Gil Ofarim announces comeback concert – the “correction of time”

It’s been three years since Gil Ofarim caused a scandal: the singer fumed at the time that he was subjected to anti-Semitic discrimination in a hotel because of his Star of David. He stuck to the allegations even when the case went to court. It wasn’t until the sixth day of the meeting that he admitted: They were made up. Ofarim withdrew from public life. Now he announced his return. And relies on regret.

He wants to play his first concert in years on April 21st next year under the title “Correction of Time” at the Matrix in Bochum. This was confirmed in a press release after “Bild” first reported on the plans. The concert is planned as an “emotional journey through the past, present and future,” according to the statement. The singer wants to “open a new chapter in his career”. The concert should be a “personal and artistic examination of the challenges and changes of the past few years”.

A video that he published on Instagram on November 12th indicated that Ofarim was drawn back into the public eye. In the clip, the musician, who has also changed his appearance, appears purified. He reports that he has lost 25 kilos of weight, has given up alcohol and has sought professional help. “I take responsibility for what I have done. For things that I regret, that I feel sorry for and for which I atone,” he explains with emotion. What is missing from the clip: a concrete apology to the Westin Hotel in Leipzig and the employee against whom he made the serious allegations. Not only did he have to fear for his job at times, but he also received death threats.

“But something like this isn’t settled with an apology or silence. And I know that now,” he simply broaches the topic in his clip. He emphasizes that he owns up to his mistakes, regrets them and pays for them. But for the most part it’s about him, as many comments on Instagram complain. “I want to try to win you and my life back,” he openly explains his motivation. “Every person deserves a second chance.”

The fact that many people don’t really buy his change of heart certainly has something to do with Ofarim’s behavior. Although there were two years between the scandal and the trial, it was only on the sixth day of the trial in November 2023 that he admitted to having made up the allegations. And asked for forgiveness from the hotel employee he wrongly accused.

Ofarim was also responsible for the fact that the court only stopped the proceedings in August: for months he had ignored a requirement to pay 5,000 euros each to the Jewish Community of Leipzig and to the House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial. The reaction to his apology video was correspondingly critical.

However, things are different now with the announcement of his concert. A few hours after his post, the reactions on Instagram were almost entirely positive. At least some of the fans seem to be ready for a second chance.

Sources: press release,