About a week ago, I sat down with Yitzhak Klefter for an extensive interview about his rich musical career, and about his recently published book of poems "Clilil Memusin".
The singer, guitarist and one of the greatest creators of Israeli music was sitting on the sofa in his apartment connected to oxygen cylinders.
Every few minutes he had to stop talking to catch his breath.
You didn't have to be a doctor to understand that the end was near.
"I went through quite a few health problems that made me afraid of what was going to happen," he said in an interview.
"I was afraid that this was going to be the end. I'm afraid. It's not easy growing up, but we keep going until one day it ends. It will happen to each of us, there's nothing we can do. My lungs are like coals."
"If I recover by then, I will perform with Aviv", Aviv Gefen in concert, archive, photo: Koko
Clifter said that the doctors are already limiting his treatment.
"They say, 'Live with it. It is what it is.' ".
On the walls of the living room of his apartment hang photos of his rich past alongside awards he won, and in the corner rests the electric guitar, which earned him a reputation as one of the greatest guitarists born here.
"I play very little today," he admitted in a quiet voice.
"My health prevents me. When I get well - I will come back. They don't let me. They want to hear more of my music. They want me to play and perform, because I bring a lot of audience.
"I recently received a request from Aviv Gefen to perform with him at Yarkon Park this coming May. There was also talk of another reunion of the Hive band, which will probably not come to fruition. If I recover by then, I will perform with Aviv."
When he was already tired, and right before we parted ways, I asked if he was satisfied with what he had achieved during his career.
Clifter caught his breath and said decisively: "It ended in my favor. You can write it down, it ended in my favor."
Extensive excerpts from the last interview with Clifter will be published on Sunday, the full interview - next week in the "Shishbat" supplement
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