Kirschenbaum, a former UCLA student in film and television, was among the founders of Israeli tv, and winner of the Israel Prize in 1976 for his contributions to Israeli media.

Veteran Israeli journalist and media producer Moti (Mordechai) Kirschenbaum died on September 25 at his home is Israel. He was 76.

Kirschenbaum was a former director-general of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and one of the founders of Israeli television, starting from its first day in May 1968.  In the early 1960s, he studied film and television at UCLA, an education that had a significant impact on his later contributions to Israeli life and culture.

Among his many roles in broadcasting, he was editor of the news program "Mabat" for its first three years; directed several documentaries; and produced several popular and ground-breaking television programs, including "Lo HaKol Over" and the satirical program "Nikui Rosh".  He also produced several satirical theater productions.

In 1976, he was awarded the Israel Prize for contributions to Israeli media, and in 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Israeli Television Academy.  

More on Kirchenbaum’s legacy can be found on  ha'aretz.com and many other obituaries in the Israeli press.