Jazz Musician Rotem Sivan Announces the Passing of His 19-Month-Old Son Eden Following Brain Cancer Battle

Renowned jazz musician Rotem Sivan shared the heartbreaking news that his son, Eden, passed away at 19 months, just over a year after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer. The announcement came via Sivan’s Instagram Stories on February 1.

“Our baby boy, Eden, passed away Friday morning,” Sivan wrote. “I would like to thank you for the love and support during this extremely hard year. Eden fought a hard fight, and we did all we could to save him. We wish to celebrate life and remember the smiles, the hugs, and the good times we had together. I hope you can take a moment and cherish your loved ones.”

Eden, who was born in June 2024 along with his twin sister, Gigi, was diagnosed six months later with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT)—a rare, fast-growing tumor of the central nervous system that affects the cerebellum or brain stem, according to Boston Children’s Hospital.

Sivan previously spoke about the early days of Eden’s illness, recalling the terrifying moment when he and his wife, Lore, realized something was seriously wrong. After Eden failed to respond to antibiotics for walking pneumonia, he was hospitalized and quickly transferred to the ICU, where scans revealed the aggressive tumor.

“For me, music has always been a very important part of life,” Sivan said. “Throughout the hospitalization, it was a ray of light because I was able to play for him, and my wife would sing a little bit for him. Sound and music is connected to life for me. This desire to create and play music is very much in the vein of life and spring, and the exact opposite of what we had to battle.”

Sivan had dedicated his album, Heart Thieves, to his twins during his wife’s pregnancy, but the project took on deeper significance after Eden’s diagnosis. The musician shared that, despite the challenges, Eden remained a happy and bright presence in their lives.

“We wish to celebrate Eden’s life and remember the hugs, smiles, and good times we had,” Sivan wrote. “He was a happy boy and was able to share his light despite the battles. I hope we all can take a moment, cherish, and hug our loved ones. Hugs and thanks again.”

Eden’s passing is a tragic reminder of the strength of families facing childhood illness, and Sivan’s openness has been met with an outpouring of support from fans and the music community worldwide.