Valley of Tears (TV series)
Valley of Tears is an Israeli miniseries that blends drama and war. Based on real events from the Yom Kippur War, it follows three soldiers on the northern front as they face the chaos of battle and its lasting effects. The show stars Aviv Alush, Joy Rieger and Lior Ashkenazi and was created by Ron Leshem, directed by Yaron Zilberman. Its Hebrew titles Emek HaBakha and Sha’at Ne’ila (meaning “the hour of Ne’ila”) reflect its theme.
Development took about a decade, with filming in the Golan Heights over 52 days beginning July 21, 2019. It premiered on Kan 11 on October 19, 2020, and later arrived on HBO Max in the United States on November 12, 2020. The first season has 10 episodes; a second season focusing on the 1982 Lebanon War was reportedly in production as of March 2022.
Valley of Tears is notable for its high production budget—about $1 million per episode—using advanced effects and real tanks to recreate battles. Filming paused for three weeks at one point due to nearby fighting in Syria. The series sparked discussions in Israel about war trauma and survivors’ experiences, and drew some criticism for historical accuracy. It was produced by WestEnd Films, Endemol Shine Israel, United King and KAN.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:32 (CET).