Who Are the Haim Sisters Este, Danielle & Alana's Parents?

If you've been following the Haim sisters' viral moment at the NBA Finals with Taylor Swift, you might be wondering about the people who raised these incredibly talented musicians.

The answer is Mordechai "Moti" Haim and Donna Rose Haim.

Haim Sisters’ parents have music in their blood, who bonded over music, fell in love, and welcomed their three daughters, Este, Danielle, and Alana.

Mother Donna Rose Haim

Donna is a former elementary school art teacher from Philadelphia. She was also a talented singer who initially wanted to pursue a career as a singer.

She actually won an episode of The Gong Show in the 1970s, performing a cover of a Bonnie Raitt song.

Unfortunately, Donna's own parents pushed her toward teaching instead of pursuing music professionally.

So, Donna didn’t want her daughters to choose the path that she had followed, so she chose to actively support their daughters’ dream of becoming musicians.

Donna even enrolled their daughters in music classes and piano lessons. Then the Haim family formed a family band called Rockinhaim.

Father Mordechai "Moti" Haim

Their dad Moti is also into music. When Donna and Moti had their blind date, Moti grabbed Donna’s attention by drumming at the table when she was ready to walk out.

Moti was a football player who played for Maccabi Jaffa and Maccabi Los Angeles in Israel before moving to the United States in 1980.

Since music had always been part of his life too, Moti played drums when the family band formed.

He also made one particularly important decision: when the sisters were learning instruments, Moti chose which instrument each daughter would play.

For Este, he decided she would be best on bass and bought her a second-hand Fender for $50. That turned out to be a pretty good call.

Moti apparently had bigger ambitions for the family band. According to reports, he had hoped the family would become a "Partridge Family-style ensemble," which is a reference to the famous 1970s TV show about a family band.

While that particular dream didn't come true, something much bigger did. The three sisters eventually broke away from the family cover band, started writing their own material, and became HAIM, a GRAMMY-nominated, BRIT Award-winning international success.

The Haim Sisters' parents haven’t stepped away after their daughters’ band became a global success. Moti and Donna still fly from America to watch their daughters' shows.

Donna is also seen performing with their daughters occasionally.

Haim Sisters Parents Job

Haim Sisters' mom and dad, Donna and Moti, have been working as full-time real estate professionals since the mid-80s.

Donna, who is a former art director at the Buckley School, has assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers in the real estate business with her husband Moti.

Donna spent her early career teaching art, working at an art gallery, and giving guitar lessons. She was obsessed with a used guitar that her mom got her at the age of 13. But since Donna couldn’t pursue a career as a singer, she decided to pursue a career in real estate after being encouraged by her friend.

Talking about Moti, he served as a drummer in an IDF band during his military service with the Israel Defense Forces. After the military, he joined the famous "Tzadikov Choir" as a drummer, performing alongside Oshik Levi.

After relocating permanently to the United States in 1980, Moti eventually transitioned into real estate alongside Donna.

Moti has a strong sales and construction background, and together with his wife, they are committed to providing exemplary service. As per Zillow, Donna and Moti have around 53 sales to date.

Did you know that Moti has also made his acting debut with Paul Thomas Anderson's film Licorice Pizza in 2021 where he played the role of the father of Alana’s character, which was portrayed by Alana herself.

Haim Sisters Jewish Family Upbringing

The Haim family's Jewish heritage is an important part of their identity. The name “Haim” means “life” in Hebrew.

Their mom, Donna, is of Polish heritage, while their dad is Israeli-born whose family is from Bulgaria.

The sisters grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a sizable Jewish community. In a 2020 interview with GQ, the Haim sisters opened up about their bat mitzvah experiences, and they weren’t all the same. Este and Alana had their bat mitzvah, but Danielle never had one.

According to the interview, Danielle was so nervous that no one would show up, so she skipped the party entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the parents of the Haim sisters?

The Haim sisters' parents are Mordechai "Moti" Haim (father) and Donna Rose Haim (mother).

What do the Haim sisters' parents do for a living?

Moti Haim is a former Israeli professional soccer player, and his wife, Donna Haim, is a former elementary school art teacher who now works as a real estate agent.