Band pulls out of pre-Eurovision show over performing on Shabbat

The Shalva Band, which has advanced to the final stage of the reality TV show “Rising Star” where Israel’s representative in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest is determined, has decided to quit over performing on Shabbat.

The band — made up of musicians with disabilities, some of whom are observant Jews — was long rumored to be considering quitting the show. It advanced to the final earlier this week and had to make a decision before it taking place.

Eurovision contestants are required to perform onstage in the general rehearsal, which is held 24 hours before the tournament’s final — on Friday night, after Shabbat has begun.

Israel had unsuccessfully tried to persuade the European Broadcasting Union to bend the rules to allow the Shalva Band to compete without performing on the Shabbat.