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Rising Star

Noam Bettan, Israel's 2026 Eurovision contestant, poses for a photo in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 21, 2026. (Yael Abas Guisky/Flash90)
January 21, 2026, 2:43 am
Israel taps Noam Bettan to represent country at 2026 Eurovision
Singer born to French immigrant parents says it’s ‘truly a privilege’ to represent Israel, likens having to perform before a hostile crowd at contest to ‘entering the lion’s den’
By Amy Spiro
People cheer as they watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest finals being screened at a community center in Tel Aviv, May 17, 2025. (Maya Levin / AFP)
November 12, 2025, 3:24 pm
As Eurovision decision looms, host Austria lobbies for Israel to remain in contest
After scrapping vote on issue, EBU declines to say how decision will be made; Israel nevertheless marches ahead with finding next year’s representative to song competition
By Amy Spiro
Yuval Raphael is crowned the winner of 'Hakochav Haba' on January 23, 2025, and will represent Israel at the 2025 Eurovision. (Ortal Dahan Ziv)
January 23, 2025, 1:33 am
Yuval Raphael, survivor of Nova massacre, to represent Israel at 2025 Eurovision
25-year-old singer says music has been ‘one of the strongest ingredients in my healing process’; she hid for eight hours under a pile of dead bodies in a roadside bomb shelter
By Amy Spiro
Singer Valerie Hamaty performs at the ACUM Awards ceremony for Hebrew Song near Tel Aviv, Sept. 7, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
January 4, 2025, 3:02 am
Meet Valerie Hamaty, the Christian Arab leading the race to sing for Israel at Eurovision
She duetted with the son of an Oct. 7 victim, sang lyrics from the Shema, has performed at Memorial Day events. ‘The sane majority has shown her nothing but love,’ says her father
By Deborah Danan
Eden Golan (Shai Franco)
February 7, 2024, 12:27 am
Israel sending Eden Golan, 20, to represent it at Eurovision 2024 in Sweden
Surrounded by empty chairs, singer performs ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ as tribute to hostages, capturing win; many around the world have called to bar Israel from song contest
By Amy Spiro
Daniel Cruz (left) and Kfir Tsafrir on an episode of "Hakochav Haba" on Keshet 12, August 22, 2022. (Courtesy Keshet)
August 24, 2022, 2:17 pm
Israeli immigration policy takes center stage on reality TV singing contest
Contestant on ‘Rising Star’ highlights plight of his friend, born in Israel to Filipino parents and facing deportation, and reignites longtime debate
By Amy Spiro
Israeli pop star Mergui releases first single in English on July 15, 2022 (Courtesy Saban)
July 15, 2022, 6:47 pm
Israeli star Mergui releases first English-language single
Singer, who opened for Maroon 5 in May, says his breakup with pop superstar Noa Kirel is at the heart of new album
By Jessica Steinberg
The Shalva Band performs during a rehearsal for their guest appearance at the second semifinal of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, May 15, 2019 (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm
Shalva band readies for guest gig after nixing Eurovision bid over Shabbat
Members of group made up of musicians with disabilities say they’ll give best possible performance after quitting race to represent Israel so as not to violate Jewish day of rest
By ToI Staff
Kobi Marimi, winner of the reality show 'Rising Star' and Israel's 2019 Eurovision entrant, performs at the show's final on February 12, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
February 13, 2019, 1:01 am
Kobi Marimi crowned ‘Rising Star’ and will represent Israel at Eurovision
The 27-year-old from Ramat Gan with the powerful voice overcomes more controversial opponents to win the reality show in a combined vote by a panel of judges and the public
By ToI Staff
The members of the Shalva Band, which successfully auditioned for 'Rising Stars,' an Israeli reality TV show. (Courtesy The Shalva Band)
February 6, 2019, 11:30 pm
After nixing Eurovision bid over Shabbat, band may play at semifinals
The Shalva Band will reportedly perform on May 16 after quitting race, following Israel’s failed effort to get contest organizers to grant group exemption from Saturday rehearsal
By Michael Bachner
The Shalva Band had a shot at becoming Israel’s representative at the Eurovision contest. (Screen capture: YouTube)
February 6, 2019, 4:42 am
The Shalva band chooses Shabbat over representing Israel at Eurovision
Musicians with disabilities drop out of the running for song contest, after being told they’d have to rehearse on the Sabbath
By Marcy Oster
The members of the Shalva Band, which successfully auditioned for 'Rising Stars,' an Israeli reality TV show. (Courtesy The Shalva Band)
February 6, 2019, 12:00 am
Israeli band said to pull out of Eurovision contention over Shabbat rehearsal
The Shalva Band’s decision to drop out of competition follows Israel’s unsuccessful request to contest organizers to grant group exemption
By Michael Bachner
The members of the Shalva Band, which successfully auditioned for 'Rising Stars,' an Israeli reality TV show. (Courtesy The Shalva Band)
February 4, 2019, 6:02 pm
Israel urges Eurovision organizers to let band compete while observing Shabbat
Shalva, which features members with disabilities, is mulling quitting race to represent Israel in song contest over religious concerns
By Michael Bachner
Shefita, the rising star at 'HaKochav Nolad,' the Rising Star franchise that creates the Eurovision contestant (Courtesy Shefita)
January 30, 2019, 10:51 am
Shefita charms and annoys, and seems poised to be Israel’s next ‘Rising Star’
Jewish Israeli Eurovision hopeful performs covers of beloved alt-rock ballads in an Arabic accent, drawing accusations of blackface
By Jessica Steinberg
The members of the Shalva Band, which successfully auditioned for 'Rising Stars,' an Israeli reality TV show. (Courtesy The Shalva Band)
November 29, 2018, 9:16 pm
Musicians with disabilities win audition on ‘Rising Star’
The Shalva Band, from Jerusalem’s Shalva National Center, makes it to round two on the reality singing TV show
By Jessica Steinberg
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