Israel Song Festival To Be Revived
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Crossposted from Haaretz
After a more than 30-year hiatus, the Israel Song Festival will be revived this year, according to a senior Israel Broadcasting Authority source.
The festival, held almost every year from 1960 to 1980, initially offered winners a cash reward. But in 1978, the top finisher was designated as Israel’s representative in the Eurovision song contest, a competition sponsored by the European Broadcasting Union. The Eurovision song contest pits member countries — including Israel — against one another for the title of top song.
According to Israel Song Festival rules, the winning song was to be judged by the extent to which it “advanced an original Hebrew song” and the way in which it reflected “the accomplishments of Israeli society and the culture of the Jewish people.”
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
