An Israeli band has dropped out of the Eurovision Song Contest because it would force some of its observant members to perform on Shabbos.
The Shalva group says Wednesday it’s quitting Israel’s qualifying competition after the Eurovision organizers said it would make no exceptions for Israel’s ultimate winner. The competition is held on a Motzei Shabbos, and the compulsory rehearsal falls on the Shabbos.
Shalva, which has several members who are blind or have Down syndrome, has become a fan favorite and serious contender to sing Israel’s entry in the May competition. Israeli critics say the Eurovision seems tolerant of all besides Orthodox Jews.
Israel’s culture minister, Miri Regev, appealed to Eurovision to be more flexible but reportedly was rebuffed.
“The question at stake is not hypothetical but is rather a matter of principle, underlying the very foundations of equal opportunity and true acceptance of the concept of diversity that the Eurovision Song Contest proudly symbolizes,” she wrote in a letter sent Monday to Eurovision organizers.
Eurovision said it could not make a final decision on how to handle the Shalva Band until and if it was named Israel’s selection. The band reportedly decided to drop out rather than spoil the chances for other competitors.
Last month, Israeli pop star Omer Adam turned down an offer to perform at Eurovision over Shabbos.
I work at the @WhiteHouse & travel all over the Arab/Muslim world as a Sabbath observer, with full respect & understanding from all – never an issue from anyone. It is a shame some places & organizations don’t accommodate religious observances. (2/2) https://t.co/gyoGQOcb0v
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) February 7, 2019
(AP)
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7 Responses
THIs is a big deal.
Let’s hear some noise.
(More important than a lot of other junk).
Chazak!
Ashreycha !!
Stay tuned for continued reporting about the upcoming degenerate LGBTQ cesspool known as the Eurovision contest. “Indirectly,” of course. More yeshiva world news…. The article gives the impression that this is something like a Pirchei Boys Choir. Not quite, although to their credit, they refrain from performing on Shabbos, since some of the troupe members come from Shomrei Shabbos families. Performing in that slimy lair would not have been a credit to them. Should probably never have even considered it in the first place.
Fech. No Jew should be part of this tumavision in the first place. It is a disgrace that anyone is Israel ever participated, even had they rescheduled it for a regular weekday.
Really a shame….do they have any CDs for sale on line so we can show our support?
Clearly they were well inspired by the 4th commandment which was just read as recently as 12 days ago.
I’m impressed. Commenters on YWN seem to be growing up. I was expecting to see the whole Kiddush Hashem / Chillul Hashem controversy all over again after the seeing headline of this story.