UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post reports that the Shalva Band will perform (but not compete) at the second Eurovision semi-final on Thursday evening prior to the Eurovision.
The Shalva Band has announced that it will withdraw from contention for the honor of representing Israel in Eurovision 2019.
As a fan favorite to win the “HaKochav Haba” reality contest, Shalva already earned a spot in the grand finale. But the Eurovision requires all participants to join a mandatory Saturday afternoon dress rehearsal, which takes place on Shabbat.
Several band members are Sabbath-observant, so the group decided to withdraw from the contest to ensure they would not violate any laws of Shabbat.
“I strongly urge you…to reconsider”
As Shalva inched closer to a potential victory, there’s been a flurry of activity on their behalf. Many high-profile officials in Israel – including culture minister Miri Regev – petitioned Eurovision organizers to make an exception in the event Shalva wins the competition.
Excepts from Miri Regev’s letter, as reported in The Jerusalem Post (2/4/19):
“I strongly urge you, true to the spirit we all believe in, to reconsider an exception to your rule and to enable the Shalva Band, if it wins the local contest, to participate according to their freedom of conscience and without violating their most sacred religious practices,” Regev wrote. “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…All members of the Shalva Band are extremely talented people with special needs and complex disabilities, who have thrived and excelled in bringing their special and most gifted voices to an ever-larger audiences while exemplifying the great values of equality, human dignity and diversity,” Regev wrote on Monday.
However, Eurovision officials would not agree to “bend the rules” before Israel had formally selected a representative. Therefore, Shalva decided to withdraw and allow another act to win the competition. The band knew of the Shabbat issue from the beginning, but never expected to make it as far in the competition.
A Sad Ending To An Exciting Season
Shalva was one of the most exciting things to happen to the Eurovision in a long time. For one thing, the world is constantly seeking negative news about Israel. The Band would have shed a much-needed positive light on the Jewish state.
And how could anyone NOT vote for them? In a contest that often features odd, colorful contestants, Shalva would have been inspiring, wholesome and pure. Win or lose, their performance in the Eurovision would be Israel’s most memorable to date.
Let’s also remember that, historically, Eurovision officials haven’t always been the most pro-Israel bunch. Should they have made an exception for Shalva? Could they have made this work? Probably. Shame on the ESC for their part in discriminating against a potential contestant based on religion. This could have been a proud moment for Israel and the ESC, but they blew their shot.
Everyone who has experienced The Shalva Band has emerged from the performance with tears in their eyes. Kol Hakavod to the band for making it this far. We’re sad it had to end this way, but they’ve been an inspiration to the Israeli and Jewish community worldwide.
Elinor
February 6, 2019 at 3:08 pmShalva, I am just so Proud of you. You shine even brighter, the world is your stage. I ALREADY LOVR YOU 🙂
Rich
February 6, 2019 at 12:55 pmThat’s too bad. But what are some examples that ESC has not been “pro-Israel” (whatever that means)? ESC has repeatedly insisted that the show be shown in its entirety in any country that airs it, including Israel’s performance (which was preempted in Jordan in 1978), and this meant that Lebanon decided not to participate a few years ago. ESC works to keep politics out of the contest (see https://www.haaretz.com/…/.premium-eurovision-chief…), and this is to Israel’s benefit.
As for Shabbat, that is a big reason the contest is in Tel Aviv this year, not Jerusalem, and it was no secret. Besides, there’s not just a Saturday rehearsal (perhaps this is the same as the afternoon family show); there is also a full show on Friday evening for the international judges. (Basically, each semifinal and the final are done 3 times: M, W, F for the judges and Tu, Th, Sat twice — family show in the afternoon, then the evening broadcast. This is how it’s been for many years now.)
I don’t see how Shabbat-observant people can participate. That’s a shame, and seems unfair, but how exactly are accommodations to be made?
Josh Shron
February 6, 2019 at 2:47 pmI may have have been irresponsible in including the line about the ESC’s pro-Israel views. Truth is, the info I’ve heard deals more with counties’ voting patterns, and is more anecdotal than anything else. As for the logistics of allowing Shalva to participate: You know much more about the structure of the Eurovision than I do, Rich…but c’mon…there’s GOT to be a way to make this work. I’d like to believe that they WOULD have found a solution if Shalva had won the contest, but Shalva wasn’t prepared to take that chance, apparently. Just a shame.
Rich
February 6, 2019 at 3:06 pmVoting patterns have, indeed, been controversial. Sometimes politics seems clearly involved. Other times what one person sees as political (or bloc) voting is just cultural affinity, as among the Balkan states. Israel doesn’t have a lot of “sister countries,” for lack of a better term — but neither does France or the UK or Italy. Plus, Israel has won FOUR times, including last year, so it’s hard to say politics had much negative influence (especially last year).
There have been a number of academic studies of ESC voting patterns, and I’m happy to send those along.
As for how to “make it work” for Shalva this year, I guess the Friday show could have been moved to the afternoon. As for the Saturday show (not a rehearsal, as far as I know, although there may be rehearsals too), I can only suggest that the shomer-shabbat performers sit that one out, since it doesn’t count toward Israel’s score (only the Friday and Saturday night shows do).
David Alpern ☜ (@alpern)
February 10, 2019 at 2:30 pmI’m in agreement with Rich on this. I do not view this as anti-Israel. In fact, as you wrote, the ESC left an opening to be potentially accommodating AFTER the Israeli selectee is known. I think also as the predominance of participating countries are Christian and Catholic, where Church attendance on Sundays does not preclude engaging in other activities that same day; the halachah concept of having a particular day of the week where participation is off-limits is a foreign concept.