Sderot’s Hagit Yaso Captures Top Prize in “Israeli Idol”

Hagit Yaso

As with all new olim, starting new lives in Israel, while exciting, comes with its share of challenges.

For 21-year-old Hagit Yaso, whose parents left their native Ethiopia in the early 90’s for a brighter future in the Jewish state, growing up in Sderot has not always been the idyllic backdrop one might associate with a talented artist. For more than 10 years and counting, the beleaguered residents of Sderot have been bombarded with almost daily – and unprovoked - Kassam rocket attacks, making relaxation and a sense of safety, rare commodities.

Fortunately for Hagit, her parents decided to make that trek to Israel those 30 years ago, because if it was designed to give their future children a better shot in life, it was an investment that has already paid significant dividends.

Fast forward to Saturday, July 23, 2011. The beautiful and mellifluous Hagit, standing on a beach in Haifa, surrounded by other stars in the Israeli night sky, her incredible voice drowning out any memory of those Kassams or sirens, singing her way to victory in this year’s Israeli version of American Idol, “A Star is Born”.

When the music stopped, this assistant daycare provider in a kibbutz near her humble home in Sderot instantly became an Israeli Cinderella story; and, more importantly, an inspiration to thousands of olim, just like her.

And, there’s an unlikely Canadian connection to this songbird’s success.

It turns out, representatives of United Israel Appeal Federations of Canada (UIAC) met Hagit over four years ago when she was part of the Sderot youth troop. It was during Hagit’s visit to UIAC’s Israel Emergency Campaign intervention project in Sderot where they watched the troop’s rehearsal, and noticed one talented young singer in particular, Hagit. So taken with the then 17-year-old’s talent and potential, and as part of UIAC’s visionary strategy to help the youth of Sderot reach their that potential, they awarded her with a scholarship to the Music School at the Community Center, which allowed her to receive voice lessons.

And that, as they say, was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Hagit soon travelled with the Sderot youth troop to the Great White North – Toronto and Montreal – to be exact, where they performed – and delighted - Jewish audiences.

It was soon after that visit that UIA Canada held its 40^th anniversary, which coincided with Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations. As part of the joint celebrations, UIAC chose Hagit to perform a moving tribute to then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

A star is born, indeed, and judging by Hagit’s talent and poise, I have a feeling that this new star will burn brightly for a long, long time.

See for yourself, and watch one of Hagit’s winning performances of the season:

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