{"id":1522,"date":"2011-07-26T16:43:17","date_gmt":"2011-07-26T16:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amharic.thehabesha.com\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2016-05-07T14:39:15","modified_gmt":"2016-05-07T14:39:15","slug":"sderots-hagit-yaso-captures-top-prize-in-israeli-idol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amharic.zehabesha.com\/?p=1522","title":{"rendered":"Sderot\u2019s Hagit Yaso Captures Top Prize in \u201cIsraeli Idol\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

21-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli\u2019s rise to fame has a Canadian connection<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

By: Daniel Horowitz<\/p>\n

As with all new olim, starting new lives in Israel, while exciting, comes with its share of challenges.<\/p>\n

For 21-year-old Hagit Yaso, whose parents left their native Ethiopia in the early 90\u2019s 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 \u2013 and unprovoked – Kassam rocket attacks, making relaxation and a sense of safety, rare commodities.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Israeli version of American Idol, \u201cA Star is Born\u201d.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And, there\u2019s an unlikely Canadian connection to this songbird\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s visit to UIAC\u2019s Israel Emergency Campaign intervention project in Sderot where they watched the troop\u2019s rehearsal, and noticed one talented young singer in particular, Hagit. So taken with the then 17-year-old\u2019s talent and potential, and as part of UIAC\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

And that, as they say, was the start of a beautiful friendship.<\/p>\n

Hagit soon travelled with the Sderot youth troop to the Great White North \u2013 Toronto and Montreal \u2013 to be exact, where they performed \u2013 and delighted – Jewish audiences.<\/p>\n

It was soon after that visit that UIA Canada held its 40th anniversary, which coincided with Israel\u2019s 60th anniversary celebrations. As part of the joint celebrations, UIAC chose Hagit to perform a moving tribute to then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.<\/p>\n

A star is born, indeed, and judging by Hagit\u2019s talent and poise, I have a feeling that this new star will burn brightly for a long, long time.<\/p>\n

See for yourself, and watch one of Hagit\u2019s winning performances of the season:
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