Israel: All the highlights from the eighth episode of HaKokhav Haba!

Though filming for this season began on October 10 at Neve Ilan Studios, on November 10 the official broadcast commenced on Israeli television.

Hosts and Judging Panel

Returning to host the show are Rotem Sela and Assi Azar. Azar has been involved with HaKokhav Haba since its inaugural edition in 2013 and previously hosted the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Sela joined as a host in the second season and has been a presenter ever since.

The judging panel for this season includes a diverse group of music industry veterans:

• Assaf Amdursky
• Keren Peles
• Shiri Maimon
• Eden Hason
• Ran Danker
• Itay Levi

With their combined experience, the panel ensures a high level of competition, which promises to be even more intense than last season’s edition.

Contestants and Their Performances

In tonight’s episode, six more contestants took the stage, and five of them advanced to the next stage of the competition. Here’s a look at some of the standout performances:

Noah Feynman

The 17-year-old Noah Feynman hails from Rishon LeZion. She says she has been singing and dancing for as long as she can remember. Coming from a musical family, her father, Uri Feinman, participated in Israel’s national selection for Eurovision in 1991 and 1992. Noah performed “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence, dividing the judges. While Assaf Amdursky and Ran Danker voted against her, Noah advanced to the next round with a score of 72%.

Ido Amador

The 26-year-old from Alcana is a violinist. He performed “Stone Cold” by Demi Lovato, starting softly on the piano but reaching impressive vocal heights. By the end, all the judges voted in favor, and Ido advanced to the next round with a remarkable 91%.

Shira Knop

Shira, 26, from Jerusalem, performed “Don’t Be Afraid at All” by Ninet Tayeb. She showcased a steady voice and great confidence. Although Shira failed to raise the wall, Essi Rotem pressed the “SAVE” button, giving her a ticket to the next round after initially receiving 64% of the votes.

Roy Berger

The 24-year-old from Jerusalem is a vocal coach and singer. Passionate about music from a young age, Roy aspires to make people dance with his tunes. He chose to sing “Cosmic Girl” by Jamiroquai. While the song didn’t immediately captivate the audience, he secured a spot in the next round with 87% and unanimous support from the judges.

Hamsa Band

Hamsa is a band from Israel that enjoyed success from 2000 to 2004. They previously attempted to reach the Eurovision stage, participating in the national final in 2001. After disbanding in 2004, they reunited with a new single and are ready to compete for the country’s representation. Performing “Rakdi” by Yishai Levy, they displayed strong on-stage chemistry. Despite Assaf voting against them, the band advanced to the next round with 74%.