Thirty finalists of the global Hallelujah Jewish song contest are currently in Israel rehearsing for the finals and touring the country. The finalists represent Jewish communities from the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, France, Australia, Argentina, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Turkey, Costa Rica and Uruguay. There is also one Israeli, Mor Machlav of the IDF Education Corps Participants in the song contest for Jews aged 16 to 26, are starting to feel the pressure as rehearsals get into full swing. The aim of the contest is to establish a new musical tradition for world Jewry that will strengthen the connection with the Diaspora. The grand finale, takes place on August 25 in Ramat Hasharon in front of an audience of 3,000 people. The winner will receive an $8,000 cash prize and record a duet with an Israeli artist that will be broadcast on local radio stations and Jewish radio stations worldwide.
