Israeli singer Yuval Raphael carries Nova Festival survival story to Eurovision

Just before departing for Basel, Switzerland, to represent Israel in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, Yuval Raphael visited the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday.She was warmly welcomed by President Isaac and first lady Michal Herzog, who praised her courage and spirit.Raphael, a survivor of the Oct.

7,2023, Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival, will perform “New Day Will Rise,” a powerful anthem penned by songwriter Keren Peles.She earned her place at Eurovision by winning Season 11 of “The Next Star” television competition and is scheduled to compete in the second semifinal on May 15.Herzog offered his heartfelt support, saying: “You have a wonderful personality, your story is incredible, and every time I hear the song, my heart swells with pride.

We are immensely proud of you and wish you the best of luck in this mission,” according to a press release from the President’s Residence.Raphael emphasized that simply standing on the Eurovision stage is a profound personal victory.“On the one hand, I’m working as someone who wants to win,” she told the president.

“But on the other hand, just being there feels like a victory.I have the privilege to do this.”That privilege is not to be taken for granted.

On that dark Simchat Torah morning 19 months ago, Raphael was dancing with friends at the music festival near the Gaza border when the massacre began.For seven harrowing hours, she hid in a small bomb shelter near Kibbutz Be’eri, lying beneath bodies, pretending to be dead—even after being hit by shrapnel.

“I had to step on bodies to get out,” she recalled.“It was unbearable.”She wrestled with heavy survivor’s guilt.

“You ask yourself: ‘Why was I saved and not them?’” she said.“Once I made peace with that, I decided to give my dreams a chance.

I got a second shot at life.To let fear hold me back would be dishonoring those who didn’t survive.

I have to fly with what I’ve been given.”Th...