On November 26, 2001, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) selected Sarit Hadad as Israel’s representative in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. The event took place on May 25, 2002. Hadad’s song “Nadlik Beyakhad Ner” (Light A Candle) placed twelfth in the competition.

Hadad was born on September 20, 1978, in Afula, Israel, to a musical family and began performing at just eight years old. She achieved considerable popularity as an Israeli pop singer and several of her songs topped Israeli charts. Her popularity is widespread. The Israeli Music TV Channel considers her to be the best female singer of the 2000s. American singer Madonna has also been won over by Hadad’s talent. As Ynetnews describes, “When the queen of pop, Madonna, hears Sarit Hadad sing, it's hard for her to constrain her excitement.”

On November 26, 2001, the IBA announced Hadad as Israeli representative in the contest after a careful and competitive selection process. As part of her application to represent Israel in Eurovision, Hadad submitted four songs to the committee; the committee chose “Nadlik Beyakhad Ner,” about keeping one’s hope even in the midst of the toughest of times, as her song for the competition. Zehava Ben, one of the most popular female singers of Mizrahi music, also contended for the spot.

The 2002 Eurovision Song Contest, the 47th iteration of the competition, was held in Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Estonia. The contest is organized by the European Broadcasting Union, an association of public broadcasting organizations with representatives from countries within European broadcasting regions. Twenty-four countries participated. Ultimately, Marie M, representing Latvia, took the first-place prize with her song “I Wanna.”

Judging occurred through both televoting and a jury. Hadad’s song, “Nadlik Beyakhad Ner,” received 37 points and was awarded twelfth place. “Nadlik Beyakhad Ner” is remembered fondly both for its uplifting message and for bringing widespread recognition to Israeli music.

Sources:

“Eurovision Song Contest 2002.” Wikipedia, February 23, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2002.

Halili, Yaniv. “America Goes Kosher.” Ynetnews, June 7, 2007. Accessed March 8, 2023. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3421676,00.html.

“Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002.” Wikipedia, February 10, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2002.

“Nadlik Beyakhad Ner (Light A Candle).” Eurovision Song Contest Wiki. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://eurosong-contest.fandom.com/wiki/Nadlik_Beyakhad_Ner_(Light_A_C….

Press, Viva Sarah. “Sabra Sounds.” The Jerusalem Post, May 27, 2007. Accessed March 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/arts-and-culture/music/sabra-sounds-62711.

“Sarit Hadad.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarit_Hadad.