Talent Finalists Compete at Dinner

By COLlive reporter

400 people gathered at the Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn on Monday for Tzivos Hashem’s 33rd annual gala dinner.

Beginning with an elegant cocktail reception surrounded by an array of auction prizes, participants were soon ushered into the grand, landmark ballroom for the highlight of the event: The finals of the Jewish Kids got Talent competition.

The evening began with musical entertainment by boys choir M Generation and a duet by Boruch Sholom Blesofsky and child soloist Shabi Soffer, singing a new composition by composer Cecelia Margules “The Power of Jewish Children.”

Popular comedian Modi, who was the MC for the event, kept the audience laughing throughout the evening with his hilarious comedy bits and comic observations. He was assisted in introducing each of the contestants by child talent Ari Raskin.

The 9 finalists, who traveled from Poland, Australia, Israel, California, Colorado, Florida, Long Island and Monsey, each presented their talent on stage for the audience, who voted for their favorites.

All the finalists: Estee Ackerman, Rochel Szmerling, Chaya Muchnik, Eli Avidani, Leah Schlanger, Leah Margaretten, Yossi Stambler, Zalman Liberow and Yehoshua Greenberg received prizes and a certificate as finalists in the competition.

The winners, who each received a medal and cash prizes for themselves and a charity of their choice, were Eli Avidani for his vocal abilities, Yossi Stambler for his inspiring Torah lectures he recites from memory, and Estee Ackerman who bowed out of US National Table Tennis Championships because it was being held on Shabbos.

The event was produced by Danny Finkelman of Sparks Next and Danny Keizler of Israevents, and co-produced by Meir Kalmenson.