A sold out crowd filled Brooklyn College on Monday night for the live finals show of “A Jewish Star” international Jewish singing competition.
After much anticipation and strong performances on stage, Choni Goldman of Johannesburg, South Africa, was chosen as the Jewish Star 2012.
The feeling in the room was electric and fans watched with bated breath as the three finalists were chosen from the first round of performances – Moshe Biton of Teveryah, Choni Goldman of Johannesburg and Shimi Marcovich of Mexico.
In the final round of performances Choni Goldman was chosen as the Jewish Star winner by judges Avrohom Fried, Eli Gerstner, Yossi Green and Mendy Pellin.
Dovid Moskovitz of Flushing, NY, was chosen as the junior winner who wowed the judges and the crowd with an upbeat version of Adon Olam.
“I’ve been involved in music since I was 2 or 3,” he recalled before the show. “I never took voice lessons, but I think I have what it takes to be the next Jewish Star. Music is in my soul.”
Superstar Lipa Schmeltzer had the crowd on their feet with hits including “hentelach” and “abi m’lebt.”
“This was not around when I was young,” Lipa said. “It’s so amazing that Jewish Star gives everyone who wants a chance.”
Goldman was handed his prize – keys to a new car, by Eli Furst and Abe Greenbaum of Plaza Auto Leasing. He also wins a single produced by Eli Gerstner and will perform on the Chabad Telethon in Hollywood, California, this September.
The show ended with excited fans crowding the stage to congratulate Goldman and Moskovitz on their win.
“It was an amazing event,” said one excited audience member. “Jewish Star is such a powerful and important medium for Jewish music worldwide.”
Yossi and Mica Soffer, the team who founded and executive produced “A Jewish Star,” stated their satisfaction with the immense success of the competition. “We’re looking forward to season four.”
A Jewish Star singing competiton is sponsored by:
Diamond Dynamics LLC, Kosher.com, Gourmetglatt.com, Joy of Kosher – Joyofkosher.com, Plaza Auto Leasing, Kosherica Cruises, Elite Sterling, Eichler’s Judaica, Milano Wigs, Aderet Music, Jewpon.com, VIP Israel, Tribul Merchant Services, Shabbat.com and COLlive.com.
Concert Chairman: Duddi Farkash of Farkash Financial and Rosinger & Associates
WOWWWWWWWWWW
Ami Eller was the top singer in that concert. Performer, maybe not. But i thought it was amazing that he dedicated the song to the kedoshim of the France massacre. Ami should have won.
adorabblee
sydenham congregant is proud of choni as must be the rabbi and rebbetzin.mazeltov.lets hear you here in SA
Choni’s also-talented brother Shmuly is now often Chazan at Chabad of Midtown. Sandton’s loss in Manhattan’s gain:)
I wrote to collive and was told that the video will b up imminently. looking forward.
what happened to the video?
All the contestants are WINNERS in my book.
Well, anyway, Mazal Tov Choni!
Mazal Tov Choni
Thanks for representing and doing us proud!!!!!!!!!!
We want to hear more! Keep going and doing more music!
YOU ARE MY COUSIN, hey eli goldman remember me? Levik Greenberg china?
Totally true, MP sooooooo should have won. His entire stage presence was FAB!!!!!!
In life it is not about winning but going for it.
All those who performed are winners in their own right.
Well done for all of you who entered, even if you are not the top eight! Keep on singing and making the world a better place with your acts of goodness and kindness.
Nice that Collive gives you all the opportunities. They have vision as a news website.
Shmuly heard you at a concert long ago singing with Choni. You have a great voice! We want to hear you both.
When are you going to perform together?
Mazel Tov feter choni love musya in cape town!
WELL DONE FROM ALL OF US AT CHABAD OF SANDTON >WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD TWO JEWISH GOLDMAN STARS >>>>HOPE SHMULLY GETS TO FEATURE ON ONE OF YOUR CDS>HIS VOICE IS TRULLY RICH AND AWESOME
u guys did an awesome job!
go CHONI!!!! hes my cousin! 🙂
it was soooo funny!!!!!!!!!
While he may not have won a Jewish Star, MP most definitely has the most fans on this site.
🙂 love the photo
col, can u post videos????
Choni had great stage presence and is a good pop style singer, but definitely exceptional talent goes to Dovi Minkowicz.
It was such a nice evening. All the contestants were amazing.
Congratulations Choni!!!
He should have won! Any videos?
But Mendel P. should have won. Choni is also good!
your brother izzy works for our chabad house! mazal tov on winning!
You are ausome, and you have the best voice ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best!!!!!!
From your cousins in Chicago.
You ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!
We new you could do it, a fan
is there any videos of the actual concert??? i wanna see it so bad!
i think your the best singer ever
”you totally rock the house.” and your voice is the best. you really rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing.!!!!!
WELL DONE CHONI Singing with Shwecky gave you what you needed to win Dave
plz grow up
Moshe !!!
You did GREAT.
You represented the Jewish Homeland with honor & soul.
All you guys out there….
Watch out for Moshe Biton, The Jewish Star of The Holy Land.
& Thank you, the producers of A Jewish Star, Yossi Soffer, Yochi Brinnksman, Danny Finkleman & others I don’t know.
A “Thank You Celebration to Hashem” will take place in Tiberias next week for Moshe Biton. With music, of course.
Hope to send a video or pictures to COLLIVE.
Thank you.
Chabad of Tiberias
he is the best joiner ever
Nachas!!!!well done!!Marching from Pretoria
Go Choni G!
Hey “The Chons”. U did us proud man. So pleased we were able to teach you something in Pretoria.:):):) Big mazeltov
Choni, I love you.
you wer SO CUTE!! and you have The BEEESt voice ever!!!
love your cousins!! 🙂
we love you!
But he’s not israeli!
Go for it Choni! Great job and mazal tov to the Goldman fam!
it realy dosent matter who wins it matters if they try to win and that make them good so if they all try’d there hardest then there all real jewish stars
We’ve always been a Fan of yours and are proud of you. May you go from Strength to Strength.
From The Crouse Family, Sydenham Shul, South Africa.
Choni Rocks!!!!!!
Awesome Performance. Can’t wait until you take this career a step further.
If you want to hear more of Choni – be sure to come to chabad of sandton for a shabbos YEH that’s our chazzan
Shauli 🙂
Way to go Chonie…Yes, he is related to me and most of the world. He’s one of Bubbe Mariashe’s Einiklach! And Bubbe Shula’s Einikel and Zaida and Bubba Goldman’s Einikel.
We are sooooo excited that you won!!!
Any time you’re in the CT area…the Jewish Star suite is ready for you with a gorgeous view…
Very proud cousins.
He was seen at the Ohel the day of the concert
Choni’s world famous Bubbie Shula!
so many fans asking to see video. when will it be posted?
love the pics. you can almost feel the vibe!
It doesn’t matter where u r from – it’s who u r and where u r going that matters. Can we c it on Utube pls? Well done Chons. We r very proud of u as always and realize that Pretoria could never hold on – we were just a stepping stone!
Every year its a 1. Lubavitcher 2. Bochur.
Shekoach Choni!
Mazel tov Choni. You have an amazing voice. We are proud of you and proudly South African. Well done. You deserve the success for all your hard work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rumCuFSpYIo&context=C474c13cADvjVQa1PpcFOk-MUhUce1r5ldOkTkShQapGV205rU04o=
Choni, we knew you would get it, you made Pretoria proud. We could have told them all before it started, we have had the pleasure of your talent. You will go far. Mazaltov
Well Done Choni. Proudly SOUTH AFRICAN!
Bubbe Kazen spoke in the mike to congradulate Choni Goldman and wished him to be a Chosid, Yerai Shomayim, Lamdon and he should do Good Deeds.
What a Special lady
I AGREE WITH NUMBER 21# DOVI MINKOWICZ HAS A VOICE AND WARMS THAT NO ONE HAS…..
Choni we are so proud of you! We knew you would win.
A fan from California
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited for the entire Goldman family.
Your Bubbe Kazen looks incredible. I love the picture of the two of you. She is a most amaizing women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you have the nicest and sweetest voice, you truly deserve to win!
its all thanks to those back up dancers in the first video, they were incredible. im very keen on seeing them perform live on stage with choni
TO COL, please post videos of the night for all those many people whod like to see and were not able to attend, to Choni G, you rock, Well done and huge Mazel Tov!! !
Mica and Yossi, You guys did an incredible job! We wish we were able to be there!! WE are SO proud!
Love you!
Mendel, Shaina and Chayale Fine
A fun and exciting night, great fun!
and the singers were all really amazing!!1
Moscowitz was born in Israel
from myself and the rest of the crew well done you added a nice touch to our dancing and we shall expect our full cut by friday morning 😛
COULD WE PLEASE SEE A VIDEO OF THE THE 2 WINNERS???? NOT ALL OF US COULD BE THERE< AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM IN ACTION!!!! PLEEEEEASE COL!!!
Kudos to Yossi and Mica Soffer, they are making a real difference for our Youth. May we have only Simchas and yiddisher Music amongst klal yisroel and let us demand from the RBSHO, WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW
U Rocke the stage, and me!!!!!!!! I’m so happ that u won u deserved it 100%!!!!! U got fans, man!!!!!!!!!!
Well done Choni you make us so proud our “South African Jewish Star” Mazaltov
mendel is the true jewish star. His performance last night was absolutely superb! Emotional, touching, and all around amazing!!
Dovid you rock
it was awesome.
i wasent there?
Mazeltov Chon – we’re so proud of you!!!!!!!
Choni …..dis baie goed en wonderlik dis baie nachiss vir ons te sien n’ suid afrikaanse mense sing so lekker
now lets graze some boeries !!!
Sooooo about that car choni…
Yay Choni!!!
I knew you could do it!!
You made us proud :):):)
A fellow South African
So happy for you!!!!your fam in Cape Town x
Mendel Piekarski,
It’s not about who won that always counts, but who you are! You’re menchlichkeit, kindness and sensitivity speaks for itself. Your G-dly gift is reflective of these middos. May this event be a springboard to grow in all areas, a platform to be a great dugma chaya to your friends, a stage to continue to give much deserved nachas to your wonderful parents, grandparetns and great grandparents, a source of pride to the Rebbe.
… And a constant battery of joy for all of your fans!
Looking forward to your upcoming single 😉
I don’t know who u r but I loved u
Mendel is the winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)
Is he related to choni grunblat?
what does Buby Shula have to say?
Mazzies and great back dancing really proud 🙂
dovid moskowitz you are awsome
his parents are shluchim in SA
So special to have this. Thanks to Collive for organising.
Wonderful event and great performers.
Everyone loved it and came from far and near
Chons u the man! We’re so excited for u…….from your siesta down south!
Choni was a great winner but that minkowitz did not make it to final three was very disappointing! I am surprised, I was there and he filled the room with real profound talent.
maybe it’s because brooklyn college is already kosher l’pesach
Mendel piekarski is “my Jewish star”. C.F.
flushing ny is in usa and junior winner is from there
Great job Choni, didn’t doubt you for a moment since you were considering entering…glad you did!
Is someone scared of competition?
Yossi Green is a superb Judge; as is Gerstner.
hes my 1st cousin hes awesome and he realy desereved it
it was beautiful but i had to give in my bag full of closed food i brought along for the kids when i left nobody was there at the bag room col is it possible to get it back?
Goldman’s parents are both US born.
Choni, we knew you had it in you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You made the entire Kazen clan proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was praying it would be Choni.
ALL CHONI G FANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIS PERFORMANCE, PLEASE POST VIDEOS ASAP. WELL DONE TALENTED GUY YOU MADE US ALL PROUD
MAZAL TOV!!!!! We are all so happy for you
Go chonyeh u rock my world
There are plenty of USA talent in JM.
Go chonyeh u rock my world
what about Mendy Piekarski and Ami Eller?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
There’s yet to be a Jewish star winner form America! Whats up with the USA??
Good job
Go Choni Goldman! UR AWESOME!!
That’s all I can say