Kids Finalists Flying to NY

The finalists of Tzivos Hashem’s Jewish Kids got Talent competition are making their way to New York this weekend, flying in from all around the world to compete in the competition finals.

The 9 finalists are flying in from Poland, Australia, Israel, California, Colorado, Las Vegas, and Florida, each hoping to win the final round at the Tzivos Hashem annual dinner to take place at the Grand Prospect Hall in New York City on December 9th.

The three finalists named in the three different categories will present their talents at the dinner to a panel of judges, who will vote along with the audience for their favorites.

Three girls were named as finalists in the “Heart Category” which gave children the opportunity to showcase a particular mitzvah that they have done.

Las Vegas resident Estee Ackerman made headlines last year when the nationally ranked ping pong player bowed out of the US National Table Tennis Championships after discovering that her next scheduled match conflicted with Shabbos. Rochel Szmerling of Melbourne, Australia regularly entertains senior citizens at an old age home with her piano playing skills and after weeks of baking and delivering challah weekly to her non-observant Jewish neighbor, Chaya Muchnik of California launched her own challah baking initiative to others a taste of their Jewish heritage.

Finalists in the talent category known as “Hand” include Israeli singer Eli Avidani, who wowed crowds last year on Yom Hazikaron with his vocal abilities, aspiring photographer Leah Schlanger of California who uses photography as a medium to teach other’s about Hashem’s inspiring creations and Spring Valley resident Leah Margaretten who crafts miniatures, both whimsical and exquisite, out of clay.

The “Head” category allows youngsters to demonstrate their intellectual abilities and three young men showcased their smarts, with Yossi Stambler of Warsaw telling over a Torah concept from memory, Zalman Liberow of Colorado Springs solving a Rubik’s cube in just under three minutes and Yehoshua Greenberg of Florida performing with his Chasidic puppets, designed to educate and inspire people in their Judaism.

The gala dinner will feature entertainment by M Generation Choir, child soloist Shabi Soffer and singer Zalman Krause. Comedian Modi will serve as MC, along with young assistant MC Ari Raskin.

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

To donate and make a reservation for the upcoming dinner, please visit www.tzivoshashem.org/dinner