Israel at Eurovision 2025: After being selected by a professional committee, it’s revealed that Israel‘s Eurovision 2025 entry, performed by Yuval Raphael, includes verses from the “Song of Songs”, showcasing one of its most beautiful and renowned passages.
The song, whose name has not yet been disclosed, was chosen by a professional committee led by Barak Itzkovitz, the head of music stations at “KAN”. Written and composed by Keren Peles and produced by Tomer Biran, it will be performed by Yuval Raphael on the grand stage in Basel this May. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, “KAN 11”, confirmed today that the song includes quotes from the “Song of Songs” and will feature them as part of the lyrics. Now revealed, one of the quotes from the scroll is: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.”
The Song of Songs in Contemporary Music
The Song of Songs, the first of the five Megillot in the Hebrew Bible—Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther—was written by King Solomon. Many quotes from it, including the one added to the song, are ingrained in language as popular expressions appearing frequently in poetry and literature. Yuval Raphael is expected to perform it in Hebrew, of course.
The Committee’s Confidential Voting
The Israeli entry was selected by a professional committee of “KAN 11,” comprising senior music editors from the corporation, key figures in the Israeli music and television industry, and a public representative. The committee, which voted secretly to select the song, operated under the strict legal supervision of attorney Tomer Karni, deputy to the corporation’s legal advisor. The members listened to about 50 songs without knowing the creators behind each entry, unanimously selecting the winning song. Another song that came second was also highlighted by the committee members.
Will the Israeli Song Be Disqualified?
The song is expected to include the verse “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it” (Song of Songs, Chapter 8, Verse 7). The Song of Songs consists of love songs between a man and a woman addressing each other. In the Jewish tradition, these songs are allegorically interpreted as a parable for the relationship between the people of Israel and their God. In the Christian tradition, these songs serve as a metaphor for the relationship between Jesus and the Christian Church. The chosen verse can be interpreted in various ways, and in the context of Yuval Raphael, perhaps to mean that nothing will break her spirit. Given that this verse is very popular in Hebrew poetry and literature and is one of the most romantic and famous love statements, is there room to disqualify it?
At this stage, it’s unclear how the quotes in Eurovision songs may pose a challenge as the Eurovision rules require that the lyrics be original – that is, they must not include songs or verses from other sacred texts.
Keren Peles – Back in Eurovision!
Last year, Keren Peles wrote the song “Hurricane” along with Avi Ohayon and Stav Beger. Peles stated that she returned from the Eurovision in Malmo with a genuine post-trauma: “I came back feeling what it’s like to be in a reflective environment,” she said after the finale of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision“. Peles wrote and composed the song for Eurovision 2025 alone, with Tomer Biran producing it.
When Will Israel‘s Eurovision 2025 Song Be Revealed?
The Israeli song is expected to be revealed on Sunday, March 9, in a festive announcement broadcast that will air on KAN 11, KAN Gimel, KAN BOX, and the KAN digital platforms. Following the selection of the song, Yuval Raphael is expected to record her version of the chosen song. In the coming weeks, the official music video for the song will be filmed and unveiled on the evening of the announcement.
Yuval Raphael – Who are you?
Yuval, 24, from Ra’anana, lived in Geneva, Switzerland, during her childhood. She disclosed that she escaped from a Hamas terror attack on October 7th, during which grenades were thrown and shots were fired at a party. Many around her were killed, and she had to pretend to be dead to survive. What strengthens Yuval is music and advocacy for Israel. She has spoken in front of world leaders, met influential people, and even spoke at a Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. She has become a focal point for international advocacy, presenting the true face of Israel and correcting the false image portrayed in the global arena. Her insistence on presenting the truth has made her a central and influential figure in both Israeli and global culture.
Yuval has never sung professionally and only started performing in front of audiences in recent months. The echoes of her performances quickly spread on social media, garnering warm praise and responses from viewers.
Yuval won first place in the TV show “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025” after being chosen by the panel of judges and the home audience. She will represent Israel in Eurovision 2025, to be held in Basel on May 13, 15, and 17, in hopes of bringing Israel its fifth win in the competition.
Eurovision 2025: This is Israel’s 47th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the competition in 1973 and has won it four times over the years. Israel’s last victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy” performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
