Eurovision Week Special: The Greatest Israeli Hits to Ever Grace the International Stage

5. "Olé, Olé" (Izhar Cohen)

This optimistic track, whose name carries a slight French flair, was originally written for an Israeli children's festival. It carried high expectations for Israel to win again with Izhar Cohen, the singer who brought the country its first victory, though he was not the only one to return to the stage. Ilanit and Dana International also participated twice, both later expressing varying degrees of regret over their second attempts. Two main things are remembered from this performance: the less than ideal moment when a backup singer's sharp off key note was caught on the microphone, and the more positive debut of backup dancer Haim Cohen. This performance launched Cohen's career as a singer, first internationally as Chris Life and later in Israel as the cultural phenomenon "Adam." Tragically, Adam passed away two years ago following a long battle with lung cancer.

4. "Kan" (Orna and Moshe Datz)

This song perhaps explains Israel better than any other, so much so that some Israelis were convinced the lyrics were taken from a Ministry of Tourism brochure. In reality, "Kan" was written and composed by Uzi Hitman, with the shepherd's flute opening arranged by Kobi Oshrat, who also appears at number two on this list. It describes the roots of life in the Land of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, written during a time when Iraqi missile fire during the First Gulf War threatened the region's peace. A lesser known fact is that Hitman’s childhood home suffered a direct missile hit during that war, giving the lyrics "Here is my home" an updated, poignant meaning. After receiving long applause in Rome, the duo, known internationally as "Duo Datz," reached a respectable third place and became a household name in Israel.

3. "Hi" (Ofra Haza)

A powerful and quintessentially Israeli rhythmic song, "Hi" represented the country in 1983 in Munich, Germany. It is considered a deeply significant choice, defiantly representing a nation in the face of its host country. Only decades after the Holocaust, Jewish performers stood on a German stage and sang with pride: "Hi, Hi, Hi, yes I am still alive," and in the chorus, "Am Yisrael Chai!" (The People of Israel Alive). While the song did not win, finishing in second place, the words echoed courageously through the hall in Germany, declaring that Israel lives on, a victory of the spirit over the hatred directed toward the holyland,Unfortunately to this day .

2. "Hallelujah" (Gali Atari and Milk & Honey)

Written by Shimrit Orr and composed by Kobi Oshrat, this song was considered the best in the history of the competition for years. It surprised all of Europe when the smallest country in the Middle East managed to produce the contest and win for the second year in a row. While the Israeli Broadcasting Authority eventually declined to host a second consecutive time, perhaps a wise move given that hosting three times in a row nearly bankrupted Ireland’s broadcaster, the song itself remains a classic. "Hallelujah" was released long before Leonard Cohen's famous song of the same name and expressed a hope that everyone would truly be "United by Music," a hope that remains elusive given how Israel is treated in the contest today.

1. "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" (Izhar Cohen)

Choosing the top spot was a difficult mental battle. I considered Netta Barzilai's "TOY," which brought Eurovision back to Israel after 20 years with great honor, or perhaps "Halevai" by Boaz Sharabi, which received only one point from judges in the 1986 national selection but became a hit as beloved as the national anthem. Ultimately, however, honor must be given to the song performed entirely in Hebrew and "Ghibberish," a secret language Israeli children used to express love. The late lyricist Ehud Manor and composer Nurit Hirsh joined forces with Izhar Cohen, who appeared on the big stage for the first time with a troupe of dancers. The song captured Europe’s heart and won the competition. Since then, the "secret language" has become a second national anthem of sorts, and the first Israeli singer to win Eurovision continues to remind every new representative that he brought the first victory home.