Sophie Berkal Sarbit is carrying on the singing tradition of her later zaida Rabbi Berkal Berkal all the way to Israel when she leaves on August 10th to compete as one of thrity finalists in the  Hallelujah singing contest.

As her mother Harriet Berkal says, "We are thrilled that Sophie made it into the 30 finalists from around the world who are competing  in this singing contest designed to have Jewish youth reconnect from the Diaspora reconnect with their roots."

The competition is being dubbed the "Maccabiah Games" of the musical competition world. The intention behind the newly  launched global song contest for Jewish youth between 16-26  is to strengthen Israel’s connection to the diaspora. 

Berkal and the other 29 finalists (another of whom is also from Canada) were chosen from thousands of applicants.

"They reduce the competitors down to 12 and it culminates in a concert near Herzlia on August 28th, added Harriet Berkal. Sophie will be in Israel  from August 10 - 28th,  and the 30 finalists will  "tour Israel, get to know each other and sing." 

In a statmeent ,The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg  said it  "will be sponsoring Sophie and will be encouraging all Winnipeggers to encourage and support Sophie during her 3 weeks in Israel culminating in the final live nationally televised concert in August 2011."

To learn more about the contest , go to ttp://hallelujahcontest.blogspot.com/ .

To see the song Sophie hopes to perform in Israel, see :http://www.youtube.com/user/sophieberkalsarbit1#p/a/u/0/wisWTNPhmbs