By Rachel Hirshfeld
Canadian immigrant, Kathleen Rieter, 23, was declared first place winner on Israel’s popular television show, ‘The Voice,’ on Saturday evening.
Reiter, who travelled to Israel last summer, moved to Tel Aviv and decided to enter the competition after hearing that the Israeli version of the international reality television show was auditioning for its upcoming season.
“I am so proud of where I come from. I grew up in Montreal, and I think that just growing up there made me into this person that I am today,” she said in an interview a few weeks ago with The Canadian Jewish News. “I take a lot of pride in where I come from. As a Jew, it was important for me to make a home here, in Israel, as well.
“I think it was the right thing for me. As a Jew, I’ve always felt a strong sense of belonging in Israel, and this is what ultimately made me choose to live here.”
Popular Israeli musical artists, Aviv Geffen, Sarit Hadad, Shlomi Shabat and Rami Kleinstein, judged the contestants singing abilities, while Michael Aloni hosted the program. During the blind audition, Reiter’s singing abilities were considered to be so exemplary that she even got Kleinstein to stand up and dance while she was singing.
“It was surreal. I couldn’t believe that these four amazing artists were saying so many wonderful things,” Reiter exclaimed. “I have so much respect for all four of the mentors, and having them say these amazing things, it’s humbling and I was just amazed.”
