For the First time ever in Bay Area Campuses, following in the footsteps of ‘America’s Got Talent’, we announced a cross - campus talent contest. The grand finale will take place on the main stage of ‘Israel in the Gardens’ on Sunday, June 7, 2009 just before the headliner, in front of 20,000 people. JEWS GOT TALENT

How it started? During the second semester of 2009 each Hillel in the Bay Area held its local auditions. Many students came to show us they have talent, from Belly dancers to singers, they showed just how much talent Jews got! The Hillels that took part in the competition are: Silicon Valley Hillel Santa Cruz Hillel Berkeley Hillel Hillel at Davis and Sacramento San Francisco Hillel

During the second semester of 2009 each Hillel in the Bay Area held its local auditions. Many students came to show us they have talent, from Belly dancers to singers, they showed just how much talent Jews got!

The Hillels that took part in the competition are:

Silicon Valley Hillel

Santa Cruz Hillel

Berkeley Hillel

Hillel at Davis and Sacramento

San Francisco Hillel

Meet our finalists

Be'eri Moalem was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Kfar Adumim in Israel. He went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to study viola performance and is now studying composition at San Jose State. He is a freelance musician, and composer playing in ensembles that vary from rock band to full-size symphony orchestra to small string ensembles. Beeri also writes about music for various publications. In his spare time he likes biking and playing basketball. Silicon Valley Hillel Be'eri Moalem “Shir LaMa’alot” with a quartet: Elana Jagoda (Singer / Guitarist), Caitilin Mcsherry (Violin), Julia Jurkiewicz (Cello), Aaron Kierbel (Drummer)

Be'eri Moalem was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Kfar Adumim in Israel. He went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to study viola performance and is now studying composition at San Jose State. He is a freelance musician, and composer playing in ensembles that vary from rock band to full-size symphony orchestra to small string ensembles. Beeri also writes about music for various publications. In his spare time he likes biking and playing basketball.

Santa Cruz Hillel Daniel Steinberg “Enough” by Daniel Steinberg Daniel Steinberg is from Altadena, California currently studies at UC Santa Cruz. He is 19 years old, and loves music, any type of art, and loves reading and learning about the world we live in. Most of all Daniel loves life and tries to appreciate it as much as he can. He feels a strong connection to Israel, although his first time going there will actually be this summer. He believes that music is just one outlet that can both express his beliefs on the subject, and hopefully inspire and encourage others to seek peace.

Daniel Steinberg is from Altadena, California currently studies at UC Santa Cruz. He is 19 years old, and loves music, any type of art, and loves reading and learning about the world we live in. Most of all Daniel loves life and tries to appreciate it as much as he can. He feels a strong connection to Israel, although his first time going there will actually be this summer. He believes that music is just one outlet that can both express his beliefs on the subject, and hopefully inspire and encourage others to seek peace.

UC Berkeley Hillel Danielle Natelson “Im Telech” by Idan Raichel Danielle Natelson is a 19-year-old sophomore psychology major at UC Berkeley. She loves singing, hanging out with friends and watching lots of sports. She started singing when she was 3 years old and has been singing ever since. She has always had a love for Israel but truly fell in love with the country and Jewish homeland five-years ago when she spent 6 weeks there on a trip with her summer camp, Camp Ramah in California. She loves being involved in Jewish communities wherever she goes, as they play an integral role in her life.

Danielle Natelson is a 19-year-old sophomore psychology major at UC Berkeley. She loves singing, hanging out with friends and watching lots of sports. She started singing when she was 3 years old and has been singing ever since. She has always had a love for Israel but truly fell in love with the country and Jewish homeland five-years ago when she spent 6 weeks there on a trip with her summer camp, Camp Ramah in California. She loves being involved in Jewish communities wherever she goes, as they play an integral role in her life.

Hillel at UC Davis and Sacramento Allon Jacobs and Lauren Salmo “Fading Sunset” by Allon Jacobs Allon is 23 years old, and graduated this year from UC Davis with a degree in Biochemistry. He lived in Israel for four years from the age of ten, and returned to Israel to study at Tel Aviv University during his junior year of college. Allon wrote “Fading Sunset” a few weeks before leaving Tel Aviv at the end of his junior year abroad. Allon is part of a triplet: “While each of us is no doubt independent, together we do consider ourselves a functional tripod”. He loves being outdoors and adventurous, snowboarding, soccer, diving, guitar, reading, science, and flying. Lauren is a third year student at UC Davis, studying Biological Sciences and Community Development. Born and raised in the New York City area, Lauren learned to play her first instrument (piano) at age 8. Then came clarinet, guitar, and voice. In between her studies at UC Davis and work at the student health center, Lauren tries to squeeze in music whenever she can. She currently sings in The Liquid Hotplates, a co-ed a cappella group on campus, and takes voice lessons with the music department. She also enjoys practicing yoga, biking and traveling.

Allon is 23 years old, and graduated this year from UC Davis with a degree in Biochemistry. He lived in Israel for four years from the age of ten, and returned to Israel to study at Tel Aviv University during his junior year of college. Allon wrote “Fading Sunset” a few weeks before leaving Tel Aviv at the end of his junior year abroad. Allon is part of a triplet: “While each of us is no doubt independent, together we do consider ourselves a functional tripod”. He loves being outdoors and adventurous, snowboarding, soccer, diving, guitar, reading, science, and flying.

San Francisco Hillel Megan Newton Gill Ba’a Elechem by Miri Mesika Megan grew up in Los Angeles, CA and has lived in San Francisco for almost 4 years now. Megan is a Liberal Studies major at San Francisco State University, graduating this May. One of the best parts of college has been her experience with music. Freshman year she joined the Gospel Choir, a long time dream of hers. Currently she also sings with the Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble. It not only taught her about her voice and new styles of music, but about soul, faith and being open to new experiences. One of the first places she sang was in her temple choir ("The Cantor's Chanter's") in 3rd grade and she hasn't stopped. While Megan’s Jewish identity has been something she struggled with in college, the cultural part of Judaism always draws her in and makes her feel at home. Megan has only been to Israel once (birthright) and though her relationship with it is also challenging and not so certain, being there unmistakably felt familiar and felt like another home.

Megan grew up in Los Angeles, CA and has lived in San Francisco for almost 4 years now. Megan is a Liberal Studies major at San Francisco State University, graduating this May. One of the best parts of college has been her experience with music. Freshman year she joined the Gospel Choir, a long time dream of hers. Currently she also sings with the Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble. It not only taught her about her voice and new styles of music, but about soul, faith and being open to new experiences. One of the first places she sang was in her temple choir ("The Cantor's Chanter's") in 3rd grade and she hasn't stopped. While Megan’s Jewish identity has been something she struggled with in college, the cultural part of Judaism always draws her in and makes her feel at home. Megan has only been to Israel once (birthright) and though her relationship with it is also challenging and not so certain, being there unmistakably felt familiar and felt like another home.