Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995

Israel was eligible to participate through the Israel Broadcasting Authority's membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[4][5] Israel joined the EBU in 1957 and first entered Eurovision in 1973.[4]

The 1995 Israeli national selection, known as Kdam Eurovision, was hosted by Aki Avni and Michaela Bercovici.[6] Among the competing acts were Eli Luzon, Leah Lupatin, Ofer Levy, Si Heiman, Dana International performing "Laila Tov, Europe" ("Good Night, Europe"), and Liora performing "Amen."[6] Liora won the selection, while Dana International finished as runner-up.[7] After Israel's absence from Eurovision in 1994, the result sent Liora to Dublin as Israel's representative.[1]

"Amen" was composed by Moshe Datz with lyrics by Hamutal Ben-Ze'ev.[2] The song is built around a general prayer for peace, with the word "amen"—commonly recited at the close of blessings and prayers—repeated throughout.[2] It was originally conceived for the duo Datz and Datzah, but Orna Datz declined to perform it, a decision linked to her disappointment over the duo's earlier song "Kan."[8]

Producer Shlomo Tzach then suggested Liora as an alternative performer.[8] Liora had recently substituted for Datz and Datzah on a trip to perform in Buenos Aires, establishing the connection that preceded her receiving the song.[8] She later recalled: "I heard the song, and immediately I wanted it. It didn't matter to me whether it was Eurovision or not. The song grabbed me."[8]

The 1995 Kdam Eurovision compilation included "Amen" and was released as a Hebrew-language audio CD by Hed Artzi. The catalog record credits Leah Zahavi as producer and gives the compilation a duration of 41 minutes and 5 seconds.[9]

The 1995 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Dublin and was won by Norway's Secret Garden with "Nocturne," written by Petter Skavlan and Rolf Løvland.[10][7] Liora, described in retrospective coverage as an unknown singer at the time, represented Israel with "Amen." Her performance placed eighth overall.[3][1]

In a later interview, Liora described the Dublin contest as a wonderful experience and said that she regarded "Amen" as a song that had grown into an anthem.[8]

Liora's eighth-place result has subsequently been included among the higher Eurovision placements achieved by Israeli women.[3] Dana International, who had finished second to Liora in the national selection with "Laila Tov, Europe," went on to win Eurovision three years later with "Diva." Her unsuccessful 1995 entry later received renewed attention in retrospectives about notable songs that did not win Kdam Eurovision.[7]

Later accounts have emphasized different aspects of Israel's 1995 participation. One historical survey presents the entry as Israel's return after its 1994 absence, emphasizing Liora's status as a then-unknown singer, the prayer-like character of "Amen," and its eighth-place finish.[1] Another places the result within a broader history of successful Israeli female performers.[3] A retrospective about losing Kdam entries focuses instead on Dana International's runner-up song, interpreting it in light of her subsequent Eurovision victory; that assessment is retrospective commentary rather than a contemporaneous judgment of the 1995 selection.[7]