"At no point did I believe that my peace could prevail" Israel today

a bit of luck?

This time God decided to give Zehava a son of a lot • After winning "Big Brother" she reveals the difficulties • "I have not lost hope" • Full interview: Tomorrow in "Sitting"

• Zehava Ben

  Photo: 

  Pini Silok, photographed at the World Baha'i Center, copyright to the international Baha'i community

One night at the "Big Brother" house, Zehava Ben met her mother in a dream.

"For many years I did not dream about her," she says, "and suddenly she came to me in a dream and said to me, 'Zehava, I am with you,' and left. And I say to her, 'Mother, do not go,' she begs. And she says to me, 'Do not be afraid, "I'm with you, 'and disappeared. When I woke up, I went into Big Brother's room and told him about the dream."

The dream came true, and almost two weeks ago she penetrated hundreds of thousands of viewers and won "Big Brother", but she will never forget the less good days.

"Throughout the years there have been difficulties. I have had a difficult path, with difficult years that you can not even imagine, but I have always embraced it with love as well. Always, even in the most difficult times, I believed in myself," she says.

"I had a lot of managers, some good and some less good, but even in the most unpleasant partings, I never slammed the door. Even when they hit me, I was not angry. I just kept going."

There were managers who hurt you, who cheated on you.

How can you not be angry?

"I will not tell you that it did not hurt me and did not frustrate me, but what is the point of lingering on it? What can I do? All I wanted was to sing, and I could not always get back on the track I was on. Today I can tell you I forgave everyone."

Today you can tell where you went wrong?

"The main mistake was that the management was not right, and I did not stop it in time. After the disappearance it was difficult to return."

What was the most difficult period you went through?

"The time I didn't have the money to pay rent. To this day I don't understand where I had the strength to get through it. There were nights I slept in the car. And even then, I lay there and reminded myself that one day it would be okay."

Zehava, 52, is the biggest Cinderella story in Israeli music.

A girl who grew up in a criminal environment in Be'er Sheva, in a family without means, who became one of the greatest singers in Israel overnight.

Over time her career has faded a bit, but two weeks ago she returned officially and hugely, and she is still not digesting.

"On the eve of the finals, a million thoughts went through my mind. Every time there was an announcement, I thought it was me who was about to leave. And slowly I see everyone go out, and I stay. The highlight was when Josie and I were left alone, and then I lost it."

Then they announced that you were the winner.

"Mommy, you say that and I have a chill. I go home and say to myself, I do not believe, I do not believe. Over the years people who were more vocal, who stood out more, and I did not believe that my silence could win."

The full interview: Tomorrow at "Shishvat"