The haredi Orthodox Gat Brothers, Aryeh and Gil, have become the first act named to the semi-finals of the popular new Israeli talent show “Rising Star.”

The show, which allows Israeli viewers to vote in real time for their favorite performers using an app on their mobile phones, is designed to uncover the next hot Israeli singing star. Which is why the brothers’ rise in popularity among the Israeli public, and the judges is so unusual.

Even judge Israeli rapper Mooke D, who at first refused to vote for the brothers because he did not believe they would be marketable, broke down and voted for them on Sunday night.

In the first of four semi-final shows, the brothers performed three duets with other singers, including a rendition of Eicha, with lyrics from the Book of Lamentations. The brothers faced off against the other top vote-getter in order to become the first act to advance to the semi-finals.

And they did it performing their own arrangement of “Shalom Aleichem,” the song to welcome the Sabbath.

Only in Israel could two guys who look like that, singing a song with those lyrics, make it on a popular talent show.

Marcy Oster is a JTA correspondent in Israel. She worked at the Cleveland Jewish News for nearly 12 years and was senior staff reporter when she made aliyah in 2000. She has won several awards for her writing from organizations including The Press Club of Cleveland, Society for Professional Journalists, Women in Communications and the American Jewish Press Association.