German convert to Judaism wins Israel’s ‘Master Chef’ before record TV audience

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A German convert to Judaism living in Tel Aviv won Israel’s “Master Chef” before a record television audience.

Tom Franz, 34, an attorney, beat out Salma Fiyumi, an Arab nurse and Alzheimer’s researcher from Kafr Kassem, and Jackie Azoulay, an Orthodox housewife from Elad.

Tuesday’s finale of the cooking show’s third season boasted the highest ratings for a single TV episode in Israel, beating the record set by the “Master Chef” finale last season.

Some 52.3 percent of Israel’s Jewish households tuned to the latest finale at one time, according to the Israel Audience Research Board.

Upon being chosen the winner, Franz thanked his wife and “the creator of the world.”

 

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