Channel 14 Host Magi Tbeibi Shares Faith Journey at NatCon Conference

Magi Tbeibi, a presenter for Channel 14, recently delivered a speech at the international NatCon conference in Jerusalem, where she candidly discussed her journey toward religious observance and the challenges she faces as a believing media personality. Tbeibi shared the full speech on her Instagram account on Thursday. She addressed the convention's attendees, speaking about her decision to break the norm that news anchors cannot openly display religious symbols or observe commandments. Tbeibi revealed a personal and difficult process, stating, "I found my way to faith during some of the darkest periods of my life, and since then it has served as a tailwind." She recounted the notable moment she broke the fast of the 17th of Tammuz live on air. "The fast ended in the middle of a broadcast. So, quite naturally, I recited the traditional blessing and took a sip of water. It was the first time in the history of Israeli television that such a blessing was said live on air. For me, it felt completely natural, but as expected, the criticism was not long in coming. Some people accused me of religious coercion and claimed it was unprofessional." Responding to the criticism, Tbeibi clarified that although for years there have been attempts to portray faith as primitive and dark, something to be hidden or ashamed of in public, she refuses to accept this view. She expressed pride in her Jewish identity and roots, seeing them as a source of personal strength. Tbeibi connected her personal story to the agenda of Channel 14, stating, "This is the heart of what Channel 14 represents. For decades, the voice of a large segment of the public in Israel that is proud of its Jewish identity, its tradition, and its national values has been largely absent from mainstream media. Channel 14 has given this voice a home where national pride is celebrated, not hidden." She concluded her speech with a message about the importance of national conservatism and her hope for a future where public and media spaces allow for genuine pride in Jewish roots, rather than apologies for them. She shared her practice of reciting a short prayer from Psalms at the end of each broadcast and urged, "Remember, put God first." In October, Tbeibi's practice was evident when she opened a special broadcast about the return of passengers from a Flydubai flight by reciting Psalm 23, known as the "Mizmor L'Toda" or "Psalm of Thanksgiving."