HaMerotz LaMillion 1 is the first season of HaMerotz LaMillion (, lit. The Race to the Million), an Israeli reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Raz Meirman, it featured ten teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the Eastern Hemisphere to win ₪1,000,000. This season visited three continents and seven countries and traveled over 42000 km during ten legs. Starting in Kfar Truman, racers traveled through Israel, South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand before finishing in Otago. This season premiered on 5 February 2009 on Channel 2 with the finale airing on 11 June 2009. Business partners Shay Kahana and Guy Osadon were the winners of this season, while dating couple Maya Kramer and Amichay Gat finished in second place, and stepdaughter and stepfather Tom Kilman and Gil Kislev finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

On 8 April 2008, Disney-ABC International Television announced that it granted the license for Reshet to produce an Israeli version of The Amazing Race. Much like the American and Asian franchises, route markers were colored yellow and white in Vietnam to avoid confusion with the former flag of South Vietnam. Differing from most of the other franchises of the series, the last leg was not filmed back-to-back with the previous legs. On 30 May 2009, months after the penultimate leg had been filmed and during the broadcast of the actual show, teams were flown to the final destination to film the final leg. The theme song was also different than the original American version's theme song with Israeli-style music. The song was mostly used throughout the series ever since the first season. Graham Keating, Sydney's famous town crier, served as the Pit Stop greeter during Leg 8. He previously appeared as a greeter during The Amazing Race 2.

Cast

The cast for this season included retired beauty queens Liran Kohner and Elena Ralph as well as the son of singer Ilanit, Amichay Gat. Maya & Amichay separated not long after the season aired, and Maya married Israeli actor Ron Shahar, who would become the show's new host in 2011, on 28 August 2010. The couple had one daughter and separated April 2019.

Future appearances

In 2014, Maya Kramer competed with future HaMerotz LaMillion host Ron Shahar on the game show Raid the Cage.

Results

The following teams participated in this season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Prizes

Race summary

Leg 1 (Israel → South Africa)

Leg 2 (South Africa)

Airdates: 19 & 26 February 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between דרך היין (Derkh HaYayn – Wine Road) or דרך הכוונת (Derkh Hekhvenet – Through the Sight). In Wine Road, teams had to drive themselves to Nelson Wine Estate and bring an empty barrel uphill to a wine vat. Then, they had to use buckets to fill their barrel with 400 L of wine to receive their next clue. In Through the Sight, teams had to drive themselves to Valley Gun Club. There, one team member had to launch clay targets while their partner had to use a shotgun to shoot down six targets to receive their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Formula One car on the Killarney race track and complete four laps with an average lap-time of two minutes or less to receive their next clue. If team members could not complete the task within the allotted time, then they had to serve a five-minute penalty before making another attempt.

Leg 3 (South Africa → Vietnam)

Airdates: 5 & 7 March 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between בוץ (Botz – Swamp) or קפוץ (Qefots – Jump). In Swamp, teams had to complete a swamp obstacle course to retrieve their next clue. In Jump, teams had to cross a river by jumping across five large lily pad-shaped floating platforms without falling into the water to receive their next clue. For this series' first Fast Forward, one team had to travel to Tân Vinh Restaurant, where they would discover that each team member had to eat a serving of roasted vole to win the Fast Forward award. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to collect five snakes from an enclosure and transport them into a nearby bucket to receive their next clue.

Leg 4 (Vietnam)

Airdates: 12 & 14 March 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a water buffalo and then lead it to plough a muddy rice paddy in a slalom pattern past a series of posts before returning to the start to receive their next clue. Team members were taught beforehand some common vocal commands to help control their carabao but had to start over if they asked for help. This leg's Detour was a choice between סירה במים (Syrah Bemeym – Water Boats) or לדווש ברגליים (Ledvesh Bergeleym – Pedal Feet). In Water Boats, teams had to paddle basket boats across the river to retrieve a dangling clue. In Pedal Feet, teams had to pedal bikes laden with shrimp baskets 2.5 km to a house where they would receive their next clue.

Leg 5 (Vietnam → Japan)

Airdates: 19 & 26 March 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between ללמד (Lelmed – Teach) or ללמוד (Lelmod – Learn). In Teach, teams had to teach a schoolchild who did not speak Hebrew to memorize ten Hebrew words. If the child could pass a test from a local teacher, teams would receive their next clue. In Learn, teams had to learn ten Japanese words from a local schoolchild and pass a test from a local teacher to receive their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to pass through three rows of archways, going through the correct archway in each row, to receive their next clue. If they entered an incorrect archway, they were sent back to the beginning by ninjas. If team members passed through 3 wrong archways, they would be sent to the back of the line of racers waiting to complete the task.

Leg 6 (Japan → Macau)

Airdates: 2 & 4 April 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to walk around the outer rim of the Macau Tower observation deck and then perform the SkyJump by falling 233 m in a controlled descent from the 61st floor of the Macau Tower to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between אטריות (Ateriot – Noodles) or עוגיות (Eogiot – Cookies). In Noodles, teams had to use traditional methods to flatten and cut dough into three acceptable bundles of Chinese noodles to receive their next clue. In Cookies, teams had to bite into 2,000 almond cookies until they found one cookie with meat in it to receive their next clue.

Leg 7 (Macau → Hong Kong)

Airdates: 16 & 23 April 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to play ping-pong against a junior champion and score seven points to receive their next clue. For this season's second Fast Forward, one team had to travel to Lai Chi Kok Park, where they would discover that they had to perform a Buddhist tradition of completely shaving their heads to win the Fast Forward award. This leg's Detour was a choice between קונג פו (Kung Fu) or ריקוד האריה (Reyqod HaReyah – Lion Dance). In Kung Fu, teams had to learn a series of kung fu stances and perform them for the kung fu master. Then, both team members had to break a stack of seven clay tiles with one punch to receive their next clue. In Lion Dance, teams had to learn a lion dance, find a local master, and correctly perform the dance while in a lion costume to receive their next clue.

Leg 8 (Hong Kong → Australia)

Airdates: 30 April, 7 & 14 May 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between ריקוד במים (Reyqod Bemeym – Water Dance) or גלגול בשמיים (Gelgol Beshemeym – Sky Roll). For both Detour options, teams had to don leotards and travel by Segway to their chosen task. In Water Dance, teams had learn and perform a synchronized swimming routine to receive their next clue. In Sky Roll, both team members had to perform a flying trapeze maneuver known as a "catch" to receive their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to perform a face-first rappel from the roof of the Hilton hotel to receive their next clue.

Leg 9 (Australia → New Zealand)

Airdates: 14 & 21 May 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to herd three sheep into a small fenced area to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between לחטוף (Lechtof – Snatch) or לתפוס (Letfos – Catch). In Snatch, teams had to play Rugby against three professional Rugby players. They had to run with the ball 22 m without coming into contact with the rugby players or letting the ball touch the ground. Then, one team member had to kick the ball through the goalposts to receive their next clue. In Catch, teams had to learn and correctly perform a Māori stick game known as titi torea to receive their next clue.

Leg 10 (New Zealand)

Airdates: 4 & 11 June 2009 In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to ride in an airplane with a stunt pilot, enduring wild moves with heavy g-forces, to receive their next clue. The task at the Nevis Highwire Platform was presented as an additional task, but it was actually a Detour. In the one aired choice, קפוץ יחד (Leqefotz 'Yeched – Jump Together), both team members would be harnesses together and had to swing above the Nevis Canyon to receive their next clue. !rowspan=2|Questions !colspan=3|Answers !Maya & Amichay !Shay & Guy !Tom & Gil !Who is the untrustworthy team? !Which team is overrated? !Which team are you most jealous of? !Which of the three teams does not deserve to be in the finals? !Which team should have reached the finals? !Which team has the best relationship with each other? !If the race was a foursome, which team would you pair up with? !Which team argued the most?

Ratings

The first season had a 23% average Jewish household rating across the season.