Ashdod to Host Sixth Annual Lev Yisraeli Festival for Inclusive Arts
Ashdod will host the sixth annual Lev Yisraeli festival from November 30 to December 3, uniting artists with and without special needs for four days of inclusive cultural events and performances.
Ashdod is preparing to host the sixth annual "Lev Yisraeli" (Israeli Heart) festival, uniting artists and creators with and without special needs on a single stage. The four-day cultural event will run from November 30 to December 3, featuring music, theater, cinema, and art performances across various municipal cultural institutions.
Festival Highlights and Inclusive Events
Throughout the festival, several prominent landmarks in Ashdod—including the City Hall, the Sails Square, the ancient fortress, and the Sun Eye Square—will be illuminated in purple. Purple is the international color symbolizing people with disabilities, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the festival's closing day.
The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, November 30, at the Ashdod Performing Arts Center, honoring individuals and organizations dedicated to integrating people with special needs into society. Ashdod Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri will present the national "Lev HaZahav" (Golden Heart) award, carrying a 25,000 shekel cash prize to support the winners' continued initiatives. Hosted by Galit Giat, the evening will feature a musical performance by students from the "Diaz" college in Ashdod—Israel's first vocational college for young adults with special needs in the performing arts, sound, and media—alongside Giat and singer Kobi Aflalo.
Film Screenings, Lectures, and Concerts
On Tuesday, December 1, the Monart Center for the Arts will screen "Ani New" (I am New), which won best documentary at the Jerusalem Film Festival. The film chronicles the rehabilitation of New, the son of actor Lior Miller, following a severe traffic accident at age three and a half. A discussion with director Yael Abecassis will follow the screening.
Evening events include a performance by Dr. Mordi Ben Chamo—an autism researcher, author, guitarist, and proud autistic individual—with his band "Autism, Couscous and Rock 'n' Roll" at Monart. At Beit Klang, journalist Menachem Horowitz will share insights on raising his 34-year-old son, Chagai, who is on the low-functioning autistic spectrum, accompanied by the inclusive ensemble "Bagova HaEinayim" (Eye to Eye). Additional events feature stand-up comedy with Meni Ozari and performances by local artists with special needs.
Closing Events and Accessibility
On Wednesday, December 2, audiences can enjoy a tribute to Kaveret by Ziv Rubinstein and his band, featuring musicians with and without autism, as well as a tribute to Israeli hits by Anat Hitman and Itay Paz. The festival will conclude on Thursday, December 3, with the performance "Hassidim in Jeans" featuring Vardina Cohen and blind musician Meir Barbi.
Initiated by the Ashdod Municipal Company for Culture and Art in cooperation with the city's Welfare Services Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Sport, all festival events are fully accessible, with ticket prices set at 29 shekels.
