Festigal founder Miki Peled passes away at 87
Miki Peled was one of the most prominent figures in the Israeli entertainment industry for decades, producing the Hasidic Song Festival and "Kazablan," and managing artists including Shlomo Artzi and Yehoram Gaon.
Miki Peled, founder of the Festigal, has passed away at the age of 87. His death was announced on Monday by the Festigal's public relations office, which noted that his legacy will remain an integral part of Israeli culture for generations to come. His funeral will take place tomorrow at 16:00 at the Kiryat Shaul cemetery.
Yaron Peled, his son and business partner, paid tribute:
"Miki was much more than a producer. He was a man who knew how to dream, identify talent, give a chance, and above all, make people believe they could."
Miki Peled was born in March 1939 in Romania, the only child of Miriam and Albert Feldman. In 1948, he immigrated with his family to Israel, arriving toward the end of the War of Independence. Peled's connection to the stage world began in his childhood—at age six, he held theater and circus workshops for neighborhood children, and at 14, he formed his first orchestra, which performed at birthday parties and school events.
In the 1960s, Peled began working in production and talent management, later establishing Solan Productions. He became one of the most prominent agents and producers in Israel, associated with major initiatives that renewed the local music and entertainment scene. In 1969, he initiated, together with agent Nahum Beitel, the Hasidic Song Festival, which was held for the first time at the Culture Palace in Tel Aviv. The festival became a major annual event, and Peled worked to promote Hasidic music among the broader Israeli public.
In 1981, he initiated and produced the first Festigal, a musical show for children and youth that within a few years became an Israeli tradition and one of the largest cultural events in the country. Alongside the Festigal, Solan Productions also produced the series of shows "Motek Shel Festival," which first aired in 2008.
Beyond these festivals, Peled produced a long line of entertainment shows and plays. In 1989, he produced the musical "Kazablan," starring Yehoram Gaon, which also featured Yossi Yadin, Dina Golan, and Arik Lavie. Over the years, he managed and represented a long list of artists, including Sassi Keshet, Moti Giladi, Shlomo Artzi, Rivka Zohar, Yigal Bashan, and Aris San.
In 2023, Peled received a lifetime achievement award from ACUM and the Israeli Association of Culture and Stage Production Industry.
