Aviv Geffen’s Rock Fest Draws 50,000 and Surprises With Reunion Performances

About 50,000 people attended Aviv Geffen’s Rock Festival 14 on Tuesday night at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv, where the event featured a long lineup of prominent Israeli artists and several surprises.

One early highlight was the reunion of Mango, the female trio active from 1988 to 1991. Michal Tzafir, Miri Nevo and Yasmin Gamliel joined Geffen to perform their hit “Grah BeShenkin,” written by former prime minister Yair Lapid and composed by Rami Kleinstein. Later, Patrick Sebag, singer of Kneshiko Tatkhil Ledaber, sang “Tzel Kaved,” the 1997 hit he wrote and composed, and Tamar Giladi performed “Ha’ahava Meta” with Geffen.

Former members of Shotei HaNevuah, Avraham Tal and Roi Levi, appeared to sing “Yediah.” Tal had said days earlier that the band cannot reunite without Gלעד ויטל, who died in December 2024. Ninet Tayeb, whose debut album “Yehafah” was produced by Geffen, sang “Hakol Yachol Likrot” with him. Other performances included HaYehudim with “Hayamim Shelanu,” Geffen’s son Eliot singing “Makom LeDaga,” Omeri Samdar sampling “Shir HaSmarṭutim,” and Eli Luzon performing “Geshem.”

A major peak came when Yehuda Poliker joined Geffen for “Pachot VeChoev,” “Shalal Sharav” and “Hatḥalah Hadashah.” Geffen’s wife, Sharon, briefly came on stage and he kissed her. Near the end, Geffen told the audience, “Stand up for the anthem,” then Mittelman played the opening of the American anthem. Geffen also urged voters to “choose hope,” adding: “Choose our children, choose equality, peace and a better future, choose for a better Israel,” after which the crowd shouted, “We want change.”