Timna Festival Returns to Roots in Rosh Ha'ayin

The Timna Festival is returning to its origins this year, focusing on the heritage, culture, and music of Yemenite Jewry. The festival will take place in Rosh Ha'ayin during the intermediate days of Sukkot, from Tuesday, September 29th to Thursday, October 1st, coinciding with the city's 78th anniversary. While in past years the event expanded to include general Mediterranean music, the Rosh Ha'ayin municipality has chosen this year to emphasize Yemenite traditions, including piyyutim (liturgical poems), singing, stories, food, and customs, alongside their influence on Hebrew and Mediterranean music.

The festival's main event, "From Yemen to the Mediterranean," is scheduled for October 1st on the central stage. It will feature an original production with a live orchestra, drumming, Yemenite dance, and piyyutim. Later that evening, Rinat Bar and Mor Rephael will perform.

Additionally, on September 30th, the "Ya Mi Millal" evening at the Culture Hall will explore the story of Yemenite Jewry in Hebrew song through music, stories, humor, and archival clips. The Yemenite Heritage House and the City will also be a focal point, hosting original productions dedicated to Shoshana Damari and the singer and paytan Shalom Zabari, z"l, along with tours and family activities.

Throughout the three days, the "Diwan Tent" in Lev Ha'ir Park will feature exhibitions, Yemenite food, a reconstruction of the "heder" (traditional study room), Diwan singing performances, a fusion of Yemenite music with jazz and blues, and an open stage for young local artists. Community centers will also host events focusing on traditions like the henna ceremony, weddings, and the Yemenite home of the past.