Israeli Festival Connects Art and Mental Health Awareness

The "Doing Souls Week 2026" festival, a social-community event merging art and mental health, will take place across Israel from November 15-21. Approximately 90 events, including plays, musical performances, exhibitions, workshops, and personal talks, will address mental health struggles, trauma, loss, and the potential for finding connection and hope through creative expression. The festival's opening event is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, at Mishkenot Sha'ananim in Jerusalem, featuring a discussion between director Yonatan Nir and photographer Alex Levac on "docutherapy," creativity, and post-traumatic growth. Also presented at the opening is "Secret Partnership," an interactive installation by artist Inbal (Ann) Hershtig, which transforms visitors' handwritten secrets into wearable graphic art.

Throughout the week, various performances will explore mental health themes. In Petah Tikva, the musical "Nefesh, The Story of Us All," by Meital Segal and directed by Yael Greenblatt, will give voice to inner thoughts and feelings. Yael Re'ever's aerial circus performance "Sanity Forever" in Petah Tikva addresses family, concealment, suicidal ideation, and the choice of life, in collaboration with the "For the Sake of Life" association. Eliana Magoon's monodrama "Hey Quiet," performed by Bar Cohen Murad, depicts life during wartime, followed by a discussion with the cast and her partner. In Jerusalem, Shani Blau's solo performance "Legend of Tin on Motherhood" uses humor and piano to explore the experience of new motherhood, societal expectations, and the struggle to be a "good enough" mother.

A significant event, "When a Wound Meets a Wound," will be held in Tel Aviv, bringing together bereaved families to discuss life alongside loss and mental health challenges. Psychologist Dr. Nir Sofer Dudek will moderate the discussion, with participants including Iris and Tuval Chaim, Chavi and Achinouam Levi, Yael Bibi, Nitza Dinai, Sharon Sharvit Magen, Reut Wiesel Cohen, Talia Friedman, and Shir Aloni. The evening will also feature live music, singing, and participant-created videos.

Other events include "Mad is He Who is Normal" in Jerusalem, a musical evening with Or Bigby and Tal Sudai, exploring personal struggles with bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and social anxiety. In Tel Aviv, the book launch for Nof Ben Giat's "Engraved in My Soul" will focus on the journey from trauma and loss to writing. The festival also extends beyond traditional venues, with events taking place in museums, cafes, and public spaces, including "A Journey in Pursuit of the Soul" at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem and an open creative space in Be'er Sheva's KKL Boulevard.

The "Doing Souls" initiative began in 2017 in Jerusalem as a group of activists aiming to use art to foster human connection and broaden the conversation on mental health. The first festival in 2018 featured 20 events in Jerusalem, and it has since expanded nationwide, involving creators, professionals, individuals with mental health challenges, families, and community organizations. The festival's goal is to increase public discourse on mental health, facilitate encounters with personal experiences, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health difficulties and their families. This year, approximately 90 events will be held across the country, with some available online.