Miki Peled, Creator of Israel's Festigal, Passes Away at 87

Miki Peled, a renowned Israeli producer and artist manager best known for founding the Festigal and the Hasidic Song Festival, has died at the age of 87. Peled's funeral is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM at the Kiryat Shaul Cemetery. His son and collaborator, Yaron Peled, described him as more than a producer, highlighting his ability to dream, recognize talent, and inspire belief in others.

Born in Romania in March 1939, Peled immigrated to Israel with his family in 1948. From a young age, he was drawn to culture and entertainment, forming a musical group at 14 and later co-founding the Israeli Air Force Orchestra in the 1950s, where he played trumpet and saxophone. In the 1960s, he began producing cultural events, and in 1969, together with promoter Nahum Beitel, he launched the Hasidic Song Festival, which combined biblical verses with original melodies and became a long-standing tradition.

In 1981, Peled created the first Festigal, a popular annual musical show for children that grew into a commercial success. Alongside his son, he also produced "Motek Shel Festival," a Festigal version for younger children. His production credits include the 1989 Red Army Choir performance in Israel, a 1990 musical adaptation of "Kazablan" starring Yehoram Gaon, and various other shows and albums. Peled managed prominent Israeli artists such as Shlomo Artzi, Yehoram Gaon, and Rivka Zohar, and produced the children's film "Motek Shel Seret" featuring Yuval HaMebulbal and Tuvia Tzafir. For his cultural contributions, he received a lifetime achievement award from ACUM.