Miki Peled, the legendary producer and founder of the Festigal show, passed away at the age of 87, it was announced Monday morning.
Peled, considered one of the pillars of Israel’s entertainment industry, left behind a remarkable legacy that shaped the childhoods of generations across the country.
Peled was born in Romania in 1939 and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1948. In 1981, he founded and produced the first Festigal show in Haifa, which over the years became a leading cultural institution and an undisputed symbol of the Hanukkah holiday in Israel.
Alongside Festigal, he led dozens of major performances and cultural events throughout his decades of activity, working with many of Israel’s leading artists and creators, an effort that earned him a lifetime achievement award from ACUM, Israel’s music and copyright organization.
Friends, partners, and colleagues described him as a mentor and visionary with a big heart, who knew how to identify talent at the beginning of artists’ careers and provide them with a real platform and opportunity to break through.
‘A person who knew how to dream’
Yaron Peled, his son and creative partner, said: “Miki was much more than a producer. He was a person who knew how to dream, identify talent, give people an opportunity, and above all make people believe they could.”
Peled is survived by his wife Tami, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, alongside generations of artists and performers who viewed him as a guiding figure.
His funeral will take place Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv, where family members, those who cherished his memory, and leading figures from Israel’s cultural world will gather to bid him farewell.
