On November 20, 2025, the German Embassy and partner organizations will host FEST TARBUT at Felicja: Musical Arts Center in Tel Aviv, marking 60 years of German-Israeli diplomatic relations. We will celebrate the rich cultural exchange between the two countries. This free event features German and Israeli dance, music, art, theater, talks, and more. We invite everyone to explore, participate, and connect - honoring six decades of creative collaboration and looking forward to continuing the vibrant cultural dialogue between Germany and Israel.

The Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia has contributed two program sections to the FEST TARBUT.

Facebook-Event Page of the German Embassy
https://www.facebook.com/events/2065679414260090/?rdid=c7P4gzpM8y6WjVNS&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F17Jbmwys3o%2F

Nov 20^th 2025, 16:00 - 22:00  

📍 Location: Felicja Musical Arts Center, (Bialik Square) Tel Aviv

📩 To reserve a spot at the following events, please register through the links (to be updated shortly)

The Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Israel has contributed two program sections to the FEST TARBUT.

We can reserve seats for the following two program sections. To reserve your seat, send an email to israelinfo[at]stk.nrw.de (israelinfo[at]stk[dot]nrw[dot]de) by Tuesday, Nov 18th. The tickets can be collected at the stand of the German Embassy at the event itself until 20 Minutes before the show.

19:00-19:30, Auditorium
WAR DIARIES – Shared pages on Stage (Performance (en/heb)
WAR DIARIES, presented by the Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Israel, is a powerful plea for humanity and a personal reflection on trauma amid collective conflict. German actress Nadia Migdal and Israeli actor Uri Fahndrich documented their lives in Tel Aviv after October 7, 2023, when their family was suddenly separated. Their diaries inspired a performative documentary with music by Meni Gross and set design by Malte Luebben, bridging German and Israeli perspectives through art and resilience.

20:00-20:40, 2nd Floor Hall 
Omer Moskovich – Pop made in Israel (Live Concert, Main Hall)
Brought to you by the Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Israel, Israeli singer-songwriter Omer Moskovich delivers her “existential pop” — blending sharp humor with deep emotion. Combining contemporary beats and Middle Eastern sounds, she explores social and political themes through playful yet honest lyrics. Celebrated in Israel and Germany, Omer performs with Yoni Deutsch (Bass), Gadi Peter (Drums), Evyatar Morad (Arabic Violin), and Guy Moses (Keyboards and Synthesizers), offering a distinctive live experience that bridges cultures through music.

16:00-16:30

Voice is a Collective Strength – Singing Circle

Workshop / Performance (he)

Supported by the Goethe-Institut, singer and vocal coach Neta Sarig Matarasso invites you to an uplifting singing circle. Participants will raise their voices together in harmony, celebrating hope, renewal, and human connection. Trained at Beit Zvi and the Rimon School of Music, Neta combines music, theater, and expression to create a joyful, inspiring, and shared musical experience.

____________________________________________________________________________

16:00-17:30

Adventures in German: Stories and Crafts for Curious Kids

Kids Workshop (de/he) 

TACHELES, the center for the German-speaking community in Israel, brings German culture to life for children and families. Enjoy a reading of “Eselin Evelyn entdeckt den Südpol” (Donkey Evelin Discovers the South Pole) by Ulla Mersmeyer — a story about curiosity, friendship, and cultural discovery. Children can also join creative craft activities, practicing German through play and connecting with other multilingual families.

_____________________________________________________________

16:00-17:30

Colorful Connections – Creative Encounters for Kids

Kids Workshop (de/he)

The Freitagsschule Jerusalem invites children and families to explore creativity and friendship through fun activities. Kids can draw their personal bridges between Israel and Germany on two large posters, make friendship bracelets in both countries’ colors, and craft playful eagle and lion masks — celebrating connection, imagination, and shared stories.

____________________________________________________________________________

17:00-17:30

Echoes of Harmony – Tracing a Shared Musical Heritage     

Library Tour (he)

Led by Dr. Anat Viks, manager of the Felicja Music Library, this tour explores the library’s rich German musical connections. Discover rare items from Philharmonic founder Bronisław Huberman’s archive, Verdina Shlonsky’s studies in 1920s Berlin, newly published works by Franz Crzellitzer, and ethnic instruments from Prof. Edith Gerson-Kiwi’s collection — preserving a shared musical heritage between Germany and Israel.

_______________________________________________________________________

17:00-17:45

Shagrir BaShvil – The German Ambassador on the Israel Trail

Talk (en)

German Ambassador Steffen Seibert presents the project Shagrir BaShvil, documenting his walking journey along the Israel Trail to mark 60 years of German-Israeli relations. The project explores personal stories, political challenges, and everyday friendship beyond diplomacy. Joined on stage by two fellow travelers, Ambassador Seibert shares insights and reflections from the journey, offering a unique perspective on the connections that bridge cultures and communities across Israel’s diverse landscapes.

____________________________________________________________________________

17:00-19:00, 20:00-21:30

Virtual Journeys – Explore, Play, Discover 

VR  experience 

Celebrate 60 years of German-Israeli relations with an immersive VR evening presented by the Goethe-Institut. Explore Anne Frank House VR, virtual trips across Germany, Berlin’s state museums, Oktoberfest, and a kids’ corner with interactive puzzles. Six Meta Quest headsets are available, with short rotations for a fun and engaging experience for all ages.

__________________________________________________________________________

17:30-18:00

Between Words and Worlds – A Literary Dialogue

Talk (heb)

Supported by the German Embassy, this talk features cultural journalist and radio host Yuval Avivi (Kan Tarbut) in conversation with writer Judith Kagan, born in Germany and known for her acclaimed fantasy novels Harashta and The Demon Embassy. Reflecting on their shared experiences during the German Federal Foreign Office visitors’ program to the Frankfurt Book Fair, they discuss the German and Israeli literary scenes and how storytelling connects cultures and identities.

____________________________________________________________________________

18:00-18:30, 19:10-19:20, 21:30-21:40

Dialogues in Motions: Contemporary Dance between Germany and Israel

Performance

Experience the creative pulse of the Maslool Bikurey Ha'Itim – School of Contemporary Dance, one of Israel’s leading programs for professional dance education. Supported by the German Embassy, the students present a rich selection of works — from the group improvisation RAUM led by Bosmat Nossan, and Roy Assaf’s Boys to Study for Strings by Pavel Haas, choreographed by Michel Getman, plus interpretations of Bach’s Kunst der Fuge and Schubert’s Death and the Maiden by Anat Oz. All works reflect an artistic dialogue between Germany and Israel.

____________________________________________________________________________

18:30-19:00

Ideas in Dialogue – Short talks around German-Israeli Relations

Short Talks (heb) 

DAAD Israel highlights academic exchange through two distinguished alumni, Prof. Samuel Appelbaum (Aquaculture, Ben-Gurion University) and Prof. Yehudit Dror (Arabic Language and Literature, University of Haifa). They share personal stories from their time in Germany, showing how these experiences shaped their academic paths and fostered lasting professional and cultural connections. Dr. Sharon Livne from the Leo Baeck Institute provides a historical perspective on German-Israeli relations, tracing post-war boycotts, the Reparations Agreement, and the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1965, encouraging dialogue and reflection across generations.

____________________________________________________________________________

19:00-19:30

WAR DIARIES – Shared pages on Stage

Performance (en/heb)

WAR DIARIES, presented by the Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Israel, is a powerful plea for humanity and a personal reflection on trauma amid collective conflict. German actress Nadia Migdal and Israeli actor Uri Fahndrich documented their lives in Tel Aviv after October 7, 2023, when their family was suddenly separated. Their diaries inspired a performative documentary with music by Meni Gross and set design by Malte Luebben, bridging German and Israeli perspectives through art and resilience.

____________________________________________________________________________

19:30-20:00, 21:00-21:30

First Taste of German – Mini Language Lesson

German Taster Course (en/de)

The Goethe-Institut brings the German language to the world — and this time into Felicja’s classroom! Join an interactive taster session and experience your first steps in German through playful exercises and cultural insights. Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply curious, discover how fun and accessible learning German can be. 

____________________________________________________________________________

19:30-20:00

Toujours Mozart – Historic Chamber Music

Live Concert 

Toujours Mozart, founded in Munich by Erich Fischer to showcase Mozart’s works as they were originally performed, brings historic music to audiences in Germany and Israel. Under musical director Zvi Meniker, the Israeli Mozart Orchestra unites leading Israeli musicians with artists from Germany, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This evening features Mozart’s flute quartets composed during his time in Germany, performed by Hadas Fabrikant (violin), Amos Boazson (viola), Hila Epstein (cello), and Yossi Arnheim (flute).

____________________________________________________________________________

20:00-20:40

Omer Moskovich – Pop made in Israel

Live Concert

Brought to you by the Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Israel, Israeli singer-songwriter Omer Moskovich delivers her “existential pop” — blending sharp humor with deep emotion. Combining contemporary beats and Middle Eastern sounds, she explores social and political themes through playful yet honest lyrics. Celebrated in Israel and Germany, Omer performs with Yoni Deutsch (Bass), Gadi Peter (Drums), Evyatar Morad (Arabic Violin), and Guy Moses (Keyboards and Synthesizers), offering a distinctive live experience that bridges cultures through music.

_________________________________________________________________________

21:00 or 21:15 or 21:30

Limpe Fuchs – Amor

Live Concert

A pioneering German artist in experimental music and sound art, Limpe Fuchs creates performances that merge sculpture, movement, and improvisation. In Amor, she combines piano, percussion, and her self-built instruments to shape an intimate, spontaneous sound world. Her music unfolds as a dialogue between the human voice, natural materials, and the moment. Supported by the Goethe-Institut.

____________________________________________________________________________

Ongoing all evening

The Black Eye of Midnight – Echoes and Reflections on Else Lasker-Schüler   

Exhibition

Supported by the German Embassy, The Black Eye of Midnight, curated by Dr. Smadar Sheffi, presents works by Pessi Girsch, Ruti Helvitz Cohen, and Adi Oz-Ari, inspired by Jewish-German poet and artist Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945). Girsch’s Israeli landscapes evoke ancient myths, Helvitz Cohen explores Lasker-Schüler’s fluid identities, and Oz-Ari uses German-rooted printmaking to convey vitality and vulnerability. The exhibition reflects on myth, exile, and longing,  exploring Lasker-Schüler’s uncharted links to contemporary Israeli culture.

_________________________________________________________________

Ongoing all evening

Illustrations Exhibition – Bavaria Meets Israel

Exhibition

On the occasion of 60 years of German-Israeli diplomatic relations, the Office of the Free State of Bavaria commissioned ten Israeli illustrators — Aviv Zadok, Aya Niv, Emmanuel Najera, Isca Zeitoun, Mika Yerushalmi, Oren Rozensal, Rotem Codish, Shay Yardeni, Sivan Shachar, and Yafit Kurolap. Curated by Yuval Saar, each artist combined Bavarian and Israeli symbols in original artworks, merging disparate concepts like Dachshund & Matkot or Neuschwanstein & Shakshuka, celebrating the unique cultural connection between Germany and Israel.

____________________________________________________________________________

Ongoing all evening

Discover the Jeckes – Preserving a Shared Heritage

Information Stand

Visit the information stand of the Association of Israelis of Central European Origin, founded in 1932 to preserve the heritage of immigrants from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. Learn about their cultural, social, and educational programs and the newly opened Jeckes Museum in Haifa, supported by the German Federal Foreign Ministry, that keep this unique history alive across generations.

Pathways of Knowledge - Study and Research in Germany 

Information Stand

Thinking about studying or researching in Germany? DAAD Israel offers guidance on programs and scholarships that open doors to Germany’s world-class universities. For over 60 years, DAAD has supported more than 1,500 Israeli students and researchers — strengthening academic and personal ties between Germany and Israel.

TalkBaeck – Stories That Inspire

Information Stand

Step into the world of the Leo Baeck Institute and discover their 70th anniversary project TalkBaeck. Listen to engaging conversations with leading scholars of German-Jewish studies, explore their life stories, and hear their perspectives on today’s world. Meet the team behind the Institute, browse their publications, and experience how they preserve and share the rich history, culture, and heritage of German-Jewish life for future generations.