Folklore Festival Hosted by the Hotel

"The hotel, of course, has rooms and food. But I knew it could be more than that,” says Rabiah Barhum, the Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom hotel manager. “On the one hand, the hotel is part of who we are as a village – a place that embraces cultures and people from all over the world. On the other hand, the hotel can be a cultural center, a host to events that reflect our identity and diversity.”

Over three days in May, the hotel hosted a Folklore Festival for All. Entrance was free, food and drink and crafts from around the area and the world were for sale, and kids’ activities were offered in the afternoons. The festival included music – from players of traditional instruments to a DJ remix dance party of world music. It included poetry, dance and performance.

The Festival began on Thursday evening with poetry by Ahsan Abdel Rahman. The event wound through a cover of the Umm Kultum song “Inta Omri,” drummers from Abu Ghosh, world musician Eliko Bass, a set from the British blues/folk singer Israel Portnoy and, to top the evening off, a performance by a choral ensemble out of Beit Shemesh, “Heterogenia,” conducted by Israeli composer Yair Klinger. That was just Thursday. The next two days featured the launching of a new band from Abu Ghosh, Yemenite music and songs played on the Cannon – a traditional stringed instrument – and a folklore dance troupe, before the DJ party got underway.

Saturday’s festival-goers were treated to Gypsy dances, traditional music played by Amin Netor, world music by singer/pianist Shay Portugali, and Israeli-international pop rock performed by the duo Nitsan Golan and NudeLilu.

“We had performers from all over the area, for example Abu Ghosh and our local council, so it was really a collaboration,” says Barhum. “The event was full of people, it was a lot of fun, and it really displayed a great theme of diversity, along with letting everyone enjoy our broad regional culture. Even though the entrance was free, it will help spread our influence and bring visitors to the hotel.

“We plan on turning this festival into a tradition,” she adds.