Southern Israel wore Ukrainian embroidered shirts
The VYSHYVANKA FEST 2025 festival was held with great success in Ashkelon, southern Israel's largest city, which is adjacent to the Gaza Strip and has repeatedly been subjected to rocket attacks by terrorists.
Yevhen Korniychuk, Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, spoke at the opening of the charitable festival, which was organized by the nonprofit organization Israeli Friends of Ukraine with the assistance of the Ashkelon City Hall.
In his speech, the Ambassador thanked the organizers for creating an oasis of Ukrainian culture that united hearts, traditions, and people even in difficult times for Ukraine and Israel.
Visitors to VYSHYVANKA FEST 2025 could buy products made by Ukrainian artisans, taste their favorite national cuisine dishes, and take pictures near thematic locations. Youngsters enthusiastically participated in master classes.
Notably, the festival was held in the large courtyard patio of the "House of the People" of the Ashkelon City Hall, where archaeological finds of this Israeli region are found. Thus, Ukrainian souvenirs and products of Ukrainian artisans were adjacent to ancient Roman bas-reliefs from 2000 years ago, showing a combination of history and modernity.
The festival's stage brought the audience together thanks to well-known and new Ukrainian songs. Among those warmly welcomed on the festival stage were JIVA, Tet-a-Tete, the children's ensemble Damriz, Mila D, and the band Brus-Li.
It is significant that this year's festival, which numbered over a thousand participants, was a holiday, entertainment, and charity event. All funds raised will be used to organize a summer camp for children whose parents died in wars, both in Ukraine and in Israel.
Text, photos and video: Shimon Briman (Israel).
Photos from the concert and with dumplings: Borys Podelko (Israel).
