Georgian Culture Days Conclude the International "Meridiano" Festival in Ashdod

On June 19–20, the ancient seaside fortress in Ashdod hosted the Georgian Culture Days, bringing the international Meridiano Festival to a memorable close.

For two days, the festival venue—known for celebrating music, theatre, cinema, and the culinary traditions of diverse cultures—was dedicated entirely to Georgian polyphonic singing, traditional dance, and folk music. The stage featured performances by members of the Ebraeli (Georgian Jewish) community now living in Israel, alongside distinguished artists and cultural figures invited from Georgia.

Although the mass aliyah of Georgian Jews to Israel began more than half a century ago, the Georgian language, songs, dances, and traditional musical instruments continue to thrive within the community. These traditions are preserved not only by the first generation of immigrants but also by their fourth- and even fifth-generation descendants.

The highlight of the program was a Georgian-Jewish feast held within the walls of the fortress under the title "The Georgian Aroma." For participants and guests alike, it symbolized the centuries-old cultural dialogue between Georgia and Israel—a heritage that Georgian Jews continue to cherish and preserve in their new homeland.

Ashdod is widely regarded as the capital of the Georgian Jewish community in Israel. It is home to the world's largest Ebraeli community, numbering around 40,000 people. Georgian Jews, commonly known in Israel as Gruzinim (גרוזינים), began arriving in large numbers during the 1970s, forming a significant part of the Soviet aliyah of that decade.

After settling in Ashdod, the Georgian immigrants sought to remain together and preserve their unique traditions and way of life. They were permitted to establish separate synagogues following the Georgian rite, and today the city is home to seven such synagogues. The largest and most prominent is Or Yitzhak, located on HaTzioni Street.

The community has also preserved Kivruli, the Judeo-Georgian dialect. Although its use has declined, it is still spoken by many members of the older generation in Ashdod and Haifa.