Jacob's Ladder (music festival)

The festival first took place in Mahanayim in 1978, as part of a monthly folk club in "Jacob's Ladder", pub housed an old stone building founded by three kibbutz members and immigrants from England: Menachem Vinegrad, Morris "Mo" Cohen, and Yigal Sela, and featured solely acoustic performances from young artists from the Galilee region and guests from abroad. As described on their website, "The club, the first of its kind north of Tel Aviv, attracted young people and wandering folk singers from all over the Galilee. The long-haired, would-be flower children sat cheerfully squashed together on wooden benches and beer crates. The lack of electricity posed no problem, as kerosene lanterns illuminated the stone hall and amplification was frowned upon by the hard-core folkies. Menachem and Morris would travel south to search for new musicians in pubs and clubs. Among those who came to perform at Jacob's Ladder in the early days were Shay Tochner (The Taverners / Emerald) and Ehud Natan, who later formed an Irish Band which Menachem aptly named The Black Velvet Band."[2]

Since the festival's beginning, Menachem and Yehudit Vinograd have been running it with help from their children and many volunteers. Nowadays it attracts approximately 3,000 participants, has 6 stages and includes other activities: a crafts fair, a food fair, a story-telling tent, activities for children, swimming, yoga, folk dancing, tai chi. and drumming circles.[3]

• Folk music
• List of folk festivals

• Festival website