Our Story.

I’m from Kibbutz Kafar Aza and on October 7th, after over 20 hours of hiding from Hamas with my family, I started to understand the extent of the destruction. 64 people were murdered. 19 people were taken as hostages, and 5 are still missing. Homes were burnt to the ground. Entire families were lost and as survivors, we all lost people very dear to us, including my best friend, Nadav Amikam.

I had two options. To either go to darkness and despair or towards light and hope. I come from a background of filmmaking. After 20 years of storytelling, I knew he had to step forward. I started to take delegations through the kibbutz to show what it means to be a community that lived in co-existence and was overrun by Hamas. In November last year, I went to Australia to share my story. There, I reconnected with Shira, who I've known since childhood. Shira's dad lived in Kfar Aza as a teenager and was a best friend of my dad. Living in Melbourne, Shira saw first-hand the rising antisemitism in the West. The protests, the hate speech, the violence. We found we both had a common goal — to do something positive in a situation that was full of despair. Shira wanted to bridge the gap between the perception of Israel, and the reality of it. I wanted to do something to uplift the people of Israel. To create shared moments of hope that helps future generations. Inspired by the strength our friendship gave us in this difficult time, we saw a way to reach our goals together. We decided to make a festival — 'The Spirit of Israel'. A chance to experience Israel not just as a place, but as a pulse that beats within us all. We're excited to bring this festival to life and for you to become part of our shared story.

Eilon Kotler

Our Team

  • Eilon Kotler

    Eilon is a third-generation member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Having Survived the October 7th in his home in Kfar Aza, Eilon is now challenged in his belief in coexistence. Eilon is a committed filmmaker, producer and educator who uses storytelling to advocate for equality and respect for different cultures and marginalised voices.

  • Shira Livne

    With a Jewish-Israeli father and her multicultural upbringing in Australia, Shira grew up with a strong empathy for diverse perspectives. She has deep ties to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her father lived as a teenager. Shira has 20 years of experience in design, brand, marketing, and business development.

  • Karen Barzilay

    Born in Canada to Israeli parents, Karen has a strong sense of pride for Israel. She has worked with some of the most well-known personalities in the entertainment world in film, television and live productions. Karen uses her extensive experience to focus on social justice impact.

  • Maia Brint

    Born and raised in Philadelphia, Maia brings a wealth of experience as a leader and mentor for young Jewish adults through USY, Camp Ramah, Birthright Excel and the Homefront Command in the IDF.

  • Noa Barzilay

    With over a decade of experience in artistic content production for live events and digital platforms, Noa brings a deep understanding of immersive & multi-disciplinary art and conceptual development. Since 2016, she has been a key contributor to the Midburn community’s art scene, consistently bringing innovative artistic visions to life.