Tel Aviv Celebrates with ‘Summer Love Yourself Festival’ Featuring Esther Laura

Just weeks after the 12-day war with Iran, Tel Aviv is channeling resilience into celebration with the Summer Love Yourself Festival: a vibrant, female-led event dedicated to healing, empowerment, and community.

Set to take place on Thursday, July 31 on Sheinkin Street, the open-air festival is a collaborative initiative between HER Tel Aviv, the Tel Aviv Municipality, Beit Tami, and Nefesh B’Nefesh TLV. Designed to unite Israelis and Olim (new immigrants), the event promises an uplifting experience centered around creativity, inclusion, and self-love.

“In a time when so many are emotionally drained, this event offers more than a party: it’s a reset,” said Sivan Hadari Avneri, founder of HER Tel Aviv.

At the heart of the event is Esther Laura Guedj, a 28-year-old French-Israeli singer and recent contestant on The Next Star Israel. An olah chadasha from Bordeaux, Guedj is among the volunteer performers and will headline the festival.

“It’s an initiative for empowering women, and I really love this. We need to support each other, as sisters. It was very easy to say yes to this event,” she said. “Us performers are all volunteers at the Festival, and this opportunity is really something about creating a space for us, olot chadashot (new women immigrants).”

The festival’s mission is to support thousands of immigrant women seeking community and connection in their new lives in Israel. For Guedj, who made aliyah in July 2023, the journey has been both personal and transformative.

“I'm so happy and blessed to be living in Israel. I had the chance to be in The Next Star Israel in November, and as a new immigrant, I never imagined doing that. Even though I didn’t continue in the show, I felt amazed by the opportunity and how much I grew up in the process. I’m really focusing on making my dreams come true.”

Guedj describes her vision as one of artistic revolution and spiritual purpose.

“I want to bring innovation, creativity, and a revolution to music,” she said. “Singing is related to the soul, it expresses feelings that cannot be expressed in any other way.”

Her spiritual journey has played a key role in shaping her musical identity. Some time after the October 7th war, Guedj spent a year studying in a Midrasha, deepening her connection to Judaism and grounding herself in faith.

“It was really precious to me to study Torah and build up my faith, create boundaries and limits, and put my head in the right place to dive into my career.”

Looking ahead, she remains focused and determined. When asked about how she sees herself in five years, her answer was deep.

“It's funny because I asked myself this question five years ago. I couldn't answer at that time, I still wanted to find myself. Therefore, I hope in five years I'll be a full-time singer, making my dreams come true, inspiring people and bringing them light. I want to follow and live my life passion: music.”

The Summer Love Yourself Festival will offer more than music. Visitors can expect live performances, artistic showcases, food vendors, and interactive workshops. While entry is free, participation in workshops requires a 35-shekel fee.

HER Tel Aviv, now a growing community of over 3,000 women from more than 80 countries, sees the festival as a defining moment in its mission.

“It’s a way to bring light back into the city and remind everyone of our collective strength, especially the strength of women,” Hadari Avneri added.

Registration for the event is open at www.summerfesttlv.com.