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The event, set to take place at Pavilion 2, is expected to cost about NIS 10 million and feature more than 20 leading Israeli performers.
By Shula Rosen
Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz will host what industry sources describe as the most expensive party ever staged by Israel’s high-tech sector, holding its annual Purim celebration Thursday night at Expo Tel Aviv following its $32 billion acquisition by Google, Ynet reported.
The event, set to take place at Pavilion 2, is expected to cost about NIS 10 million and feature more than 20 leading Israeli performers.
Wiz, whose sale to Google marked the largest exit in Israeli history, said the event is intended for employees and will follow an ABBA tribute theme, with each artist performing a cover of a hit by the Swedish pop group.
According to industry estimates, performers are expected to receive fees ranging from tens of thousands of shekels to more than NIS 100,000 for brief appearances.
The lineup is expected to include Omer Cohen, Eden Golan, Sarit Hadad, Odaya, Ivri Lider, Eden Ben Zaken and Dana International. The event is also slated to feature a reunion of former “Kochav Nolad” (“A Star Is Born”) contestants Shiri Maimon and Ninet, along with Harel Skaat and Harel Moyal.
Company owner and CEO Assaf Rappaport has been closely involved in planning the celebration, according to people familiar with the event.
Wiz hosted a Madonna-themed Purim party last year, featuring artists including Omer Adam, Rita, HaYehudim, Mergui and Anna Zak, and industry sources said this year’s production is expected to surpass last year’s investment.
The party reflects a broader trend among Israel’s leading technology companies toward large-scale, high-budget entertainment events, with firms competing to stage increasingly elaborate productions.
Recent examples cited by industry sources include Monday.com’s Halloween-themed event, held several months ago and a Microsoft gala two weeks ago that featured performers such as Ravid Plotnik, Noa Kirel, Odaya and Harel Skaat.
Production for Wiz’s event, as well as similar productions for Monday.com, Palo Alto and other technology companies, is being handled by VIVO Productions, owned by Avi Ben Shitrit and Asher Ilan.
Despite the scale of these productions, industry sources said Israeli technology companies have largely been unable to secure international artists for such events.
Ben Shitrit has sought to book performers including Jennifer Lopez, the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Pink and Cher, but said the artists declined to perform in Israel because of the war, regardless of the fees offered.
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