Events

A week’s worth of festive events for the new year in Jerusalem

With the holidays firmly upon us, Jerusalem is once again rolling out the big guns. While many concerts and shows center around the seasonal themes, especially the plethora of slichot-oriented offerings around town, other events are aimed at just making sure you have a good time between all the fasting and eating, and fasting and eating. Commence good times!
  • Speaking of food, Tmol Shilshom has great offerings, and not just on the menu. Every Tuesday, the popular restuarant hosts a writing workshop moderated by Christian Science Monitor correspondent Ilene Prusher.
  • Wednesday night is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, which lasts for two days, bleeding directly into Shabbat, so most of the city’s businesses and entertainment venues shut down for all three days. Enjoy some apples and honey (pictured), and check out prayers at the Western Wall, always an impressive endeavor during the High Holidays.
  • The Church of the Redeemer offers a fall classical music concert, with the works of Fontana, Frescobaldi and Bach played on organ and recorder, on Saturday night.
  • Early Sunday morning, we change our clocks, so in a way, the day gets an hour shorter, meaning that the night gets an hour longer. Celebrate the earlier coming of the moon with a trip to one of Jerusalem’s many nightlife establishments. Not sure where to start? Check out our nightlife primer, here.
  • On Monday, Beit Avi Chai’s Piyyut Festival kicks off with concerts featuring the ancient Jewish penitent prayers from Yemen and Afghanistan. The festival continues throughout the week with concerts and workshops galore. Praise the Lord!
  • The clock may say the summer is over (at least in Israel), but the Inbal Hotel’s summer jazz series isn’t going anywhere quite yet.
  • Not to be left out in all the religious and traditional hullabaloo of the holiday season, the Bloomfield Science Museum has special exhibits and events going on all month long. Make sure to check it out Wednesday or anytime this month.

And make sure to check out our full events section here, for more complete listings of everything happening, browsable by date.