Jerusalem’s top events for the week of October 18th

For the first half of the week that begins today, the Sukkot holiday has Jerusalem swinging with concerts, special activities for kids, parades, get-togethers and, with the onslaught of Simchat Torah on Wednesday evening, crazed nights and days of jubilation. Over the weekend, and in to next week, Jerusalem licks her fall holiday season wounds, but that doesn't mean the fun times come to an end. Read on for our recommendations.

• Tuesday is the last day of Sukkot's intermediary days, so we suggest you mark it in style. First roll into and across the Holy City with the annual Jerusalem March, featuring thousands of pedestrians of all stripes descending on the city.

  Then rock out in the German Colony with the Rock Ami festival of Jewish music – featuring the sounds of the Moshav Band (pictured), Soulfarm and Hamakor.

  At Mini Israel, top-draw kiddie entertainers keep on bouncing through the day today.

  And the Begin Center hosts a night of learning and music for Hoshanah Rabbah tonight as well.

• Wednesday night is Simchat Torah, the one time it is taboo to be sober in synagogue. Grab a Torah scroll, grab a friend and do-si-do around town.

• The revelry continues Thursday night with Hakafot Shniyot (literally "the second round"), in squares all around town, many of which feature live music.

  Colony's fall world music concert series, with its themed nights of tunes, grub and beverages reaches its holistic ethnic entertainment apex this Thursday night, as Greek folk music traditionalist Nataly Orion takes the stage at 22:30.

• On Friday, creep to the crypt in Abu Ghosh, where the haunting melodies of the annual Vocal Music Festival hum at full force. The festival is a highlight of the Jerusalem cultural calendar and runs from Wednesday until Saturday.

  Backed by a six-piece ensemble, radio personality Yaron Anoush plays Greek folk and pop songs in the Tower of David Museum's courtyard this Friday. The acclaimed production takes audiences on a journey of love songs and stories, as a tribute to classic Greek crooners like Haris Alexiou, Alkistis Protopsalti and Nana Mouskouri.

• Get a Brazilian Saturday night. No, not a body hair removal treatment – unless you need one of those too. We mean a Brazilian-themed specialty hamburger, courtesy of Black Bar 'n' Burger, which has samba-lized its menu just in time for fall.

• Sukkot may be over, but the booths are staying at the Bloomfield Science Museum, where special activities continue Sunday for kids who just can't stand the thought of going back to school.

• The Manofim arts festival starts Thursday, but one neighborhood left off the map, Malcha, won't have to feel bad. Why's that? Well, the Malcha Mall is throwing its very own arts fair on Monday. Take that, gallery season organizers.

• Jerusalem is celebrating many things Swiss this month, and we don't just mean yodeling and watches. On Tuesday, October's last Jerusalem event of the Swiss culture series, takes place at the Jerusalem Theatre, with the Madrigal Chorus of Basel accompanied by the Israel Chamber Orchestra.

• Give the booths a fond farewell on Wednesday, your last chance to head to Beit Avi Chai to check out their display of innovative model sukkahs and get some inspiration to enter the contest next year.

And check out everything else going on at our full events section.