Jerusalem’s top events for the week of September 8th

Jerusalem is now in the thick of the Hebrew month of Elul, which means that we’re counting down the days remaining until the fall holiday rush. With the kids back in school and seasonal traditions of spiritual introspection becoming increasingly mainstream, it’s a good week to enjoy Jerusalem’s cornucopia of cultural and entertainment opportunities. Read on for our picks, ranging from rocked-out renditions of repentance-themed hymns to big-stage Celtic tap dancing shows.

• Tonight, Jerusalem’s Old Train Station hosts the Ma’alot Tarshicha Andalusian Orchestra, with special guests
  including Micha Shitrit (pictured) and Kobi Oz. The concert, entitled Adon Haslichot explores traditions of pre-Rosh Hashana prayer-poems expressing the individual’s longing for forgiveness.

  Pedigree-laden pop star Evyatar Banai, Meir’s brother, brings his Until Tomorrow show to the Jerusalem Theatre tonight too, showcasing newer and older material alike, with a focus on ballads driven by piano and guitar.

  A special televised performance at Ammunition Hill on tonight highlights songs of the army’s various musical ensembles, with
  performers including sirens Miri Aloni, who crossed over from the Nachal
  Brigade in the late 1960s, and Irit Dotan, who rose to fame in the
  1970s.

  Also tonight, a cappella theatrical comedians the Voca People (pictured) create a wide range of musical effects to recreate Earth’s musical
  canon. Eight friendly aliens from the planet Voca perform rhythmic,
  vocal adaptations of nearly 70 hits, from classical music to popular
  tunes and movie soundtracks. The performance takes place at the
  Israel Museum.

• Tomorrow, head downtown to the crafts booth showcase that is the Bezalel Arts Fair, Jerusalem’s answer to Nachalat Binyamin in Tel Aviv.

• On Saturday night, the Uganda alternative performance space welcomes Same World Trio’s entrancing rhythmic dronw-chants.

• With the collective consciousness taking stock as the year 5771’s end near, Sunday night seems like an aprioriate time slot to ponder the future of democracy in the rapidly changing Middle East. Channel 2 news anchor Ohad Hemo shares his take on the matter as part of Beit Avi Chai’s wide-sweeping A Year Gone By lecture series.

• For the first time, the original Irish dance troupe Riverdance comes to Israel for eight performances across the country, including a Jerusalem stop at Binyanei Hauma this Monday. Fifty dancers, singers and musicians (along with five tons
  of equipment) present the classic Irish tap dance, a tradition from the
  culture of Celtic tribes.

• As part of its “Notes for Jerusalem” concert series, the Tower of David Museum hosts its annual cantorial concert on Tuesday. This year’s performance is a tribute to Cantor Moshe
  Gentshof and is led by musical director and accompanying pianist Raymond
  Goldstein.

• Wake up extra early this Wednesday morning to see Christian Marclay’s The Clock, an astonishing 24-hour video pastiche exploration of the significance of measured time, in its entirety, for free no less.

This is just the beginning – we’ve got loads more listed at our complete calendar of Jerusalem events.