The winter international tourist season, dominated by Christmas and New Years, is neigh. Jerusalem is filling up with visitors of all stripes this week, be they pilgrims in search of once-in-a-lifetime Christmas experiences, Birthright kids exploring the country over their winter break, or families enjoying vacations together. For those lucky enough to get here despite the recent blizzards in Europe, Jerusalem has lots in store this week.
- Thursday is your last chance to catch this year’s Machol Shalem dance festival, featuring some of the best choreographed moves this side of the Super Bowl. On tap is What on Earth by Matanikola, which consists of the Israeli-Italian duo of Matan Zamir and Nikola Masha.
- In the minds of many, science and movies go together like chocolate and ketchup: they don’t. Well, those people are wrong, as visitors to the Jerusalem Cinematheque will find out on Friday, with a screening of the new Cameron Diaz vehicle My Sister’s Keeper in an event hosted by the Bloomfield Science Museum, which also presents a discussion on parenting issues raised by the movie.
- Saturday is Christmas. If you aren’t planning on staying up and waiting for Santa, or attending Mass at a local church, then Beit Avi Chai has got a show for you. Noam Rotem (pictured), an influential Israeli rocker who has done his time in the band Kerah 9, returns to the venue to play a mix of old and new songs. Elsewhere, dance bar HaTza’atzua is hosting a Christmas party for Jerusalem’s international university students, diplomats and journalists.
- The written word hasn’t always been as ubiquitous as it is today. The Tower of David Museum, which has a track record of offering interesting temporary exhibits that go beyond its home turf of archaeology, this time presents the story of the alphabet. The exhibit opened earlier this month and continues until mid-march. But why wait?
- All this month, the trendy Jerusalem mainstay Lavan has been going green, with environmentally friendly dishes designed to spruce up its already well-regarded menu. Get there before the special runs out at the end of the month to enjoy specialties like organic vegetable anti pasti, broccoli quiche with whole wheat crust, or steamed salmon fillet.
- Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore is not a community theater undertaking. The massive show, being put on at Beit Shmuel with 40 actors and a live orchestra, is a comic opera about ghosts, curses and weddings.
- If you’re into the whole “movie and another thing” type events (see Friday’s recommendation above) then indie dance spot Uganda should be your destination Wednesday night, when they pair up the offbeat 1968 movie Candy with a set by DJ Marky Funk, whom we assume bears no relation to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Even better, entrance is free.
‘Tis also the season to check out the rest of what is on offer at our full events section, here.
