Israel festival

Getting to know Etty Hillesum, the Holocaust diarist starring at the Israel Festival

Hillesum was 27 when she started putting pen to paper, much older than Frank and, hence, her writing relates to a more advanced stage of life and state of consciousness and awareness.

Neta Shpigelman identifies fully with Etty Hillesum, the Holocaust victim heroine of 'The Thinking Heart'
Blue Sun (see Sunday).

Jerusalem highlights: July 24-30

‘DONALD AND ABDUL’ and Attention, Sergeant Major! will be two of the performances at the Israeli Comedy Festival.

Israeli Comedy Festival returns for its fourth year to bring laughs for everyone

 AVISHAI COHEN: I’m not sure this is my most personal record, but I think it’s my best!

Jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen to unload post-October 7 angst at Israel Festival


Summer’s here! A snapshot of Jerusalem's warm-weather activities to enjoy

In Jerusalem set out to uncover some of the events that the whole family can look forward to this summer. Here they are, in calendar order. 

 Folk Trio & The Gang.

A dream of recovery, amid reality of war: Israel Festival goes to the periphery

The festival’s two opening performances will take place in a specially built open-air amphitheater in the Jerusalem Theater Plaza.

 ‘COMING HOME’ and ‘Brothers’ are two of the featured performances of this year’s Israel Festival.

Cinema South Festival returns to Sderot, honoring resilience after tragedy

This year’s fall edition puts the population of the western Negev front and center, spotlighting the hostages and their families, as well as those who suffered losses on October 7 and during the war.

 THE SDEROT Cinematheque.

Yasmeen Godder and Dikla reunite for Shout Aloud at the Israel Festival

Nearly 25 years after their first collaboration, acclaimed choreographer Yasmeen Godder and singer Dikla join forces once again for Shout Aloud, featuring a new diverse cast of performers.

 CHOREOGRAPHER YASMEEN GODDER (left) and singert Dikla reunite in ‘Shout Aloud.’

This year’s Israel Festival will be held at the Gaza border

This year's Israel festival will focus on the Israel-Hamas war, centering around home, loss, and mourning.

 THE OTEF HaNegev Theater.

'One Day': 2024's Israel Festival to close with an offering of hope

The program kicks off at the Sherover Auditorium of the Jerusalem Theatre at 5 p.m. on September 26, continuing through to 4 p.m. on the morrow.

 'One Day': A previous year's festivities.

The Israel Festival provides a platform for budding evacuee musicians

The initiative will debut at the Israel Festival, featuring performances by budding talents alongside established artists.

 ALMA GOV and Alon Adar are among the musicians who will share the stage with younger performers.

Summer is ending – check out these can't-miss events in Jerusalem before it does

As the season’s blazing heat takes its final bow, and the first whispers of fall’s cooler breeze make their debut, Jerusalem throws lively end-of-summer celebrations, offering something for everyone.

 An illustrative image of Jerusalem's Infinity Museum.

This year's Israel Festival reckons with the reality of a post-October 7 country

The festival sets out “to do what art and creation know so well to do – to create a space where complexity, multifaceted thought, and imagination can coexist in unison,” artistic directors state.

 DIKLA AND Yasmeen Godder collaborate on Love Music (Now).

'Minefield': Israel Festival hosts Argentinian work on both sides of war

The work is on the current Israel Festival roster, with performances set for the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio auditorium on August 9, 10, and 11.

 BRITISH AND Argentinian vets process their memories of the Falklands War in the long-running ‘Minefield’ documentary play.