Jerusalem

The Pride and Tolerance Parade in Jerusalem

The Open House has been organizing the Pride and Tolerance Parade in Jerusalem for almost two decades. Since 2002, we have been marching in Jerusalem in a stubborn struggle for its presence in our city, for our right to liberty, equality, personal security and public space, and to promote pluralism and tolerance. In Jerusalem, a city where miracles happen every day, the parade is another small miracle that manages to combine the multifaceted character of the city and the multifaceted character of the proud community. Since the first parade in 2002 the parade has been accompanied by extremist forces seeking to prevent its existence. These attempts culminated in two stabbing incidents, in the summer of 2005 and in the summer of 2015, when the late Shira Banki, not yet 16 years old, was murdered in Shani, who came to march with her friends. In the face of such a heinous manifestation of blind hatred, we have experienced great support in recent years. Every summer, tens of thousands of Israelis from all over the country and from diverse sectors and publics walk with us hand in hand, as well as guests from all over the world. Although the parade is produced by the Open House in Jerusalem, it is the parade of us all. Jerusalem is the capital of the state, where the Knesset, the government and the Supreme Court sit - the decision-makers who shape the public and legal reality. It is also a city where populations meet, a complex social fabric and the spiritual center of the three monotheistic religions, a holy city for billions of believers. The parade carries a protest and struggling nature, celebrating the community and our achievements in the face of impossible challenges. The parade marks the miracle of struggle and protest, and thanks to it, our voices resonate throughout the country and around the world.

Hebrew Book Week Jerusalem

Hebrew Book Week: A Celebration of Literary Heritage Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Hebrew literature by attending the annual Hebrew Book Week held in the heart of Jerusalem. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on Hebrew books, offering a delightful literary feast that traces back to its inception in the 1920s. Established to promote and celebrate Hebrew literature, the festival has grown over the decades, becoming a significant cultural milestone. It features a wide array of Hebrew novels, poetry, and non-fiction works, and the event showcases the vibrancy and diversity of Jewish cultural heritage through storytelling. Typically held at the iconic Safra Square, Hebrew Book Week is a lively festival where bibliophiles, authors, publishers, and enthusiastic readers gather in a shared love for Hebrew literature. Not limited to just browsing books, visitors can engage in thought-provoking discussions, attend book signings, and participate in various literary activities that elevate the cultural experience. This week-long celebration invites people of all ages and backgrounds to delve into the rich tapestry of stories that have shaped, and continue to influence, the Jewish narrative. As part of the tradition, the event captures the essence of Jewish heritage and storytelling, welcoming an ever-growing community to partake in this cultural festivity.

Jerusalem Jazz Festival

The Jerusalem Jazz Festival features a rich range of original productions, premieres, one-off musical collaborations, surprising mini shows, improvisations, and conversations with musicians, giving a new perspective to the artworks displayed throughout the museum. The artistic program reflects the variety of styles that comprise the contemporary jazz world, from world music, through hip hop, rock, groove, to supersonic jazz, and free jazz, classical chamber music, big band arrangements and more. The original productions were inspired by the artworks in the museum while other productions adapted the show in response to this creative space. This has led to a three-way dialogue between music, art, and cultural consumers. This year, the festival focuses on original Israeli music from a wide range of styles. The extraordinary encounter between music and art, the festival’s inspiring hallmark from day one, continues to be a central pillar of the artistic program, with several different shows taking place throughout the museum’s magical sculpture garden every evening. The 7th Jerusalem Jazz Festival, created by the Israel Festival in partnership with Israel Museum, and under the artistic direction of international trumpeter Avishai Cohen, will take place alongside the Israel Festival on 22-24.6.21, in the magical Sculpture Garden of the Israel Museum.

Jerusalem Film Festival

The Festival showcases the best films from around the world from the past year and is an esteemed platform for Israeli cinema, exposing local film work to leading professionals from around the world and granting generous prizes for Israeli cinema.   https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/evt/jewish-film-festival/

Jerusalem Food Truck Festival

The Jerusalem Food Truck Festival will be held for the sixth time, with top chefs from the leading restaurants in the city cooking in food trucks every evening in Ben Hinnom Valley Park. Among the trucks will be those of Angelica, Jacko Street, Luciana, Fringe, Rachel BaSdera, Hacanaanit, Iron Bar, Shmaltz,, Basher, Black Iron, Fiori, Jacko Sun, and more. In addition, there will be live music by leading bands and DJs. Come and enjoy a great variety of music and food near the Old city where various Jerusalem chefs offer delicious food from within their trucks and at special prices.

Annual Tisha B'Av Walk

The annual Tisha Be'av walk, organized by the Women in Green organization, in held each year in Jerusalem and unites thousands of people from around the country. The walk typically begins at Independence Park with a reading of Megilat Eicha, which is traditionally read on Tisha Be'av every year. Following this, the walking route leads participants to several notable historic sites along the way until ending near the Lion's Gate in the Old City. Historian Aryeh Klein has led the walk for many years, and tells several stories of the unique history of Jerusalem along the way which include anecdotes from the Roman era and more recent stories from the Six Day War. Every year, the walk concludes with the singing of "Hatikva," Israel's national anthem, and "Ani Ma'amin," before its participants pray at the Western Wall. The walk is the continuation of the ancient Jewish tradition that ceased during the British Mandate period, but was renewed in the '90s by Women in Green.

Hutzot Hayotzer Fair

Hutzot Hayotzer, is an arts and crafts lane in Jerusalem, Israel, located west of the Old City walls. Its name means "the potter's section" (compound) or "the potter's hedge" in Hebrew and Aramaic.Since 1976, Hutzot Hayotzer and the Sultan's Pool area have been the site of the annual International Arts and Crafts Fair or Festival, a 12-day event in August featuring the work of local and international artists. There are also open-air concerts, workshops for children and food booths. Many of Israel's leading pop and rock stars have performed at Hutzot Hayotzer. During the festival, the artist studios along the lane stay open late and the artists offer public demonstrations of their work.

Jerusalem Beer Festival

The Jerusalem Beer Festival is the largest and most diverse festival in the country. Every year at the festival, you can find hundreds of brands of beer from Israel and the world, live performances by the leading artists in Israel, quality food stalls that fit right next to the beer, accessory stalls, and other attractions!  

Selichot at the Kotel

Selichot communal prayers are for Divine forgiveness, said during the High Holiday season or on Jewish fast days. Due to the tremendous interest in participating in the central selichot services, the decision was made this year to hold fourteen events accompanied by a cantor and amplification in order to spread the crowds and make it possible for all who wish to participate to come. The selichot services will be broadcast live on the Foundation website for those who are not able to come to the Western Wall but who wish to participate in these moving services. The Western Heritage Foundation: The recitation of selichot at the Western Wall Plaza unites the Jewish nation. All the various streams stand together pouring out their souls and accepting the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven during these important days of atonement, calling out together – “O Master of Forgiveness, Examiner of Hearts, we have sinned before You, have mercy upon us.” We call upon the public to come say selichot earlier in the month, and not only in the last days of selichot, in order to spread the crowds and maintain the health and safety of all who come to the Western Wall. http://allaboutjerusalem.com/event/night-spectacular-and-selichot-old-city

Kaparot at Machane Yehuda

Kaparot consists of carefully passing a chicken over one’s head three times while reciting the appropriate text. The chicken is then slaughtered in a humane fashion in accordance with the laws of kashrut. The chicken itself is discreetly donated to a charitable cause, such as a yeshiva or orphanage, where it is eaten just as any other chicken. Alternatively, the chicken is sold and its value donated. https://www.gojerusalem.com/events/250/Shuk-Kaparot/

Open Restaurants

During the OpenRestaurants™ events, many of Jerusalem’s finest restaurants will open their kitchens for special workshops and dinners, among them Mona, Adom, and Kadosh. Along with the rare and unique opportunity to enter behind the proverbial curtains of this exclusive culinary society, the festival presents a variety of one-off events that range from gastronomy to history and everything in between – art, design, music, tech & innovation and naturally the passionate consumption of all culinary aspects – events that emerge from the kitchens and encompass every corner the city. Chefs, artisans, multidisciplinary artists, performers, intellectuals and local culinary personalities – all will take part in our riveting culinary journey in order to lead us to new and fascinating adventure.

Jerusalem International Oud Festival

Experience the Musical Magic of the Jerusalem International Oud Festival Immerse yourself in the enchanting tunes of the Jerusalem International Oud Festival, an annual celebration that honors the rich musical traditions of the Middle Eastern oud. Established in 2000, this festival has become a beloved event in the heart of Jerusalem, drawing music enthusiasts from around the globe. Held at the picturesque Jerusalem Theater and various cultural venues across the city, the festival showcases an eclectic mix of sounds from diverse cultures and traditions. The oud, a pear-shaped stringed instrument with deep roots in Jewish, Arab, and Mediterranean melodies, sets the stage for a unique musical journey. The festival’s lineup includes performances by both renowned oud virtuosos and emerging artists, reflecting a blend of traditional tunes and contemporary experiments. As the oud's resonant melodies fill the air, festival attendees are invited to dress in comfortable attire, allowing them to dance and participate fully in the lively atmosphere. This event goes beyond just music, it is a celebration of cultural unity and heritage. By highlighting the historical significance of the oud in Jewish music, the festival fosters a sense of communal pride and global connection. Participants range from local Jerusalemites to international visitors, all gathered to celebrate the profound musical legacy and explore its continuing evolution. Join this remarkable celebration, a vibrant homage to the instrument that speaks across cultures and generations.

International Museum Day in Israel

International Museum Day marks a day of many free museum visits. Please call the museums you plan to visit to verify this information before you go.

Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews

Each year on the 28th of Iyar, the Israeli Ethiopian community remembers those who perished on their way to Israel. From 1980 to 1984, a mass immigration of Ethiopian Jews took place from their villages in Gundar and through Sudan. Those who managed to flee Ethiopia and walk for long periods, up to several months, arrived at the Ethiopian-Sudanese border and waited in provisional camps to make Aliyah. Immigrants were met at the Sudanese border by the Mossad, who instructed the Ethiopians to hide their Jewish identity. During their escape from the Sudanese camps in an attempt to arrive at Israel, 4,000 community members died from disease, hunger, and violent robberies. Due to the instructions to hide their Jewish identity, it was difficult for them to observe Jewish law and traditions, for fear of the Sudanese guards. In November 1984, "Operation Moses" began its the first national operation to bring the Ethiopian Jewry to Israel. This secret operation brought 8,000 Ethiopian Jews over on Israeli aircrafts. However, due to a leak of information, the operation ended before schedule and several families were left behind or torn apart, until May 1991, when 14,324 more immigrants were brought within 36 hours during "Operation Solomon." In 2003, the  government decided that a national memorial ceremony to honor those who perished would be held each year on the 28th of Iyar, Jerusalem Day.

Shavuot

Shavuot, the feast of weeks, is celebrated seven weeks after the second Passover seder. Although Shavuot began as an ancient grain harvest festival, the holiday has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The word Shavuot means "weeks", and it marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer. Its date is directly linked to that of Passover; the Torah mandates the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover, to be immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the giving of the Torah. On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot, they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God. One of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals, Shavuot is traditionally celebrated in the Land of Israel for one day and for two days in the Diaspora. While there is more awareness of the festival in Israel among secular Jews, generally Shavuot is widely ignored by non-practicing Jews. The practice of staying up all Shavuot night to study Torah – known as Tiqun Leyl Shavuot – is linked to a Midrash which relates that the night before the Torah was given, the Israelites retired early to be well-rested for the momentous day ahead. They overslept and Moses had to wake them up because God was already waiting on the mountaintop. To rectify this perceived flaw in the national character, many religious Jews stay up all night to learn Torah. Any subject may be studied on Shavuot night, although Talmud, Mishnah, and Torah typically top the list. People may learn alone or with a chavruta (study partner), or attend late-night shiurim (lectures) and study groups. In keeping with the custom of engaging in all-night Torah study, leading 16th century kabbalist Isaac Luria arranged a recital consisting of excerpts from the beginning and end of each of the 24 books of Tanakh (including the reading in full of several key sections such as the account of the days of creation, the Exodus, the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Shema) and the 63 tractates of Mishnah, followed by the reading of Sefer Yetzirah, the 613 commandments as enumerated by Maimonides, and excerpts from the Zohar, with opening and concluding prayers. The whole reading is divided into thirteen parts, after each of which a Kaddish d-Rabbanan is recited when the Tiqun is studied with a minyan. Today, this service is held in many communities, with the notable exception of Spanish and Portuguese Jews. The service is printed in a book called Tiqun Leyl Shavuot. There exist similar books for the vigils before the seventh day of Pesach and Hosha'ana Rabbah.  

Tzom Tammuz

The fast of the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, known as Shivah Asar B’Tammuz, is the start of a three-week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples.

Tisha B'av

Tisha B'Av is an annual fast day in Judaism, on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. Tisha B'Av is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar and it is thus believed to be a day which is destined for tragedy. Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the Gregorian calendar. The observance of the day includes five prohibitions, most notable of which is a 25-hour fast. The Book of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem is read in the synagogue, followed by the recitation of kinnot, liturgical dirges that lament the loss of the Temples and Jerusalem. As the day has become associated with remembrance of other major calamities which have befallen the Jewish people, some kinnot also recall events such as the murder of the Ten Martyrs by the Romans, massacres in numerous medieval Jewish communities during the Crusades, and the Holocaust.

Tu B'Av

Tu B'Av (the 15th of Av) is undoubtedly a most mysterious day. A search of the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) reveals no observances or customs for this date, except for the instruction that the tachanun (confession of sins) and similar portions should be omitted from the daily prayers, and that one should increase one’s study of Torah, since the nights are growing longer, and “the night was created for study.” The Talmud tells us that many years ago the “daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards” on the 15th of Av, and “whoever did not have a wife would go there” to find himself a bride.

Fast of Gedaliah

The Fast of Gedaliah is a day set aside to commemorate the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed official charged with administering the Jewish population remaining in Judah following the destruction of the Temple and exile in 586 B.C.E. It is observed on the third of Tishrei (the day after Rosh Hashanah ) with a fast from sunrise to sundown, and like on other fast days, the recital of special prayers (“Anenu”) and the reading of selected biblical readings (Exodus 32:14; 34:1-10).

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of communal and personal atonement for sins committed during the past year. Fasting is one of the central components of the Yom Kippur holiday. Prayer is the other central component of the holiday. The Kol Nidrei service kicks off the holiday, and Neila comes at the very end, bookending the holy day with solemn prayer.

Jerusalem Day of Prayer for All Nations

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is a prayer meeting organized by Pentecostal evangelists Jack W. Hayford and Robert Stearns through their organization "Eagles Wings". They annually invite people around the world to pray for Jerusalem on the first Sunday of every October, close to the time of Yom Kippur. The first prayer meeting organized by this group occurred in 2004. Hayford and Stearns organize the primary meeting in Israel. According to a CBN interview with Stearns, he believes that prayer meetings are important to combat various dangers to the Judeo-Christian worldview, such as secular humanism and Radical Islam, and he believes that Christians are especially obligated to support the State of Israel. According to "Jerusalem Newswire" a small independent Christian publication, organizers of the 2006 event claimed that they had scheduled prayer meetings to be held in 150,000 churches around the world. The coordinators scheduled for prayer meetings to be organized in 169 nations. In 2004, 500 global Christian ministries representing 50 countries and 53,000 churches said prayers for peace in Jerusalem on the same day. The organization's goal in 2006 was to have over 100 million people in over 100 countries participate in prayer meetings. The prayer meeting in Jerusalem in 2006 was held inside the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem and was attended by "hundreds of Christian lovers of Israel gathered with Jewish friends." International denominations Assemblies of God, and Elim Fellowship took part in the 2006 prayer and support the annual prayers.

Sukkot

Sukkot is known as the “Festival of Tabernacles” and the “Feast of Booths.” It is one of Judaism’s three central pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot. It is tradition to build a sukkah, a temporary hut to dwell in during the holiday. It is also the custom to buy a lulav and etrog and shake them daily throughout the festival. For more information about the traditions, rituals and celebrations of Sukkot and the rest of the September Jewish Holidays check out our blog: https://worldjewishtravel.org/listing/from-rosh-hashanah-to-sukkot-bringing-in-the-jewish-new-year/

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, a celebration of the conclusion of one and the beginning of another annual cycle of readings from the Torah. Simchat Torah conveys a clear message about the centrality of Torah in Jewish life. It is both a source of Jewish identity and a precious gift from God. Simchat Torah is the day on which the whole community gathers to come into direct contact with the Torah and to express our joy in having received it.

Shemini Atzeret

Shemini Atzeret is mentioned in the Bible, but its exact function is unclear. In Second Temple times, it appears to have been a day devoted to the ritual cleansing of the altar in the Temple. With the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, this function of the day became obsolete. Although it marks the beginning of the rainy season in Israel and, therefore includes the year’s first prayer for rain.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, it’s celebrated as the head of the Jewish year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of God as king. The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) on both mornings of the holiday, which is normally done in synagogue as part of the day’s services but may be done elsewhere for those who cannot attend.

Diaspora Day

Welcome to Diaspora-Israel Day is a worldwide festival of Jewish Peoplehood on the 7th of Cheshvan! We invite you to celebrate your partnership in the wider Jewish world and to mark the deep bond between Jewish communities around the globe and between these communities and Israel – a bond that has lasted for thousands of years. For thousands of years Jews have lived around the world, scattered across five continents. The relationships among the Jews in each place where they settled, and between these places and the Land of Israel, underwent numerous and diverse changes over the generations. Throughout the centuries, a complex and rich dialogue has been maintained between all Jewish communities, creating a delicate and unique thread that binds Jews living in different parts of the world.  Diaspora Israel Day, which was initiated by project Domim-aLike - a joint program of the Israeli Reform movement and the Israeli government, is a holiday celebrating the ongoing connections between Jewish communities worldwide, and the continues sense of peoplehood among them. The festival cherishes thousands of years of united and full Jewish life in different locations around the world.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, which is Hebrew for “dedication,” is the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greek army, and the subsequent miracle of rededicating the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and restoring its menorah, or lamp. The miracle of Hanukkah is that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil to illuminate the Temple lamp for one day, and yet it lasted for eight full days. Check out the following Hanukkah Lighting Events: New York, London, Campo del Ghetto, Hudson Valley