Jerusalem highlights: December 17 - 23

FRIDAY DECEMBER 17 – Meet artist Tal Golani and learn about her work in this tour of her Habitat exhibition today at noon at the Teddy New Gallery Artists’ Studios. Described as a piercing look at the “old cultural elites” of this country by art critic Avi Pitchon, Golani depicts images from the former home of her grandparents. Call (02) 583-4272 or email newgallery@jerusalem.muni.il to make sure you can attend. 1 Beitar Sports Association Gate 22 at Teddy Stadium Site: www.thenewgalleryteddy.com/

SATURDAY DECEMBER 18 – View works by current head of the Bezalel Ceramics and Glass Design department Yael Atzmony in dialog with works by former head of the same department, Eran Ehrlich, at Periscope Design Gallery [176 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv] today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For details visit: https://www.periscopedesigngallery.com/now or call: (03) 522-6815

Or stay close to home and visit the latest solo exhibition by Chaya Ruckin Berkman which opens today at noon at the Jerusalem Artist’s House. The works conjure up intimate space and traditional women-oriented crafts in a biblical and personal connection. Other exhibitions opening today at the same hour include 25 Signs by Renana Aldor and Nudity by Yinon Avior. Admission is free, 12 Shmuel Hanagid Street. Site (in Hebrew): www.art.org.il/

Music lovers might take the car and head up north to hear conductor Saleem Abboud Ashkar lead the Tel Aviv Collegium Singers, the Barrocade Orchestra and Israeli Opera singers as they perform works by Vivaldi at the New Maronite Church in Nazareth today at 8:30 p.m. as part of the Liturgical Festival currently taking place in that city. [59 Raous El Gibal Street] NIS 146 per ticket. Call: (04) 6016-799 to learn more about this and other performances in this festival.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 19 – Visit Egoland, the latest group exhibition at Gallery 51 [51 Benyamin Street Modi’in] which offers an in-depth look at climate crisis and consumerism. Among the artists showing their works are painter Yehuda Armoni, performance and weaving multi-faceted artist Belle Shafir and artist Nadia Adina Rose. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MONDAY DECEMBER 20 – Get a drink (or two) at the Toy Bar [6 Du Nawas Street] which opens from 9:30 p.m. until the late hours of the morning. Phone (02) 623-6666 or 052-383-3117 to book a table at the student’s bar on the second floor or to find out which DJ will rock the guests at the bottom floor during a late-night dance party.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 21 – Annie is being performed by the Encore! Educational Theater at the Masorti High School Auditorium [8 Beitar Street] today at 7: 30 p.m. Zohar Pearlman as Annie, Michael Sacofsky as Oliver Warbucks and Gaby Shine takes on the role of Miss Hannigan in this English-language restaging of the 1977 musical based on the Harold Gray comic Little Orphan Annie. NIS 125 per ticket. Email: robert@encore-etc.com for more info or book online via: tickets.encore-etc.com/

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22 – The 12th Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Arts Festival begins tonight at 9 p.m. as three impressive singers: Ester Rada, Hewan Meshesha and Aveva Dese perform Setineti (Three Women). NIS 100 per ticket at the Jerusalem Theatre. Other performances include Versatile with Gili Yalo, Eden Derso and Teddy Neguse at the Yellow Submarine [Thursday December 23 at 10 p.m. NIS 70 per ticket at presale and NIS 80 at the door]. For more information and to book tickets see here: www.confederationhouse.org/en/ or call (02) 539-9360

THURSDAY DECEMBER 23 – Enjoy a unique US Christmas tradition right here in Jerusalem with the Die Hard marathon at the Jerusalem Cinematheque from 7 p.m. to way past midnight (if you see all three movies of course). Although a ticket for one film is NIS 40, all three would set you back only NIS 60. Phone (02) 565-4333 to order.

Throwing a good party? Opening an art exhibition or a new bar? Bringing in a guest speaker to introduce a fascinating topic? Why not drop me a line at hagay_hacohen@yahoo.com and let ‘In Jerusalem’ know about it? Send email with “Jerusalem Highlights” in the subject line. While all information is welcome, receiving such notifications is not a guarantee they will be featured in the column.