Knights in Jerusalem Festival

Nights in November may be cold, especially in Jerusalem and more specifically in the evenings. But that should not hold anyone back from enjoying something unique – The Knights Festival in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Royalty in Jerusalem? Not since the Crusader times. But they are inviting you to experience the medieval festivities taking place in Jerusalem during the month of November.

 

The royal family has put on spectacular festivities every Thursday night during November. They have invited  knights,  singers,  troubadours, magicians, dancers, soothsayers and court jesters and much more to entertain you, and to show you Jerusalem’s magic.

 

Your best access to the festivities is to enter the Old City through Jaffa Gate, and then wander through the Christian Quarter, particularly down to the Muristan Square. But keep your eyes and ears open for the entertainers are everywhere. This is truly a royal affair. All expenses for the entertainment has been paid for. You enjoy it all free of charge.

You may end up spending something, as some of the shop keepers will stay open late, as well as the eateries.

For more information: Jerusalem-Old City, Knights Festival

Jerusalem International Book Fair

Entrance, obviously

Entrance, obviously

When I first came to Israel in 1971, there were not many things happening in Jerusalem.

But one of the events that did take place was the Jerusalem International Book Fair. As avid readers we used to go there, browse among the thousands – no, sorry – tens of thousands of volumes in English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and many other languages.

Angola and Romania

 

 

Two publishers in one corner

 

The Book Fair is for publishers to present their books, new or older publications, best sellers or less well known. They present books in almost all categories – literature, on art, crafts, professional topics, movies, history – local and worldwide and much much more.

It is also more friendly to the public, with reading areas and chairs for more comfortable browsing. [Read more...]

18th Marathon in Jerusalem

The number 18 has special meaning in Jewish traditions. 18 is of course the age when generally a young person becomes mature (some do, some don’t). When written with Hebrew letters it says: hai, which mean life or alive.

It is just coincidence that Jerusalem’s International Annual Half Marathon, the 18th, falls on March 18th this year. Participating in sports events of this kind is definitely being alive, and bringing more life to the city.

As in previous years participants come from all over Israel and all over the world. The route begins and ends in the Givat Ram Stadium of the Hebrew University and goes through some of Jerusalem’s unique and pictoresque landscapes. The route will take runners on a slightly hilly and challenging route and past the Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scroll, the Israel Museum, the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and the Jerusalem forest. [Read more...]

Jazz Globus Festival, Jerusalem

Slava Ganelin

Slava Ganelin

Within the music world Israel is best known for within classical music from the Israel Philarmonic to the many soloists and conductors.

A field of music less prominent, but no less popular within Israel, is jazz. If you happen to be in Israel, and in particular in Jerusalem, and you want to hear international level jazz, you are in the right place.

Beginning Nov. 25 the sixth annual Jazz Globus Festival will run through to December 2. Most of the event will take place in [Read more...]

Jerusalem Beer Festival

Israel Beers
Image by kawanet via Flickr

It’s happening again. Another festival. You never get bored in Israel.

So during the summer we had the Israel Book Week. We had the Jerusalem Film Festival. We had the Maccabiah Games. Earlier this month we had the Wine Festival. And a bunch of other stuff.

The summer will go out with a bang in Jerusalem. A big bang with the Beer Festival. Yes, you heard me right. A beer festival in the the capital. For two days, August 26 and 27, you will be able to taste all Israeli beers (as if we have that many). But even more so, you will be able to taste more than 100 beers from around the world. [Read more...]

18th Maccabiah Games – Special Offer

We here at Your Guide to Israel want to honor all the athletes participating in the 18th Maccabiah Games here in Israel, as well as their families and friends.

Many of you come from far away. Many of you are here for the first time, many of you may have visited Israel before. But to all of you, being here is always exciting, and for athletes and their families it must be double exciting.

One – how well will he or she do in the field?
Two – how much of Israel will we have time to see?
[Read more...]