Culture News

Jerusalem highlights: August 7-13

What's new to do in Israel's capital?

Israeli film about October 7 selected for Toronto International Film Festival despite boycott

AVI NESHER (left) directs Shalom Michaelshwilli and Magi Azarzar in ‘Our Loves.’

Exhibition of ultra-Orthodox military draft cartoons vandalized ahead of Animix Festival

Cartoon showing Moses saying, "Don't they teach this commandment at yeshivas?" and holding a tablet that says, "Thou shalt not vandalize cartoons," created in response to the incident.

'Pulp Fiction' tops Jerusalem Cinematheque’s 50th anniversary film poll

‘PULP FICTION’ topped the Jerusalem Cinematheque’s audience poll as the greatest film of the past 50 years.

Belgian collector lends rare René Magritte work to Israel Museum during painting restoration

The Castle of the Pyrenees was damaged approximately two months ago when a five-year-old boy visiting the museum with his family pushed a pinecone toward the painting, causing a tear in the canvas.

AUGUST 3, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN

"The Castle of the Pyrenees" a painting by famous Belgian artist Rene Magritte is seen on a wall as a laborer on a ladder prepares the Israel Museum of Jerusalem for a re-opening.

Twenty years on: Inside Beit Avi Chai's mission to unite Israelis through Jewish culture

Beit Avi Chai has grown from a local lecture venue into a cultural center reaching children, soldiers, artists, and audiences across Israel and abroad.

AUGUST 2, 2026ByBARRY DAVIS

Beit Avi Chai CEO Dr. David Rozenson wants to spread the Jewish Israeli cultural word to all sectors of society.

‘Tell Me Everything’ leads 2026 Ophir Awards race with record 16 nominations

The Ophir Awards ceremony will take place on September 9 at Cinema City Glilot, hosted by Shani Cohen and Adam Gabay, and will be broadcast live on Mako.

AUGUST 2, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN

‘TELL ME EVERYTHING’S 16 Ophir nominations are the highest total received by any movie in the history of the awards. The film tells the coming-of-age story of a boy who discovers his father is gay at the height of the AIDS epidemic and who reconnects with him later in life.

For the first time: Israeli law recognizes a Family Memorial Day as a protected leave day

What you need to know about the amendment to Israel's annual leave law

AUGUST 2, 2026ByYAHAV SHORER

Jerusalem Film Festival draws 70,000 despite boycott campaign targeting Israeli cinema

The Jerusalem Film Festival attracted 70,000 people this year after Film Workers for Palestine launched a pledge naming it as an Israeli institution that it would refuse to work with.

AUGUST 2, 2026BySIDNEY BLASCO

Co-stars Ido Tako (left) and Ihab Salami with a poster of their film, Where To?, directed by Assaf Machnes, at its premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

Three artists, three questions: Creating an alternative reality

Exhibitions in Beersheba, Bat Yam, and Tel Aviv show how Israeli artists can turn even the smallest room into an immersive world of emotion and imagination.

AUGUST 2, 2026ByBASIA MONKA

To hell and back: A political ballet for Israel’s age of war

Seven choreographers, one live pianist, and a palindrome that refuses to end.

AUGUST 1, 2026ByNERIA BARR

‘ALL SPIRITS’: The Hebrew title, ‘Kol HaRuchot’ plays on meaning of ‘To hell with it!’

Tel Aviv's Animix festival combines political satire, cartoons with tributes, memorials, lectures

Alongside tributes and lectures, five-day event packs in live performances, gaming, and comics fair.

AUGUST 1, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN

CARTOON ANIMALS by lifetime achievement award winner Dovi Keich.

What to watch this week: 'Holofiction' shines, Disney's 'Furious' falls short

TV Time: Holofiction opens with clips showing Jews living their lives. There are scenes of family celebrations, and the director’s skill is in matching shots from different movies.

AUGUST 1, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN

‘HOLOFICTION’ IS made entirely of clips from Holocaust movies, with no dialogue.

Jerusalem highlights: July 31-August 6

What's new to do in Israel's capital?

JULY 31, 2026ByHAGAY HACOHEN