Out & About: Top 10 things to do

From a Jonathan Safran Foer book reading to a Giraffot concert to a Tu Bishvat farmers market, find out what is going on in Israel this week.

By SHAWN RODGERS
botanical gardens tu bishvat (photo credit: Courtesy)
botanical gardens tu bishvat
(photo credit: Courtesy)
1. FILM: THE HEREAFTER Director Clint Eastwood delves into the mysterious world of the hereafter with this supernatural drama revolving around an American laborer (Matt Damon), a French journalist (Cecile De France) and a London schoolboy, who set out on a spiritual journey after death touches their lives in different ways. Also starring Jay Mohr and Bryce Dallas Howard.At selected cinemas throughout the country.
2. DANCE: KEEPING IN STEP The Batsheva Dance Company performs its acclaimed work from last year, Hora, choreographed by Ohad Naharin. Performed by 11 dancers, the piece contains elements of shape, speed and texture that are constantly reassembled into eye-catching combinations. In a score by pioneering Japanese arranger Isao Tomita, the melodies of Claude Debussy, Modest Mussorgsky, Richard Strauss and other composers take on a futuristic tone.Tonight, 9, Suzanne Dellal Center, Rehov Yehieli 5, Tel Aviv, (03) 510-5656.
3. MIXED BAG: BIG APPLE ANTICS With a sharp, creative pen, young Jewish authors are staking out a central place in the American literary landscape, expressing their Jewishness and their attitudes towards Israel as a relevant, vibrant, central theme in world literature. Beit Avi Chai presents “A Jew in New York,” a fascinating encounter with the works of Nicole Krauss, Jonathan Safran Foer and Michael Chabon and more. In Hebrew. NIS 50.Monday, 8: 30 p.m., 44 King George Avenue, Jerusalem, www.bac.org.il
4. MUSIC: GIRAFFES ANYONE? No longer just the mainstay of hippies and backpackers, the Giraffot have slowly become one of Israel’s most popular bands. Join acclaimed singer-songwriter Gilad Kahana as he plays his raw, original, thought-provoking hits tonight at Tel Aviv’s Tmuna Theater.10:30 p.m., Rehov Shonzino 8, Tel Aviv. (03) 562-9462. NIS 80/90.
5. PLAYING FOR A CAUSE For over three years now, 21-year-old Daniel Biton has been suffering from colon cancer. In order to help Biton benefit from expensive transplant surgery in the US, his brother Moshe has organized a special fund-raising evening which includes artists such as Shlomo Artzi, Shlomi Shabat and Israel Katorza.Tuesday, 7 p.m., Reading 3, Tel Aviv, for tickets call (03) 925-0505.
6. TU BISHVAT ACTIVITIES: FARMERS’ MARKET The Tel Aviv Port presents a special Tu Bishvat indoor market with a variety of plant, vegetable and fruit stalls. In addition, there will be special winter booths selling warm roasted chestnuts, hot cider and wine, special infusions, health cakes, cupcakes and more.Today and tomorrow, Hangar 12, Tel Aviv Port
7. THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE TREE The Botanical Gardens presents a weekend dedicated to Tu Bishvat celebrations for the whole family. Highlights include “The Trees Speak” exhibition featuring a 168-million-year-old fossil tree trunk weighing 300 kilograms, brought especially from a fossil forest in the northwestern part of Madagascar. The public is also invited to plant flowers on the big flower carpet, designed to look like a flowering almond tree.Runs today through Saturday, Rehov Yehuda Burla, Nayot, www.botanic.co.il
8. HISTORICAL ROOTS
The Bible Lands Museum presents a special Tu Bishvat themed tour, which brings visitors back to the green past, to the days in which plants, trees, and fruits were an inseparable part of human life.The tour features fruits of the earth and trees found in the museum’s displays: on ancient Israeli coins, Egyptian burial objects, Roman sculptures, mosaics and more. In Hebrew.
Today at 4:30 p.m., tomorrow at 12 noon, Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem. (02) 561-1066.

9. FESTIVAL: NO GENRE IS GOOD GENRE
Tmuna Theater presents the annual AGenre Festival. The theme of this year’s festival centers around loyalty. Participants include Noa Dar, Rotem Tashach, Smadar Ya’aron, Osnat Kelner, Ariel Cohen and the Fattoria Vittadini dance company from Italy. There will also a special hour each day devoted to personal declarations of loyalty from artists, politicians and intellectuals, and what exactly it means to them.
Runs today through Saturday, Rehov Shonzino 8, Tel Aviv. (03) 562-9462.
10. TOUR: GRAVEYARD SHIFT
Start the weekend off with an AACI walking tour of Tel Aviv’s Trumpeldor Cemetery, which was created before the city of Tel Aviv existed, and serves as a place to pay homage to all the city’s founders. So come and “meet” the people behind the street names. NIS 40.
Tomorrow, 10 a.m., (03) 696-0389.