Out and About: Top 10 things to do

The Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival offers audiences an opportunity to explore the many issues surrounding Jewish identity.

Jerusalem Film Festival (photo credit: Courtesy)
Jerusalem Film Festival
(photo credit: Courtesy)
FILM
1. PARANORMAN
A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse in this year’s most talked-about animated film. Parents should know that the film is scary, especially the 3D version, and is not for young children.
MUSIC
2.  BLACK MAGIC
Opening the World Music series at the Opera, Sara Tavares, on her first visit to Israel, brings the young voice of black Portuguese music.
Tavares, considered the musical heir of Cesaria Evora, is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter, guitarist and percussionist from Lisbon who sings in Portuguese, English and African languages.
Tomorrow at 10 p.m. Opera House, Tel Aviv.
NIS 160 to NIS 245 For more information about the artist, go to www.saratavares.com.
For tickets, call (03) 692-7777; www.israel-opera.co.il.
EXHIBITIONS
3. STILL DANCING As part of the International Exposure 2012 event and celebrating 50 years of her work, there will be an exhibition of Rina Schenfeld’s dance photos, “Meof Haguf,” taken over the years in her performances around the world.
Suzanne Dellal Center, today through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free.
4. FUNNY BONES
The 2012 Punch exhibition of members of the Israeli Comics and Caricature Union opens at the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics in Holon. There will also be many workshops and encounters.
Until March 2 at 61 Chaim Weizmann Street, Holon. NIS 15. (03) 502-1555. For more details, go to www.cartoon.org.il.
FESTIVAL
5. HOLY HOLIDAYS
The annual Holiday of Holidays festival, Haifa, will take place during the next few weekends, starting today.
This year the center offers a host of art exhibitions under the title “Log in log out,” a performance festival called Zaz, a poetry festival, liturgical concerts in the various churches, street performances, markets and family workshops, as well as tours and food stands. The Haifa museums offer a combined weekend ticket for NIS 25.
For more details, go to www.haifahag.com or, within Haifa, call city information at 106.
6. THE JEWISH QUESTION
This year’s Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival offers audiences an opportunity to explore the many issues surrounding Jewish identity, faith, history, memory, culture and more. The program includes 50 films. The event opens with the film Paris Manhattan and closes with Awake Zion.December 9 to 14 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque, www.jer-cin.org.il/JJFF TOUR
7. SEE THE LIGHT
Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem offers a host of tours for the holiday season. This Sunday, the tour for families will take participants to the Western Wall tunnels and the Jewish Quarter, looking at hanukkiot in house entrances and discovering ancient remnants of the Temple.
Sunday at 6 p.m; Monday at 5:30 p.m; Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. For more details, call (02) 620-3461.MIXED BAG
8. OLIVE OIL The first of its kind, the Israeli Olive Oil Market hosts the best of this country’s olive oil producers under one roof.
Dozens of manufacturers will offer the public a taste of their fresh produce and an opportunity to learn more about the differences in the quality of local olive oil. There will also be many workshops on oil production and activities for the whole family.
Monday from 11 a.m. Hangar 12, Tel Aviv Port, 077-549-3094, Port, 077-549-3094, www.shuknamal.co.il
EXHIBITIONS
9. FOCUS ON DESIGN
Jerusalem Design Week takes place as part of the Hamshushalayim festival, featuring various design exhibitions, trade seminars, tours and professional encounters. All events are open to the public. At the old railway station hangar, the Bezalel Gallery and the YH4 gallery.
December 13 to 20, The Jerusalem Center of Design, Jerusalem. Free entrance to all events. www.jcd.org.il MUSIC
10. JACOB IS BACK
Guitarist-singer Colum Sands will be one of the main international draws at the ninth edition of the Jacob’s Ladder Winter Weekend, which will take place at its usual berth, Nof Ginossar by the Kinneret, on December 14-15. As always, there will be lots going on, with Bracha Ben-Avraham leading the Irish Session workshop; the perennial blast from the past of Larry and Mindy’s ’60s and ’70s singalong; tai chi and yoga slots; and a square-dancing workshop led by Cyrelle Forman- Soffer. For kids, there will be an interactive puppet show and all sorts of games, handicrafts and creative activities.For tickets and more information: (04) 685-0403, contact@jlfestival.com and www.jlfestival.com