Out & About: Top 10 things to do this week in Israel

Taiwanese pianist Ching Yun Hu, winner of the Arthur Rubinstein Competition 2008, returns to Israel this week for 3 performances.

About.About Dec 19 (photo credit: Courtesy)
About.About Dec 19
(photo credit: Courtesy)
FILM
1. See Mandelas's Story
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is director Justin Chadwick’s chronicle of Nelson Mandela’s life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa, based on Mandela’s autobiography. Starring Idris Elba, Naomie Harris and Terry Pheto.
MUSIC
2. Listen to Mozart
Taiwanese pianist Ching Yun Hu (pictured), winner of the Arthur Rubinstein Competition 2008, returns to Israel, celebrating the 40th year of the competition. She will be giving an all Mozart concert with the Israeli Chamber Orchestra on Sunday and Monday 23 at 8:30 p.m. at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Thursday at Kibbutz Yifat.
For tickets, call (03) 518-8845 ext. 5
3. Spring to the Music
Spring to the Music The Aviv competitions for musicians, which opened last night at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, will run until December 30. Twenty-one young musicians will participate in the various sections of the competitions, organized by the America- Israel Cultural Foundation. This year violinists, pianists and brass players will compete. The competition events are open to the public.For more information, go to www.aicf.org.For tickets, call (03) 517-4177
EXHIBITIONS
4. Don't Miss the King's Last Call
Exhibition “Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey” (Courtesy)
Exhibition “Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey” (Courtesy)
Due to the high demand to see the celebrated exhibition “Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey,” which closes on January 4, the Israel Museum is adding special opening hours on Thursday nights throughout December for NIS 20.
For visitor information: www.imj.org.il.
FESTIVAL
5. Celebrate the Holidays
The Holiday of Holidays Festival Haifa has been running every weekend since the beginning of the month and will continue until the end of December on Fridays and Saturdays. The events, which take place in Beit Hagefen, Wadi Nisnas, the German Colony and the downtown quarter, include art shows, workshops, music performances, liturgical concerts, children’s shows, dance performances, fairs, conferences and guided tours.
The Holiday of Holidays Festival in Haifa (Courtesy)
The Holiday of Holidays Festival in Haifa (Courtesy)
For more information, visit www.haifahag.com
6. Be a Culture Vultureb
The Days of Culture initiative 2013 opens on Thursday, offering a three-day celebration of Israeli culture at affordable prices.
More than 400 events will take place in 120 locations across the country, featuring a wide assortment of performances such as children’s shows, concerts, contemporary dance and readings at the cost of up to NIS 20.
For tickets and information, go to www.pais.co.il.
KIDS
7. Toy with Art
In light of the success of the “WANTED” exhibition, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is devoting its Helen and David Haft Gallery to Andy Warhol, presenting “Andy Warhol: Toy Paintings,” which allows children to experience the artist’s unique creative process. There will also be a screen-printing workshop for kids aged eight to 12 on certain dates. Entry to the museum is freefor children. Registration for the workshop is required.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 27 Shaul Hamelech, (03) 607-7020, www.tamuseum.com.TOUR
8. Fall in Love with the Galilee
Spend this weekend at the Western Galilee – Three days of Culture, Culinary delight and Wines galore. The “Winter Love Weekend,” an eventfilled weekend in the Western Galilee, offers visitors numerous options for individually planned programs – an opportunity to meet the producers, see the artisans at work and enjoy their produce and partake in workshops.
Spend this weekend at the Western Galilee (Courtesy)
Spend this weekend at the Western Galilee (Courtesy)
For more information go to www.westgalil.org.il/english_ wgtime.html
DANCE
Pilobolus returns with
Pilobolus returns with
9. TAKE 15
The Israeli flamenco company Compas celebrates its 15th program Quince (“15” in Spanish) on Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Givatayim Theater. The show encompasses different interpretations of flamenco in a collage of music from various worlds.
For tickets, call (03) 695-9536.
10. Enjoy a Love Story
Pilobolus returns to Israel with five performances of its successful show Shadowland, an exciting and touching love story told with a mixture of dance, acrobatics, shadow theater, animation, video and lively music. The shows will take place December 25- 28 at the Israeli Opera House in Tel Aviv as part of the Dance in the Mishkan series. NIS 186 to NIS 299.
For tickets: israel-opera.co.il.