NORTH On December 1 and 2, the Jacob's Ladder Festival, an Israeli tradition, returns to the Galilee region. This year's edition features a variety of performances and artists of American and Irish music, folk, world music, swing, jazz, blues, bluegrass and more, plus dancing and activities for the whole family. Now in its 14th winter, the festival will feature Monsieur Doumani (playing traditional Cypriot music); Black Velvet (Irish and Celtic); Eli & The Chocolate Factory (jazz); Where Is Paul (old folk); Galilee Thunder (bluegrass); Jug O'Punch (Scottish folk) and many more. The weekend will also include workshops, folk dancing, open mics, Tai Chi workshops, arts and crafts, and activities especially for kids. For details and tickets, visit www.jlfestival.com or call (04) 685-0403. Full weekend adult tickets are NIS 435, with discounts for children, soldiers and partial festival tickets. All festival activities will take place at the Nof Ginossar Hotel, and festival tickets do not include hotel accommodations. To book rooms visit www.ginosar.co.il/ or call (04) 670-0320 to inquire about combined packages. CENTER Pending View This is the opening weekend of a solo show by painter Orly Maiberg at the Noga Gallery in Tel Aviv. The special exhibition, titled “Pending View,” features 12 vertical landscape paintings – all on canvases hung from the ceiling. “As viewers enter the exhibition space, they find themselves enveloped by screens, embraced in a shell, wandering among, in front of and behind the canvases, observing them from a touching distance.” Maiberg created the works by dipping unprimed canvases in ink paints diluted with water, creating an effect of shaded areas and illuminated ones. The Noga Gallery, 60 Ahad Ha'am Street, Tel Aviv. Visiting hours are Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (03) 566-0123 or visit www.nogagallery.com/. Celebrating Kislev on stage This month, Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem continues its “Legends of the Moon,” series – a play each month that tells the story of that Hebrew month. On November 27, December 5 and December 12, the company will present The Chelmites and the Moon to celebrate Kislev. In this play, the residents of Chelm try to stave off darkness by chasing down the glow of the moon. Complete with a special moral, music, original songs, scenery and costumes, children can learn what's special about the month of Kislev, and the December 12 performance will feature a special Hanukka candle-lighting with the actors. The shows are in Hebrew and are recommended for kids ages 4 to 8. Performances take place at 5 p.m. at Beit Avi Chai, 44 King George Avenue, Jerusalem. Tickets are NIS 30 per child and NIS 10 for an escorting adult. For tickets, check out www.bac.org.il/. SOUTH A sandy Shabbat in the Negev Now's the time to buy your ticket to Nefesh B'Nefesh's special Negev Shabbaton. Olim in their 20s and 30s are invited to retreat for the weekend to Israel's scenic south. Friday will include your choice of a nature hike or a city tour of Beersheba, followed by a big Shabbat dinner and oneg at Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh, where welcoming accommodations are provided. Saturday will be full of Shabbat-friendly sessions and activities plus free time to explore the area. December 8 to 9. A bus from Tel Aviv is available, or you can meet the group in Beersheba. Tickets are NIS 300 per person and must be reserved ahead of time at www.eventbrite.com/e/go-south-negev-shabbaton-tickets-39612048704 . For information, contact Amanda at Agold@nbn.org.il or 054-264-4154. A swanky Shabbat in Eilat If you're looking for something more luxurious, you can head down to Eilat for a classy weekend of live music at the Dan Panorama Eilat. Throughout the weekend of December 7 to 9, guests will enjoy live performances by musicians Aviv Geffen, Avraham Tal and Idan Haviv. Each evening will also feature a late-night dance party. Special Israeli breakfasts and traditional dinners are included, and there are lots of activities on site for the kids, like a park, mini golf and swimming pools with inflatables. Special gifts and culinary treats will make appearances throughout the weekend as well. Prices depend on room selection, and discounts are available for American Express card holders. For more information and reservations, call (03) 740-8939.
Steven Wilson (L) and Aviv Geffen of Blackfield(photo credit: YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT)