ISRAEL AT SUCCOT

21 September 2009
ISRAEL AT SUCCOT
A FEAST OF FESTIVALS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

The week long festival of Succot, or the Feast of Tabernacles (2-10 October 2009), is marked in Israel by special events, festivals and happenings for tourists and locals alike. The festive atmosphere begins with succa fairs in most cities, selling the four species and succa decorations. Succot or temporary booths can be seen in gardens, sidewalks, balconies and restaurants.

For tourists visiting the North of Israel, there are also festivals of note. 280 movies from over 40 countries will be screened at the 25th Haifa International Film Festival (www.haifaff.co.il) from 3-10 October which will open with Ang Lee's new movie Taking Woodstock. The festival includes outdoor performances and an arts and crafts fair. The 30th Acco Fringe Theater Festival includes 452 performances from Israeli and international artistes, as well as street theater and outdoor events (www.accofestival.co.il). Yehiam Fortress in the Western Galilee is the stage for the 17th Renaissance Festival, complete with knights, court jesters, tours and ethnic music (5-7 Oct).

Jerusalem will host the traditional Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall and the colorful 5, 10 or 20 km Jerusalem March (6 Oct) with thousands of Israelis and Christians from all over the world celebrating the Christian Festival of Tabernacles. The 35th Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival (6-10 Oct) attracts thousands of music fans, who enjoy first class concerts in the churches and crypts of this hillside village outside the capital (www.agfestival.co.il). This year’s Rishon LeZion Festival will feature concerts by Israeli artist Shlomi Shabat (7.10.09); Mati Caspi accompanied by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (8.10.09) and free outdoor concerts in various locations in the city. The second Herzliya Biennial will feature a week of contemporary art exhibitions, live performances and fireworks every evening from 3-10 October (www.herzliya-biennial.com) . The annual Kite-flying Festival will take place among the Crusader and Roman ruins at Apollonia on the cliffs north of Herzliya (5-6 October)

The Dead Sea region will come alive during Succot with the Tamar Music Festival (4-8 Oct) hosting concerts with top Israeli stars such as Rita, Ehud Banai and Eyal Golan, as well as guest stars from the Jamaican group The Wailers (the former band playing with Bob Marley) and two sunrise concerts at Masada. The Nabatean Market comes to the Mamshit National Park south of Beer Sheva for the 11th consecutive year (3-8 Oct), including a moonlit night time event. Eilat will host a photography exhibition 4 meters underwater in the Red Sea (8-10 Oct).

A host of outdoor activities, hiking, tours and special events are organized by KKL-JNF (www.kkl.org.il) and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (972 3 6388688). The Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority (tel: *3639) is organizing three festivals – the Magic Sword at Apollonia near Herzliya, a games festival at Ashkelon National Park and juggling and magic at Ein Hemed near Jerusalem (as well as Jewish soul music, including Meir and Evyatar Banai and Amir Benayoun at Ein Hemed from 5-8 Oct in the evening).

The festivities end on the evening of 10 October with street celebrations in most Israeli cities, as religious and non-religious dance with the Torah scrolls, often to the accompaniment of live music, an act of solidarity with Jews in the Diaspora who celebrate the festival of Simchat Torah that evening.