Art, culture and family-friendly Sukkot festivities 2015 in Tel Aviv

From one of the most sombre holidays, we transition into one of the most joyous holidays celebrated in Israel, called Sukkot. Known also as “The Feast of the Tabernacles”, it usually lasts about a week, where the first and last days are national holidays. As one of the longer holidays in Israel, be prepared to see a lot of activities catered for families and like its name suggests, anticipate to eat to your heart’s content under the stars these holidays!

Feasting under a Sukkah The Hebrew word sukkot means huts and is the main symbol of Sukkot. Reminiscent of the times when the Jews first left Egypt and lived in tents in the desert, these temporary structures are often built in the yards of many homes in Israel. A sukkah is constructed of wooden or cloth walls and has a roof made of tree branches through which the sky can be seen, offering the opportunity of dining or even sleeping under the stars! Although viewing one, especially in a religious neighbourhood is certainly something worth checking out, making a reservation at one of the kosher restaurants that have a sukkah set up should definitely be on your to-do-list! Check out L’Entrecote Restaurant Bar where you will get to savour a juicy, perfectly cooked piece of steak under the beautiful Israeli night sky!

Free Museums/Galleries Over Sukkot

Although most businesses will be shut, there is still reasons to be happy as selected museums are traditionally said to be free during some days of Sukkot. So for all those looking for a little creative inspiration this holiday, consider adding these museums/gallery to your list!

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

As the leading museum of modern and contemporary art in Israel, it houses not only one of the world’s largest collections of Israeli art but serves as one of Tel Aviv’s major artistic and cultural hub. Besides the extensive permanent exhibitions, the museum also displays a wide array of inspiring temporary exhibitions – one of which is by prominent Israeli artist Uri Katzenstein. In his current exhibit, which will be presented till the 5th of October, BACKYARD is a fun but thought-provoking showcase. Made up of giant wooden structures that resemble life size dollhouses, follow the story of the human mannequin traveling through the various scenes of the exhibit while being positioned in sometimes startling poses and wearing fascinating unconventional attires! This artists’ newest piece is guaranteed to open your minds and spark the creative side in you! Interested to find out more? Visit: tamuseum.org.il

Contemporary by Golconda

After stopping by the leading museum in Israel, why not take a look at the leading gallery in the local art scene? Residing in an 80-year-old building that was formerly a tahini factory, the gallery showcases pieces from promising contemporary artists and runs both solo and group exhibitions. With summer ending, make sure to seize the last opportunity to view the “Summer Hanging” collection being displayed before the season changes altogether!

Fresh Paint Art Fair

(30th Sept to 3rd October) Looking for something a bit more family-oriented? Search no further as we have just the active experiential event for your entire family! This year, as part of Family Paint, the Tichonet school building will be transformed overnight into a one-stop spot for art and culture where you will get personal interactions with artists and designers who are happy to share their creative processes and inspirations!

Alongside master classes, workshops, talks and meetings with artists and designers there will also be performances, film screenings and even and an exhibition of graduates from their incubator for independent artists! With activities appropriate for children, teenagers, parents and even grandparents, we are sure that the Fresh Paint Art Fair will be the ideal location for a fun-filled family day out this Sukkot!

Tamar Eisenman and Rona Keinan joint performance (2nd & 3rd Oct) If you are in the mood for music this sukkot, Tamar Eisenman and Rona Keinan, two of the most prominent musicians in the country music scene should definitely be on your list! They will be putting up a common one-time performance that combines materials in Hebrew and English from their two solo albums and through special projects that they were involved in over the years.

They will also be holding a joint concert musical journey, cruising through places such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem to even San Francisco! So hesitate no more and catch them before all the tickets are sold out.

With the wide variety of amazing activities across the week, we are sure that the festivities of Sukkot will keep you and your family entertained and excited for the new year ahead!