40 Best Performing Arts in Israel

This space houses various rotating exhibits, workshops, and lectures. It also serves as a home base for the annual Manofim Jerusalem Contemporary Art Festival and for local and visiting artists in residence.

Founded in 1944, this long-standing Hebrew performance theater, located in the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, offers a useful "See it in Hebrew, Read it in English" program every Tuesday, in which the performance is simultaneously translated into English. Shows range from classic plays to international dramas, comedies, and local pieces.

Israel's largest concert hall is the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, led by maestro Zubin Mehta. The low-slung gray building was among the most architecturally sophisticated cultural buildings in the country when it was completed in 1957. It has excellent acoustics and a seating capacity of 3,000 people. The hall also hosts pop and rock concerts.

This historical arts center is home base for two excellent local contemporary dance companies, Vertigo and Kolben. Additionally, the complex hosts an annual roster of independent theater, dance, musical productions, children's shows, art exhibitions, artist workshops, and festivals. Historically, it's known as the venue where Nazi officer Adolph Eichmann was put on trial in 1961, convicted of crimes against humanity, and sentenced to the death penalty.

Run by a local collective of 50 multidisciplinary artists, this meeting place is housed in a 140-year-old abandoned estate behind the Waldorf Astoria that has been renovated into a cultural and artistic center. The factory produces and hosts exhibitions, concerts, parties, concept events, culinary events, and workshops.

The local and international crafts and lively concerts presented at this festival are a highlight of August. Located in the Sultan's Pool, an ancient reservoir in the Hinnom Valley beneath the walls of the Old City, the two-week event showcases crafts by Israeli and international artisans and features open-air concerts by top Israeli rock and pop performers. 

Top local and international musicians, theater companies, performers, and artists participate in this dynamic annual festival, usually held for two weeks in either early June or September. Styles range from classical to avant-garde. The Jerusalem Theatre is the main venue, but several locations around the city get some of the smaller acts.

This world-renowned orchestra, which is based in Tel Aviv, performs locally at the International Convention Center, opposite the Yitzhak Navon train station. The venue also hosts traveling art exhibits and musicians from around the world.

Specializing in old, rare, and art films as well as more contemporary fare, this complex has four theaters, a café, and splendid views of the Old City and the Hinnom Valley from the terrace. Its monthly programs focus on specific directors, actors, or subjects. The annual Jerusalem Film Festival, held in July, attracts large crowds, as does December's Jewish Film Festival.

Held in July each year, this festival attracts large crowds for screenings of Israeli and international films. Some screenings and the awards ceremony are held at the Cinematheque, while other screenings are at a number of venues throughout the city. Reserve tickets in advance.

Also known as Mekudeshet, this group of Israelis and Palestinians work together to offer artistic and musical productions from their home base—known as Feel Beit on the Jerusalem Sherover Promenade. They seek change for all residents of Jerusalem, and put on events several times a year at Feel Beit, its terrace, or on nearby sections of the Sherover Promenade.

Set in a former stable, this intimate venue offers local productions in Hebrew and some special events in English. There's a beautiful courtyard and a charming coffee shop and bar.

Dozens of local artists, chefs, and other makers in Arad open their homes to visitors for meals, performances, and workshops. Among those offering activities in English are Amos and Ronit Redlich, whose house includes an art gallery. Amos, a sculptor, and Ronit, an author of children's books, talk about how the desert and the city of Arad provide inspiration for their work. There are also light refreshments.  Visiting local families requires making arrangements in advance. Contact Amos to arrange a visit to his home or with other participants with Windows to the Desert.

This popular music venue hosts the country's top jazz, rock, and pop performers. Small and intimate, it's a great place to see Israel's best musicians close up. Dinner and drinks are usually available. Posters around town announce upcoming concerts.

This 270-seat auditorium hosts lectures, concerts, and theater in Hebrew and English throughout the year, often on topics related to Jewish culture and history. Its lobby and second-floor gallery regularly host exhibits by well-known local artists.

One of Israel's largest repertory theaters, the Beit Lessin Theatre hosts works by Israeli playwrights in Hebrew.

Musical and theatrical performances fill the season at this theater. Most of the plays are in Hebrew, but some community theater performances are in English. Beit Shmuel also offers themed walking tours around Jerusalem.

This cultural center is located on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a 10-minute drive from Tiberias. Its fine architecture, beautiful garden setting, movie theater, galleries for changing art exhibits, and concert facilities have established its popularity in the area.

Each year in late July and early August, the Upper Galilee Regional Council hosts Chamber Music Days, a nationally renowned festival of chamber music in a pastoral setting.

This festival's focus is Israeli vocal music, from traditional to contemporary. It is held on Kibbutz Ein Gev during Passover each spring.

Run by the city, the Enav Cultural Center is a 300-seat venue offering eclectic music and theater, ranging from Israeli music to classical, opera, jazz, and blues.

This troupe is rooted in the Russian Revolution, when a group of young Jewish artists established a theater company that performed in Hebrew—this at a time when Hebrew was barely a living language. Subsequent tours through Europe and the United States in the 1920s won wide acclaim. Many of the group's members moved to Israel and helped establish a theater company that now inhabits multiple spaces, including a nicely renovated complex at Habima Square. Even though the vast majority of productions are in Hebrew, many are also simultaneously translated into English.

The orchestra performs at the Haifa Auditorium (Krieger Center) four to five times a month from October through July. For ticket and performance information, contact the box office.

In Old Jaffa, HaSimta Theatre features avant-garde and fringe performances in Hebrew (or sometimes without words at all).

Each August, local puppeteers and fellow artists from around the globe bring their creative productions to the festival organized by Jerusalem's Train Theater and held in its new Karon Theater playhouse. The shows are generally geared toward youngsters, although some are entertaining for the whole family or just adults. Many shows are in English or without words.

The world-class Israel Philharmonic Orchestra gives 20 concerts at the Haifa Auditorium (Rappaport Hall) from October through July.

This well-regarded symphony orchestra was founded in 1973 as an outlet for immigrant musicians; the concert season includes classical music from around the world as well as some family-focused performances. The orchestra's concert hall seats more than 400 and has state-of-the-art acoustics.

The 600-seat YMCA Concert Hall is the main venue for the much-acclaimed Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, held over 10 days each year in late August or early September. Tickets for single concerts are NIS 170.

This festival paying homage to the Arabic lute presents a range of ethnic music from Turkey, Iraq, India, Egypt, Palestine, and a host of other cultures, often including Israeli rock. Performances are held at various concert halls around town in November and also include literature and poetry readings.

Also known as the Jerusalem Centre for the Performing Arts, this venue hosts some of the city's best plays, music, dance, and film screenings and is home to the annual Israel Festival. The 760-seat Henry Crown Auditorium is the home of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. The Israeli Camerata Orchestra plays occasional concerts here at 11 am on Friday. Some of the Hebrew plays have English subtitles.