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Culture in Jerusalem

Jerusalem has all the cultural events and happenings you would expect from a capital city. It's home to the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, several dance companies, Israel's national museum--the Israel Museum and a breath-taking array of cultural festivals that happen throughout the year. It's hard to choose between the offerings for top pick, but for all-around cultural activities the Jerusalem Center for the Performing Arts--known locally as the Jerusalem Theater--would have to take top billing.The arts complex, despite being built in the 1970s, serves up 3 auditoriums, 2 cinemas, an art gallery space, foyer that hosts jazz evening, a plaza that's the scene for free public cultural events, a bookstore with a decent selection of offerings in English and a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor space. Next pick is the Jerusalem Cinematheque--Israel's film archive, but more importantly, a wonderful art house with 4 updated auditoriums of various sizes, exhibit space, a lovely courtyard that overlooks the walls of the Old City and a wonderful, romantic bistro type restaurant and bar called Lavan. The Cinematheque hosts all kinds of cultural events from opening night film premieres where the director will show up and speak to Saturday morning Classical Music concerts and lectures and the fabulous annual International Film Festival that's the highlight of the summer Jerusalem cultural season. Our other picks are the Lab, an experimental music space; the Israel Museum--that's not just a museum, but also hosts many temporary exhibits and arts events, and the Gerard Behar Center in central Jerusalem that's home to many of the capital's dance groups.