February Festivals
Jerusalem International Book Fair: held once every two years, this six-day event is host to writers from 40 countries and around 800 publishers. A variety of literary events are held over the course of the fair with the climax being the awarding of the prestigious Jerusalem Prize for literature. April Festivals
Boombamela: held on the beach at Hof Nitzanim, miles from the country’s urban sprawl; Boombamela started out as a new age affair but is now a popular mainstream event that draws large crowds for its party atmosphere and musical diversity. Bands play live while areas are designated as night clubs and dancing is enjoyed by all. June Festivals
Israel Festival: the somewhat unimaginatively named Israel Festival is a showcase of the arts that runs for several weeks beginning in May and treats audiences to a variety of art-based entertainment throughout its course. Street theatre, children’s performances and a live jazz club are just some of the highlights of this popular annual event. July Festivals
The Jerusalem Film Festival: the second of three major film festivals in the country, this event runs for nine days over which time, close to 200 movies are screened, many for the first time. Entries come from around the world and cover a wide variety of genres. September Festivals
Rosh Hashanah: in the Jewish calendar, this is the beginning of the New Year and is a two-day event with highly religious observances. Locals head for the synagogue for services that focus on the chief themes of the festival. It’s also customary to eat honey dipped apples during this festival. October Festivals
Sukkot Festival: one of the three ‘pilgrimage festivals’ in the Jewish calendar, Sukkot is a time for Israelis to remember the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and to give thanks to God for a good harvest. Haifa International Film Festival: held to coincide with the Jewish holiday known as Sukkot, the Haifa International Film Festival was the country’s first festival of this kind and is still the best according to many. Over the festival’s eight-day span, more than 220 movies are aired at a total of seven different theatres. December Festivals
Chanukah (Festival of Lights): one of the best known of the Jewish holidays, Chanukah is a time for Israelis to be joyous, light candles and give gifts to one another in celebration of the defeat of the Seleucid Empire forces who had attempted to stamp out the practice of Judaism. Shavuot: seven weeks after Pesach, Israelis celebrate this festival which is intended as a commemoration of God’s giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. It’s customary to eat dairy products and abstain from meat during this time. Yom Kippur: this one day festival is among the most serious in the Jewish calendar and is observed by a 25-hour period of fasting and a complete abstinence from self-indulgences including wearing make-up, leather shoes and elaborate clothing. Yom Kippur can also in September or October depending on the Hebrew calendar. | 
