Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing security situation, events listed below may be postponed or canceled. Check before booking, and stay safe.
Friday, August 14
Visit Casual Coffee Bar and enjoy the summer menu. It includes such delights as watermelon salad, stracciatella salad, and a new mocktail called Blush based on grapefruit peels.
6 Mavo Hamatmid St. Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 9 p.m. to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight. Kosher.
Saturday, August 15
Visit the Marie Gallery to see the paintings of Zemira Mevarech. Curated by Bitya Rosenak, Inner Gaze returns to abstract traditions in painting.
12 Agrippas St. Saturday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free.
Sunday, August 16
Step into the National Library and watch The Meteorite Gang, released this year. Director Yoav Shamir filmed a tight-knit community of Alaska residents who have a cherished treasure: a meteor they think came from Mars that they keep inside an old school bus.
While a documentary, the various perspectives presented in it seem so remote from reality that the work bleeds into speculative fiction.
5:30 p.m. NIS 40. 1 Eliezer Kaplan St. In English. Shown as part of a Documentary Film Festival (until Thursday, August 20). To book: docutext.nli.org.il/en
Monday, August 17
A variety of different productions are being shown during the 35th Jerusalem Puppet Festival, held at the Train Theater. For instance, catch Yetzurot (Female Creatures) by Nima Jacoby. Two dancers inhabit the roles of two cloud-like creatures that can shift their forms, and as they both dance into and from new shapes, delightful new surprises are shown.
Liberty Bell Park. 4 p.m. NIS 50. In Hebrew. Call (02) 561-8514 to book. For more: traintheater.co.il/en/festival/2026/repertoire
Tuesday, August 18
Make sure to catch the film Mama at the Jerusalem Theatre. Evgenia Dodina stars in the lead role of Mila, a Polish woman who spent years working hard in Israel to provide a good life for her family back in Poland. She returns home after 15 years to discover some shocking things about her family and the unseen costs of her choices.
6 p.m. 20 Marcus St. Polish and Hebrew, with English subtitles. NIS 42. The film is for ages 12 and up. Call (02) 560-5757 to book.
Wednesday, August 19
Climb to the roof of the Sam Spiegel Film School, where the 1996 cult classic Trainspotting will be screened. Directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor as clever junkie Mark Renton, this film is a no-holds-barred look into the horrid – and fun – social aspects of using hard drugs.
Considered one of the best British films ever made, it also contains a memorable quote about Scottish-English relations and colonialism.
8 p.m. Cinema by Sam Spiegel, 3 Menora St. In English. NIS 35. To book: cinema.jsfs.co.il
Thursday, August 20
Watch the martial arts film classic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, released in 1978 and filmed on location in Hong Kong. With Lau Kar-leung as director and Gordon Liu in the leading role, this is seen as one of the greatest kung fu films of all time.
The 35 chambers stand, respectively, for various martial arts techniques, starting from balance (the first chamber) to noticing light (the fifth chamber), ending in the final chamber, where Buddhist sutras are recited from memory and spiritual strength is sought.
What is in the 36th chamber? Well, come see. Screened during the Jerusalem Cinematheque’s Enter the Dojo film festival.
5 p.m. 1 Hebron Rd. Shown within the Films for English Speakers series. NIS 43. Call (02) 565-4333 to book.
Throwing a special event? Opening an art exhibition or a new bar? Bringing in a guest speaker to introduce a fascinating topic? Email hagay_hacohen@yahoo.com and let In Jerusalem know about it. Write “Jerusalem Highlights” in the subject line. Although all information is welcome, we cannot guarantee it will be featured in the column.