Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing security situation, this week’s edition mostly includes cultural options that can be enjoyed from the safety of your home.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
Take in the 2022 calm, Japanese film masterpiece The Zen Diary. Directed by Yuji Nakae, viewers follow the life of Tsutomu (Kenji Sawada), a widowed writer who lives in a mountain cabin near Nagano, close to Mount Takatsuma, as he gathers different mushrooms and roots from the forest and cooks them during four seasons.
Screened with English and Hebrew subtitles, this film is released via VOD thanks to Jerusalem Cinematheque’s recent efforts to make a wider selection of films available to home audiences during these difficult times.
For more, visit shorturl.at/BqdzR.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
Relax with some Jewish comfort food such as the potatonik, a potato kugel made famous thanks to the cookbook Memories of the Yiddish Kitchen by Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett.
The recipe is available via Foodish, the culinary culture wing of ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. If you are looking for a new thing to whisk up in the kitchen or want to enjoy reading about some colorful and tasty-looking dishes, this is the online place to visit.
For details, go to foodish.anumuseum.org.il/en.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
With the Israeli Opera production of Puccini’s Turandot put on hold because of the war with Iran, the opera invites patrons to enjoy free past productions via its VOD service. These include Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Verdi’s Nabucco, and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
For more, see: www.israel-opera.co.il/eng.
MONDAY, JUNE 30
Parents of young children might offer them the VOD stage production of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Philip Stead. Co-adapted to the stage by Maayan Resnick and Ayelet Golan, this is just one of the theater performances offered by Karon Digital, the VOD service of the child-oriented, Jerusalem-based Hakaron Theater.
Visit shorturl.at/4Mi4q to watch the performance.
TUESDAY, JULY 1
Children can try their skills as detectives, preventing criminals from stealing a treasure from the National Library of Israel, at the pick-your-adventure digital games, created by the library.
This Hebrew-only digital tale allows users to decide which path to follow, with comical and interesting results.
To play, visit: shorturl.at/ExhFw.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
Enjoy a taste of homemade goodness with Justin’s Pies. It may be difficult to decide which of these kosher Aussie-style dishes to order: steak pie, beef mince pie, curry mince pie, chicken and mushroom pie, or vegan.
NIS 23 for an individual pie; NIS 100 family size. The pies arrive frozen and should be heated at 190 degrees for about 30 minutes.
To order, call 052-411-9176 or visit justinspies.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 3
Biratenu, the Jerusalem Beer Center, keeps pouring the pints even during wartime, thanks to a nearby bomb shelter and ample parking.
If you feel you’ve had your fill of staying home and watching the screens, join others and enjoy a brew at 6 Hillel Street. You can also buy some beer and take it home for the days ahead.
Call 054-465-8463 to make sure the bar is open, just to be safe.
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.