United in art: Jerusalem's Manofim Festival returns with art, music, and performance

Jerusalem's contemporary arts festival, Manofim, returns for its 18th year, showcasing a vastly expanded program that encompasses a wide array of artistic disciplines. What began as a visual arts festival has grown into a major event, reflecting its name, which translates to "levers" or "construction cranes," symbolizing its ambition to elevate the arts scene in Jerusalem.

The festival's name also plays on the Hebrew phrase "Ma Hanofim," meaning "What are the views?" The organizers aim to "lift the art field in Jerusalem, in order to see the view of the city," according to the festival's website.

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The name… comes from a pun – Ma Hanofim – (What are the views?). With the help of a crane, we seek to lift the art field in Jerusalem, in order to see the view of the city.

This year's five-day program, running from July 14-18, offers a rich tapestry of creative endeavors. Attendees can experience theatrical and filmic presentations, performance art, live musical entertainment, and multidisciplinary works. The festival also provides guided tours and hands-on activities for children and families.

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The Fallow Deer Lift. It is based on the hardly believable tale of how several specimens of the titular animal were airlifted on the last flight out of post-Shah Iran in 1979 to be rehoused on Mount Carmel.

Musical offerings are particularly varied, including "The Fallow Deer Lift," an eastern-style opera by musician-storyteller Nitai Kallay based on the true story of airlifted deer from post-Shah Iran. Another notable performance is "Shkula," described as a "musical-linguistic performance" by Neomi Hashmonai and Neta Weiner, exploring language, identity, and the connection between words and sounds.

Adding a unique element, the festival will screen World Cup matches on the roof of the Artists' Studios building. This venue also offers panoramic views of Jerusalem, allowing festivalgoers to take in the cityscape while enjoying the cultural offerings.

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an intriguing production described as “a musical-linguistic performance,” fronted by Neomi Hashmonai and Neta Weiner, which looks at language and identity, and the relationship between words and sounds.