The Birmingham (Alabama) Festival of Arts, the world’s oldest continuing arts festival, will celebrate its 35th year by honoring the arts and culture of Israel, April 25-May 5. The festival, held annually, is a two-week exhibition of the cultural, educational, historical and social accomplishments of the honored country.
A highlight of this year’s Festival will be a 10-day International Fair featuring the sights, sounds and flavor of the Old City of Jerusalem. The theme of the Fair — “Shalom … A Trip Home” — will be featured in the educational exhibits, popular Israeli foods, craft demonstrations and travel information. Throughout Birmingham, colleges, schools, museums, department stores and organizations will be sponsoring different events in honor of Israel.
For example, The Birmingham Museum of Art will showcase Israel In Antiquity, presenting artifacts on loan from the Jewish Museum of New York and The Israeli Museum in Jerusalem. Dr. Ofer Bar-Yosef of Harvard University and Prof. Eliezer Oren of Ben Gurion University of the Negev will present several programs on archaeology. The America Friendship League is assisting in bringing Israeli mime artist Pablo Ariel to Birmingham for public performances throughout the community.
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