Mishkenot Sha'ananim serves as a culture and hospitality center that features local and international cultural content and hosts conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and lectures. Alongside the cultural center, housed in the first historic building erected outside the walls of the Old City, there is a guest house for artists, cultural and intellectual figures, thinkers, and academics from Israel and around the world. The inspiring view from Mishkenot Sha'ananim reflects Jerusalem’s vibrancy and variety, and the Tower of David, the walls of the Old City, and the expanses of the Judean Desert can be seen through the windows of its rooms and halls. Saul Bellow, Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and the Dalai Lama have been among the honored guests of Mishkenot Sha'ananim.
Mishkenot Sha'ananim hosts many independent events that feature leading cultural figures from Israel and the world. Alongside the annual International Writers Festival—the institution's flagship project—international residency programs host renowned writers, young artists, translators, and public and cultural figures. Through these programs, Mishkenot Sha'ananim build bridges between Hebrew literature and readers around the world and provides the Israeli audience with the opportunity to meet the figures who are at the forefront of local and international art and culture. Our programs and projects have included world-renowned authors, including David Grossman, Zeruya Shalev, Nicole Krauss, and Jonathan Safran Foer, among many others.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Mishkenot Sha'ananim expanded its range of programs online, opening its doors to new audiences in Israel and around the world. Lovers of culture and literature can enjoy a variety of meetings and conversations that Mishkenot Sha'ananim makes available from anywhere and at any time. Our use of digital platforms and increased presence on social networks has enabled audiences to actively participate in events and provide the Mishkenot Sha'ananim team with valuable feedback that allows us to develop and improve. Among the content available in digital format are recordings and documentation of cultural events held in Mishkenot Sha'ananim over the years at festivals, conferences, launches, exhibitions, and more.
You are welcome to join our WhatsApp group so you can receive updates regarding Mishkenot Sha'ananim events.
The renowned structure, which overlooks the walls of the Old City, is more than 150 years old and was the first building erected by Sir Moses Montefiore outside the walls. Since then, it has remained a cultural anchor in the life of the city and its inhabitants and served as a meeting point of past, present, and future.
