Program / Prague

Since the very beginning, Jewish authors have been playing a crucial role in the evolution of comic books and “graphic novels” – their more serious counterparts. Authors like Will Eisner, Art Spiegelman or Joann Sfar have become essential figures in the history of comic book creation, shifting the borders and the scope of possibilities a little bit further. Jewish themes have often been the epicenter of their attention. What is the foundation of their word-wide success? What are the current trends in the contemporary Jewish comic? All these questions will be answered by translator and Hebraist Magdaléna Křížová who will guide the visitors through the panorama of Israeli old and contemporary comics.

(in czech language)

Mike’s Place is the title of a brand new graphic novel which is going to be published simultaneously in the Czech Republic, the USA and France at the end of June this year. The authors of Mike’s Place are Koren Shadmi, a Brooklyn-based artist, Jack Baxter, an American documentary film maker and Joshua Faudem, a jerusalem based film maker. Czech comic book enthusiasts will be able to meet Joshual Faudem during Days of Jerusalem because he is one of the festival guests, promoting his new book.

The idea behind the graphic novel is rather unusual and putting the story to life was certainly a great challenge for the authors. The storyline is based on the moving history of the popular Mike’s Place bar in Tel Aviv which was targeted by a suicide bomber during the second Intifada.

It all began in 2003 when the American documentarist Jack Baxter decided to film a documentary about Mike’s Place beachfront bar, frequented by Israelis, Israeli Arabs and the international community living in Tel Aviv. The bar was a trendy spot, popular for live blues music and good beer amongst visitors and staff. Blues could be heard from the bar’s windows every day till dawn. The bar had one unwritten rule: no discussions about politics or religion. It was meting pot where everybody could come to have a beer and forget about the conflict that was raging on the “outside”.

In a way, Mike’s place offered an escape from the outside reality and then, in 2003 reality hit back. On April 30th, 2003 the tragic incident took place. When Jack Baxter put away his camera for a while, an explosion wrecked the bar. After a failed attempt to destroy the American Embassy, two suicide bombers decided to “try their fortune” elsewhere. Three people died and fifty were severely injured, including Jack Baxter.

(in english and czech language)

In the summer, Ladislav Zibura packed his entire life into a 12 kilogram backpack and set out on a journey to Jerusalem. Without a map and a sense of orientation he walked 1400 kilometres through the baking hot lands of Turkey and Israel to finally reach the Wailing Wall and live the biggest adventure of his life. His journey is a story of mistakes, extraordinary encounters, happy and unhappy accidents, blisters and rashes. You can look forward to a cynical café layabout who will be happy to tell you with a high dose of his kind-hearted but indecorous humour that a pilgrim does not really have to be Catholic, ascetic or boring.

(in czech language)

The dance performance White Piece will be created through the collaboration of choreographer Sofia Krantz, a Jerusalemite, and Czech dancers, during her stay in June 2015 in Pilsen. This way the choreography of the dancer from Jerusalem will be enriched by the energy of a different culture and therefore also a new dance language. The minimalist dance performance for nine dancers is based on the clash of cultures. The simple aesthetics of the performance opens up space for key moral questions. The main partners of the performance are Studio Alt@ and OPEN AiR - Artist in Residence.

Sofia Krantz: “During my stay in Pilsen I would like to explore Czech temperament and way of thinking. In our shared performance, I would like to point out the differences and subtle similarities of our cultures. I believe our collective work and creativity will help enhance the quality and enrich the original choreography, creating a new visual language of dance. In my shows, I usually try to work with information extracted from culture, fashion and art and I look forward to having the opportunity to find new inspiration in Czech culture.”

The Hazelnuts adopt and adapt wonderful songs from the past and present time (including their own originals), exploring old fashioned harmonies and applying contemporary ideas, combining their voices to an extraordinary musical experience and bringing New Orleans and the doo-wop of that golden era to here and now. 

The Hazelnuts have received critical acclaim since they started performing in the summer of 2013, and released their debut EP on March 2014. 



Yifeat Ziv, Shira Z. Carmel and Sapir Rosenblatt, (who are sisters at heart yet come from different backgrounds) met in the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance, where they've received their Music B.A in 2014. They write all of the arrangements and original songs themselves, and are proud and happy to introduce with this wonderful harmonious genre.

REFEW - the twenty-one-year-old Refew appeared on Czech scene literally out of the blue. Some people had noticed his Blackcock EP but the biggest boom came later with the debut mixtape called Z místa. It was released in spring 2014 under the Big Boss label. At mere 20 years of age Refew can be proud of his array of guest performers such as Vladimir 518, Orion, Separ, Delik or DJ Wich!

He has been a part of all recent Czech records, he performed at all 16 venues of the massive Heavy Weight Tour, aside from his solo performances. You can also see him on tour with “Mladé pušky”, performing with Moozy and the VR/Nobody project. Often nicknamed “Drake from Libeň”, he is now working on his debut album called Na kredit.

MUHAMMAD MUGHRABI is a ten year Rapper-Music producer, Born in Jerusalem grew up and lives in the Palestinian Refugee Camp Shuafat in Jerusalem city, Studied Arts & Film in Israel. He uses music as an escape & as advocacy. In 2010, in Mexico he was awarded the Chiuku Prize by MTV Latin America. The young artist works hard & believes in music & Still pursuing his dream of international success. MUHAMMAD MUGHRABI - ZiR does: Hip-Hop/Rap, Deep Electro Dance House Music, World.

REFEW and Muhammad Mughrabi will perform together for the first time as part of the Hip Hop performances. Don’t miss this unique battle!

After the lecture called The Story of Mike’s Place, the visitors are welcome to have a drink in the improvised Mike’s Place Bar with Gal Ganzman and Joshua Faudem who will be happy to tell you the secrets of Mike’s place drinks.

The traditional “Jerusalem café” will be a part of the festival again. Visitors will be able to sample Jerusalem’s culinary delicacies, drink fresh lemonades, Jerusalem wine and coffee. They will also be able to sit back and read one of the contemporary, recently published Jerusalem authors – their books will be sold at the café. All that while listening to the Hazelnuts playing live. There will also be lectures on various Jerusalem related topics going on in the café.

This year again, you will be able to meet two culinary stars from Jerusalem. We are happy to welcome again the Palestinian Chef Kamel Hashlomon and his Israeli colleague Ilan Garousi. They are both lovers of Prague and tasty Middle-Eastern food.

Ilan Garousi is one of the most sought-after chefs in Jerusalem. For several years he was managing the renowned Jerusalem restaurant Chakra and last year he opened another restaurant called Satya. Together with his equally famous colleague Kamel Hashlomon, they will organize a culinary show full of Middle-Eastern delicacies at the third year running of the Days of Jerusalem festival. They will be present on Letná in the Jerusalem café. Prague’s finest gourmets will have the opportunity to learn about the Middle-Eastern cuisine, a true intersection of Arab, Israeli and Mediterranean flavours.

Ilan Garousi was born and raised in Jerusalem and he is always happy to be home. He gained his first professional experience in the Poire et de Pomme restaurant located in the centre of Jerusalem where he started working as the chef’s assistant, eventually becoming the chef himself. He has travelled the world, mainly the Far East, looking for inspiration for his own restaurant.

Kamel Hashlomon is a Palestinian chef, also inextricably bound to the city of Jerusalem. He has become world-renowned for his work at the hotel rooftop restaurant St. George located in East Jerusalem. After the second year of Days of Jerusalem he started cooperating with Ilan Garousi’s restaurant as a chef. A passionate traveler, he runs culinary workshops throughout the US. and Europe.

The culinary workshop of Jerusalem’s chefs Ilan Garousi and Kamel Hashlomon are a unique opportunity to learn more about the secrets of making hummus and other traditional Jerusalem meals. And with the best possible teachers.

(in english and czech language)