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Beit Avi Chai

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Coordinates: 31°46′39″N 35°12′57″E / 31.7774°N 35.2159°E / 31.7774; 35.2159
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Beit Avi Chai
בית אבי חי
Beit Avi Chai ,2023
Map
Established2007
Location44 King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel
Coordinates31°46′39″N 35°12′57″E / 31.7774°N 35.2159°E / 31.7774; 35.2159
TypeCultural center and Art museum
VisitorsAda Karmi-Melamede
FounderAvi Chai Foundation
DirectorDavid Rozenson
Public transit accessBus Nos. 19 ,22 ,34 ,59 ,74
Websitewww.bac.org.il/en/

Beit Avi Chai (Hebrew: בית אבי חי) is a cultural center and Art gallery located in Jerusalem, Israel. It was established by the Avi Chai Foundation to promote Jewish-Israeli culture, creativity, and identity. The center is renowned for its diverse array of artistic performances, academic lectures, public events, Podcasts, Web series and visual art exhibitions, which reflect various perspectives on Jewish life, thought, and contemporary Israeli society.

History and Establishment

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Beit Avi Chai was founded in 2007 with the support of the Avi Chai Foundation, which focuses on fostering Jewish commitment and continuity. The foundation, active in Israel, United States, and the former Soviet Union, was established by philanthropist Zalman Bernstein to encourage Jewish learning and cultural engagement through various educational and artistic initiatives. The Jerusalem center is the foundation’s flagship project in Israel.

The building, located on King George Street in central Jerusalem, was designed by Ada Karmi-Melamede,[1][2] recipient of the Israel Prize for Architecture. Its modern design, featuring clean lines and open spaces, reflects the center's innovative approach to Jewish culture, blending tradition with contemporary artistic and intellectual expression.[3]

Beit Avi Chai serves as a platform for dialogue and interaction between diverse segments of Israeli society and the global Jewish community. Its programming covers a wide range of cultural forms, including: Film screenings, Theater performances, musical concerts, Lectures, panel discussions, and workshops focusing on Jewish history, philosophy, literature, and social issues.[4]

In addition to its physical space, Its website provides access to recorded lectures, concerts, cultural events, and online courses and digital resources for educators and students interested in Jewish studies.[5]

Since 2012, Dr. David Rozenson has served as the director of Beit Avi Chai,[6] and Professor Avigdor Shinan acts as the center's academic advisor.[7]

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Detail from the Litvinovsky exhibition at Beit Avi Chai's Art Gallery (2024)

A central part of Beit Avi Chai is its Modern art gallery, which hosts one major exhibition each year, accompanied by a catalog. The poet Amichai Chasson serves as the chief curator of the Gallery.[8] Notable exhibitions in Beit Avi Chai’s gallery have featured works by Jewish-Russian artist Anatoli Kaplan,[9] Israel Prize-winning painter Pinchas Litvinovsky,[10] as well as prominent Israeli artists like Avraham Ofek, Amos Kenan, Ronny Someck, and Marek Yanai.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ziva Sternhell, From Bauhaus to Ada's House, Haaretz, Nov 8, 2002
  2. ^ Ada Karmi-Melamede Architects,Beit Avi-Chai
  3. ^ Michael Jacobson, אי-אפשר להבין את בית אבי חי בלי להיכנס פנימה, טוענת האדריכלית, Xnet, August 16, 2017
  4. ^ Barry Davis, Beit Avi Chai events offer respite from wartime stress and trauma, The Jerusalem Post, November 4 , 2023
  5. ^ Barry Davis, Post COVID, Jerusalem's culture scene is bruised but very much alive, The Jerusalem Post, May 6, 2021
  6. ^ Yaakov Schwartz, After escaping USSR aged 7, cultural director went back to establish Jewish lifeAs head of Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem, The Times of Israel, 12 September 2017
  7. ^ Avigdor Shinan, in AVI CHAI Israel
  8. ^ "Writer in Residence". www.brandeis.edu.
  9. ^ Liza Rozovsky, Anatoly Kaplan Was the Face of Soviet Yiddishkeit in London and N.Y.C., Haaretz, Mar 20, 2023
  10. ^ Avshalom Halutz, Cultural Roundup | Do We Belong in the Middle East? The Israelis Putting the Levant Front and Center, Haaretz, Jul 26, 2024
  11. ^ Liane Grunberg Wakabayashi, Painter Marek Yanai: A hidden treasure in plain view The On the Threshold exhibition of Marek Yanai’s art continues at Beit Avi Chai until the end of July, The Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2022
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