Tel Aviv culture

A street in Florentin, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv-Yafo (Hebrew: תֵּל אָבִיב-יָפוֹ; Arabic: تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا) or Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. The city of Tel Aviv is the cultural and economic core of the State of Israel. The city has a large number of cultural and entertainment institutions and is home to the largest number of Israeli intellectuals. the people who live on the city are usually called "Tel Avivians".[1]

Founded in 1909, the city has grown into a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant arts scene, diverse population, and progressive values, It is also the home of Israeli left-wing political figures.[2][3] The population of Tel Aviv is primarily composed of secular Jews and Israeli Arabs.[4]

Arts

Tel Aviv is home to a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, museums, and theaters.[5] The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is one of the leading art institutions in Israel, showcasing both Israeli and international artists. The Eretz Israel Museum offers insights into the country's archaeology, folklore, and culture.[6]

Street art

"go vegan!", artwork by Dioz in Haim Ben Atar garden, Florentin, Tel Aviv, Israel

Street art and graffiti in Tel Aviv are prominent, particularly in neighborhoods like Florentin and the Old Tel Aviv central bus station. While some artists directly address political issues, others just paint random art.[7]

The "27 Club graffiti" work as seen from the street

Florentin

Tel Aviv's Florentin neighborhood is decorated in unique graffiti and arts, and operators regularly offer guided street art tours for foreigners and Israelis alike.[7] Florentin is home to many artists such as Dioz, Dede, Tag and more.[8][9]

The graffiti in Florentin plays a crucial role in shaping Tel Aviv's urban culture. It serves as a form of resistance, a way to reclaim public spaces, and a means of fostering community identity and solidarity.[10]

27 Club graffiti

Main article: 27 Club graffiti in Tel Aviv

The 27 Club graffiti is a mural in Tel Aviv, Israel, painted by John Kiss with the assistance of Itai Froumin and Roman Kozhokin. The work depicts, from left to right, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and an unknown figure believed to depict Kiss.[11]

Over the years since its creation in 2014, the work has become known as one of Israel's must-see street artworks, and according to From the Grapevine Magazine "the most popular in Florentin."[12] Some locals define it as "sensational".[13]

Politics

Left-wing

The Histadrut, Israel's national trade union center, celebrating the 1st of May

In Israeli politics, the term "Tel Avivians" (תל אביבים) or "Tel Aviv State" (מדינת תל אביב) is used to describe the leftist-secular majority in Tel Aviv, which differs from the rest of Israeli society.[14]

In the Tel Aviv magazine of Time Out, Omri Feinstein wrote: "We gathered here from all over the country not because we enjoy paying a fortune for crumbling apartments, but because we identify with the values that the city represents. The left must rehabilitate itself throughout the country, but it must not lose its base in Tel Aviv or abandon the progressive values that the rest of the country may not embrace".[2]

Tel Aviv is home to the majority of protests taking place in Israel. Most of the protests are left-leaning and criticize Israeli policies, but some can be also related to LGBT rights in Israel.[15]

Tel Aviv Pride, 2019

LGBT culture

Tel Aviv was referred to by the Calgary Herald as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, famous for its annual pride parade and gay beaches, earning it the nickname "the gay capital of the Middle East" by Time Out magazine.[16][17][18]

The city's LGBTQ+ community is supported by numerous bars, clubs, and organizations, and it plays a significant role in the city's cultural and social life.

Tel Aviv Pride

Main article: Tel Aviv Pride
Tel Aviv Pride, 2015

Tel Aviv Pride (Hebrew: מצעד הגאווה בתל אביב, Arabic: فخر تل أبيب) is a week-long series of events in Tel Aviv which takes place on the second week of June, as part of the international observance of Gay Pride Month. The key event, taking place on Friday, is the Pride Parade itself which attracts over 250,000 attendees. As of June 2019, it is the largest LGBT Parade in Asia.[19]

This annual Pride Parade attracts hundreds of thousands of participants and visitors from around the globe.[20]

TLVFest

Main article: TLVFest
2023 Israeli judicial reform protests taking place in Tel Aviv, the biggest protests in the city history

TLVFest, officially the Tel Aviv International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Hebrew: הפסטיבל הבינלאומי לקולנוע גאה), is an annual film festival held in Tel Aviv, Israel. The festival is focused on LGBTQ-themed film from around the world.

The festival runs around the same time as, sometimes concurrently, with Tel Aviv Pride.

Lethal Lesbian

Main article: Lethal Lesbian

Lethal Lesbian (Hebrew: לסבית קטלנית) is Israel's only lesbian film festival. The festival has been held annually since 2008, and screens independent short, documentary and feature films from Israel and abroad.[21]

Vegan culture

Tel Aviv is often hailed as one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world, earning its nickname "The Vegan Capital". The city's vegan culture is vibrant, diverse, and deeply integrated into its culinary and social scenes. Tel Aviv also hosted one of the world's biggest vegan food festivals in 2022 (VeganFest).[22]

"Well and Four Dogs", dog statue built by Ya'acov Dorchin

Dog-Friendly

Tel Aviv is ranked at 3rd place as the most dog-friendly city in the world.[23] Tel Aviv has 182.10 dogs per 1,000 people, putting it in third place in that category behind Seattle and Miami.[23]

There are also plenty of dog-friendly beaches in Tel Aviv such as Hilton Beach, a gay beach popular among dog owners.[24] They are allowed in most cafes, stores and even high-end restaurants, as well as on city buses and trains and in taxi vans. Tel Aviv boasts 70 dog parks and four dog beaches according to 1 September 2016.[25]

Nightlife

Haoman 17 in Tel Aviv has been rated one of the top night clubs in the world

By 1989, Tel Aviv had acquired the nickname "Nonstop City", as a reflection of the growing recognition of its nightlife and 24/7 culture, and "Nonstop City" had to some extent replaced the former moniker of "First Hebrew City". Tel Aviv nightlife is characterized by a variety of venues, including bars, clubs, live music spots, and beachside hangouts.[26]

Bars generally get busy only at midnight, with some clubs filling up only at 2am.[27]

References

  1. ^ Congress, The Library of. "Tel Avivians - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". id.loc.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. ^ a b קלינג, עמית (2022-11-06). "השמאל נכשל, התל אביבים נכשלו, אנחנו נכשלנו. מה עכשיו?". השמאל נכשל, התל אביבים נכשלו, אנחנו נכשלנו. מה עכשיו? - טיים אאוט (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  3. ^ "How Far Will Liberal Tel Aviv Go in Resisting Israel's Far-right Government?".
  4. ^ Granot, Rabbi Tamir (2023-10-02). "Ultra-secular: Is Tel Aviv becoming overzealous?". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  5. ^ "Arts and Culture in Tel Aviv". Tel Aviv University.
  6. ^ "Home". Eretz Israel Museum. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  7. ^ a b GiuliaBlocal (2017-04-07). "Tel Aviv street art guide". Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  8. ^ Says, Mdbalogh (2017-07-31). "Open Air Galleries: Israeli Street Art". Israel Dreams. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  9. ^ בננסון, מריאנה (2015-04-29). "קיר רויאל: האמנים שזנחו את הגלריות לטובת הרחוב". קיר רויאל: האמנים שזנחו את הגלריות לטובת הרחוב (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  10. ^ "Street Art and Graffiti in Tel Aviv's Florentin Neighborhood | Ednaroberts Real Estate". Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  11. ^ Observer, Mediterranean (2021-05-01). "6 Incredible Street Art Pieces in Tel Aviv, Israel". The Mediterranean Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  12. ^ "Welcome to Unpacked". Unpacked. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  13. ^ Ko, Evgeny (2015-03-12). "Up We Go". LookAtIsrael.com - Увидеть Израиль и не только (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  14. ^ לוטן, תומר (2012-03-23). "אנו מכריזים בזאת על הקמת מדינת תל-אביב". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  15. ^ Kama, Amit (2000-04-04). "From Terra Incognita to Terra Firma". Journal of Homosexuality. 38 (4): 133–162. doi:10.1300/j082v38n04_06. ISSN 0091-8369. PMID 10807031. S2CID 42818506.
  16. ^ "The world's most gay-friendly places", Calgary Herald, 29 June 2011.
  17. ^ Grant, Anthony (2 July 2010). "Dispatch - Gay Tel Aviv". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  18. ^ Kirchick, James (29 July 2007). "Was Arafat Gay?". Out. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  19. ^ "About". Pride Tel Aviv.
  20. ^ Cohen, Gilad (2024-05-08). "Tel Aviv mayor cancels Pride Parade amid Gaza war". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  21. ^ נירית אנדרמן (July 31, 2008). "ערב קולנוע לסבי ישראלי במועדון "ברזילי" בתל אביב". Ha'aretz. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  22. ^ "Tel Aviv hosts world's biggest vegan food festival". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  23. ^ a b Leichman, Abigail Klein (2020-08-26). "Tel Aviv ranked #3 most dog-friendly city in the world". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  24. ^ Ginat, Gitit (2020-03-09). "Tel Aviv's Gay Beach, Dog Beach, and Orthodox Beach Are Unlikely Neighbors". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  25. ^ "Why Tel Aviv is so crazy about dogs". The Times of Israel.
  26. ^ Azaryahu, Maoz (2007). Tel Aviv: Mythography of a City. Syracuse University Press. p. 131.
  27. ^ "Tel Aviv Nightlife Guide". Tourist Israel.