Axis Mundi: Europe, Asia and Africa meet in Jerusalem

Geologically, culturally and politically Jerusalem has always sat on the great «rift» between Asia, Africa and Europe (see the famous Bunting Clover Leaf Map). This «axial» location shaped the city's unique character. In the course of its long history Jerusalem's identity has been constantly shifting between European (Greek, Roman, Crusader), African (Egyptian, Ethiopian) and Asian (Persian, Ottoman) influences. The heterogeneous character of contemporary Jerusalem was also shaped by waves of Jewish immigrants from Europe (Asheknazim), Asia (Bukhara, Caucasus, Syria, Iraq) and Africa (Morocco, Ethiopia).

The aim of the 11th Eshkolot's Festival of Jewish Texts and Ideas is to explore the unique «intercontinental» character of Jerusalem through in-depth reading of texts and artifacts (ancient and contemporary graffiti, tombstone inscriptions, maps and photographs), art workshops and city walks.