Lectures in Haifa

Haifa is the rare case where the main organiser of city life is the city itself. The municipality runs most of what appears in Haifa's listings, and that is why roughly two thirds of it is free to enter: classes in community centres (matnasim), lectures, walks, sports groups. If there is anywhere in Israel where you can fill a busy week without spending a shekel, it is here.

Weekdays here rest on regular classes: sport on the promenade and in the parks, group activities in the matnasim — from drawing to table tennis. These are not one-off events but a rhythm: many run every week, and you can join partway.

Evenings belong to the stage. Concerts, plays and stand-up run constantly; the Northern Theatre — home of Jewish theatre — is one of the few repertory theatres in the north. The children's listings have plenty too: shows and activities appear in Haifa every week.

The easiest place to start is three pages: what's on today, the weekend — in Israel that means Friday and Saturday — and free events. Everything is picked by hand: no ads, no commercial interests, run by Makore volunteers.