About Us

‘Culture at Sela’ is a unique program at the Weizmann Institute of Science – a treasure trove of events, gatherings and performances that seek to explore and reveal the new, to observe and understand reality and to have an impact on it. Quality, the avant-garde, daring, curiosity, inventiveness, playfulness, and at the same time, an invitation to examine the processes of creation, investigation and discovery, the search for creative tools and artistic techniques that aspire to break through, to give a new perspective on the world and humanity.

‘Culture at Sela’ invites a gathering of the excellent and interesting – inspiring, idealistic works and creators, together with creative bodies large and small, institutional and independent, in music, cinema, dance, theater and performance, literature, art, discourse – new encounters with ideas, creativity and people, for adults and children.

The program, aimed at the Weizmann community and the general public, dreams of establishing a vibrant space at the heart of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which allows experience and exploration, a space that connects the mind and the senses, men and women, us and ourselves. 

Dafna Manor  Artistic Director

Ofri Segev Producer

Sima Frai Peretz  Culture Coordinator

Elad Vidol and Nir Varon  Operations and Maintenance Coordinators

Dotan Dassa  Head of Auditoriums

Dalit Pesach  Graphical Language Design

Sarit Malchi  Graphic Design

Ravit Pick Sagi  Head of Division: Auditoriums, Restaurants and Guesthouses

Professor Benny Geiger  Chairperson of the Weizmann Institute of Science Culture Steering Committee

Friends and Frequent Partners

Israel Camerata Jerusalem, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Suzanne Dellal Center, Bikurei Haitim, Cameri Theater, Habima National Theater, Tzavta, Batsheva Company, Lev Cinemas, The Train Theater, Docaviv, Third Ear, Arthur Rubinstein International Society, Yad Chaim Weizmann, Braginsky Center for the Interface between Science and the Humanities.

Supporters
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation 
 

Michael Sela Auditorium is a large conference hall and performance hall on the grounds of the Weizmann Institute of Science, at the generosity and initiative of Sara and Michael Sela. 
It underwent a significant redesign and renovation in 2017-2018 by Erez Ella – HQ Architects. 
Today it is part of the daily life of the Institute as an active, vibrant scientific conference hall, and also hosts cultural activities.

The auditorium was designed in 1955 by architects Arieh Sharon, Nahum Zelkind and Benjamin Idelson, and was previously named after Michael and Anna Wix. 

Biochemist, professor of immunology, the sixth president of the Weizmann Institute of Science 
and winner of the Israel Prize in Life Sciences in 1959.

Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Sela’s research produced many discoveries that changed the face of immunological research worldwide, shed light on the control mechanisms of the immune system and gave birth to new fields of knowledge in immunology. The insights from the research conducted in Professor Sela’s laboratory, in collaboration with colleagues from the Institute, led to the development of the drug Copaxone® for multiple sclerosis and other successful drugs for the treatment of various types of cancer.

Michael’s contribution and influence crossed the boundaries of his research. He was a leader and role model for many generations of male and female students and scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Michael saw a mission in the teaching of immunology and the transfer of knowledge, and indeed his laboratory brought up generations of scientists, forming the infrastructure and the anchor for the field that became a center of international research.

Michael and Sara, pillars of the Weizmann Institute community, are known as enthusiastic supporters of almost every institution related to music and art in Israel. They established the Michael Sela Foundation at Batsheva Dance Company to encourage young dancers and are significant supporters of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Israeli Opera, the Doc-aviv Festival and the Rubinstein Competition and have recently been building the Michael Sela Jazz Club at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.

Alongside his cultural work, Michael served as honorary president of The Movement for Quality Government in Israel until his final days.

Sara continues his path and legacy via her public work in all the fields in which he was involved, 
and which he nurtured with love and generosity. 

The crowning glory of their work is the renovation of he Michael Sela Auditorium at the Weizmann Institute and the establishment of the ‘Culture at Sela’ program, a lifetime endeavor that blends the scientific, social and cultural activities of the Weizmann Institute family. 

Sara and MIchael Sela, credit: Ohad Herches
 

Tickets are available online via the Lotus website (unless stated otherwise).

Tickets can also be purchased at the Auditorium box office one hour before shows start. Cash or BIT payments only. Credit cards are not accepted at the Auditorium box office at this time.

Tickets can be purchased online up to one hour before the show starts. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the Auditorium box office.

Late arrivals must enter the hall via the balcony entrance on the gallery floor.

Location, Seating map, Accessibility, Parking  

Hall capacity: Approx. 600 seats 
View the seating map »

Accessibility

The Auditorium has an elevator. Wheelchairs can be accommodated inside the hall with advance booking: 08-9343352 | sela@weizmann.ac.il

Directions

The Michael Sela Auditorium is situated in the Weizmann Institute of Science, near the main entrance to the campus on Herzl St in Rehovot. (Directions: Waze, Google)

Parking

Parking is available opposite the Auditorium (at the David Lopatie Conference Center), behind the Auditorium (next to the Perlman Chemical Sciences Building), and in the Stone Administration Building parking lot.

Photographer: Dor Kedmi, architecture: HQ Architects