THEATERS From its early days Tel Aviv was a great theatre center, understandably, given that it was the home to the first Hebrew theater companies: Hakumkum, Theater of Eretz Israel, Hamatateh and Ha' Ohel. Even in this cinema and home-video era, the popularity of Tel Aviv's theaters has not waned. Not surprisingly, 18 out of Israel's 35 performing arts centers are located in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Israel's national theater, Habima was founded in Moscow in 1918 and made aliya to Tel Aviv in 1931. Habima (eighty actors and a hundred and twenty employees) is an auditorium complex where four plays are performed daily. The Cameri Theater was established in 1944 and was the first theater to produce plays in Hebrew. In its fifty years of existence, the Cameri has produced four hundred plays, seen by over twenty million people. The Histadrut (Israeli Federation of trade unions) and the Ministry of Education founded Beit Lessin Theatre in 1980. Its repertoire consists mainly of original drama, but includes also classical and modern plays. Established in 1991 by new Russian immigrants and approved as a public theatre in 1993, Gesher is Tel Aviv's youngest theater, with a bilingual repertoire in Hebrew and Russian. It is an undisputed success and has won sweeping acclaim in Israel and around the world. Other theater venues include Hasimta in Jaffa, the Yiddish Theater, the Puppet Theater at Yarkon Park, and the Orna Porat National Theater for Children and Youth founded in 1970. Orana Porat's theater is immensely popular and produces some 14 plays a year, with runs totaling 750 performances on the average. Tzavta, Suzann Dellal and the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center are thriving centers for dance, theatre, music and cultural events. Tel Aviv is also the home of Israel's leading dance companies, Bat Sheva, Bat Dor and Inbal. Music: Tel Aviv is the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, based at the Mann Auditorium, and the Israel Chamber Music Orchestra. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1936 and is famous worldwide. In 1996, the orchestra gave 106 concerts in Tel Aviv, attended by audiences totaling 250,000. The New Israel Opera was established in 1985, following the closure of its predecessor. In October 1994, it was relocated to its permanent home at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center located next to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Beit Ariela (Sha'ar Tzion) public library. Enav Cultural Center is the new seat of the Tel Aviv City Council and a cultural center hosting lectures, concerts and plays. Although a newcomer to the Tel Aviv cultural scene, it has already gained reputation as a high-quality venue. Theatres List