Communal Singing and the Mobilization of Music as Resilience Strategies: 
An Investigation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Israel

Project duration:
2025-2028

Priority Program "Jewish Cultural Heritage", 2nd phase, subprojekt 2 of the main project:
‚Jewish Heritage Community Resilience’
Interdependencies of Cultural Heritage and Resilience in Times of Crises, Wars and Disasters

This subproject aims to provide empirical evidence for the significance of intangible Jewish heritage in coping with wars, crises, and disasters in Israel, and to systematically structure this knowledge. In doing so, it contributes to the integration of knowledge on social responsibility and cultural sustainability into heritage strategies. The project also examines the transferability of resilience factors identified in the context of disaster research—particularly those related to natural hazards—to other types of threat scenarios arising from different stressors.

Specifically, the subproject investigates the potential of collective public singing—such as in Shira Betzibur gatherings or Koolulam initiatives—as a tool to support human recovery processes following traumatic events. In this context, particular attention is given to the cross-generational and cross-cultural reach of Israel’s intangible cultural heritage.

Subproject 2 focuses on exploring the sustainability of musical practices and their impact on social resilience, especially in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Following such profound events, communities often rediscover the potential of intangible heritage, allowing for the emergence of new cultural and musical practices that promote societal healing and recovery. In times of societal upheaval, intangible heritage can act as a stabilizing force that fosters social cohesion.

The overarching goal of the subproject is to develop a deeper understanding of the dual function and dynamic role of music—as both cultural heritage and a means of social empowerment in times of crisis. To achieve this, the project integrates insights from various disciplines—including Jewish Music Studies, Ethnomusicology, and Critical Heritage Studies—as well as findings from Subprojects 1 and 3, thereby constructing a comprehensive picture of the significance of cultural heritage for resilience and cultural sustainability.