The Peoplehood Power of Israeli Music

“Our music is the essence of Israeliness” - Yossi Klein Halevi

At an Ishay Ribo concert, you don’t just hear the music—you feel it. Whether at the Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem or Madison Square Garden, audiences transform into a choir of thousands, singing words rooted in ancient texts. For many, these concerts are a spiritual awakening, a rare moment where music transcends barriers of language, culture, and belief. Ribo has accomplished something few other religious Israeli singers have by uniting Israelis and diaspora Jews from across the spectrum of Jewish engagement and observance. One will notice a haredi yeshiva bochur (student) standing next to a man with dreadlocks, both enthralled by the music. The eclectic crowd includes many sectors of Israeli society and a diverse range of backgrounds.

Those in attendance seem to all know the words whether they are young or old, religious or secular, Israeli or from abroad. It is not surprising to see the crowd join in for Ribo’s chart-topping ballads and more poppy hits, but it is quite the sight to see everyone, both religious and secular, shouting out lyrics that trace their source back to the Torah and other Jewish texts. Even if those who belt out the lyrics do not theologically connect with every lyric, there is a certain charm that cuts through the cerebral interpretation of the words that gets to the emotions and quite possibly even the soul. Watch here.

Photo Credit: Ishay Ribo PR

This shared connection to music is especially evident in the rise of artists like Ishay Ribo, whose songs transcend cultural and religious divides. What is something that many Jews around the world have in common? They have some familiarity with Israeli singers and their songs. They might not know the lyrics by heart, but they find meaning in the connection they feel from tuning into the musical stylings of Idan Raichel or Hadag Nachash. Israeli music and culture offer touchstones for being together during a time when the mere bringing up of Israel can divide so many Jews and the conversations have become a source of pain and isolation. As part of our work at CJPE, we surveyed over 1,200 educators nine months after October 7th and looked at the emotions they and their learners are experiencing in this difficult period. One finding showed that positive emotions are significantly low amongst learners, while negative emotions dominate¹. Music offers the opportunity to feel hope, caring, love, and other positive emotions. One singer that has brought those feelings out in his song, “Zeh b’seder (It’s okay)”, is Benaia Barabi. His words illustrate the power of song and the need for togetherness and love.

הכי רוצה להיות ביחד / I most want to be together

אף פעם לא להיות לבד / To never be alone

הכי רוצה לשיר חזק להחזיק לך את היד / I most want to sing strongly and to hold your hand

הכי רוצה לחיות בלי פחד / I most want to live without fear

זה בסדר לצחוק סתם ככה / It’s okay to laugh just because

הכי רוצה לחבק קרוב זה בסדר לאהוב / I most want to hug closely, it’s okay to love

It is no simple task to separate the war and the news from Israel in general, but it is important to realize that fellow Jews who hold a vastly different view on Israel’s actions might still have a soft spot for Hebrew slang or even an Israeli TV show. It is a challenging thought that some may have love for Israel, but disagree with certain decisions. Israeli music holds the power to unite rather than divide. While names like Idan Raichel and Hadag Nahash once dominated, today’s diaspora Jews connect with a broader range of Israeli music, reflecting its growing global appeal. The music itself brings beautiful blends of old and new, East and West, rock, jazz, and a variety of other genres. Instead of keeping different sounds separate, many music groups bring them together in a blend - quite possibly more of a melting pot than a salad where mixes and fusions are not uncommon.

Israeli music is also a source of healing and something that brings the generations together. At Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haazmaut ceremonies, music is used to heal and to process. There is a reason that one of the more popular Yom HaZikaron ceremonies is called Shirim b’Kikar, or Songs in the Square. Loved ones share stories about the fallen, followed by some of Israel’s most well known singers sharing a song connected to the somber air of the evening. Many in the crowd can feel the hurt and sense of loss from the stories, and the music amplifies those feelings. Those in attendance both young and old sing along to songs that are clearly classics. Beloved Israeli singers, including Ishay Ribo, often visit the shiva of fallen soldiers, as countless videos on social media show. There is something especially powerful about feeling through the music. Hearing a lost loved one’s favorite song from the original source has an especially strong impact.

Many aspects of Israeli culture can bring Diaspora Jewry together, including food and television series. Jews around the world may learn how to make arais or enjoy watching Shtisel or The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. These connection points do offer bonding opportunities and things in common to discuss, but Israeli music goes far beyond that. It is the product of a chain of generations which call out to Jews around the world. It is Eyal Golan’s Am Yisrael Chai that fills listeners with an emotional charge, not the sharing of falafel and hummus. Music can also set a mood useful in educational activities, both formal and informal in nature.

The period following October 7th has brought with it a long list of somber songs that can be used to foster a sense of unity and empathy, while hopeful songs written more recently can uplift a group and tell a story of resilience and hope. The last year has brought out a great deal of creativity in many artists’ search for expression of this national trauma. Tuning into the radio waves of today presents a bevy of new songs touching on themes prevalent during these trying times. These songs deliver messages that relate more recently to October 7th and its impact, while also going deeper to unearth themes and aspirations that we have as a people.

Viewing peoplehood as a unique consciousness highlights music's unparalleled ability to shape and access this way of thinking. This is in line with the writing of CJPE Co-Director Dr. Shlomi Ravid who writes that:

“The unique artistic lens can both break molds in envisioning creative dimensions of Jewish collective identity and find ways to transmit them to the hearts and minds of the members. It can broaden the horizons of what will capture the spirit of the day and what will inspire individual Jews to opt-in to the collective enterprise”. 

While theater and literature convey ideas and inspire deep thought (the minds), music creates an experience (the hearts). It can be challenging to define peoplehood, but the shared musical experience of a large group of Jews can provide an experiential definition. Music also provides a platform for prayer. People who might not connect with ancient Jewish liturgy in a synagogue often discover similar words in Israeli songs. In a concert setting, they feel the words and approach them with greater openness, free from any religious weight.

Returning to Ishay Ribo, his concerts unleash a power that unites people of all backgrounds in joy, pain, and acceptance. People from diverse backgrounds join together in song for hours at his concerts. Unlike some hip hop or rap talents that might not resonate with everyone, Ribo’s melodies and use of ancient texts appeal to a wide audience. His popularity has surged, evident in his two headlining shows at Madison Square Garden, a feat uniquely his. At his most recent summer show there, he invited Idan Raichel and Evyatar Banai, two artists who also attract a wide range of fans.

The age of TED Talks and New York Times bestsellers has emphasized the importance of storytelling and effectively communicating one’s message. Music tells stories with even greater meaning and energy. It transforms words, poetry, and prayers into something transcendent. While breaking bread together bridges differences, hearing or singing songs together holds even greater potential. Though our personal stories and journeys differ, songs convey emotions we all share and prayers that have echoed through millennia. The time is ripe for implementing more Israeli music into our curricula for Israel and peoplehood education in both formal and informal settings.

¹Kopelowitz, E., Ravid, S. Posklinsky, I., Golden, J., and Gillis, J. “Responding to the Fallout from October 7th: From Crisis to Opportunity. A Survey of Jewish Educators and Engagement Professionals”. Page 12. https://www.jpeoplehood.org/_files/ugd/64e1e9_8b8718901d8b4bd6b4a4b7465910cbaa.pdf

About the writer: Jake Gillis was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied Psychology and Jewish Studies and got heavily involved in Hillel, Chabad, and the pro-Israel groups on campus. He also studied abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem where he interned at Hillel Israel. After university, he worked as a madrich on Ramah’s high school program, TRY, as a Fellow at the American Hebrew Academy, and did a year of Jewish learning at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City. In 2019, he made aliyah and spent a year at Pardes while completing a MA in Jewish Education through the Jewish Theological Seminary. He currently works as Associate Director at CJPE and as a Research Associate for Research Success Technologies. Jake is the creator and host of the English-language Israeli culture podcast, Sababoosh, which features interviews with Israel’s cultural movers and shakers. You can learn more at sababoosh.com. He currently lives in Tel Aviv with his wife, Lior.