COMMUNITIES
In the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) framework, communities are the absolute core of heritage. Under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, cultural heritage cannot be defined, owned, or managed by governments or outside experts alone; it belongs entirely to the people who practice it. A community consists of a group of people who own, perform, sustain, and transfer living traditions. These include: Practitioners: The ones actually carrying forward the tradition (for example, traditional musicians, dancers, craft makers, or storytellers). The larger community: The one that views a certain practice as a crucial element of its memory and identity.
The different communities in Israel
Jewish Communities in Israel
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Jews from Europe: Often referred to as Ashkenazi, including communities from Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey (partially Sephardic/Ashkenazi mix), the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and other regions.
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Jews from Arab Lands and the Middle East (Mizrahi/Sephardic): Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, and Syria.
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Other Middle Eastern & Asian Jewish Communities: Iranian Jews (Persian), Kurdish Jews, Bukharian Jews (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan), Caucasian Jews (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan), Armenian Jews, Indian Jews (Bene Israel, Cochin, Baghdadi), Chinese Jews (Kaifeng), Afghan Jews, Japanese Jewish community, and Singaporean Jewish community.
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African Jewish Communities: Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel), South African Jews, and small communities from other regions like Madagascar.
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American & Oceanic Jewish Communities: North American (USA, Canada), South American (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela), and Oceanian (Australia, New Zealand).
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Sabras: Jewish Israelis born in Israel, representing a blending of these diverse Diaspora cultures.
Other Communities in Israel
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Arab Israeli Citizens: The largest minority group, comprising various religious affiliations.
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Bedouins: Arab nomads, primarily in the Negev and Galilee, known for their distinct cultural traditions.
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Druze: A distinct ethnoreligious group with strong ties to the land and a close relationship with the state.
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Circassians: A Muslim, non-Arab ethnic group, mostly residing in two villages in the Galilee.
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Armenians: A historic Christian community, largely centered in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem.
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Samaritans: An ancient community closely related to Jews, living on Mount Gerizim and in Holon.
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Christians/Various Denominations: Including Latin Catholics, Greek Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Maronites, Copts, and Protestants.
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Subbotniks and Sabbatarians: Groups with historic ties to Judaism, particularly from Russia.
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Other Ethno-Religious Groups: Bahá'ís (centered in Haifa), Abyssinians (Ethiopian Orthodox), Turkmen, Doms, Assyrians, and Arameans.
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East Europeans & People from Asia: Including citizens from Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, many of whom are in Israel for work.
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Africans: Various communities, including refugees, asylum seekers, and Hebrew Israelites.
In contrast to monuments or places, Intangible Cultural Heritage does not exist if it is not performed by people. A tradition is only recognized as ICH if the community itself identifies it as its own tradition and heritage. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): A state or an organization can't register a tradition in the national or international inventory of ICH unless the community explicitly agrees to it, participates in the drafting, and welcomes the safeguarding measures.
In the context of the framework and the national inventory, communities play three crucial roles:
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They are the only entities responsible for transmitting knowledge and techniques across generations.
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They should actively engage in managing their heritage and ensure that it is not abused, commercialized, or misused by outside entities.
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Communities have the power to modify and evolve their own customs.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage is not static but living culture which changes along with the community.
As of April 2026, Israel's population reached 10.244 million, comprising 7.790 million Jews and others (76%), 2.157 million Arabs (21.1%), and 296,000 foreigners (2.9%) — marking more than a twelvefold increase since independence. By comparison, at its founding, Israel had approximately 806,000 inhabitants.
Israel was established in the Land of Israel. This territory served as the historical heartland of the Kingdom of Judah, which lasted until the sixth century BCE, and of the United Kingdom of Israel, which lasted until the tenth century BCE. Jewish autonomy flourished there under the rule of foreign powers for most of the Second Temple period, until the establishment of the independent Hasmonean Kingdom in the second century BCE. Hasmonean Judea lost its independence in 63 BCE, when Pompey conquered Jerusalem and turned it into a Roman protectorate.
The Land of Israel, also known by the Latin name Palestine, frequently changed hands among conquerors of different nations and religions between the fourth and twentieth centuries. Small Jewish communities persisted in the region for roughly a millennium, while a sizeable Jewish community centered in Galilee endured from the ninth century onward. From the late Middle Ages onward, the number of Jews residing in the Land of Israel grew as a result of Jewish immigration from the Diaspora. The largest waves of immigration to Israel took place in the 19th and 20th centuries.
As a country of immigrants, Israel is characterized by a culture that blends numerous cultural traditions and languages. Israeli culture stands out for its richness and diversity, owing to a population drawn from more than 100 countries across five continents. Over the years, a complex and distinctive Israeli culture has developed in music, dance, poetry, art, and other fields, shaped by the population's cultural diversity and its varied Israeli identities.
Israel is located in the Holy Land, a region of vital importance to many religions, including the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The city of Jerusalem holds special significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, as it houses holy sites essential to their religious beliefs.
Individuals, groups, and communities in Israel are invited to contribute to the research and provide information to the database. Just fill in the form and send it via the application for Registration / Recognition. Community members are encouraged to contribute to the database by submitting the recognition form.