NEWS
Latest News
We are glad to launch our news page, where you can learn more about the life of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Israel Center: our projects, courses, and traditions we seek to preserve. Intangible cultural heritage consists of living practices: songs, dances, languages, culinary recipes, craftwork, rituals, narratives, and many other practices passed down from generation to generation. ICH exists in its own communities, and it can survive only through transmission.
ICH Israel is a non-governmental organization founded by volunteers, which is developing its activities and cooperation right now. You can find here:
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Notices regarding our courses and events
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Information about the communities and tradition bearers
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UNESCO news and news from the international ICH community
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Possibilities to become a member, volunteer, and donor
Do you want to keep in touch with us? Subscribe to our newsletter or contact us with a proposal to document the tradition.
The 7th Jerusalem Biennale Opens to Explore Memory and Reconstruction
The Jerusalem Biennale, the largest international platform dedicated to contemporary Jewish art, opens its doors across 21 different venues in Jerusalem. This year’s overarching theme, De Profundis, brings together over 250 Israeli and international artists spanning 42 unique contemporary exhibitions. Organizers highlight that this seven-week city-wide initiative serves as a profound community platform, using visual arts, installations, and group discussions to navigate memory, spiritual identity, and cultural renewal through collective expression.
The exhibition runs at major city institutions, including the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum and Hamiffal Gallery
Thousands of Living Legends: The Legacy of the Israel Folktale Archives
Israel is home to the largest collection of Jewish folktales in the world. The Israel Folktale Archives (IFA) houses more than 24,000 distinct folk narratives. Far from being static history, these stories represent the vibrant memories of over 25 different ethnic communities, including Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Druze, Bedouin, and Arab folklore. At ICH Israel, we celebrate how these sacred and traditional legends continue to build community identity, linking the generation of storytellers to today’s digital world.
Want to help preserve a tale? You can fill out the form on the Safeguarding page.
Building the National ICH Inventory: Share Your Traditions
Intangible cultural heritage is community-centered; its true significance stems directly from the communities that practice and live it every day. ICH Israel is currently developing a comprehensive online Inventory spanning domains such as culinary traditions, social practices, traditional craftsmanship, and oral expressions. We invite tradition bearers, researchers, and local groups from all backgrounds in Israel to collaborate with us. Help us document personal testimonies and safeguard your community's unique cultural mosaic.
Get in touch with us to share your story or propose a cultural element.
Preserving Our Linguistic Heritage
At the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Israel Center, safeguarding intangible cultural heritage goes hand in hand with preserving the unique languages that carried our stories for centuries. We are developing dedicated research and documentation programs focused on traditional languages such as Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic, alongside the oral traditions of the Ethiopian, Yemenite, Druze, Bedouin, and Circassian communities. Language is a vessel for folk music, religious customs, and poetry. By recording elderly tradition bearers, our center ensures that these distinct voices continue to enrich Israel’s cultural landscape.
Do you speak a traditional dialect or know someone who does? Contact us to help us document it.
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Launch of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Israel Center
We are thrilled to officially announce the launch of ICH Israel, an emerging non-profit initiative entirely dedicated to documenting, preserving, and transmitting the rich living traditions of Israel's diverse communities. Currently in our foundational development phase, our team of passionate volunteers is actively building key partnerships, establishing our administrative governance, and preparing upcoming cultural programs. Our mission links the past with the present and the future by ensuring that oral traditions, music, dance, rituals, and craftsmanship remain visible, respected, and accessible to future generations.
Stay tuned for updates or click "Join Us" to become a volunteer and shape this journey with us!
Coming Soon: Educational Courses for Cultural Tradition Bearers
Education and knowledge transmission are at the absolute core of our mission. As part of our upcoming activities, ICH Israel is preparing specialized educational courses and workshops designed for future heritage leaders. We will soon open registration for programs including Folk Dance Teacher, Folk Music Teacher, and Theater Producer certifications. These courses aim to support educators and tradition bearers in keeping performing arts vibrant and structurally recognized across the country.
📨 Subscribe to our newsletter below to be the first to know when enrollment opens!
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