Holidays and observances

Holidays, observances, and memorial days, which are celebrated annually on a fixed date and in a well-known tradition, are the backbone of every community. Holidays are of unparalleled importance in promoting a sense of community togetherness and creating a sense of belonging for individuals and groups to the community. The level of willingness of community members to celebrate national, social, or community holidays is generally high, and therefore it is a central instrument for promoting community-building processes.

Holidays also serve as a wonderful opportunity to promote community dialogue and cultural identity discourse based on ethnicity, ideological affiliation, religious, secular, traditional, or alternative identity.

The Department of Community Identities has developed innovative content materials and methodologies for managing rituals and events of the cycle of the year in the family and community. An elegant series of community holiday booklets is available to communities in Israel, with each of the booklets containing content materials that connect tradition and innovation, identity and society, rituals and community, and various ethnic traditions to the general mosaic of identities in Israel. The booklets are digital and can be used on a phone or computer and include links to poetry and adapted texts.

The Community Identities Department team provides professional support to professionals and community entrepreneurs in training, providing content materials, launching local programs, and building community events.