Disasters and conflicts pose a threat to both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including traditional knowledge that is essential for the preservation of other forms of heritage. The loss of cultural heritage can have catastrophic societal consequences, including the erosion of fundamental constructs that shape identity, values, and perceptions of reality. Without adequate protection, cultural heritage is at risk of being irreparably damaged, with far-reaching implications for society as a whole.

Against this backdrop, the interdisciplinary research project explores the complex dynamics of threat, destruction, preservation, and protection of Jewish heritage in Israel, and how this heritage—despite various threats—contributes to social resilience, or more specifically, to “Jewish Heritage Community Resilience.” Central to the project is an investigation of the relationship between Jewish cultural heritage and resilience-building from diverse perspectives. A unifying element across all sub-projects is their focus on the preservation, sustainability, and safeguarding of Jewish heritage, taking into account both its tangible and intangible dimensions. In doing so, each aspect of the project analyzes the significance of heritage for cultural identity and the capacity for crisis management within Israeli society.

By integrating historical, sociological, musicological, and theological perspectives, the project enables a multifaceted examination of Jewish resilience, with a particular emphasis on: (1) how Jewish heritage—including naturally occurring archaeological degradation—can be preserved in the long term, and (2) how Jewish heritage in both Israel and the diaspora can sustainably contribute to the strengthening of communal resilience.