Description
At a time of rising antisemitism and cultural boycotts, Madonna and leading artists choose to stand behind an Israeli initiative by Koolulam.
In the midst of a period in which antisemitism worldwide is sharply and alarmingly on the rise, international artists are boycotting Israel, countries are discussing withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest, and past winners are even returning their trophies in protest of Israel’s participation— the Israeli music initiative Koolulam is managing to spark global curiosity and present a very different picture.
A reality in which human connection, music, and harmony break through the noise of boycotts and motivate some of the world’s most influential artists to publicly stand alongside an Israeli initiative.
This past weekend, Madonna shared a Koolulam reel on her Instagram account, exposing it to more than 20 million followers worldwide. Shortly afterward, she also posted a story of herself lighting a Hanukkah menorah— a gesture that takes on particularly deep meaning at a time when many Jewish communities around the world are experiencing feelings of isolation, threat, and alienation.
The story behind the reel begins about three weeks after the outbreak of the war in Israel. Koolulam held a special event in collaboration with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, issuing a global call for the return of the hostages from Gaza. At the event, held in Tel Aviv with the participation of hostages’ families, attendees sang Like a Prayer, out of a belief that words and the human voice can carry hope even to places where light barely reaches.
At the same time as the event in Israel, more than 100 Jewish communities around the world joined in. The Jewish community in Sydney was the first to mobilize and participate, holding a powerful gathering against the backdrop of the iconic Opera House. This community not only expressed solidarity with Israel, but chose to do so publicly, through music, at a time when visible Jewish presence has become an act of courage amid rising antisemitism.
Following the severe attack that took place in Sydney, Koolulam decided to act in the same spirit in which the Sydney community had stood with Israel at the beginning of the war. The footage filmed there was expanded into a full music video featuring the community, and the clip premiered just two days after the attack— as a profound gesture of solidarity with a Jewish community under assault, and as a clear message: you are not alone.
Or Teicher, Koolulam founder:
“In a world where antisemitism is rising and it sometimes seems easier to distance oneself from Israel than to stand by it, it was important for us to do the simplest and bravest thing— to be there. The Jewish community in Sydney stood with Israel at the beginning of the war, and we felt a deep obligation to stand with them in their hardest moments. Through music, we were able to set politics aside for a moment and create a deep human connection. Apparently, when musical harmony becomes human harmony, it’s something you can’t ignore. In the end, people are looking for connection— and the power of a group creating harmony crosses borders, fears, and boycotts.”
Following the release of the clip, it spread rapidly and reached nearly one million views in a short time.
Thousands of responses came in from people all over the world— Christians, Muslims, and individuals who encountered the story through the news, with no connection to Israel or the Jewish community. Surprisingly and hopefully, the video generated almost no hateful or hostile reactions— it simply touched people.
Beyond that, it was shared by a number of leading figures in American culture, including Debra Messing, Jessica Seinfeld, Diane Warren, Dorit Kemsley, and Patti Stanger.
The peak of the exposure came with Madonna’s share of the reel— a moment that illustrates how דווקא (precisely) in a time of alienation, antisemitism, and boycotts, an Israeli initiative that chooses connection, collective singing, and humanity can reach the heart of the global cultural consensus.
Koolulam continues to operate from a simple yet unwavering belief:
When people sing together, they remember that they are human first.