As Israelis make music under fire, research shows singing is an effective antidote to stress

Outbursts of song in bomb shelters have become a familiar sight on the feeds of Israeli social media accounts, but it’s not just for fun; there is scientific evidence that singing and making music may contribute to emotional resilience and decrease stress levels.

Israelis have had a lot of practice and time to acclimate to the grim realities of war, but the mental stress and interrupted nights affect everyone. Parents have to get little children bundled into a shelter in the middle of the night, those who are frail or infirm may have to suddenly get to safety if out and about, and the screeching sirens designed to cause alarm can set anyone’s nerves on edge. 

Yet, even in these challenging times, Israelis find ways of making the best of a challenging situation, and the songs belted out from bomb shelters have been helping build resilience. 

Israelis singing together in a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv.

I am so proud of my people.pic.twitter.com/1SXXavWXve

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) February 28, 2026

The benefits of singing together with others have been documented; for example, one study published in the National Library of Medicine found that singing with others “positively influences both emotional affect and immune competence.” 

Researchers Gunter Kreutz, Stephan Bongard, Sonja Rohrmann, Volker Hodapp, and Dorothee Grebe investigated the effects of singing in an amateur choir compared to just listening to choral music.

Studying the effects on secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA), a protective antibody found in saliva that guards against pathogens and supports immune function, cortisol, and emotional states, they found that singing with others resulted in significant increases in positive affect and S-IgA, and decreased cortisol levels.

Similarly, whistling or even humming a happy tune whenever we feel afraid is not just a fictional idea – it actually works.

Citing a 2023 study by Trivedi et al., Psychology Today claims that humming “produces vibrations that ripple through the body, stimulating the vagus nerve,” adding, “the stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system – the system responsible for calming you down and reversing the fight-or-flight response.” 

“When activated, the body shifts into rest-and-digest mode, which decreases stress and promotes relaxation,” they explain. Humming can apparently lower stress and heart rate while increasing heart rate variability, leading to a healthy and responsive autonomic nervous system, leading the researchers to describe it as a “stress buster.” 

The mental health crisis in Israel will not disappear with a song or two, but as Israel has repeatedly shown over the last two and a half years since Oct. 7, the love of life and determination to enjoy it, often expressed in song, has helped the nation deal with intensely difficult situations. When anxiety hits and stress levels rise, singing sure seems to help, especially when the subject of the song is God.

“When I was a little kid, my favorite part of going to synagogue was the singing,” writes Evelyn Frick in Hey Alma. “I craved singing Hebrew prayers and Jewish songs at the top of my lungs,” she says, listing all her favorite songs that she sang with a community she loved. “With messages of peace, healing and strength, they are a balm in times of crisis.”

Even among secular Israelis, songs with biblical themes have become wildly popular over the past couple of years. Ishay Ribo’s album featuring beautiful songs about God went platinum, while another catchy hit by Uri Davidi declaring “God loves me” has become a firmly established anthem.

This nation may be in trauma, but Israel is still singing. God in His mercy has created us to sing, and He designed music to benefit us emotionally, mentally, and also physiologically.

So if you’re stressed out or anxious, try singing (or at least humming) your favorite song. You might be surprised how much difference it makes.