{"id":1841701,"date":"2026-03-23T10:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T07:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1841701"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T07:13:19","slug":"iranians-and-israelis-united-through-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1841701","title":{"rendered":"Iranians and Israelis united through music"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76460193_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5AiUp<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Sistanagila playfully bridges Persian and Jewish culturesImage: Esra Rotthoff<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The current US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>\u00a0follows\u00a0decades of political tensions that have shaped perceptions of the relationship between Israel and Iran.<\/p>\n

Despite the historical hostility, Berlin-based musicians from both countries are determined to demonstrate that\u00a0cultural dialogue\u00a0is still possible.<\/p>\n

The musical ensemble Sistanagila was initiated by Babak Shafieian, an Iranian who moved to Germany as a young adult to study.<\/p>\n

He began\u00a0the project about 15 years ago when\u00a0he decided\u00a0to take a position against the antisemitic rhetoric promoted by Iran’s then-president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0who was making international headlines by denying the Holocaust and threatening the destruction of the state of Israel.<\/p>\n

“That didn’t reflect my stance on Israel and the Jewish people,” Shafieian told DW.\u00a0“So I thought we could create something together, Iranians and Israelis, that could show that there is a sense of solidarity between the two people.”<\/p>\n

Shafieian was inspired by his own family’s musical background, as well as by Daniel Barenboim<\/a>‘s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, in which Jewish and Palestinian musicians<\/a> play classical music side by side.<\/p>\n

\"And
Daniel Barenboim conducts the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in BerlinImage: Gerald Matzka\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To form the group, Shafieian first approached\u00a0Yuval Halpern,\u00a0an Israeli musician and composer who would later become the ensemble’s musical director.<\/p>\n

Halpern remembers his initial reaction to Shafieian’s introductory email: “I was at first a bit cautious, because usually Iranians don’t contact Israelis. And I thought he might be a terrorist or somebody who wants to kidnap me,” he told DW.<\/p>\n

But after looking up Shafieian online, Halpern\u00a0decided it was safe enough to meet the stranger\u00a0at\u00a0a hummus restaurant in Neuk\u00f6lln, Berlin’s most prominent district for Arab culture.<\/p>\n

From there, they found more musicians from both of their home countries. “It’s a project that could only happen in Berlin \u2014 not in Israel<\/a>, not in Iran,” points out Halpern, who also sings in the band.<\/p>\n

Persian\u00a0and Jewish folk meets jazz and prog rock<\/h2>\n

Sistanagila’s Israeli and Iranian musicians explore their musical heritage together, finding ways to merge\u00a0traditions, including\u00a0elements of Persian classical music, Jewish chants and Klezmer melodies.<\/p>\n

“We found a lot of similarities in the Sephardic music, which has the more oriental sounds, like Arabic keys,” explained\u00a0Halpern. But each musician brings their own influences into the mix: “Our guitar player likes heavy metal,\u00a0I come from classical music, and we have jazz musicians,” noted\u00a0the Israeli composer.<\/p>\n

The name of the ensemble also connects the two cultures: “Sistan” refers to the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, while “Nagila” evokes the well-known Jewish song, “Hava Nagila.”<\/p>\n

A political statement through music<\/h2>\n

Amid the complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the\u00a0group’s members each\u00a0have\u00a0“their own political opinion,” said\u00a0band manager Babak Shafieian.\u00a0“It’s very diverse\u00a0in this regard,” he added.\u00a0“There are always discussions, but luckily, in general, we are on the same page regarding the friendship of the Israeli and the Iranian people.”<\/p>\n

“People ask us if it’s a political project. And per se, our content is not political,” said Halpern. “We don’t sing songs against a regime or for a country, or to say,\u00a0‘Is Israel or Iran<\/a> better?’\u00a0This is not the focus of the project. We make music together. We want to create something beautiful together. And that’s the peace project.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"women
Arabic culture thrives in the Berlin district of Neuk\u00f6llnImage: picture alliance \/ Winfried Rothermel<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He added that, of course, it was\u00a0a political project and a statement of Israelis and Iranians working together.\u00a0“That’s why this project is so important, to show that the people are not the problem. It’s the government and the politicians,” he said.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the US-Israel war with Iran, Shafieian hopes that the Iranian people will not be forgotten.\u00a0“Now it could be more dangerous for them if they are left alone with the regime,” he said.\u00a0He can only hope that\u00a0this war “will also be the last.”<\/p>\n

Sistanagila’s founder\u00a0sees his musical project as one of many artistic, political and social initiatives currently working to build stronger ties between the Iranian and Israeli people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Sistanagila shows a perspective for the future \u2014 and hopefully for the near future \u2014 that Iranians and Israelis can be friends,” he said. “And that both countries can become friends\u00a0and develop extensive relations.”<\/p>\n

Edited by: Brenda Haas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

The current US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>\u00a0follows\u00a0decades of political tensions that have shaped perceptions of the relationship between Israel and Iran.<\/p>\n

Despite the historical hostility, Berlin-based musicians from both countries are determined to demonstrate that\u00a0cultural dialogue\u00a0is still possible.<\/p>\n

The musical ensemble Sistanagila was initiated by Babak Shafieian, an Iranian who moved to Germany as a young adult to study.<\/p>\n

He began\u00a0the project about 15 years ago when\u00a0he decided\u00a0to take a position against the antisemitic rhetoric promoted by Iran’s then-president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0who was making international headlines by denying the Holocaust and threatening the destruction of the state of Israel.<\/p>\n

“That didn’t reflect my stance on Israel and the Jewish people,” Shafieian told DW.\u00a0“So I thought we could create something together, Iranians and Israelis, that could show that there is a sense of solidarity between the two people.”<\/p>\n

Shafieian was inspired by his own family’s musical background, as well as by Daniel Barenboim<\/a>‘s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, in which Jewish and Palestinian musicians<\/a> play classical music side by side.<\/p>\n

\"And
Daniel Barenboim conducts the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in BerlinImage: Gerald Matzka\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To form the group, Shafieian first approached\u00a0Yuval Halpern,\u00a0an Israeli musician and composer who would later become the ensemble’s musical director.<\/p>\n

Halpern remembers his initial reaction to Shafieian’s introductory email: “I was at first a bit cautious, because usually Iranians don’t contact Israelis. And I thought he might be a terrorist or somebody who wants to kidnap me,” he told DW.<\/p>\n

But after looking up Shafieian online, Halpern\u00a0decided it was safe enough to meet the stranger\u00a0at\u00a0a hummus restaurant in Neuk\u00f6lln, Berlin’s most prominent district for Arab culture.<\/p>\n

From there, they found more musicians from both of their home countries. “It’s a project that could only happen in Berlin \u2014 not in Israel<\/a>, not in Iran,” points out Halpern, who also sings in the band.<\/p>\n

Persian\u00a0and Jewish folk meets jazz and prog rock<\/h2>\n

Sistanagila’s Israeli and Iranian musicians explore their musical heritage together, finding ways to merge\u00a0traditions, including\u00a0elements of Persian classical music, Jewish chants and Klezmer melodies.<\/p>\n

“We found a lot of similarities in the Sephardic music, which has the more oriental sounds, like Arabic keys,” explained\u00a0Halpern. But each musician brings their own influences into the mix: “Our guitar player likes heavy metal,\u00a0I come from classical music, and we have jazz musicians,” noted\u00a0the Israeli composer.<\/p>\n

The name of the ensemble also connects the two cultures: “Sistan” refers to the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, while “Nagila” evokes the well-known Jewish song, “Hava Nagila.”<\/p>\n

A political statement through music<\/h2>\n

Amid the complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the\u00a0group’s members each\u00a0have\u00a0“their own political opinion,” said\u00a0band manager Babak Shafieian.\u00a0“It’s very diverse\u00a0in this regard,” he added.\u00a0“There are always discussions, but luckily, in general, we are on the same page regarding the friendship of the Israeli and the Iranian people.”<\/p>\n

“People ask us if it’s a political project. And per se, our content is not political,” said Halpern. “We don’t sing songs against a regime or for a country, or to say,\u00a0‘Is Israel or Iran<\/a> better?’\u00a0This is not the focus of the project. We make music together. We want to create something beautiful together. And that’s the peace project.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"women
Arabic culture thrives in the Berlin district of Neuk\u00f6llnImage: picture alliance \/ Winfried Rothermel<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He added that, of course, it was\u00a0a political project and a statement of Israelis and Iranians working together.\u00a0“That’s why this project is so important, to show that the people are not the problem. It’s the government and the politicians,” he said.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the US-Israel war with Iran, Shafieian hopes that the Iranian people will not be forgotten.\u00a0“Now it could be more dangerous for them if they are left alone with the regime,” he said.\u00a0He can only hope that\u00a0this war “will also be the last.”<\/p>\n

Sistanagila’s founder\u00a0sees his musical project as one of many artistic, political and social initiatives currently working to build stronger ties between the Iranian and Israeli people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Sistanagila shows a perspective for the future \u2014 and hopefully for the near future \u2014 that Iranians and Israelis can be friends,” he said. “And that both countries can become friends\u00a0and develop extensive relations.”<\/p>\n

Edited by: Brenda Haas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The current US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>\u00a0follows\u00a0decades of political tensions that have shaped perceptions of the relationship between Israel and Iran.<\/p>\n

Despite the historical hostility, Berlin-based musicians from both countries are determined to demonstrate that\u00a0cultural dialogue\u00a0is still possible.<\/p>\n

The musical ensemble Sistanagila was initiated by Babak Shafieian, an Iranian who moved to Germany as a young adult to study.<\/p>\n

He began\u00a0the project about 15 years ago when\u00a0he decided\u00a0to take a position against the antisemitic rhetoric promoted by Iran’s then-president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0who was making international headlines by denying the Holocaust and threatening the destruction of the state of Israel.<\/p>\n

“That didn’t reflect my stance on Israel and the Jewish people,” Shafieian told DW.\u00a0“So I thought we could create something together, Iranians and Israelis, that could show that there is a sense of solidarity between the two people.”<\/p>\n

Shafieian was inspired by his own family’s musical background, as well as by Daniel Barenboim<\/a>‘s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, in which Jewish and Palestinian musicians<\/a> play classical music side by side.<\/p>\n

To form the group, Shafieian first approached\u00a0Yuval Halpern,\u00a0an Israeli musician and composer who would later become the ensemble’s musical director.<\/p>\n

Halpern remembers his initial reaction to Shafieian’s introductory email: “I was at first a bit cautious, because usually Iranians don’t contact Israelis. And I thought he might be a terrorist or somebody who wants to kidnap me,” he told DW.<\/p>\n

But after looking up Shafieian online, Halpern\u00a0decided it was safe enough to meet the stranger\u00a0at\u00a0a hummus restaurant in Neuk\u00f6lln, Berlin’s most prominent district for Arab culture.<\/p>\n

From there, they found more musicians from both of their home countries. “It’s a project that could only happen in Berlin \u2014 not in Israel<\/a>, not in Iran,” points out Halpern, who also sings in the band.<\/p>\n

Sistanagila’s Israeli and Iranian musicians explore their musical heritage together, finding ways to merge\u00a0traditions, including\u00a0elements of Persian classical music, Jewish chants and Klezmer melodies.<\/p>\n

“We found a lot of similarities in the Sephardic music, which has the more oriental sounds, like Arabic keys,” explained\u00a0Halpern. But each musician brings their own influences into the mix: “Our guitar player likes heavy metal,\u00a0I come from classical music, and we have jazz musicians,” noted\u00a0the Israeli composer.<\/p>\n

The name of the ensemble also connects the two cultures: “Sistan” refers to the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, while “Nagila” evokes the well-known Jewish song, “Hava Nagila.”<\/p>\n

Amid the complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the\u00a0group’s members each\u00a0have\u00a0“their own political opinion,” said\u00a0band manager Babak Shafieian.\u00a0“It’s very diverse\u00a0in this regard,” he added.\u00a0“There are always discussions, but luckily, in general, we are on the same page regarding the friendship of the Israeli and the Iranian people.”<\/p>\n

“People ask us if it’s a political project. And per se, our content is not political,” said Halpern. “We don’t sing songs against a regime or for a country, or to say,\u00a0‘Is Israel or Iran<\/a> better?’\u00a0This is not the focus of the project. We make music together. We want to create something beautiful together. And that’s the peace project.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added that, of course, it was\u00a0a political project and a statement of Israelis and Iranians working together.\u00a0“That’s why this project is so important, to show that the people are not the problem. It’s the government and the politicians,” he said.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the US-Israel war with Iran, Shafieian hopes that the Iranian people will not be forgotten.\u00a0“Now it could be more dangerous for them if they are left alone with the regime,” he said.\u00a0He can only hope that\u00a0this war “will also be the last.”<\/p>\n

Sistanagila’s founder\u00a0sees his musical project as one of many artistic, political and social initiatives currently working to build stronger ties between the Iranian and Israeli people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Sistanagila shows a perspective for the future \u2014 and hopefully for the near future \u2014 that Iranians and Israelis can be friends,” he said. “And that both countries can become friends\u00a0and develop extensive relations.”<\/p>\n

Edited by: Brenda Haas<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iranians-and-israelis-united-through-music\/a-76436007″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76460193_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5AiUp Sistanagila playfully bridges Persian and Jewish culturesImage: Esra Rotthoff The current US-Israel war with Iran\u00a0follows\u00a0decades of political tensions that have shaped perceptions of the relationship between Israel and Iran. Despite the historical hostility, Berlin-based musicians from both countries are determined to demonstrate that\u00a0cultural dialogue\u00a0is still possible. The musical ensemble Sistanagila was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1841701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1841701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1841701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1841701\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1841701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1841701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1841701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}