'The Show Must Go On': Inside Israel's Shelters, Life And Music Continue Under Missile Fire

Last Updated:March 29, 2026, 16:52 IST

With weeks of repeated warnings forcing people underground, shelters across Israel — from apartment basements to train stations — are now hosting a range of activities.

As sirens and missile alerts continue across Israel, bomb shelters are turning into unlikely spaces of community, creativity and even entertainment.

In the early days of the war, Shaked Bitton, a content creator from Kibbutz Palmachim, began serving pancakes in his neighbourhood shelter during alerts, The Times of Israel reported.

“You could actually see the shift — people stopped waiting anxiously for a missile strike and started waiting for pancakes," he told the outlet. Since then, he has taken desserts to several shelters, including a giant tiramisu prepared for a large underground space in Tel Aviv.

With weeks of repeated warnings forcing people underground, shelters across the country — from apartment basements to train stations — are now hosting a range of activities. These include birthday celebrations, fitness classes, small weddings and even cultural events.

Singer-songwriter Lihi Toledano performed at a train station after her concert was cancelled due to the war. “It’s better than not getting to perform," she wrote on Instagram, adding, “The show must go on!"

Meanwhile, choreographer Moria Zrachia organised a dance performance in her building’s shelter. “Since we were going down to the shelter 30 times a day, everyone kept on saying to me… ‘it’s boring here, do something to raise our spirits,’" she said.

Residents, often in casual clothes like slippers and pyjamas, have taken part in impromptu performances, from lip-sync routines to small music shows.

In some cases, entire shelters have turned into social hubs, with reports of coffee stands, live music and even underground parties.

Eilam Kadar, an aspiring DJ, noted how a spontaneous gathering in his shelter quickly grew during a siren. “Then everyone came down, and the place was packed," he said, adding that “it was more fun than most clubs" before authorities shut it down.

Despite the danger, many Israelis are using these shared spaces to cope with the stress of war, turning shelters into places of connection, distraction and brief moments of normal life.

News world 'The Show Must Go On': Inside Israel's Shelters, Life And Music Continue Under Missile Fire

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