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Israel in India: What do Israelis find in India that they love so much?
The expression, Israel in India, is not just a phrase but an existing reality that has been built in the last generation since Israeli tourism in India has taken root in Israeli society and has become part of the definition of Israeli identity.
If in the past, the trip to India was a “must” for young Israelis after military service, for many years, it has been part of a journey of many people of different ages, even ancient ages. India speaks for everyone.
Many Israelis of different ages travel to India. Some are young people after they completed their military service. Some are students or working people, families, and pensioners.
Why is India so attractive for Israelis? Why do Israelis like so much to travel to India? The answer to this question, why so many Israelis travel to India, is composed of many reasons, and it is clear that not every reason is relevant to everyone.
Moreover, I have listed the reasons that do not encompass the entire relationship between India and Israel, Jews, and Hindus.
Both nations have a history that goes back many years and continues into the twentieth century, to the modern history of the State of Israel, even during periods where there were no diplomatic ties between them.
Eventually, people are individuals and activities for different reasons, but still, if you try to generalize, you can undoubtedly list several reasons. The order of reasons below is not necessarily related to their importance. The following article details why Israelis are traveling to India en masse and prefer it to other destinations.
1. Costs
If you compare travel costs in India between trips elsewhere, such as Europe, the US, Australia, and South America, there is no doubt that India’s journey is significantly cheaper. India is relatively close to Israel, so the flight costs more affordable. The food is delicious and cheap. The lodging is cheap. Mobility within India is reasonable.
The more you are willing to adapt to the locals’ way, the lower your travel costs. The amount of money that will be enough for a few weeks to travel in the US will suffice for a half year trip to India. So whether you are a soldier who has completed regular service or a family with two or three children is a significant consideration. Read here more about the travel costs in India.
2. Vegetarianism and veganism
As someone married to a vegan woman for many years, vegan food is not easy to get. In the last year or two, there has been a change, but in many restaurants, vegan dishes are improvised dishes or appear to be a kind of compromise made by the restaurant.
In India, however, vegan food is built into Hindu culture. Vegan food is an ideology and therefore cooking, groceries, and dishes are adapted to vegan food. The result is very, very tasty food and, most importantly, very available everywhere. India is a paradise for vegans. Since veganism has been gaining momentum in recent years, India has become a natural destination for vegans.
3. Space
India is a vast subcontinent. The size of India is about 3.3 million square kilometers.
By comparison, Israel’s size is 27,880 square kilometers (including Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights); you need almost 120 of Israel’s territory to create a similar measure of India’s region.
It is a beautiful feeling of freedom to travel in such a large geographical area without this space ending somewhere for those who come from a small country.
You can travel to India for months and months and still cover only a small part of it.
4. No Antisemitism
If you are identified as a Jew because you spoke Hebrew or because you wear a skullcap or because you wear a Star of David necklace, there is a nearly 100% chance that someone will attack you physically in the street in broad daylight. Of course, such an atmosphere is not attractive to travelers.
5. No judgment
Israel is part of the Judeo-Christian culture of the Western world. One of the outstanding characteristics of this culture is your constant judgment by the environment; whether it is parents, friends, workplace, everyone judges you all the time.
They accept you as you are most naturally. You can live in any way you like, you can wear whatever you like, talk about whatever you want, and the environment will treat all with patience and naturalness. The lack of judgment creates an incredible feeling of freedom and is one of these places’ great attractions.
6. Beautiful India
India is a beautiful country. It has geographic, human, and cultural wealth—tropical regions, desert areas, mountainous flatlands. Everything is in India.
Cultural wealth reaches its peak in Hindu holy sites (Varanasi), in the far north of Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), the center of Buddhist Tibetans, in Amritsar (the center of the Sikhs). For travelers, the experiences in these places are compelling. It’s not just another monument or museum.
7. Israelis like being together
The Israelis are very family-oriented, love to be together, and love the sense of family. If some prefer to be alone, they will choose not to be identified with the other Israelis or to go to places where Israelis go, mainly out of a desire to feel the local environment as much as possible.
Of course, if you are in an Israeli guest house, eat Israeli food, speak Hebrew and socialize mainly with Israelis, it is challenging to feel India with all its might.
8. Without borders
Israelis do not like laws and do not like borders. They do not like being told what to do and when to do it. This feeling is significantly intensified after three years of military service during which they are in a military framework, with all that entails. Europe and the United States are places of laws and borders.
There are times to be respected, lines to be met, clothing code everywhere. In East Asia, especially in countries like India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the atmosphere is much looser. Everything is much slower and less pressing -less sense of limits and limitations. The advantage of a trip to such places is obvious.
9. Spirituality
India is the homeland of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. Yoga was born in India, meditation, karma, Dharma; all were born in India. Many people are drawn to the spirituality of India. India is a warm home to all those who are fed up with Western materialism. The ability to experience these things in its source is desirable for Israelis, who are not necessarily young.
10. India is suitable for families
India is also suitable for families. Economically a trip to a family of four or five people would be much cheaper than such a trip to Europe or the US. Also, families who are less interested in classic tourist attractions such as Disneyland or large parks, preferring the cultural, geographic, and spiritual aspects, will choose India.
Yes I am agree, and most important thing is that even today also very few Indian people knows about Israel. We should learn and pay respect to Israel
Dear PK, this is why I created this website and the related Facebook page and YouTube channel. I want to create a connection between people. Soon, the whole website will be available in Hindi.
Good work keep it up
thanks 🙂 I’m happy you like the content
Yuval thanks for such initiative. All the things that you mentioned about is correct. I am Indian
Thanks, you welcome. I’m happy you liked it.
Don’t forget to join the newsletters and subscribe to my channel:
https://youtube.com/aboutjewishpeople
Thank you for describing the reality about India.Many more are left.Admire your presentation.
thanks, appreciate this.
Awesome…. Welcome to Rajasthan India … We have lots of places to visit …
thanks :)it’s in my list in india, I will get there for sure.
Israely people have a very close bond with lndian Maharashtra people.Many families was settled in konkan area of maharashtra and mixed with the local people,like sugar in water with respecting with each others. After they got their motherland,almost all families shifted there,but still we remembers them
True friend of India.
that’s correct 🙂
I love Israel .
thanks 🙂
we love india
Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article post. I lik to write a little comment to support you.
thanks a lot 🙂
I’m happy you like the content, and thank you for writing the comment. It helps me to know that people like the content I’m creating. It’s requiring a lot of effort
You hae made some realpy good points there. I looked on tthe net to find out mmore about the issue and found most people will go along
with your views on this site.
thanks for writing this.
did you mean that most people will prefer this specific website ?
Thanks a llot for shawring this with all people you actually realize what you’re speaking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also ddiscuss woth my web site =).
We ccan have a hyperlkink alternate agreemkent between us
thanks for the comment and I’m happy you liked it.
If you have a relevant article that you want to read/comment, just send it to my mail please
Greetings! I’ve been following your weblog for a while now and finally got
the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!
thanks for the comment, like I wrote to others, I really appreciate these comments.
It takes a lot of effort to create a website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, etc…
the best prize is to get comments from people who like the content.
feel free to write more comments on other articles or here:)
Very right explanation of Indian culture.
We love Israel.
thanks 🙂
And also indian people like Israel people.
the great relations between Jews and Hindu last for at least 2000 years
With traditional Jewish intellect, wisdom and Indian liberality we can make India our common Homeland. I hail from North Paravoor, near Kochi where we we used to have Jewish neighbors. But all of them migrated to their Promised Land in 1948. Except for the Synagogue and cemetery nothing reminds us of the active Jewish presence seventy years ago.
I do believe that India and Israel have much more to do together and this is what I’m trying to promote
We the Benjamin generation are here in India. We are the son of soil of India. Due to our ancestors foolishness the aryans Who named as brahmins who were derived from central asia belongs to hitlar’s race are sitting in our place.
what do you mean Benjamin generation?
Isrealy Peoples are Indian true friend. They always welcome in my house at free of cost.. Like my Friends or Family.. I love Isreal & India to much.. Please contact me, my Isrealy friends if you come India our motherland..
JaiHindusthan~JaiIsreal……..
Thanks Jishu, agree about India and Israel
Great, research and article is upto the mark without any nonsense. I am from Gujarat and a Hardcore Hindu… Who by teachings of Hinduism knows there could be many ways to reach the truth, thus respecting all religions but hard-core who doesn’t want any other radicals to rule us. Israel is best example of how to save own culture and traditions from radicals and invadors.
Love the spirit of Israel and lot to leary from.
Welcome my israeli or anyone from around the World who respect other faiths… I can be your, host, help & guide….
thanks for your message. long live Hindu – Jewish alliance
Yeah, very good informations for new generations.. Indian like Israelies very much.. we all love you.. welcomed to India
thanks for your words
Another main reason Israelis atracted to India is that India ensconsed Jews while they were dogged all over the world. In Kerala there are Jewish synagogues in Mala, North Paravoor, Mattanchery.The Kerala kings had given special rights to these Jewish people.
India was the only place where the Jewish communities didn’t experience antisemitism, persecutions and pogroms. Please checkout my new articles about the relations between Israel and India. I get into this in details.
We appreciate your article n at the same time can sense the true feeling of love for our nation. We are really honoured. We have always loved Israel . We admire the intellect of Israelis. We welcome wholeheartedly to our motherland n wish the bond grows stronger between the two nations. Namaskar n best wishes.
thanks 🙂
You have written in simple language but precise
thanks, i’m glad you find it useful
I m from gujarat where Jews are trading for as long as 2000 years and many Jewish sites are there. Welcome to india and then gujarat
Check another article I wrote about the connections between Jews and Indians. I went over the history of the jews in India
Long time supporter, and thought I’d drop a
comment.
Your wordpress site is very sleek – hope you don’t mind me asking what theme
you’re using? (and don’t mind if I steal it? :P)
I just launched my site –also built in wordpress like yours– but
the theme slows (!) the site down quite a bit.
In case you have a minute, you can find it by searching for “royal cbd” on Google (would appreciate any feedback) – it’s still in the works.
Keep up the good work– and hope you all take care of yourself during the coronavirus scare!
why would I mind? thanks for your support and I hope you like the content 🙂
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I’m an Israeli, I was born in Israel and I lived in Israel almost all my life. I don’t know what other people are writing. In some cases, they are just copying one other. I’m writing from my own experience and knowledge and as you probably noticed, I’m not hesitating to bring political motives.
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Jews are always welcome in India.
They have been part of our history and our culture. Jews used to live in India for about 2000 years from the kingdom of Judea. We always treated them with love and affection because they are humans first and jews later
It is very sad and depressing that jews were killed all over the world based on lies and propaganda !! It’s a shame that this happened with that. We Indians are very sorry and ashamed for the western world for killing and committing these crimes against humanity. 🙁 Its a shame how the world has treated jews and they should not forget this because we Indians don’t and it boils our blood when we think about how many crimes have been committed against humans just for being jew.
Sorry, our nation was poor back then and under British rule or we would have protected you and brought u here to India. Where you could feel safe and at home, could have saved so many lives. We would have fought Hitler and protected jews and welcome them to our homeland with open arms.
Jews have lived in India for thousands of years and they were part of our fabric and culture. They also served in our army. It’s sad that most of them left to Israel but I would love if they come back and visit our country again.
Thanks for your kind and beautiful message. I did write an article about the long history of the Hindu-Jewish relations.
Thank god and many brave people that the humiliation days are over for both of our nations.
I’m translating my website to Hindi in order to strengthen the relations between Israel and India, Hindu and Jews.
I created my Facebook page: https://facebook.com/aboutjewishpeople for this purpose.
Same for youtube channel: https://youtube.com/aboutjewishpeople
I’m a great believer in the bright future of India and Israel. We are just in the beginning 🙂
Dearest Yuval I really liked your blog and agree with its contents. Thank you for your kind words about India. We Indians particularly Hindus admire and love Jew people because of their bravery, progressiveness and their strength. Both of us are victims of Islamic terrorism.
Whenever you come to India I would love to host you at my place in Ludhiana, Punjab. Continue this good work. Please do respond on my mail ID.
Thanks Rajeev, I appreciate your message.
Please find me here:yuval.bloomberg@gmail.com
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I
provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the
very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from a lot of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this ok with you. Thanks!
please approach me at: info@aboutjewishpeople.com