happy independence day
Some 200 Indian Jews could be seen standing around India's flag early last Saturday at the Herzliya residence of the south Asian giant's ambassador to Israel.
They had come there at 8:30 A.M. sharp to attend the traditional celebration of India's 63rd Independence Day - an event which stands out against the backdrop of Israel's diplomatic community.
That's because the Indian embassy has taken the unusual decision of placing Indian-Israelis at the center of its main event, instead of following the example of most other embassies, and holding an exclusive get-together for the usual and crowd of local businessmen, foreign diplomats and reporters.
In fact, very few non-Indians could be seen among the 250-odd people in attendance at the event - which is normally closed to the media. The stage belonged to immigrants from India, who even provided an upbeat traditional song and dance experience by the pool of Ambassador Shri Navtej Sarna and his wife.
Perhaps the fact that they were the guests of honor compelled so many Indian-Israelis to show up despite the less-than-convenient timing, which was scheduled to coincide with the raising of the national banner in New Delhi. The same crowd assembles there in late January, for India's Republic Day. "It is moving to see how twice a year, hundreds of Indian Israelis come to the embassy's events from all over the country," the ambassador told Anglo File.
Noah Massil, President of the 50,000-strong community of Indian Jews, says that "there's a very deep attachment among Indian-Israelis to their mother country, unlike in Britain and France, whose Jews often feel [ambivalent] toward their country of origin."
Massil, born to a family of six siblings in Maharashtra one year before India received its independence, added: "India is a mosaic of cultures to the point that there is no real majority. This, of course, manifests itself in acceptance of minorities. And that in turn makes Indian Jews feel a lot of love for their country."
India established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. Currently, Israel and India have a trade volume of roughly $4 billion, which both countries say they are eager to expand.
Some 200 Indian Jews could be seen standing around India's flag early last Saturday at the Herzliya residence of the south Asian giant's ambassador to Israel.
They had come there at 8:30 A.M. sharp to attend the traditional celebration of India's 63rd Independence Day - an event which stands out against the backdrop of Israel's diplomatic community.
That's because the Indian embassy has taken the unusual decision of placing Indian-Israelis at the center of its main event, instead of following the example of most other embassies, and holding an exclusive get-together for the usual and crowd of local businessmen, foreign diplomats and reporters.
In fact, very few non-Indians could be seen among the 250-odd people in attendance at the event - which is normally closed to the media. The stage belonged to immigrants from India, who even provided an upbeat traditional song and dance experience by the pool of Ambassador Shri Navtej Sarna and his wife.
Perhaps the fact that they were the guests of honor compelled so many Indian-Israelis to show up despite the less-than-convenient timing, which was scheduled to coincide with the raising of the national banner in New Delhi. The same crowd assembles there in late January, for India's Republic Day. "It is moving to see how twice a year, hundreds of Indian Israelis come to the embassy's events from all over the country," the ambassador told Anglo File.
Noah Massil, President of the 50,000-strong community of Indian Jews, says that "there's a very deep attachment among Indian-Israelis to their mother country, unlike in Britain and France, whose Jews often feel [ambivalent] toward their country of origin."
Massil, born to a family of six siblings in Maharashtra one year before India received its independence, added: "India is a mosaic of cultures to the point that there is no real majority. This, of course, manifests itself in acceptance of minorities. And that in turn makes Indian Jews feel a lot of love for their country."
India established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. Currently, Israel and India have a trade volume of roughly $4 billion, which both countries say they are eager to expand.
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