Sunday, November 30, 2008

Jews and Indians: "Hinjews?"

America has always traditionally been a melting pot of languages, cultures, and religions, but recently an unlikely relationship has emerged: Indians and Jews. In a November 28 article for the New York Times, Samuel Freedman explores links between Indians and American Jews as well as Israelis. This bond has been growing stronger recently because both groups are targets of Islamic terrorism, but its roots are in “the softer tissue of human experience—culture, religion, values.” Both cultures share a “commitment to education,” hard work, and fatalism, among other qualities. In fact, the similarities are so pronounced that, as one woman told her daughter, “If you have to marry outside India, marry a Jew.” Though terrorism during the past several years is now bringing many of these parallels to light, they actually began to emerge several decades ago.

During the 1960s, American Jews searching for spiritual renewal turned to Indian Buddhism. So many Jews adopted Buddhist practices, such as meditation, that a new word was created: “Jew-Bu.” More recently, the term “Hinjew” was coined. Many traditionally Jewish public schools in suburban areas of New York and New Jersey, for example, are now attracting more and more Indian immigrants. In Israel, yoga classes and Hindu food are both very popular. In addition, “about 30,000 Israelis visit India each year,” which has contributed to the spread of Indian culture in Israel. A group in Atlanta called the “Indo-Jewish Coalition” is one organization that fosters this budding relationship. Ani Anighotri, co-chairman of the group, notes that Indian-Americans often find Jewish-Americans to be good role models because of “their activism, their social values, their family values, the educational values.” A lot of Jews are also professionals and entrepreneurs, which is similar to the Indian community. Clearly, even though victimization by Muslim terrorists has helped bring the two groups together, the ties extend much further.

So what does this link mean, both domestically and internationally? Will we see an alliance between India and Israel? Israel already sells about $1 billion in arms to Indian per year, beginning after the Cold War. In the face of Islamic terrorist attacks on both countries, a tighter alliance would not be too surprising. In America, what does the future hold for Jews and Indians? The current relationship seems to be one that is positive and healthy, but will competition for education and jobs break some of these bonds and create divisions?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Shalom and Namaste,

In addition to what you articulated in your post:

[1] there is already a thriving Community of Indian- Jews - in Israel (Jews who migrated from India to Israel)

[2] about 1 % of the Israeli population is Indian. Indian Jews i.e.

Given that Jews are - one of the slimmest minority of all races in the world - 1% of Israeli population is no small feat.

just a small note on this : 2% of India = Sikhs and the current PM of India is a Sikh.

[3] Aside from the common threat (which is fear based) - there also exists a set of common-shared-values: as you have already articulated, better than I can { education, family, fatalism, commitment etc}

and It does help that 30,000 Israelis visit India ceremonially each year. In fact after finishing up the army service, If i am not going to India, people wonder if I am sick or if i have some family emergency :)

the above was culture and values .. and as you mentioned we have both trade and political ties burgeoning between India and Israel.

Lately, the Israeli embassy in Delhi has relaxed its visa requirements to Israel (less paper work than before) and I hope the Indian Embassy in Israel reciprocates in the same manner as the Israelis have - for Indians


I do not believe (and dont hope ) the ties between Jews and Indians will be challenged by competition for jobs in the USA. That's not the USA i know of..

Moreover, marriages between Hindus and Jews - blurs or eliminates the boundaries: its that the reason for a Union - Hindus + Jews = HinJews ?

i would like to mention few , rather obscure or not so-commonly-held views and facts:

[a] There is an Indian Hospice in the Zion.

[b] The first time Jews migrated -outside, it was to India not New York.

[c] Jews were persecuted in every place on earth - minus in India.

[d] Jewish Synagogues are NEVER vandalized in India - despite the fact that India has more Moslems than Saudi Arabia. More Christians than the Vatican - or Rome (actually 10 times more Christians than Rome - or for that matter the whole of Italy)and most European nations.

[e] There are Jews - still in India. If you ask them are you a Jew - they will say Yes, without even thinking of explaining what it means. If you ask are you Indian - they will say Yes. AND if you ask them - are you Indian or Jew : The will say, ' I am an Indian Jew' -> which means - not the same as saying " I am a Jew - who happens to be in India.

I hope [a] through [e] means more than ink that its written in

regards
olga-lednichenko
olga-shulman-lednichenko

{a Russian-Jew-in-Israel}