The Jewish-Indian Link

"Between Israel and India, a Link Based on Culture and, Now, Terrorism"
A21, Saturday 11/29/08
By Samuel G. Freedman

This well written and well reported article highlights the "deepening bonds between Jews and Indians, whether in Israel, India or the United States." The recent terror attacks in Mumbai serve as the impetus for this piece. It's significant that Freedman remarks that although the attacks are "the most visceral and grisly element of connection" between Jews and Indians, it's "far from the only one".

Freedman continues, "the softer tissue of human experience — culture, religion, values — also binds Indians and Jews." The "commitment to education, hard work, the guilt, the fatalism, both old cultures" are cited as parallels.

Aside from describing the interaction in the American - notably the American suburban - experience, Freedman interestingly reports that "about 30,000 Israelis visit India each year, many of them on lengthy vacations after having finished their army service." In addition, we're told of the military alliance between Israel and India. It's also important that Freedman reported with clarity that it's not just terrorism, but the "shared experience of being the target of Islamist terrorism".

The one problematic aspect of this article is its title. Both Israel and India have for decades faced the problem of terrorism, which hasn't just now facilitated the link. Freedman even cited Ani Anighotri, the feature of the piece, as saying this. "Because both these countries and people have been affected by this kind of terror — killing of civilians, something despicable that is happening year after year."