An Evening of Friendship, Courage, Heritage and Unity
Photo credits: Gal Dor.
(September 4, 2026) The India–Israel Festival and the 7th National Convention of the Indian Jewish Community in Tel Aviv was a truly memorable evening celebrating friendship, courage, culture and the rich heritage of India’s Jewish communities.
Around 1,500 people, young and old, gathered to celebrate the enduring bond between India and Israel. The festivities began with a series of engaging workshops, including an Indian cooking demonstration led by Reena Pushkarna, Bollywood dance with the one and only Noah Nagavkar, an Indian saree-draping workshop by Merav-Yosef Levi, and a painting workshop led by Ophir and Orna.
A special exhibition tent offered visitors an opportunity to discover the diverse heritage of India’s Jewish communities. The B'nei Israel, Cochin Jewish, Baghdadi Jewish and B'nei Menashe communities each presented aspects of their unique traditions, customs, culture and history. Although all four communities share roots in India, each has developed its own distinctive identity, making the exhibition a beautiful reflection of India’s remarkable cultural diversity.
The official evening ceremony began at 18:30 with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Guest of Honor, Mr. Eden Bar-Tal, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Reuven Ladianski, Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo; and Mr. alman Samuels, Founder of the Shalva Band. The ceremony continued with the national anthems of India and Israel.
Ambassador J. P. Singh and President Isaac Herzog spoke warmly of the deep and enduring friendship between India and Israel. They also honored the remarkable courage demonstrated aboard a FlyDubai flight by Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, together with Israeli passengers and crew, who bravely intervened during a moment of crisis.
Three distinguished members of the Indian Jewish community were also honoredfor their contributions to strengthening the ties between India and Israel in their respective fields: Sam Marshall, who led the Maccabiah team from India; Noah Massil, for his Marathi newsletter Maiboli; and Dr. Esther Sassoon, in recognition of her distinguished medical career.
For the B'nei Menashe community, the evening held a particularly special meaning. Jessica Thangjom, Programme Coordinator of Degel Menashe, curated the Bnei Menashe exhibition and led a group of singers in performing Chavang Kolni Lhum Del Del, a B'nei Menashe song specially composed by the late Daniel Lhungdim, expressing the community’s deep longing for Zion.
Reflecting on what made the festival special, Jessica shared:
“As B'nei Menashe, we were deeply honored to open the ceremony with our beautiful traditional song and to share our heritage with the wider community.”
The celebration continued with an energetic performance by the Bollywood dance troupe Taka Dimi Ta from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), filling the evening with vibrant music, color and dance.
More than a cultural festival, the evening was a celebration of the people and stories that connect India and Israel. It brought together different communities, generations and traditions under one roof, reminding us that diversity can be a powerful expression of unity.
All in all, it was a beautiful and memorable evening of friendship, courage, heritage and shared Jewish identity.
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