Which kind are they? "Woo-Woo" or "Push Start"

Interesting experience last night at the Merkaz. As part of communiuty outreach, the program director invited 10 Indian Jews to discuss the subject of aliyah and the concept of a merkaz klita (or an absorption center). About 4 or 5 of my housemates who have made aliyah were asked to come to the event and speak about their experiences. I tagged along because I wanted to meet Indian Jews.

The concept just blew my mind. How in the heck did we get to India, of all places? Well, I guess you can say the same for Ethiopian Jews. I guess as an American Jew, I think of most Jews being nebbish (a la Woody Allen), studious, unathletic, Ashkenazic mostly. But Indian Jews look, well, Indian! The Jews of India, the largest group located in Mumbai, came to India as early as 700 BCE for trade, but according to their tradition, the move to India took place in 70 CE with the destruction of the Second Temple and settled in the city of Cochin. Jews from North Africa, the Middle East, as well as Jews from Portugal, Holland, and Spain, settled in India as well, creating a unique Jewish community unlike most we are all familiar with. The 10,000 Jews of India have their own language, music, and traditions.

Over the past few years with the arrival of the Jewish Agency in India, programs such as Birthright have brought young Indian Jews to Israel encouraging connection with the rest of the Diaspora. The group of Indians I met last night came to Israel on Birthright and through the Jewish Agency, are staying in Israel for about 5 months. Like many other Indian Jews, they are looking into the prospect of aliyah. All our visitors, who were between the ages of 19 and 30, had very different backgrounds: one was a doctor, one an interior designer, one had been in the Indian Army for 3 years and was ready and willing to join the Israeli Army. But most surprising to the program director whose attempts to organize a discussion fell apart, was the creation of a wonderful friendship.

As we all sat around talking about 50 Cent, our favorite movies, stores at the Mall, or most importantly, how bland Israeli food really is (according to one of the guys, you can make falafel even better if you add curry), I looked around at the variety of people in the room. Some people had dark hair, some light. Brown eyes, blue eyes, light skin, dark skin, skin somewhere-in-between. What does a Jew look like? What language does a Jew speak and where does a Jew come from? There are a variety of answers to these questions but one thing remains the same. We were Jews and we were in Israel.