"Seventy-three years ago, Israel made a promise to India's Jews it didn't keep. It invited them to 'return to the promised land' but went back on its word.
Sometimes with heart-wrenching consequences."
livehistoryindia.com/story/cover-st…
Sometimes with heart-wrenching consequences."
livehistoryindia.com/story/cover-st…
"Many Indian Jews packed up their lives and livelihoods and 'made the Aliyah', a religious phrase that describes 'moving to the Land of Israel'.
They had no idea just how miserable they would be."
They had no idea just how miserable they would be."
"The homes assigned to Indian Jews were tents, wooden huts and tin houses, whereas European Jews were assigned more permanent structures including apartments and even fully furnished villas.
European Jews were put up in hotels until permanent accommodation could be allotted."
European Jews were put up in hotels until permanent accommodation could be allotted."
"The Jewish Agency had promised education for children but access to this too was given along the lines of race - Indian children were given a primary education, whereas the European children received university-level education."
"Many Indian Jews had quit government jobs and shut their businesses to settle in Israel but the new positions they were assigned were far inferior to those they had enjoyed in India ... also far inferior to their qualifications. They were given temporary work at low salaries..."
"In health care too, European Jews were given priority. They were given priority in the allotment of hospital rooms even over extremely sick Indians.
Sometimes, non-European Jews were apparently turned away and told to return later, when the patient needed more urgent care."
Sometimes, non-European Jews were apparently turned away and told to return later, when the patient needed more urgent care."
"One letter from an Indian Jew to the Israeli Government said: "Promises were made to us in India by the Israeli authorities that work will be given to us in Israel according to our profession, very good education to our children, and decent houses to stay..."
"...Therefore, we agreed to resign from our very long service jobs, our very good homes, and the education of our children, to come to Israel and find out just the contrary of what was promised to us, and we are your victims by your false promises..."
"...We now appeal to all men with conscience and in the fair name of humanity to raise their voices and ask why are the Sepharadis and Indians, in particular, are treated in this and human living and what is our future. Is it only to fight wars for you all and nothing else?""
One letter addressed to Indian Prime Minister Nehru, said,
"We beg and pray, Honourable Sir, God of Peace and Justice, to help your Indian children in distress, and ask the merciless rulers of Israel to repatriate us back to our dear mother country India. LONG LIVE INDIA."
"We beg and pray, Honourable Sir, God of Peace and Justice, to help your Indian children in distress, and ask the merciless rulers of Israel to repatriate us back to our dear mother country India. LONG LIVE INDIA."
"When Indian Jews asked for permission to conduct peaceful protests in Jerusalem, their request was denied. So they continued to write to the Governments and Prime Ministers of both countries and to human rights groups, highlighting their plight and asking for relief and rescue."
"But this too posed a challenge ... Indian Jews were questioned even about their complaints to human rights bodies and to the Indian government. The Israeli authorities had apparently threatened them with imprisonment if they continued to write these letters of complaint!"
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