The Indo-Israeli relationship continues to reach new heights with growing ties between Israel and India. Ahead of PM Netanyahu’s visit to India, these are just some of the many recent accomplishments that have resulted from Indo-Israeli cooperation.
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Copyright: GPO/Avi Ohayon 2017 marked a historic year for Indo-Israel relations, marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel (India’s first Prime Minister to visit Israel) and ever-growing bilateral cooperation between Israel and India in a number of fields.
“India is a vast country and Israel is a tiny country but together we are doing very big things in science, technology, commerce, cyber, agriculture, energy, water, and also in security.”- Prime Minister Netanyahu Prime Minister Netanyahu will strengthen these ties during his visit to India on January 14-19. While Israel and India established diplomatic ties in 1992, the Jewish and Indian people share a rich and deep relationship which dates back to ancient times. Jews were one of the first foreign groups in recorded history to arrive and settle in India and became an integral part of Indian society. Today, India boasts a vibrant Jewish community, which numbers close to 7,000, while Israel is home to 85,000 Jews of Indian origin. The warm ties between the Indian and Jewish people continue to enhance and influence the Indo-Israeli relationship today. As Israel and India celebrate 26 years of diplomatic relations, cooperation between the two countries has never been stronger. The following are just some of the many ways in which Israel and India are working together to promote a brighter and more prosperous future for all. Innovation and Technology: Israel, which has the most startups per capita worldwide, and India which is the top innovation destination in Asia, are utilizing their innovative spirit and technological resources to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. “India and Israel are walking hand in hand into the future as partners. India is a growing economic powerhouse with a large market and talent pool. Israel is a world leader in high technology and innovation. From start-ups to space, communications to cybernetics, Israel’s technological capabilities are merging with India’s.”- Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Modi, joint op-ed, Israel Today and India Today In 2017, a series of agreements were signed between Israel and India to strengthen innovation and technological ties between the two countries, including the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund, a five-year, $40 million fund, which will be used to encourage partnerships between Israeli and Indian innovators. Israel and India also established the “India-Israel Innovation Bridge” a platform dedicated to bringing together Israeli and Indian entrepreneurs and startups to collaborate on a series of innovative projects related to water, agriculture, and health. There has also been a substantial increase in commercial ties and business ventures between Indian and Israeli tech companies. Since 2015, a number of major Indian IT corporations such as Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra have made notable investments in Israeli tech companies. In 2017, OurCrowd, one of Israel’s leading equity crowdfunding platforms established an innovation incubator in Jerusalem, in partnership with Reliance Industries (one of India’s largest conglomerates) Motorola Solutions, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The incubator, which is the largest of its kind, will support the growth of startups in Jerusalem and encourage business cooperation between Israeli and Indian startups, venture capitalists, and tech companies. Israel and India are further strengthening cooperation in technology and innovation through a series of joint academic and educations partnerships, which aim to bridge between Israel and India’s growing innovation and technology industries. In November of 2017, India’s Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) opened an Israel Centre on its campus, which will serve as a hub for research, business strategy, technological innovation, and academic collaboration between Israel and India. Upon the inauguration of the new center, Israel’s Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon noted, “Bengaluru is an ideal center for startups and this collaboration is an excellent idea. This center will bring together like-minded individuals in academic knowledge and research.” In September of 2017, the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi hosted the “Start India” competition in conjunction with the Indian Government’s Department of Science & Technology (DST). The competition searched for India’s most promising startup to represent India in Israel’s biggest international startup competition, Start JLM. Start JLM brings entrepreneurs from 40 countries to Israel to participate in an all expenses boot camp for early stage startups. Indian startup Mimyk which focuses on virtual reality methods for training doctors in endoscopy procedures went on to compete in the Start JLM competition in November of 2017. On the grassroots level, Indian and Israeli innovators continue to work together to solve a range of global issues. Programs like the Israel-India Hackathon are creating and enhancing ties between Israeli and Indian entrepreneurs, further expanding both the Israeli and Indian startup ecosystems. The hackathon, which was hosted by the Pears Program for Global Innovation at Tel Aviv University in July of 2017, brought more than 600 innovators developers, entrepreneurs, and health care professionals from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Tel Aviv together to create affordable tech solutions for millions of Indians without access to medical care. These kinds of projects have the potential to benefit millions around the globe. Water and Agriculture: Israel, which has overcome extreme water crises since its founding and is a world leader in water, is in a unique position to help India purify and maximize its water supply which nourishes more than one billion people. During his visit to Israel, Indian Prime Minister Modi witnessed Israeli water purification methods firsthand at Haifa’s Olga Beach where ocean water was purified via a mobile water desalination unit. During this visit, Israel and India signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform in India. Under these agreements, Israeli technologies will be used to clean and purify the Ganges River, which provides water to more than a third of India's population. With more than 159.7 million of hectares of arable land in India and close to 500 Israeli companies dedicated to agro technologies, collaboration between Israel and India in agriculture is an important and strategic partnership for both countries. Since 2008, MASHAV (Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation) and India’s Ministry of Agriculture, have opened 20 Centers of Excellence across 9 Indian States in which Israeli experts train thousands of Indian farmers in groundbreaking Israeli methods such as drip irrigation. These methods are having a profound effect on India’s agriculture industry, significantly improving crop diversity and crop production across the country. In December of 2017, Israel and India inaugurated the first agro-technology development center in Tamil Nadu which will focus on floriculture. 7 additional Centers of Excellence are expected to open in the coming years, bringing the total number of centers in India to twenty-seven. Israel’s ambassador to India Daniel Carmon has highlighted agricultural cooperation between Israel and India as a cornerstone of the Indo-Israel relationship noting, “The success story of our agricultural cooperation is second to none, and it is only the beginning. We hope to see the same achievements in the fields of water, innovation and academia.” Culture: From tourism, to music, to film and television, Indo-Israel cultural ties are reaching new heights and transcending borders, further strengthening the bonds of friendship between the Israeli and Indian people. In December of 2017, a delegation of Bollywood actors, screenwriters and producers participated in a trip to Israel organized by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture. The delegation included Priyanka Mehrotra, a producer of the hit Indian television series P.O.W which was adapted from the Israeli series Hatufim (Prisoners of War), and won the prize for best direction for a fictional show at the 2017 Asian Television Awards. India and Israel are currently working on a co-production agreement, which will encourage and increase partnerships between the Israeli and Indian film industries. Indian culture has penetrated Israel’s music industry, with a growing number of Israeli musicians such as Leora Isaac and Shay Ben Tzur who draw inspiration from Indian music. Isaac, one of Israel’s rising artists, is famous both in Israel and in India for her unique fusion of Indian sounds and instruments with Hebrew texts. Born in Israel to Indian immigrants, Isaac moved to India at the age of 15 to study Indian classical music at the Sur Sarvadhan Institute in Pune. Her music points to the warm and close friendship between the Indian and Israeli people, predicated on the mutual values and historical ties shared by the two nations. Ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to India on 14 January, Israel is proud to celebrate more than two decades of close cooperation with India and looks forward to continuing and enhancing the Indo-Israeli relationship to advance health, prosperity, and peace on a global scale. PINNED Scroll for more news 
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 13, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Edith Levy, a’h, mother of Jesse (Ella) Levy and Judd Levy.
Upodatyed on Apr. 18 @ 4:53PM - Baltimore:Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, from 4:00PM-6:00PM (Mincha at 6:00PM) at 6501 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209 Jesse can be reached at 410-484-0053 or 301-704-0798.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Part of the purification process for one stricken with tzara'as — leprosy, is the bringing of two birds. The selection of birds to serve as atonement for this leper having succumbed to the sin of slander, is to remind us that it all starts with theפטפוטי דברים — purposeless 'chatter', like birds who twitter constantly with chirping sounds.
The coincidence of Shabbos HaGadol with the weekly portion that addresses the rectification of derogatory speech, draws us to a mystical teaching of the Holy Arizal regarding the deeper meaning of the name of the holiday of פסח — Pesach.
He writes that this word which is usually associated with its meaning to 'skip over', alluding to how on the night of the Plague of the Firstborn, G-d skipped ov...
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Baltimore, MD - Apr. 17, 2024 - Join the community in a new incentive to disconnect from digital life and reconnect with... life!
Commit to limit your screen time during Sefiras HaOmer, the special time of growth between Pesach and Shavuos, and win great prizes! See below for details.
To sponsor any part of this initiative, reach out to us at help@tagbaltimore.org or call 410-449-1824
As we prepare for the Yom Tov of Pesach, time is of the essence. At every turn we must be mindful of time. The difference between matzah being kosher l’pesach (fit for Passover use) and chametz is dependent on time. Get the matzah baked in under 18 minutes and you are good to go – delay, and it’s chametz. At the seder, you can’t begin before nightfall and need to consume the afikoman before midnight. In fact, this fixation on time starts even earlier, generations earlier. The first mitzvah we were given (while still in Egypt) was Kiddush HaChodesh, sanctification of the new moon, setting and establishing the calendar. Judaism is fixated on time. This preoccupation is for good reason. Life is filled with beautiful and holy opportunities, bu...
BaltimoreJewishLife.com (BJL) is proud to partner with STAR-K CERTIFICATION that realizes that there is no substitute for a person’s own Rav. In an effort to offer a possible solution, it has launched its Institute of Halachah as a public service. Over the years, the agency’s Kashrus Hotline has answered generic halachic questions from kosher consumers the world over, including inquiries regarding the kosher status of foods and certified Sabbath mode appliances. The formation of a separate official division within STAR-K testifies to the need for addressing these issues. The Institute of Halachah is directed by HaRav Mordechai Frankel, under the guidance of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K’s Rabbinic Administrator. It is an invaluable resource for a diverse array of rabbis to discuss general halachic matters, as well as gain access to source materials for shiurim and answers to congregants’ questions. Shailos for regular or Kashrus shailos may emailed or discussed using this widget. 
Following the conclusion of an aerial strike on Iran, Iran has removed all restrictions on flights at the Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, after the flights were suspended due to alleged Israeli attacks in Isfahan.
However, Fly Dubai has cancelled its Friday flights to Tehran.
The strike was carried out in retaliation for Iran's Saturday night launch of 350 drones and missiles towards Israeli territory. A full 99% of the launches were intercepted, only five fell in Israeli territory; only one person, a Bedouin child, was injured.
Parallel to the strikes on Iran, targets in southern Syria were also hit. Later, the Syrian government confirmed that the Israeli missile attack had targeted aerial defense sites in southern S...
An Israeli missile strike targeted a site in Iran early Friday morning, according to ABC News. The report came shortly after local sources reported explosions in Isfahan in central Iran, in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria, and in the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate of Iraq early Friday morning.
Videos reportedly from Isfahan appeared to show Iranian air defenses activated in the skies over the area.
The Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency reported that an explosion was heard in Qahjavarestan, east of Isfahan and near the Isfahan International Airport. Fars stressed that the cause of the explosion was unknown as of yet.Reports of strikes on sites belonging to Syrian army
Syrian reports on Friday morning indicated airstrikes had also targeted sites belonging to...
More than 100 people were arrested by New York Police Department officers on a preliminary charge of criminal trespass, as police entered Columbia University on Thursday to disperse a pro-Palestinian Arab protest that began a day earlier, CNN reported.
The individuals were detained with no resistance, and the university is named as the complainant since the incident occurred on its property, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The arrests come one day after clashes erupted at competing rallies of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian Arab groups on Columbia’s campus.
Several people waving Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flags had verbal confrontations with police officers, who had begun boxing the protesters in with barricades, CNN affiliate WCBS&nb...
The US on Thursday vetoed a Security Council resolution to admit the Palestinian Authority as a full member state of the United Nations.
12 countries voted in favor of the resolution: Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China, and Algeria.
Two countries abstained – Britain and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said following the vote, “The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism.”
“I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council. It is outrageous th...
Washington, D.C. - Apr. 18, 2024 The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging and sold at Trader Joe’s stores in AL, CT, D.C., DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WI.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Seven of eight cases with information available reported exposure to fresh organic basil purchased from Trader Joe's before becoming ill. Additionally, traceback data collecte...
The secrets of the miracles which happened on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Tazria - 6th of Nissan 5784 when Iran shot 350 ballistic missiles on Eretz Yisroel and they were all intercepted, most on the way on top of Jordan. An in depth Torah vision of this specific day throughout history of the Tanach.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Barry Fader, z’l, brother of Pinchas Fader.
Pinchas is sitting shiva in Israel (Nahal Lachish 22/3 Ramat Beit Shemesh א) through Monday morning, Apr. 22 and can be reached at 058-631.3253 or (667) 309-1399.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Last year, Baltimore lost a giant, Rabbi Moshe Juravel zt”l. I had the zechus to write an article about him, which was warmly received. He inspired so many in various ways. In the article, I shared that before Pesach, Rabbi Juravel wanted to teach the boys about family minhagim and gave out a questionnaire for the boys to fill out. (Click on the graphics below for a larger, printable version.)My brother, who was in his class, brought this home and my father excitedly filled it out. Years later, my other brother used this as a springboard to write a kunteres for our family of its minhagim, all from a handout to a fifth-grader!
In the opening, he writes: "To the parents of my talmidim. Yiddishkeit has survived the galus intact because of our ability to transmit the mesorah of ou...
Rabbi Labish Becker - Pesach 5784 Part 4 -A Bird's Eye View- from Agudath Israel on Vimeo.
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 18, 2024 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 18 April 2024), visited Mossad headquarters where he met with Director David Barnea and – afterwards – with the forum of division heads. They discussed regional developments in the various sectors. The Prime Minister and the Mossad Director also referred to the continuing efforts – and the importance of doing everything possible – to return the hostages back home as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Netanyahu then visited the ISA headquarters where he held working meetings with ISA Director Ronen Bar and – afterwards – met with the senior management forum chaired by Director Bar, his deputy and additional senior officials.
The Prime Minister received a co...
Israel prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week, three Israeli sources told ABC News on Wednesday.
According to the report, a range of responses to the drone and missile attack have been presented to the Israeli War Cabinet. The potential responses include options ranging from attacking Iranian proxies in the region but not on Iranian soil to a potential cyber attack, the sources said.
Israel is unlikely to carry out a strike on Iran until after Passover, which begins at sundown on Monday, a senior US official told ABC News, although that could always change.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other leadership are still on a high state of alert, with some in safe houses and underground facilities, ...
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton, Florida, once remarked that Pesach is like Disney World for kids. Here is his important message regarding the coming days, which holds true even during these challenging times:Passover (Pesach) is the Holiday of Freedom. It’s our opportunity to communicate our values and the Story of Passover to the next generation. On Pesach, it’s important to keep in mind that we are supposed to eat Maror (bitter herbs) not become as bitter as Maror. In the days preceding Pesach and on Seder night itself, our guiding principles should be those of joy, enthusiasm, and meaning. Here are some examples: The Search for Chametz is a holy game of “hide and seek.” It is supposed to be fun and not a burden. The same applies to the Burning of Chamet...
Baltimore, Md - Apr. 18, 2024 - In many ways the main mitzvah of the Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus. Yes, we eat matzah, and yes, we drink wine, and yes to all the customs and rules and all of that. Yet, from a certain perspective, all of these moments are in service to our telling the story. We start with the bad times, we end with the good times. We have questions and answers, and we try to feel like we were really there during the times of slavery and were really there when we marched out, saved, proud, and so obviously beloved by the Creator.
From time to time, a student will ask me why it is that in olden times there were so many miracles and nowadays, we don’t have miracles like that. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have faith and keep the mitzvot ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Abraham Weinberger, z’l, brother of Mrs. Lori Pollak (443 844 1250).
Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, 2024, from 10:00AM - 4:00PM at 3909 W. Strathmore Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215
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