- Born in Mumbai into a Bene Israeli Jewish family, Perry grew up celebrating both Hindu and Jewish festivals, exemplifying interfaith harmony from an early age.
- He highlights his deep appreciation for India, particularly the warmth and acceptance shown by the Hindu majority towards minority communities, including Jews.
- He emphasizes that in India, Jews enjoyed the same rights as other citizens, a unique experience not commonly found elsewhere in the world.
- At 80, Perry remains active, writing and working to strengthen the bonds between Hindu and Jewish communities and between India and Israel.
- His advocacy and leadership efforts, both in India and globally, have been driven by his gratitude towards India’s inclusive approach, which allowed the Jewish community to thrive alongside their Hindu neighbors.
John Perry was born in a middle-class Bene Israeli, Marathi-speaking Jewish family in Mumbai. He has worked as a journalist with a major Indian newspaper, The Indian Express. In the 1970s, John was assigned to report from Israel. During the 1975 Emergency rule in India, he decided to take Israeli citizenship and worked there for the Associated Press, Tel Aviv, and El Al Israel Airlines. Like other Israelis, John served the Israel Defense Forces and saw action in the Yom Kippur War.
He came to the US in 1979, edited News India-Times and India Worldwide, and also produced television and radio shows for the Indian American community.
He has been very active in the Jewish world. He is the founder of the International Organization of Bene Israel, the Hindu-Jewish Friendship Association, Mumbai, and the Israel Friendship Association, Mumbai. He has also served as vice president of B’nai B’rith, a well-known Jewish service organization. He was honored both by the New Jersey State Assembly and the US Congress for strengthening the ties between India and the US.
John is 80 now, continues to write, and works to strengthen the bonds between the Hindu-Jewish communities and India-Israel. This article is based on his interview with Dharma Explorers. The complete video recording of his interview can be accessed here.
Could you tell us about your early years growing up in India? Please share in your own words about where you grew up, your family, your community, and what influenced you during that time.
I was born into a middle-class Jewish family in Mumbai. My Jewish name is not John but Yohanaan. My grandfather hailed from a village called Pezari in the Raigad district. In our tradition, your family name often reflects your village of origin, hence my last name.
We lived in a large building with about 200 tenants. Most were Jewish and Hindu, with a couple of Christians and one Muslim family. Despite our diverse religious backgrounds, we lived harmoniously, never allowing our different faiths to create a divide among us. This unity was beautifully highlighted during various religious festivals. For instance, during Hindu festivals like Ganapati puja, even though I was Jewish, I would participate fully, learning about and engaging in all the rituals and ceremonies. I took great pride in this as it enriched my understanding and respect for other cultures, making me a better person and a better Jew.
…water shortage used to be a big problem in Mumbai in those days… and there was a cooperative understanding among neighbors… If it were a Jewish festival, our neighbor would let the Jewish neighbor fill up the water first and then take turns.
The respect and shared celebrations went both ways. During Jewish festivals, our Hindu neighbors would participate with the same enthusiasm. Our rituals, like those involving preparation and offering food during certain prayers, saw everyone coming together, singing, and praying. This mutual respect extended to everyday life as well. For instance, water shortage used to be a big problem in Mumbai in those days. Typically, tap water was available only in the morning and evening. We were aware of each other’s festivals, and there was a cooperative understanding among neighbors during such occasions. If it were a Jewish festival, our neighbor would let the Jewish neighbor fill up the water first and then take turns.
Moreover, our festivals often coincided, creating a shared festive atmosphere in our community. For instance, during the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur, there is a Hindu festival, Dussehra, where participants distribute dried leaves by the roadside. Seeing us return from the synagogue, our Hindu neighbors would respectfully make way, ensuring our passage was unhindered.
This kind of social courtesy was not limited to festivals alone. Even in daily interactions, there was a beautiful blending of cultures. We even adopted Marathi names for some of our religious festivals. At one such festival, my mother made a dish called ‘Kadve Vaal’ (Birda in Marathi), which was a community favorite. Our neighbors would even request her to set aside some for them.
Looking back, I cherish the deep connections and the sense of belonging with my neighbors and friends from different faiths the most. Despite being a member of a tiny minority, I never felt marginalized. On the contrary, the overarching teachings of Hinduism and the inherent respect for others ensured that we were more than equals—we were a family. This experience has profoundly impacted my view of India and how I perceive religious and cultural integration.
Could you please talk a bit about your professional life and your decision to move to Israel and then the United States?
After completing my high school education at St. Xavier, I pursued an undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Chemistry. While in college, I took a part-time job to help my family financially. The job entailed going to sporting events like football and hockey and reporting on them for the Free Press Journal and, later, the Indian Express. This job became the precursor to my career in journalism.
While I continued my studies in science and later law, I began to work more closely with the newspapers. I formed a strong bond with Ramnath Goenka, the editor of The Indian Express. In 1972, I was assigned to Israel to report on Israeli politics. However, back in India, the political situation was chaotic. Just two years after I moved to Israel, the government in India, led by Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency. Mrs. Gandhi was unhappy with the negative coverage from foreign journalists, so she introduced policies restricting their finances, including stopping the payment of salaries to foreign-based Indian journalists like me. Seeing difficult conditions in India and without financial support, I decided to stay in Israel, become a citizen, and, much later, move to the United States.
In Israel, our family grew as my wife and I welcomed our two sons. We were part of a sizeable community of about 85,000 Marathi-speaking Jews known as the Bene Israel. Life in Israel felt much like being in India. We had Marathi dramas, Hindi movies, or Marathi publications. Our Maharashtrian roots deeply influenced our culture, cuisine, and behaviors, making it feel like a home away from home.
As a member of a small Jewish minority in a predominantly Hindu nation, how were the relationships between communities? Specifically, how was the Jewish community treated within this Hindu-majority setting?
To illustrate my deep connections and rich history, I’ll share an experience from my visits to India. Apart from supporting a school for specially-abled children in Kalamboli, near Panvel, I am deeply connected to the 184-year-old Beth El Synagogue, Panvel. This synagogue holds a special place in my family’s history because my ancestors, shipwrecked on Konkan’s coast, originally settled there. Only seven couples survived this ordeal, but as their numbers grew, they spread throughout the region, taking surnames from the villages they settled in.
Even today, remnants of their professions linger. One notable example is Telache Ghana, a Marathi term for traditional oil pressing work, where a bull would rotate around a press to extract oil. This profession likely stemmed from their knowledge of producing olive oil back in Nazareth, renowned for its olive trees.
We have many synagogues in the area, which are now inactive and being transformed into libraries or small community centers as tributes to the local Hindu community and to serve children in the area. Interestingly, most of our community’s synagogues are located near “Shani” Hindu temples. In Panvel, where the early oil pressing work stopped on Saturdays in observance of our Sabbath, the area used to be known as Shaniwar Tellis.
Our commitment to living harmoniously with our Hindu neighbors has fostered deep respect and acceptance that would be hard to find in any other country. This deep-rooted respect and unity with India are why we, as a community, feel a profound sense of belonging and gratitude towards this land.
There’s a long tradition of members of the neighboring Hindu community visiting our synagogue once a year. During these visits, they join in the prayers and stand near the ark that holds our holy books, including the Torah. Likewise, we had many Hindu friends in Mumbai who were part of the Hindu-Jewish Association and would frequently join us at major religious events.
Such integration with local cultures, languages, and communities underscores our identity as Indians first and foremost. Our commitment to living harmoniously with our Hindu neighbors has fostered deep respect and acceptance that would be hard to find in any other country. This deep-rooted respect and unity with India are why we, as a community, feel a profound sense of belonging and gratitude towards this land.
We have a unique tradition among the Indian Jews. On the holiest day for Jews, Yom Kippur, every Indian synagogue sends its blessings to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the state’s Chief Minister. This practice highlights significant teaching from our texts, suggesting that the laws of the country where one resides should take precedence over religious laws, underscoring our identity as Indians first and then as Jews.
Incidentally, it’s fascinating to see how much these two cultures have in common. An excellent Israeli friend, Hananya Goodman, has written a comprehensive book titled “Between Jerusalem and Banaras, ” exploring the similarities between Judaism and Hinduism. The book shows that despite Hinduism being much older than Judaism, there are many similarities between these two ancient religions.
Can you discuss the migration of Indian Jews to Israel, the composition of Jewish society there, and what life is like for Indian Jews in Israel?
For over 2000 years, we have been praying with Jerusalem and Israel at the heart of our prayers, deeply embedded in all our religious texts. We’ve always yearned to be connected to this holy land. After the State of Israel was established in 1948, many Jews from various backgrounds started moving there. The Bene Israel and the Cochin Jews chose Israel as their new home, while the Baghdadi Jews preferred England due to their close ties with the British during colonial times, which made obtaining British citizenship easier.
Despite our migration to Israel, the cultural and familial ties that bind us to India remain strong, and the improved political relations have made interactions smoother.
The Jewish community in Israel is very diverse. We have Ashkenazi Jews from Europe and Sephardic Jews from Asia and Arab countries. Over the years, our [Bene Israel] community in Israel has integrated well and thrived. We’ve even had representation in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
Despite our migration to Israel, the cultural and familial ties that bind us to India remain strong, and the improved political relations have made interactions smoother. The accessibility and mutual respect between the two nations have greatly enhanced our sense of belonging and have allowed us to maintain our connections with our homeland while thriving in our adopted country.
Could you share your thoughts on the historical and evolving relationship between India and Israel? Why do you think it took so long for these two countries to establish a strong diplomatic connection?
The India-Israel relationship has not always been smooth. Back in 1965, when I wanted to participate in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, often referred to as the Jewish Olympics, I faced challenges with travel. My Indian passport was valid for all countries except Israel. Given the political climate of the time, it took significant effort to obtain the necessary approval.
Back then, India’s foreign policy was strongly shaped by its close relationships with countries like Egypt under Nasser and its position of non-alignment, something that never made any sense to me. I remember when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was in New York for a U.N. meeting and held a press conference as the president of the non-aligned movement. I asked her if, given her role, she had to stay neutral in international matters. She didn’t respond, and all I got from her Foreign Minister, Narasimha Rao, was “No comments.” Another significant issue was the policy of appeasement in India towards certain vote banks that were inimical to the India-Israel friendship.
Fortunately, times have changed for the better. Nowadays, there are regular flights between India and Israel. Air India operates flights to Tel Aviv, facilitating travel for thousands of people moving between the two countries. This connection has been especially important for the nearly 90,000 Indian Jews living in Israel, making trips to Mumbai or New Delhi much easier.
Last year, Israel invested $8 billion to start manufacturing chips in India. Similarly, India is arranging to ship goods destined for Israel. Additionally, 25,000 Indians are heading to Israel to help in construction and other industries because of a labor shortage.
Could you tell us about some prominent personalities from the Indian Jewish community who have excelled in various professions?
The Jewish community in India has not only integrated but also thrived, enriching the fabric of Indian society across many areas. Much of the credit goes to India’s long history of being a welcoming sanctuary for oppressed people from all over the world
The Jewish community in India has significantly contributed to the country’s cultural and social fabric. I had the honor of interviewing General J.F.R. Jacob, renowned for his role in the Bangladesh War of 1971. As the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command, he orchestrated the surrender of the Pakistan army in Bangladesh, considered one of the largest surrenders by an army since World War II. Following his military service, he served as the governor of Goa and Punjab. His contributions have been a source of pride for the Jewish and wider Indian community.
The Indian Jewish community has also made significant contributions to other fields. For example, Dr. Jerusha Jhirad, a pioneering Indian Jewish doctor born in Mumbai, was inspired by a life-saving treatment she received as a child to pursue a medical career.
The influence of the Jewish community extends to the entertainment industry as well. In the early days of Indian cinema, some actors adopted Muslim names to secure roles due to the Middle Eastern funding sources and norms of the industry. Notable stars included Esther Victoria Abraham, who worked under the stage name Pramila, and Feroza Begum, born Susan Soloman. David Abraham Cheulkar also made his mark in the film industry, particularly remembered for his role in “Boot Polish.”
Beyond entertainment, the Jewish community has been involved in education and politics. There are also proud Indian Jews like Padmashri Estelle Solomon, a scholar of Sanskrit, and Padmashri Reuben David, who created a number of zoos in Gujarat.
To sum it up, the Jewish community in India has not only integrated but also thrived, enriching the fabric of Indian society across many areas. Much of the credit goes to India’s long history of being a welcoming sanctuary for oppressed people from all over the world. Be it the Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, or Tibetan people, India’s Hindu majority welcomed anyone who came to live there in peace and harmony. It is this inclusive nature of the Hindu society that such diverse communities have lived together without friction for thousands of years.
Could you share your thoughts on why the relationships between Hindus and Jews with the Muslim community remain contentious?
While most people want to live peacefully, some communities focus primarily on social domination by growing their numbers rather than social harmony or providing enough education, food, or shelter for their people. This is a serious problem for Hindus and Jews, whose populations are getting overwhelmed by such contentious communities.
In this information age, social conflicts also can arise from a lack of understanding of international issues. For example, some Hindus in the USA support pro-Palestinian groups without fully understanding the complexities of the conflicts in the Middle East. The recent Gaza war started as a result of the October 7, 2023, massacre of hundreds of Jews by Hamas but is being seen by some as a broader religious war between Jews and Muslims. Such misunderstandings often lead to uninformed political activism, creating dissension in society.
Our communities need to be aware of these issues and the effects of supporting movements without fully understanding the consequences so as to avoid unintentionally supporting agendas that could cause more conflict and instability, both locally and globally.
On the false narratives impacting Hindus and Jewish communities
Unfortunately, human beings tend to react to the most recent events without considering the context. For example, nowadays, when we hear a few thousand Palestinians dead, we forget how the situation originally started. Jews and Hindus are not taught to take to the streets, shouting and protesting to get their point across. They are raised with a focus on education, culture, and proper conduct. They prefer to educate others professionally and respectfully. However, these days, it seems like those methods aren’t as effective. Usually, the groups who demonstrate in large numbers on the streets end up getting their voices heard. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality we live in.
Now, let’s talk about a very sensitive subject – the Swastika. Given that the Swastika is a sacred Hindu symbol that is often mistakenly conflated with the Nazi Hakenkreuz, how can we educate the Jewish community about Swastika’s true history to prevent political issues for the Hindu diaspora?
There’s a need to educate the Jewish community, especially here in the U.S., on the history of the sacred Hindu symbol, Swastika, and how it has been maliciously conflated with the hated Nazi Hakenkreuz.
There’s a need to educate the Jewish community, especially here in the U.S., on the history of the sacred Hindu symbol, Swastika, and how it has been maliciously conflated with the hated Nazi Hakenkreuz. One effective way to do this could be by creating a Hindu-Jewish Friendship League. Such an organization could help us celebrate each other’s festivals, many of which coincidentally occur around the same time. Through these celebrations, we can educate the Jewish community about Hindu traditions, which should be relatively easy given the educated nature of both communities.
Scholars like Professor Nathan Katz can also help educate the Jewish community about the history of Swastika. He has written extensively on the distinctions and similarities between the Swastika as used in Hinduism and its perversion by other ideologies.
We need to begin somewhere, and establishing a foundation for ongoing dialogue and mutual education between the Hindu and Jewish communities is essential. This is not just about organizing a single event; it’s about building lasting relationships and understanding that can deeply benefit both communities. I am committed to supporting this cause as much as I can. Given the significant influence of India and Hinduism on my life, I feel a deep gratitude and am eager to give back in any way possible.
On a more positive note, both Jewish and Hindu immigrants have done well globally despite often starting from scratch. What factors do you attribute their success to?
Both communities believe in hard work. Back in the early 1980s, we lived in Queens for a year. During that time, I often walked to the New York Public Library along Second and Fifth Avenues. On my walks, I’d pass by various shops, especially newspaper stands, noticing many of them run by Indians. This reminded me of when European Jews first came to America and started businesses like selling newspapers because they didn’t speak English well.
I also had a friend in the diamond district where I observed Jews and Hindus working together closely. This experience was reinforced when I visited the reference library and saw young men from Hindu and Jewish communities studying together. It was clear that both communities value family, education, and maintaining close-knit relationships.
Any parting thoughts?
I want to share a story from my early childhood. In my youth, I recall being the only non-Hindu boy who used to attend the local RSS shakha [meeting]. We had gatherings in the evening, and punctuality was very important to the RSS leaders. They would start by singing the national anthem and saluting the flag. I often arrived a bit late, and one day, the leader asked me why I was always late. I explained to him that I felt a strong sense of pride saluting the flag by myself; it was a personal moment for me, and that spirit would stay with me forever.