This article looks at the cultural and people-to-people links between India and Israel: cultural exchanges and institutions, academic links and students, tourism, Indian citizens living in Israel and the community of Jews of Indian origin. Its facts come from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of February 2026.

According to the MEA brief of February 2026, the civilisational relations between the two countries date back more than two millennia. The brief states that India has welcomed Jews for several centuries, and that their contribution has, in turn, enriched Indian culture.

Cultural exchanges

India and Israel maintain a Cultural Exchange Programme covering art, culture and youth exchanges. The brief states that Yoga and Ayurveda are popular in Israel, where International Yoga Day is celebrated enthusiastically.

The Indian Cultural Centre in Tel Aviv has been operational since January 2020 and organises events to strengthen cultural links.

In December 2025, ICCR and Tel Aviv University (TAU) signed an agreement creating the first ICCR-TAU India Chair in Israel. It allows TAU to host prominent Indian scholars annually across various disciplines.

There are approximately 1000 Indian students in Israel, mainly doing doctoral and post-doctoral studies in STEM areas. Several courses related to India are also taught at Israeli universities.

Research links are overseen by the Joint Committee on S&T, established under the S&T Cooperation Agreement signed in 1993. The brief states that this cooperation promotes joint research programmes in select areas of mutual importance, extending financial support for joint research activities by Indian and Israeli researchers through various modes. In 2023, the India-Israel Joint Research Programme was launched, seeking proposals in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) application in climate change and agriculture for food security.

Tourism

The brief states that India is known in Israel as an ancient nation with strong cultural traditions and as an attractive tourist destination.

Israel's Minister for Tourism, Haim Katz, visited India on 22-30 January 2025. He met India's Minister of Tourism and inaugurated the Israeli pavilion at the OTM India travel fair in Mumbai.

Indian citizens in Israel

As of February 2026, there are over 42,000 Indian citizens in Israel, according to the brief. They are primarily caregivers, and also include people working in the construction and agriculture sectors, diamond traders, IT professionals and students.

Jews of Indian origin

There are over 100,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel who are Israeli passport holders. The main waves of immigration into Israel from India took place in the 1950s and 1960s. The brief identifies the following groups:

  • Bene Israelis, from Maharashtra, who form the majority
  • Cochini Jews, from Kerala, in relatively smaller numbers
  • Baghdadi Jews, from Kolkata, in relatively smaller numbers
  • Bnei Menashe, from the northeastern states of India, some of whom have been immigrating to Israel in recent years

India's Embassy in Israel facilitates the National Convention of Indian Jews in Israel. The annual event brings together around 5,000 Indian-origin Jews. Conventions have been held in Ramla (2013), Yeruham (2014), Ramla (2015), Kiryat Gat (2016), Ashkelon (2017) and Petach Tikvah (2022).

Pravasi Bhartiya Samman

The brief lists these recipients of the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman from Israel:

  • 2005: Late Eliyahu Bezalel, hailing from Chennamangalam, Kochi, an agriculturalist in Israel and the first Israeli of Indian origin to receive the award
  • 2011: Late Sheikh Muhammad Munir Nazir Hassan Ansari, director and trustee of the Indian Hospice in Jerusalem, which the brief describes as a unique Indian connection to the Holy City
  • 2017: late Dr. Lael A. Best, an Israeli cardio-thoracic surgeon of Indian origin
  • 2023: Reena Vinod Pushkarna, a restaurateur in Israel, in recognition of her achievements in the fields of business and community welfare