Malick Asghar Hashmi

When the Iranian missiles hit the Israeli city of Dimona - targeting its nuclear plant - few people knew that the city of about 40,000 people, has a large population of the Marathi-speaking people.

Wandering the streets of Dimona, you would hardly believe that you are in an Israeli city. The houses here smell of poha, vada pao and jalebis. In the evenings, cricket is played in the parks and even today, people speak Marathi at home.

This city looks like a small India on the map of Israel.

Besides the nuclear facility, the city of Dimona is also a major industrial centre. In the 1980s, it was dominated by large companies such as Dimona Textiles Ltd. Even today, a third of the city's population works in the nearby Dead Sea chemical plants, high-tech companies, and textile mills.

Located in this arid region of the Negev Desert, the city was founded in 1955. The majority of the residents are Beni Israelis, Jews of Indian origin who arrived in the 1960s.

The history of the Bani Israelis dates back 2000 years. They lived for centuries in India, in places such as Maharashtra, Kerala, and Kolkata, as well as in the northeast, without facing any discrimination. When Israel became an independent country in 1948, the idea of ​​returning to their motherland attracted them. But it also took with it the memories and culture of India.

Even today, weddings in Dimona look like scenes from a Bollywood film. The bride wears a saree, and the sound of Hindi songs echoes in the air. Although the religious rituals are Jewish, the colour, taste and music of the celebration are completely Indian. Festivals like Diwali and Onam are celebrated here with the same enthusiasm as in Mumbai or Kochi.

The Jewish community in India has always flourished with respect. The Bani Israel of the Konkan coast blended into the Marathi culture to such an extent that they completely adopted the language and cuisine. The Cochin

Jews of Kerala and the Baghdadi Jews also played an important role in the social and economic development of India. Many bright stars of Indian history belong to this community.

Whether it is the hero of the 1971 war, Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw and Gen JFR Jacob, poet Naseem Ezekiel, or the famous Hindi cinema actress Sulochana and actor David Abraham, all of them have made India famous.

Esther David, through her writings, presented the life of Indian Jews to the world, for which she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award. The famous Sassoon Hospital and many schools in Mumbai still bear witness to the generosity of this community.

The city of Dimona is located in southern Israel. As harsh as this area is, it is also strategically important. Dimona stands

Besides Dimona, the Indian Jews are also spread across major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa and Ashdod. Many are making a name for themselves in the IT business and service sector. 

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The Israeli government is now working on a plan to bring back the remaining members of the Beni Menashe community. These people hail from northeastern India and consider themselves descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.