New Delhi: Nissin Rubin, a Jewish Indian-American, praised India’s enduring tradition of communal harmony and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to highlight the country’s historical relationship with the Jewish community during the inauguration of the Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM) in Maryland.
Rubin highlighted India’s exceptional legacy of providing safety and acceptance to its Jewish population for over two thousand years. He said that India stands as the only country in the world with no history of anti-Semitism throughout its long history, a fact that has not been widely acknowledged in the West but is now gaining recognition, particularly through Modi’s speeches. While India’s relationship with Israel is relatively recent, Rubin said that the connection between India and the Jewish people go back to ancient times.
Rubin highlights India’s interfaith harmony
He also praised India’s inclusivity and shared examples of interfaith cooperation and cited the 120-year-old Jewish girls’ school in Calcutta and the two Sassoon schools in Mumbai, where most of the students are Muslim. Even during periods of Middle Eastern conflict, these schools—located within Jewish synagogues—have never faced violence, despite being in Muslim-majority areas. This, according to Rubin, reflects the resilience and unity of the Indian people.
Rubin also talked about the importance of global cooperation for peace. He saidd there is need for strengthened partnerships between the United States, India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other allies to ensure a free, stable and prosperous Middle East.
AIAM launches to support Indian-American minorities
The AIAM, a newly formed non-governmental organisation, was launched at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland. Its mission is to unite and advocate for the well-being of minority communities within the Indian-American diaspora. At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was posthumously honoured with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment, recognising his contributions to inclusive development and the welfare of minorities. The award was presented by Washington Adventist University and AIAM.
