Plenty to talk about
“When we tell people about the Jewish-Kashmiri Dialogue-Group (JKDG), their reaction is usually one of bewilderment. “There are Jews in Kashmir?!?” they say. Or, “Where’s Kashmir?” At best they ask, “What do Jews and Kashmiris have to talk about?” The answer is: A lot. One of us, Alex Stein – an Israeli – traveled to Kashmir during his post-army trip to India. While there, he wrote an article about the Kashmiri struggle for independence from India on The Guardian’s Web site, attracting attention from local people who were heartened by outsiders supporting their call for autonomy. This prompted Alex to forge a connection between Kashmiris and Diaspora Jews.” Read on at Haaretz.
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Re article on Jewish Kashmiri dialogue group – sounds interesting
But representing yourself as an Israeli! Isn’t that a bit misleading for a British Jew who’s lived all his life (incl Univ) in UK. You only made Aaliya a couple years ag as I recall. Have you given up your British nationality for Israeli passport?
The other thing is that the Kasmir question / history / politics / identity is quite complex. And to say that British and Israeli tourists are/have been historically welcomed in Kasmir??? Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that’s only in the Indian part – surely not the Pakistani part
And just to cool your ardour further:
Sorry but I’m generally deeply sceptical about “interfaith initiatives”. And of the idea that it is always the job of Jews (as a collective or self-identified group) to go round sticking their noses into other peoples’ businesses and conflicts, whether out of enlightened self-interest, misguided moral necessity, or whatever (Tikkun). That can easily backfire in spades!!
“What do you think of that my friend?” (Bob Dylan)
Cheers
Tony
Hi Tony,
I don’t think it’s misleading – I primarily identitfy myself as an Israeli, I’ve served in the army and I have an ID card and passport to boot! I could have identified myself, I supposed as an Anglo-Israeli or a British-Israeli, but I don’t think it’s all that important.
You’re right about the Indian part; the article didn’t really deal with the Pakistani part, which is much smaller.
This also isn’t an interfaith initiative; it’s just an intercommunity initiative providing opportunities to people from each group looking to find out more.
It is not misleading. As soon as someone has an Israeli passport, they are Israeli. They can choose to define themselves anyway they wish.
“They can chose to define themselves anyway they wish”: Gabriel that’s such predictably meaningless post-modern nonsense. Henceforth I am defining myself as Antonietta, a 17 yr old Colombian lesbian Buddhist female freediver. Please respect that…
Tony, if you had actually read my entire post, you would have seen that I had written “As soon as someone has an Israeli passport, they are Israeli.” Obviously, without that he cannot claim to be an Israeli.
Gabriel
I would argue there is a useful and relevant distinction here, between Israeli born, one who has emigrated to Israel say as a child with parents, and one coming from the West (UK) to make Aaliyah as a fully educated adult.
Of course I read your entire post – was only two short sentences. And you clearly asserted “they can chose to define themselves anyway they wish”. Maybe that statement needs some qualification
I’ve lived five years in the Middle East and five years in North America. I’m still Asian. I don’t understand how people adopt a foreign identity in a few years that overwhelms decades of living in their place of birth.
Tony Coren, perhaps you should bear in mind the name of this blog when posting in future.
This prompted Alex to forge a connection between Kashmiris and Diaspora Jews.
The kashmiris have nothing racially to do with the people live in israel today or who go around calling themselves ‘jews’ today so they have no reason to want to forge a ‘connection’ with the people who go around calling themselves jews today and it is incorrect to present such an image unless you have the archeological/historical/scientific/cultural/biological/lingusitc etc… evidence to back it up. You have half the world claiming they are of jewish descent even the chinese dont tell me the chinese jews http://www.newhopeconnection.com/images/library/israel_connection_pics/orthodox_jew.jpg and kashmiris have something racially in common. As from a religious perspective the ancestors of kashmiris on became muslims recognised and turned back to the religon of there forefather. So I dont see what a kashmiri would have in common with a so called israeli nor do I believe kashmiris take the so called jews israel today and there alleged connection to the disapora living in israel today seriously.
wowow oww ! i am so glad i have found this website !why ask some people? well hello my mum is kashmiri !from jammu srinagar area! i was brought up on the other side of the border ! but guess what ? from the childhood he used to say ! “we have nothing against jews….your grandfather actually used to tell me there is so much common between us” these are my mothers words give or take! i have never been to jammu ,but i am plaining to do so in 2 years time.should be fun.have loads of family there…live iN LDN town now, have loads of friends who celebrate sedar..:) my grandfather would have been proud that i kept his family cultural traditions going ..who said its only jews doing initiations in contact .”hellooooooooo” i am here by myself…..are you guys in uk? how do i join in?:D