The Israel-India Connection

Israel and India are probably the two most spiritual countries in the world. Both are centres of at least two world religions: Judaism & Christianity and Hinduism & Buddhism. After many years of European political influence on India through the English, Portuguese and French the tide has turned and today there is no denying the spiritual and philosophical influence of India. Also interesting is that many aspects of hinduistic thinking can be discovered in postmodernity, for example the possibility of many parallel existing truths that by western logics would exclude each other. Since the Sixties multitudes of people travel to India in search of spirituality. Among the young Israelis India has also become a very popular travel destination. Most come after their 2-3 year long service in the IDF (Israel Defense Force) to party hard or to do yoga and meditation. We have met many of them on our trip.
When we visited Israel earlier this year, one guy talked to Rebecca and asked her, if she has been to India. She said yes and the guy went on to say that visiting India changes one's spirit, and he can see that in her. New Age is on the rise in Israel (and slowly in the other Middle Eastern countries). That was also quite obvious on the European Rainbow Gathering last year, where one of he biggest groups (countrywise) were the Israelis, although they are not even Europeans!
On Goa's beaches almost every restaurant serves Israeli food and sometimes you can spot signs and posters written in Hevrit. However, because of their party attitude and being together in large groups they are disliked by many Indians. I heard of places that have signs at the entrance saying "No Israelis"! And also another group expresses their dislike: In the Newspaper three days ago was an article that Israel advises their citizens not to travel to India, because the Al Qaida made concrete threats for an assault in Goa, where most Israelis gather. We didn't expect this conflict to follow us until here. Let's hope that no actions will follow the threat.