Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Israel brought with it news of confirmative relations between India and Israel. Both the nations, have for years been serving as strong allies to each other. However, it wasn't until Modi's NDA government, did India openly recognise and endorse the constructive correspondence. Earlier this month, Modi arrived in the country to a warm and pleasant reception from host and counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Cabinet.
The PM's hectic itinerary included addressing the Indian community of the country and meeting with three prominent Indian-origin Israelis who are recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. Modi met Eliyahu Bezalel, Sheikh Ansari, and Dr Lael Anson Best. In a three-day visit jam-packed with events, meets and addresses, Dr Best's name managed to stand out. “Israel's doctor, Dr Lael Anson Best is from Gujarat, and my home state and those who are familiar with Ahmedabad, must have heard the name of Best High School in Maninagar. This year he was honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. Dr Lael Anson Best is a famous cardio surgeon here and his whole career is linked to several anecdotes of human services,” Modi said.
Once chief minister of Gujarat, Modi was MLA of the Maninagar constituency. Seeing him immediately connecting the link between Dr Best and Ahmedabad reflected how deeply he remains in touch with his roots and the Jewish community back home.
Ahmedabad is home to approximately 150 members of the Jewish community, 140 of them Bene Israel Jews. One of the leading thoracic surgeons in Israel, Dr Lael currently serves as consultant at Rambam Medical Centre. A long list of accomplishments to his credits, he spent a better part of his life in Ahmedabad, obtaining his MBBS and MS degrees from the University of Gujarat. One of the most affluent families in the city, the Bests have for generations lived and contributed to Education. The school mentioned by Modi was established in 1958, and expanded in 1965 by RM and wife QR Best, brother and sister-in-law to Dr Lael. The institution continues to remain one of the most sought-after schools in Ahmedabad.
As Asian Voice reached out to the Bene Israel Jewish family that has been living in Maninagar for the last four generations, they were more than willing to talk about Dr Lael, Modi and their school. Shalosh Best, Principal of the school said they couldn't be more proud. “PM Modi was very happy to speak with Dr Lael. Both of them spoke in Gujarati and held a lengthy conversation. Their meet can be considered to be very personal and warm. Dr Lael even invited the Prime Minister back for another visit. Both of them met before, some nine years back.”
When asked why Dr Best immigrated to Israel even when his family was firmly established in Ahmedabad, he said, “His father, Dr EM Best was dean at BJ Medical College and deputy director in the state health inspector. Lael did not want to live in his father's shadow and wished to create a name of his own. That is exactly what he has done today.” Talking about their small community, Shalosh, when asked about an official minority status for the Jews in the country, firmly established that they are the “true” minorities in every sense. “The Jews landed in India some 2000 years ago. Let me tell you, an official status or not, we are the true minorities of the country. There are some 150 Jews in Ahmedabad. Jews in Mumbai and Kochi are larger in numbers and are an active community,” he said.
Speaking about his community, he said, “We never force-convert people into our religion. We know people who visit our Synagogue regularly and have willingly converted themselves into Jewish, but we have never promoted our religion and cashed in on it.”
As Shalosh's brother, and Head of Finance and Management, Best High School, Amiel joined the conversation, it was an instant glimpse into the good-natured hospitality rendered by the community. He said they proudly called themselves Gujarati Jews and Gujarat their home. “It doesn't matter where we are, as long as whatever we do is the best,” he quipped. He said that their school was among 257 others, and the only in the city to be sanctioned an Atal Tinkering Lab by the Niti Aayog. The initiative promotes creativity, computational thinking, and adaptive learning among children.
“Modi is a leader, and similar to us, even he is passionate person. Also, he was from our ward, which makes our relation more special,” Amiel said. “Israel and India are natural allies. We were very excited about Modi's visit,” Shalosh added.
