Hinduism and Judaism

Among the oldest existing religions in the world

Part of a series on

Hinduism

* Hindus
* Mythology

Origins

Historical

* History
* Indus Valley Civilisation
* Vedic religion
* Dravidian folk religion
* Śramaṇa
* Tribal religions in India

Traditional

* Itihasa-Purana
* Epic-Puranic royal genealogies
* Epic-Puranic chronology

Sampradaya (traditions)

Major Sampradaya (traditions)

* Vaishnavism
* Pancharatra
* Shaivism
* Kapalika
* Pashupata
* Pratyabhijña
* Shaktism
* Smartism

Other Sampradaya (traditions)

Deities

Absolute Reality / Unifying Force

* Brahman

Trimurti

* Brahma
* Vishnu
* Shiva

Tridevi

* Saraswati
* Lakshmi
* Parvati

Other major Devas / Devis

Vedic Deities:

* Tridasha
* Adityas
* Rudras
* Vasus
* Ashvins
* Mahadevi
* Other Vedic Deities

Post-Vedic:

* Avatar
* Dashavatara
* Durga
* Navadurga
* Mahavidya
* Kartikeya
* Ganesha
* Hanuman
* Radha
* Shakti
* Sita

Devatas

* Vishvakarma
* Kubera

Concepts

Worldview

* Cosmology
* Mythology

Ontology

* Tattvas
* Subtle elements
* Panchikarana
* Gross elements
* Guṇas
* Purusha
* Prakṛti

Supreme reality

* Brahman
* Nirguna
* Saguna
* Om
* Saccidānanda

God

* Ishvara
* Devas / Devi
* Devatas
* God in Hinduism
* God and gender

Puruṣārtha (meaning of life)

* Dharma
* Artha
* Kama
* Moksha

Āśrama (stages of life)

* Brahmacharya
* Gṛhastha
* Vānaprastha
* Sannyasa

Three paths to liberation

* Bhakti yoga
* Jnana yoga
* Karma yoga

Liberation

Mokṣa-related topics:

* Paramātman
* Maya
* Karma
* Saṃsāra

Mind

* Ātman (self)
* Anātman (non-self)
* Sūkṣma śarīra (subtle body)
* Antaḥkaraṇa (mental organs)

* Prajña (wisdom)
* Ānanda (happiness)
* Viveka (discernment)
* Vairagya (dispassion)
* Sama (equanimity)
* Dama (temperance)
* Uparati (self-settledness)
* Titiksha (forbearance)
* Shraddha (faith)
* Samadhana (concentration)
* Arishadvargas (six enemies)
* Ahamkara (attachment)

Ethics

* Niti śastra
* Yamas
* Niyama
* Ahimsa
* Achourya
* Aparigraha
* Brahmacharya
* Satya
* Damah
* Dayā
* Akrodha
* Arjava
* Santosha
* Tapas
* Svādhyāya
* Shaucha
* Mitahara
* Dāna
* Sources of dharma

Epistemology

* Pratyakṣa (perception)
* Anumāṇa (inference)
* Upamāṇa (comparison, analogy)
* Arthāpatti (postulation, presumption)
* Anupalabdi (non-perception, negation)
* Śabda (word, testimony)

Practices

Worship, sacrifice, and charity

* Puja
* Ārtī
* Prarthana
* Śrauta
* Temple
* Murti
* Bhakti
* Japa
* Bhajana
* Kīrtana
* Yajna
* Homa
* Tarpana
* Vrata
* Prāyaścitta
* Tirtha
* Yatra
* Tirthadana
* Matha
* Nritta-Nritya
* Dāna
* Sevā
* Yoga
* Exorcism

Meditation

* Tapas
* Dhyana
* Samādhāna
* Nididhyāsana

Yoga

* Sadhu
* Yogi
* Yogini
* Asana
* Sādhanā
* Hatha yoga
* Jnana yoga
* Bhakti yoga
* Karma yoga
* Rāja yoga
* Kundalini yoga

Arts

* Bharatanatyam
* Kathak
* Kathakali
* Kuchipudi
* Manipuri
* Mohiniyattam
* Odissi
* Sattriya
* Bhagavata Mela
* Yakshagana
* Dandiya Raas
* Carnatic music
* Pandav Lila
* Kalaripayattu
* Silambam
* Adimurai

Rites of passage

* Garbhadhana
* Pumsavana
* Pumsavana Simantonayana
* Simantonnayana
* Jatakarma
* Nāmakaraṇa
* Nishkramana
* Annaprashana
* Chudakarana
* Karnavedha
* Vidyāraṃbhaṃ
* Upanayana
* Keshanta
* Ritushuddhi
* Samavartanam
* Vivaha
* Antyesti

Festivals

* Diwali
* Holi
* Maha Shivaratri
* Navaratri
* Durga Puja
* Ramlila
* Vijayadashami-Dussehra
* Raksha Bandhan
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Vasant Panchami
* Rama Navami
* Janmashtami
* Onam
* Makar Sankranti
* Kumbh Mela
* Pongal
* Ugadi
* Vaisakhi
* Bihu
* Puthandu
* Vishu
* Ratha Yatra

Philosophical schools

Six Astika schools

* Samkhya
* Yoga
* Nyaya
* Vaisheshika
* Mīmāṃsā
* Vedanta
* Advaita
* Dvaita
* Vishishtadvaita
* Achintya Bheda Abheda
* Shuddhadvaita
* Svabhavika Bhedabheda
* Akshar Purushottam Darshan

Other schools

* Ājīvika
* Buddhism
* Jainism
* Charvaka

Gurus, Rishi, philosophers

Ancient

* Saptarshi
* Vashistha
* Kashyapa
* Atri
* Jamadagni
* Gotama
* Vishvamitra
* Bharadwaja
* Agastya
* Angiras
* Aruni
* Ashtavakra
* Jaimini
* Kanada
* Kapila
* Patanjali
* Pāṇini
* Prashastapada
* Raikva
* Satyakama Jabala
* Valmiki
* Vyasa
* Yajnavalkya

Medieval

* Abhinavagupta
* Adi Shankara
* Akka Mahadevi
* Allama Prabhu
* Alvars
* Basava
* Chaitanya
* Ramdas Kathiababa
* Chakradhara
* Chāngadeva
* Dadu Dayal
* Eknath
* Gangesha Upadhyaya
* Gaudapada
* Gorakshanatha
* Haridasa Thakur
* Harivansh
* Jagannatha Dasa
* Jayanta Bhatta
* Jayatīrtha
* Jiva Goswami
* Jñāneśvar
* Kabir
* Kanaka Dasa
* Kumārila Bhaṭṭa
* Madhusūdana
* Madhva
* Matsyendranatha
* Morya Gosavi
* Mukundarāja
* Namadeva
* Narahari Tirtha
* Narasimha Saraswati
* Nayanars
* Nimbarkacharya
* Srinivasacharya
* Prabhākara
* Purandara Dasa
* Raghavendra Swami
* Raghunatha Siromani
* Raghuttama Tirtha
* Ram Charan
* Ramananda
* Ramanuja
* Ramprasad Sen
* Ravidas
* Rupa Goswami
* Samarth Ramdas
* Sankardev
* Satyanatha Tirtha
* Siddheshwar
* Sripada Srivallabha
* Sripadaraja
* Surdas
* Swaminarayan
* Śyāma Śastri
* Tukaram
* Tulsidas
* Tyagaraja
* Vācaspati Miśra
* Vadiraja Tirtha
* Vallabha
* Valluvar
* Vedanta Desika
* Vidyaranya
* Vyasaraja

Modern

* Aurobindo
* Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
* Bhaktivinoda Thakur
* Chandrashekarendra Saraswati
* Chinmayananda
* Dayananda Saraswati
* Jaggi Vasudev
* Krishnananda Saraswati
* Mahavatar Babaji
* Mahesh Yogi
* Narayana Guru
* Nigamananda
* Nisargadatta Maharaj
* Prabhupada
* Radhakrishnan
* R. D. Ranade
* Ramakrishna
* Rama Tirtha
* Ramana Maharshi
* Ravi Shankar
* Ramdas
* Samarth
* Sathya Sai Baba
* Shirdi Sai Baba
* Shraddhanand
* Satyadhyana Tirtha
* Siddharameshwar Maharaj
* Sivananda
* Trailanga
* U. G. Krishnamurti
* Upasni Maharaj
* Vethathiri Maharishi
* Vivekananda
* Yogananda

Texts

Sources and classification of scripture

* Śruti
* Smṛti
* Ācāra
* Ātmatuṣṭi

Scriptures

* Timeline of Hindu texts

Vedas

* Rigveda
* Yajurveda
* Samaveda
* Atharvaveda

Divisions

* Samhita
* Brahmana
* Aranyaka
* Upanishads

Upanishads

Principal Upanishads

Rigveda:

* Aitareya
* Kaushitaki

Yajurveda:

* Brihadaranyaka
* Isha
* Taittiriya
* Katha
* Shvetashvatara
* Maitri

Samaveda:

* Chandogya
* Kena

Atharvaveda:

* Mundaka
* Mandukya
* Prashna

Vedangas

* Shiksha
* Chandas
* Vyākaraṇa
* Nirukta
* Kalpa
* Jyotisha

Other scriptures

* Bhagavad Gita
* Agamas (Hinduism)

Itihasas

* Ramayana
* Mahabharata

Puranas

* Vishnu Purana
* Bhagavata Purana
* Devi Bhagavata Purana
* Naradiya Purana
* Vāmana Purana
* Matsya Purana
* Garuda Purana
* Brahma Purana
* Brahmanda Purana
* Brahma Vaivarta Purana
* Bhavishya Purana
* Padma Purana
* Agni Purana
* Shiva Purana
* Linga Purana
* Kūrma Purana
* Skanda Purana
* Varaha Purana
* Markandeya Purana

Upavedas

* Ayurveda
* Dhanurveda
* Gandharvaveda
* Sthapatyaveda

Shastras, sutras, and samhitas

* Dharma Shastra
* Artha Śastra
* Shilpa Shastras
* Kama Sutra
* Brahma Sutras
* Samkhya Sutras
* Mimamsa Sutras
* Nyāya Sūtras
* Vaiśeṣika Sūtra
* Yoga Sutras
* Pramana Sutras
* Charaka Samhita
* Sushruta Samhita
* Natya Shastra
* Panchatantra
* Naalayira Divya Prabandham
* Tirumurai
* Ramcharitmanas
* Yoga Vasistha
* Swara yoga
* Panchadasi

Stotras, stutis and Bhashya

* Kanakadhara Stotra
* Shiva Stuti
* Vayu Stuti

Tamil literature

* Tirumurai
* Naalayira Divya Prabandham
* Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai
* Tiruppukal
* Kural
* Kamba Ramayanam/Ramavataram
* Five Great Epics
* Eighteen Greater Texts
* Eighteen Lesser Texts
* Athichudi
* Iraiyanar Akapporul
* Abirami Antati
* Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
* Vinayagar Agaval

Other texts

Hindu culture & society

Society

* Varna
* Brahmin
* Kshatriya
* Kayastha
* Vaishya
* Shudra
* Dalit
* Jāti
* Gotra
* Dvija
* Dasa

Hindu art

* Hindu art
* Hindu iconography
* Shilpa Shastras
* Rasa (aesthetics)
* Indian aesthetics
* Yantra

Hindu architecture

* Hindu architecture
* Hindu temple architecture
* Vastu shastra
* Talamana

Hindu music

* Hindu music
* Shruti (music)
* Svara
* Alankāra
* Tala (music)
* Raga
* Rasa (aesthetics)
* Sangita
* Vadya
* Natya Shastra

Food & diet customs

* Ahimsa
* Diet in Hinduism
* Sattvic diet
* Mitahara
* Jhatka
* Vrata

Time keeping practices

* Hindu units of time
* Hindu calendar
* Panchangam
* Vikram Samvat
* Shaka era

Hindu pilgrimage

* Pilgrimage sites

Other society-related topics

* Discrimination
* Persecution
* Nationalism
* Hindutva
* Organisations
* Reform movements

Other topics

Hinduism by country

* Greater India
* Balinese Hinduism
* Caribbean Shaktism
* Template:Hindu scriptures and texts

Hinduism & other religions

* Hinduism and Jainism / and Buddhism / and Sikhism / and Judaism / and Christianity / and Islam

Other related links (templates)

* Hindu scriptures & texts
* Hindu philosphy
* Sampradayas (traditions)
* Shaivism
* Vaishnavism
* Shaktism

* Glossary
* Outline

* Hinduism portal

* v
* t
* e

Part of a series on

Jews and Judaism

* Etymology
* Who is a Jew?
* Jewish studies

Religion

* God in Judaism (names)
* Principles of faith
* Mitzvot (613)
* Halakha
* Shabbat
* Holidays
* Prayer
* Tzedakah
* Land of Israel
* Brit
* Bar and bat mitzvah
* Marriage
* Bereavement
* Baal teshuva
* Philosophy
* Ethics
* Kabbalah
* Messiah
* Claimants
* Customs
* Rites
* Synagogue
* Rabbi

Texts

|  Tanakh

* Torah
* Nevi'im
* Ketuvim

Talmud

* Mishnah
* Gemara

Rabbinic

* Midrash
* Tosefta

* Targum
* Beit Yosef
* Mishneh Torah
* Tur
* Shulchan Aruch
* Zohar

History

|  General

* Timeline
* Land of Israel
* Name "Judea"
* Antisemitism
* Anti-Judaism
* Persecution
* Leaders
* Modern historiography
* Historical population comparisons

Ancient Israel

* Twelve Tribes of Israel
* Kingdom of Judah
* Kingdom of Israel
* Jerusalem (in Judaism
* timeline)
* Temple in Jerusalem (First
* Second)
* Assyrian captivity
* Babylonian captivity

Second Temple period

* Yehud Medinata
* Maccabean Revolt
* Hasmonean dynasty
* Sanhedrin
* Schisms (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Sicarii)
* Second Temple Judaism (Hellenistic Judaism)
* Jewish–Roman wars (Great Revolt, Diaspora, Bar Kokhba)

Rabbinic period and Middle Ages

* Rabbinic Judaism
* History of the Jews in the Byzantine Empire
* Christianity and Judaism (Jews and Christmas)
* Hinduism and Judaism
* Islamic–Jewish relations
* Middle Ages
* Golden Age
* Expulsion from Spain

Modern era

* Haskalah
* Sabbateans
* Hasidism
* Jewish atheism
* Emancipation
* Old Yishuv
* Zionism
* Soviet Union
* The Holocaust
* Israel
* Arab–Israeli conflict

Communities

* Ashkenazim
* Galician
* Litvak
* Mizrahim
* Sephardim
* Teimanim
* Beta Israel
* Gruzinim
* Juhurim
* Bukharim
* Italkim
* Romanyotim
* Cochinim
* Bene Israel
* Berber
* Crimean Karaites
* Krymchaks
* Kaifeng Jews

Related groups

* Bnei Anusim
* Lemba
* Igbo Jews
* Samaritans
* Crypto-Jews
* Anusim
* Dönmeh
* Marranos
* Neofiti
* Xueta
* Mosaic Arabs
* Subbotniks
* Noahides

Population

* Judaism by country
* Lists of Jews
* Diaspora
* Historical population by country
* Population by city
* Genetic studies

Israel and Palestine

* Old Yishuv
* New Yishuv
* Israeli Jews
* Palestinian Jews

Africa

* Algeria
* Angola
* Bilad-el-Sudan
* Botswana
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Benin
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Ethiopia
* Beta Israel
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Nigeria (Igbo)
* Republic of the Congo
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Tunisia
* Uganda (Abayudaya)
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Asia

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Cambodia
* China
* Hong Kong
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kurdistan
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* South Korea
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Turkey
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

Europe

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Romaniote
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Italkim
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Soviet Union
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sephardim
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* England
* Scotland
* Wales

Northern America

* Canada
* United States
* Greenland

Latin America and Caribbean

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Puerto Rico
* Suriname
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Oceania

* Australia
* Fiji
* Guam
* New Zealand
* Palau

Denominations

* Orthodox
* Modern
* Haredi
* Hasidic
* Reform
* Conservative
* Karaite
* Reconstructionist
* Renewal
* Science
* Haymanot
* Humanistic

Culture

|  Customs

* Minyan
* Wedding
* Clothing
* Niddah
* Pidyon haben
* Kashrut
* Shidduch
* Zeved habat
* Conversion to Judaism
* Aliyah
* Hiloni

Music

* Religious
* Secular

Art

* Ancient
* Yiddish theatre
* Dance
* Humour

Cuisine

* American
* Ashkenazi
* Bukharan
* Ethiopian
* Israeli
* Israelite
* Mizrahi
* Sephardic

Literature

* Israeli
* Yiddish
* Judeo-Tat
* American

Surnames

* Ashkenazi
* Mizrahi
* Sephardic

Languages

* Hebrew
* Biblical
* Mishnaic
* Medieval
* Modern
* Bukharian
* Ghardaïa Sign
* Jewish Koine Greek
* Judeo-Arabic
* Judeo-Aramaic
* Judeo-Berber
* Judeo-Gascon
* Judaeo-Georgian
* Judaeo-Iranian
* Judeo-Italian
* Judeo-Malayalam
* Judaeo-Spanish
* Judeo-Tat
* Knaanic
* Shassi
* Yeshivish
* Yevanic
* Yiddish
* Zarphatic

Politics

|  Jewish political movements

* Autonomism
* Bundism
* Feminism
* Leftism
* Secularism
* Territorialism
* World Agudath Israel

Zionism

* General
* Green
* Labor
* Kahanism
* Maximalism
* Neo-Zionism
* Religious
* Revisionist
* Post-Zionism

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Hinduism and Judaism are among the oldest existing religions in the world. The two share some similarities and interactions throughout both the ancient and modern worlds.

## Theological similarities

[edit]

Scholarly comparisons of Hinduism and Judaism were common during the Age of Enlightenment as part of arguments concerning the deistic worldview.[1] Hananya Goodman states that Hinduism and Judaism have played an important role in European discussions of idolatry, spirituality, primitive theories of race, language, mythologies, etc.[2]

Both religions were regarded by some scholars to be ethnic religions, and not promoting conversions. Adherents of both religions, however, are found across the world.[3] Both religions share common elements in regard to a complicated system of laws, purity codes, and dietary restrictions, for defining their communities.[4]

Judaism has been compared to Hinduism by new religious movement founder Rajneesh[5] and Steve J. Rosen, an International Society for Krishna Consciousness adherent.[6] Both cite the similarities between Brahmins and Jews who viewed themselves as "God's chosen people". Rosen adds that the former had a "community of priests" while the latter had a "Kingdom of Priests".[7]

David Flusser says that the record of Abraham has many similarities with a certain story[specify] from the Upanishads, stating that "One can easily discover parallels in the Upanishads to the Abraham legend".[8][9]

American biologist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque (1783–1840), in his book The American Nations, discusses linguistic and traditional similarities between the two religions. In one chapter,[specify] he writes:

> Our Noah\- is thus NH (pr NOE) which the Jews since pronounced NUH, and even Mnuh! Exactly the same name as given him by the Hindus! And all meaning repose, with many collateral meanings, lawgiver, collecting people, assembly humanity & c. The laws of M'nu are preserved by the Hindus: to him is also ascribed the substance of the Vedas, and the whole Mosaic history till near his own death. But the Hindus have many- M'nus; Adam and Seth were such, by the names of Adimo and Satya.[10][needs independent confirmation]

## Scriptures

[edit]

Barbara Holdrege compared the role of scriptures in Brahmanical, Rabbinic Jewish, and Kabbalistic traditions, highlighting that both the Vedas and Torah are seen not just as texts, but as multileveled cosmic realities encompassing historical and transmundane dimensions.[citation needed] She adds further that sacred status, authority, and function of scripture in these traditions are to a certain extent shaped by these conceptions and thus such a study is essential for understanding the role of Veda and Torah as the paradigmatic signs of their respective traditions.[11] [additional citation(s) needed]

Judaism, notable for its monotheistic conception of God, has some similarities with those Hindu scriptures that are monotheistic, such as the Vedas.[12]

Hindu sects hold a variety of beliefs about the nature and identity of God, ranging from a form of monotheism to polytheism, pantheism, and panentheism. According to the Mahabharata and some Vaishnavite Puranas, Narayana is the supreme deity.[13] Vaishnavism considers Vishnu or Krishna to be the supreme God,[14][15] while Shaivites consider Shiva to be the supreme god, keeping in mind the Agamas, certain Upanishads and the Pashupati seal; the latter being discovered amongst the remains of the Indus Valley Civilization.[16]

In Judaism, God is an absolute one, indivisible and incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence. In Hinduism, gods are considered to have similar statuses to another when distinct, being "aspects or manifestations of a single, transcendent god" or an "impersonal absolute".[17]

Bernard Jackson points out the extent to which legal regulations, customs, and royal ordinances in Halakha in the Jewish tradition and Dharmaśāstra among Hindus are binding on members of their respective societies. Jackson adds that both Jewish and Hindu law evidence a great sensitivity to the interplay of local custom and authoritative law. He says that in both religions, the writing down of a collection of norms did not necessarily mean that all or even most norms were intended to be enforced, and that the laws connected with royal authority were not necessarily statutory. Wendy Doniger states that Hinduism and Judaism are alike in their tendency toward orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy.[18]

## Relations

[edit]

### Historical

[edit]

Ancient trade and cultural communication between India and the Levant is documented in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea and the accounts surrounding the Queen of Sheba in the Hebrew Bible.

Bhavishya Purana is regarded by a number of scholars to have predicted Judaism's prophet Moses, and similar parallels are found in the Vedas.[19]

The trade relations of both communities can be traced back to 1,000 BCE and earlier to the time of the Indus Valley civilisation of the Indian subcontinent and the Babylonian culture of Middle East. A Buddhist story describes Indian merchants visiting Baveru (Babylonia)[20] and selling peacocks for public display. Similar, earlier accounts describe monkeys exhibited to the public.[21]

The Torah has also been helpful for understanding relations between these two traditions.[22] Geographical analysis of Israel suggests that the authors of Torah were talking about India, where the selling of animals such as monkeys and peacocks existed.[23] Trade connections between India and Mediterranean Jewish communities continued, and later, the languages of these cultures started to share linguistic similarities.[24]

### Modern

[edit]

Some of the leading figures in the field of Indology like Theodor Aufrecht, Theodor Goldstücker, Theodor Benfey, Charles Rockwell Lanman, Salomon Lefmann, Gustav Solomon Oppert, Betty Heimann etc. were of Jewish descent.

Jews never faced persecution by Hindus, neither are there any records of Hindus facing persecution at the hands of Jews as both communities share a history of being oppressed, discriminated & forced to convert. The creation of Israel as a Jewish state by Zionists was supported by Hindu nationalists who wanted to make undivided India a Hindu state, most notably M. S. Golwalkar, who said:

> The Jews had maintained their race, religion, culture and language; and all they wanted was their natural territory to complete their Nationality.[25]

The world's first Jewish-Hindu interfaith leadership summit, led by the World Council of Religious Leaders, Hindu organisations in India and Jewish organisations in Israel, as well as the American Jewish Committee, was held in New Delhi in February 2007.[26] The summit included the then Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, the American Jewish Committee's International Director of Interreligious Affairs David Rosen, a delegation of chief rabbis from around the world, and Hindu leaders from India.[27][28][29] During the summit, Rabbi Metzger stated:

> Jews have lived in India for over 2,000 years and have never been discriminated against. This is something unparalleled in human history.[27]

Swami Dayananda recognized the similarities of both religions and pointed to the belief in One supreme being, non-conversion, oral recitation of the Veda and the Torah, and the special importance of peace and non-violence. Savarupananda Saraswatiji explained that "Both the Hindu and Jewish communities have a lot in common, we need to discover and nurture these areas for the benefit of millions of people."[30] This meeting included Rabbis such as Daniel Sperber, Yona Metzger, and others. They affirmed a number of points, one of which was:

> Their respective traditions teach that there is one supreme being who is the ultimate reality, who has created this world in its blessed diversity and who has communicated Divine ways of action for humanity, for different people in different times and places.[31]

In 2008, a second Hindu-Jewish summit took place in Jerusalem.[32][33] Included in the summit was a meeting between Hindu groups and then Israeli President Shimon Peres, where the importance of a strong Israeli-Indian relationship was discussed.[33] The Hindu delegation also met with Israeli politicians Isaac Herzog and Majalli Whbee.[33] Hindu groups visited and said their prayers at the Western Wall, and also paid their respects to Holocaust victims.[33] In 2009, a smaller Hindu-Jewish interfaith meeting organized by the World council of Religious Leaders, Hindu American Foundation and the American Jewish Committee was held in New York and Washington.[32] Hindu and Jewish representatives gave presentations, and participants wore lapel pins combining the Israeli, Indian, and American flags.[32]

About 5,000 Jews reside in India today.[34] The Bnei Menashe are a group of more than 9,000 Jews from the Indian states Manipur and Mizoram who have resided in India since as early as 8th century BCE.[35] On 31 March 2005, Sephardi Rabbi, Shlomo Amar, one of Israel's two chief rabbis, accepted the Bnei Menashe's claim of being one of the ten lost tribes considering their devotion to Judaism. His decision was significant because it paved the way for all members of Bnei Menashe to enter Israel under Israel's Law of Return.[36] In the past two decades, some 1,700 Bnei Menashe members have moved to Israel. Israel has reversed the policy of immigration for the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe.

There are some who profess a belief in both religions: they regard themselves as Hinjew, a portmanteau of Hindu and Jew.[37][38][39]

Many Jews take vipassana and yoga as a supplement to traditional Hasidic musical meditation and dynamic meditation.[40]

According to a report by the Pew Research Center conducted in the US, of all religious groups, Hindus and Jews remain the most successful at retaining their adherents and are the two most educated groups.[41]

## See also

[edit]

* History of the Jews in India
* India–Israel relations
* Indian Jews in Israel
* Jewish Buddhist

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. p. 3\. ISBN 9780791417157.
2. ^ Kathryn McClymond (2 July 2008). Beyond Sacred Violence: A Comparative Study of Sacrifice. JHU Press. p. 33\. ISBN 9780801896293.
3. ^ Emma Tomalin. Religions and Development. Routledge. p. 109.
4. ^ Sushil Mittal, Gene Thursby (18 April 2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Routledge. p. 181\. ISBN 9781134593224.
5. ^ Foundation, Osho International (October 29, 2024). "I Say Unto You: Jesus: Son of God or Mystic?". WorldCat.org. pp. 259–260. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
6. ^ Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), Steven J. (January 1, 2021). "Viewpoint: Vaishnavism: Monotheistic or Not?". Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies. 34 (1). doi:10.7825/2164-6279.1798. ISSN 2164-6279. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
7. ^ Rosen, Steven (2006-10-30). Essential Hinduism. Westport, Conn: Praeger. p. 13\. ISBN 978-0-275-99006-0.
8. ^ David Flusser (1988). Judaism and the origins of Christianity. Magnes Press, Hebrew University. p. 650.
9. ^ Goodman, Hananya, ed. (1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. State University of New York Press. pp. 35–40\. doi:10.1353/book10119. ISBN 978-1-4384-0437-0.
10. ^ Constantine Samuel Rafinesque. The American nations; or, Outlines of their general history, ancient and modern. Oxford University. p. 104.
11. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. p. 13\. ISBN 9780791417157.
12. ^ Manfred Hutter (2013). Between Mumbai and Manila: Judaism in Asia Since the Founding of the State of Israel (Proceedings of the International Conference, Held at the Department of Comparative Religion. V&R unipress GmbH. p. 241\. ISBN 9783847101581.
13. ^ Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 120–121\. ISBN 9780521438780.
14. ^ Kedar Nath Tiwari. Comparative Religion. Motilal. p. 38.
15. ^ "Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture". Stephen Knapp. Archived from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2020-04-28. "Lord Krishna is one of the most revered and honored of all the Dharmic Gods. As it is explained and concluded in a variety of Vedic texts, Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, as it is said in Sanskrit, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.28) Krishna is the source of all other incarnations and forms of God.", SB 1.3.28 Archived 2019-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ "Shaivism". ReligionFacts. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
17. ^ Flood 1996, p. 14.
18. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. p. 16\. ISBN 9780791417157.
19. ^ "God-fleshed: a chronicle of the comings of Christ", p. 66, by Roy Abraham Varghese, Rachel Varghese, Mary Varghese, url = [1] Archived 2014-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ Catherine Cornille. The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Inter-Religious Dialogue. Wiley. p. 417.
21. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. p. 25\. ISBN 9780791417157.
22. ^ Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Hinayana-India (Central India). Genesis. p. 2939\. ISBN 9788177552676.
23. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. p. 28\. ISBN 9780791417157.
24. ^ Hananya Goodman (January 1994). Between Jerusalem and Benares: Comparative Studies in Judaism and Hinduism. SUNY Press. pp. 25–30\. ISBN 9780791417157.
25. ^ Elst, Koenraad (2001). The Saffron Swastika: The Notion of "Hindu Fascism". Voice of India. ISBN 8185990697.
26. ^ World's Jewish and Hindu Leaders Gather in New Delhi Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, wfn.org
27. ^ a b Kopf, Shulfa (March 6, 2013). "The biggest show on earth". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
28. ^ Banerjee, Neela (October 2, 2007). "In Jews, Indian-Americans See a Role Model in Activism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
29. ^ "Indian Muslims protest peace delegation to Israel". Ynetnews. August 15, 2007. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
30. ^ Manfred Hutter (2013). Between Mumbai and Manila: Judaism in Asia Since the Founding of the State of Israel (Proceedings of the International Conference, Held at the Department of Comparative Religion. V&R unipress GmbH. p. 215\. ISBN 9783847101581.
31. ^ "Declaration of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation from the First Jewish-Hindu Leadership Summit". 2007. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
32. ^ a b c Brill, Alan (July 2, 2009). "Two ancient religions behave like old friends". New Jersey Jewish News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
33. ^ a b c d "Hindu American Foundation Joins in Historic Hindu-Jewish Summit Held in Israel". Hindu American Foundation. February 26, 2008. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
34. ^ "History of the Jews of India, Indian-Jewish Association UK" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
35. ^ "Bnei Menashe Move To Israel: Indian Jews From 'Lost Tribe' Arrive In Holy Land". Huffingtonpost. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
36. ^ Rabbi backs India's 'lost Jews' Archived 2007-02-25 at the Wayback Machine, April 2005
37. ^ Dana Evan Kaplan (22 August 2009). Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal. Columbia University Press. p. 89\. ISBN 9780231137287. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
38. ^ "A Harvard Hinjew". 6 June 1985. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
39. ^ "Jew and Hinjew". 18 November 1999. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
40. ^ "k.k. non-profit yoga organization". www.karnakriya.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
41. ^ "Jewish researchers dispute some Pew religion survey data". 28 February 2008.

## Further reading

[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Hinduism and Judaism.

* Veda and Torah: Transcending the Textuality of Scripture (1996) by Barbara A. Holdrege.
* Hinduism and Judaism compilation
* Larry Yudelson, Passage to India, Archived 2014-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Jewish Standard August 29, 2014
* Alan Brill, Judaism and World Religions, (2012)

* v
* t
* e

Hinduism topics

* Glossary
* Index
* Timeline

Philosophy|

| Concepts|

* Brahman
* Om
* Ishvara
* Atman
* Maya
* Karma
* Saṃsāra

* Puruṣārthas
* Dharma
* Artha
* Kama
* Moksha

* Niti
* Ahimsa
* Asteya
* Aparigraha
* Brahmacharya
* Satya
* Dāna
* Damah
* Dayā
* Akrodha

|

Schools|

* Āstika: Samkhya
* Yoga
* Nyaya
* Vaisheshika
* Mīmāṃsā
* Vedanta
* Svābhāvika Bhedābheda
* Dvaita
* Advaita
* Vishishtadvaita
* Nāstika: Charvaka

Texts|

| Classification|

* Śruti
* Smṛti

|

Vedas|

* Rigveda
* Yajurveda
* Samaveda
* Atharvaveda

Divisions|

* Samhita
* Brahmana
* Aranyaka

Upanishads|

* Aitareya
* Kaushitaki
* Brihadaranyaka
* Isha
* Taittiriya
* Katha
* Maitrayaniya
* Shvetashvatara
* Chandogya
* Kena
* Mundaka
* Mandukya
* Prashna

Upavedas|

* Ayurveda
* Dhanurveda
* Natyaveda
* Sthapatyaveda

Vedanga|

* Shiksha
* Chandas
* Vyākaraṇa
* Nirukta
* Kalpa
* Jyotisha

Other|

* Bhagavad Gita
* Agamas
* Itihasas
* Ramayana
* Mahabharata
* Puranas
* Minor Upanishads
* Arthashastra
* Nitisara
* Dharmaśāstra
* Manusmriti
* Nāradasmṛti
* Yājñavalkya Smṛti
* Sutras
* Stotras
* Subhashita
* Tantras
* Yoga Vasistha
* Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Sangam literature|

* Tirumurai
* Divya Prabandham
* Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai
* Thiruppugal
* Thirukkural
* Kamba Ramayanam
* Five Great Epics
* Eighteen Greater Texts
* Eighteen Lesser Texts
* Athichudi
* Iraiyanar Akapporul
* Abhirami Antati
* Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
* Vinayagar Agaval
* Vedarthasamgraha

Deities|

| Gods|

* Trimurti
* Brahma
* Vishnu
* Shiva
* Agni
* Dattatreya
* Ganesha
* Hanuman
* Indra
* Kartikeya
* Krishna
* Rama
* Surya
* Varuna
* Vayu
* more

|

Goddesses|

* Tridevi
* Saraswati
* Lakshmi
* Parvati
* Bhumi
* Durga
* Kali
* Mahavidya
* Matrika
* Radha
* Rukmini
* Sati
* Shakti
* Shashthi
* Sita
* more

Practices|

| Worship|

* Temple
* Murti
* Puja
* Bhakti
* Japa
* Bhajan
* Naivedhya
* Yajna
* Homa
* Tapas
* Dhyāna
* Tirthatana

|

Sanskaras|

* Garbhadhana
* Pumsavana
* Simantonayana
* Jatakarma
* Namakarana
* Nishkramana
* Annaprashana
* Chudakarana
* Karnavedha
* Vidyarambha
* Upanayana
* Keshanta
* Ritushuddhi
* Samavartanam
* Vivaha
* Antyeshti

Varnashrama|

* Varna
* Brahmin
* Kshatriya
* Vaishya
* Shudra
* Ashrama
* Brahmacharya
* Grihastha
* Vanaprastha
* Sannyasa

Festivals|

* Diwali
* Holi
* Shivaratri
* Raksha Bandhan
* Navaratri
* Durga Puja
* Ramlila
* Vijayadashami
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Rama Navami
* Janmashtami
* Onam
* Pongal
* Makar Sankranti
* New Year
* Bihu
* Gudi Padwa
* Pahela Baishakh
* Puthandu
* Vaisakhi
* Vishu
* Ugadi
* Kumbh Mela
* Haridwar
* Nashik
* Prayag
* Ujjain

* Ratha Yatra
* Teej
* Vasant Panchami
* Others

Other|

* Svādhyāya
* Namaste
* Bindi
* Tilaka

Related|

* Hindus
* Etymology
* List
* Denominations
* Law
* Calendar
* Anti-Hindu sentiment
* Criticism
* Hindu gurus and sants
* Hindu studies
* Iconography
* Mythology
* Nationalism
* Hindutva
* Persecution
* Pilgrimage sites
* India
* Relations with other religions
* Baháʼí
* Buddhism
* Islam
* Jainism
* Judaism
* Sikhism
* Theosophy
* Glossary
* Hinduism by country
* Hindu temples
* List
* Architecture

Outline

* Category
* Portal
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Jews and Judaism

* Outline of Judaism
* Index of Jewish history-related articles

History|

* Timeline
* Israelites
* Origins of Judaism
* Ancient Israel and Judah
* Second Temple period
* Synagogal Judaism
* Rabbinic Judaism
* Middle Ages
* Zionism

Population|

* Assimilation
* Atheists
* Buddhists
* Israeli Jews
* Karaites
* Samaritans
* Lists of Jews
* Persecution
* Antisemitism
* Xueta Christianity
* Zionism, race and genetics
* Gentile
* Groups claiming affiliation with Israelites

| Diaspora|

* Ashkenazim
* Afrikaner-Jode
* Chuts
* Galitzianers
* Lita'im
* Oberlander Jews
* Ostjuden
* Udmurt and Tatar Jews
* Unterlander Jews
* Yekkes
* Beta Israel
* Beta Abraham
* Falash Mura
* Desi Jews
* Bene Israel
* Kochinim
* Dönmeh
* Gruzínim
* Italkim
* Neofiti
* Kaifeng Jews
* Karaites
* Constantinopolitan Karaites
* Crimean Karaites
* Kurdish Jews
* Krymchaks
* Lemba
* Maghrebi
* Berber Jews
* Mizrahi
* Afghan Jews
* Alexandrian Jews
* Baghdadi
* Bukharan Jews
* Egyptian Jews
* Mountain Jews
* Palestinian Jews
* Persian Jews
* Urfalim
* Teimanim
* Adeni Jews
* Ḥabbanim
* Hadhrami Jews
* Saada Jews
* Mustaʿravim
* Jewish tribes of Arabia
* Romaniote
* Sephardim
* Eastern Sephardim
* Livornese Jews
* North African Sephardim
* Paradesi
* Meshuchrarim
* Sephardic Bnei Anusim
* Xuetes
* Lemba

|

Languages
(Diasporic)|

* Hebrew
* Modern
* Ashkenazi
* Sephardi
* Mizrahi
* Yemenite
* Tiberian
* Samaritan
* Signed
* Medieval
* Mishnaic
* Biblical
* Babylonian
* Palestinian
* Catalanic
* Judeo-Amazigh
* Judeo-Arabic
* Yahudic
* Judeo-Baghdadi
* Judeo-Moroccan
* Judeo-Tripolitanian
* Judeo-Tunisian
* Judeo-Yemeni
* Judaeo-Aramaic
* Targum
* Barzani
* Betanure
* Hulaulá
* Lishana Deni
* Lishán Didán
* Lishanid Noshan
* Biblical
* Talmudic
* Palestinian
* Galilean
* Judeo-Aragonese
* Jewish English
* Yeshivish
* Yinglish
* Heblish
* Judeo-Gascon
* Judaeo-Greek
* Judeo-Italian
* Judaeo-Piedmontese
* Judeo-Latin
* Judeo-Malay
* Judeo-Malayalam
* Judeo-Marathi
* Judaeo-Occitan
* Judeo-Persian
* Bukhori
* Judeo-Borujerdi
* Judeo-Golpaygani
* Judeo-Hamedani
* Judeo-Shirazi
* Juhuri
* Judaeo-Portuguese
* Judeo-Urdu
* Karaim
* Kayliñña
* Kivruli
* Knaanic
* Koiné Greek
* Krymchak
* Lachoudisch
* Ladino
* Haketia
* Tetuani
* Lotegorisch
* Qwareña
* Shassagh
* Shassi
* Shuadit
* Yiddish
* dialects
* Eastern
* Galitzish
* Litvish
* Poylish
* Klezmer-loshn
* Western
* Judeo-Alsatian
* Lachoudisch
* Scots-Yiddish
* Zarphatic

Philosophy|

* Beliefs
* Mitzvah
* Rabbinic authority
* Chosen people
* Conversion
* Eschatology
* Messiah
* Ethics
* Holiness
* God
* Names of God
* Halakha
* Haskalah
* Kabbalah
* Sefirot
* Land of Israel
* Who is a Jew?

Branches|

* Religious movements
* Orthodox
* Haredi
* Hasidic
* Litvaks
* Modern
* Conservative
* Reform
* Reconstructionist
* Humanistic
* Neo-Hasidism
* Renewal
* Neolog
* relations
* Haymanot
* Hellenistic
* Karaite
* Samaritanism
* Science
* Secularism
* Schisms

Literature|

* Sifrei Kodesh
* Tanakh/Hebrew Bible
* Torah
* Nevi'im
* Ketuvim
* Rabbinic
* Mishnah
* Talmud
* Tosefta
* Midrash
* Kabbalah texts
* Hekhalot literature
* Pardes Rimonim
* Sefer HaBahir
* Sefer HaEtz Chaim
* Sefer Raziel HaMalakh
* Sefer Yetzirah
* Zohar
* Shulchan Aruch
* Siddur
* Hebrew literature

Culture|

* Astrology
* perspectives
* Monen
* Astronomy
* Calendar
* Holidays
* Cuisine
* Kashrut
* Education
* Leadership
* Rabbi
* Rebbe
* Marriage
* Divorce
* Music
* Mythology
* Names
* Politics
* Prayer
* Synagogue
* Hazzan
* Symbolism

Studies|

* Center for Jewish History
* American Jewish Historical Society
* American Sephardi Federation
* Leo Baeck Institute New York
* Yeshiva University Museum
* YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
* Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation
* Encyclopaedia Judaica
* Genetics
* Jew (word)
* Jewish Encyclopedia
* Jewish Virtual Library
* National Library of Israel
* YIVO Encyclopedia
* United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
* Encyclopedia of the Holocaust
* Holocaust Encyclopedia
* Relations with other religions
* Christian
* Anabaptism
* Catholicism
* Mormonism
* Protestantism
* Jews and Christmas
* Jews and Halloween
* non-Christian
* Buddhism
* Islam
* Hinduism

Italics indicate extinct languages

* Category
* Judaism portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template