President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings to their Israeli counterparts on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The wishes, posted on the social media platform X, underscored the warmth in India-Israel bilateral ties and carried messages of peace, prosperity, and hope for the year ahead.

What President Murmu Said

President Murmu addressed her Israeli counterpart, President Isaac Herzog, and the people of Israel in a message shared through the President's Secretariat on X. 'On behalf of the people of India, I convey heartfelt Rosh Hashanah greetings to you and the Jewish community across Israel and the world. May the new year usher in peace, prosperity, good health and renewed hope for all,' the statement read.

Rosh Hashanah — literally 'head of the year' in Hebrew — marks the anniversary of the creation of the world in the Jewish tradition and is one of the most significant dates in the Jewish calendar.

PM Modi's Message to Netanyahu

Prime Minister Modi wished Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the people of Israel, and Jewish communities worldwide. 'Shana Tova! Wishing a very happy Rosh Hashanah to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the people of Israel and Jewish communities across the globe. May the new year be filled with peace, hope, good health and continued progress for all,' Modi stated on X.

The use of 'Shana Tova' — Hebrew for 'good year' — is a customary Rosh Hashanah greeting and signals diplomatic familiarity with Jewish cultural practice.

Jaishankar Extends Wishes to Israeli FM

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also conveyed greetings to his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. 'On the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, extend warm wishes to FM Gideon Sa'ar, the Government and people of Israel. May the New Year bring peace, prosperity, good health & happiness for all. Shana Tova!' Jaishankar stated on X.

This marks the latest in a pattern of top-level Indian outreach on key Israeli observances, reflecting the strategic depth of the relationship that has grown rapidly since full diplomatic normalisation in 1992.

Broader India-Israel Ties: Ambassador Highlights Core Values

The greetings come weeks after Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar outlined six core values that, according to him, make the India-Israel relationship special. In a video message shared on X, Azar cited 'civilisational resilience and national revival' as the foremost shared value.

'Our identity was targeted, and there was, throughout history, an effort to try to strip us of our identity. But despite the ordeal that we had to pass through in modern millennia, we survived; our identity survived. And this is what we have in common,' Azar said.

The remarks point to a deepening diplomatic and cultural narrative between New Delhi and Jerusalem, one that transcends the defence and technology cooperation that has traditionally defined the bilateral corridor.

What Lies Ahead

With the Jewish High Holidays now underway, diplomatic watchers will track whether these public expressions of goodwill translate into fresh momentum on trade, defence procurement, and agricultural cooperation — areas where both sides have signalled intent but where progress has at times been slower than rhetoric. The next major diplomatic calendar event is expected to be a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month.