Dear India,

Thank you.

Thank you for standing beside Israel during one of the most painful and fragile periods in our modern history. In moments when many people around the world hesitated, questioned, or remained silent. Your friendship toward Israel remained steady, sincere, and deeply appreciated.

But this letter is not just about diplomacy.

Because long before official statements, strategic cooperation, or political support, India had already entered Israeli society in a quieter and more intimate way.

You arrived through yoga.
You arrived through breath.

You arrived through a philosophy that slowly found its place inside Israeli homes, yoga studios, schools, rehabilitation centers, beaches, and eventually even inside bomb shelters.

Over the years, countless Israelis embraced yoga as part of daily life. At first, many came searching for flexibility, movement, or physical well being. But especially after October 7, many discovered something much deeper.

They discovered moments of calm during chaos,

Moments of clarity during uncertainty,

And moments of lightness when everything felt heavy.

In a country living through sirens, grief, reserve duty, fear, uncertainty, and trauma, yoga became far more than exercise. It became a way to regulate the nervous system when reality itself felt overwhelming. It became a way to breathe when anxiety closed the chest. A way to reconnect mind and body after shock.

Some may see yoga as wellness culture or lifestyle. But here in Israel, many people experienced it differently. They experienced it as resilience.

Across the country, breathing exercises were practiced during emergencies. Children learned calming techniques while alarms sounded outside. Yoga studios became spaces of emotional support and community healing. Hostages released from Gaza spoke about using breathing and meditation techniques to survive psychologically during captivity.

One of the most heartbreaking examples was Carmel Gat, an occupational therapist from Tel Aviv, who used yoga and meditation techniques to emotionally support fellow hostages while being held in Gaza before her tragic murder in August 2024.

Even in darkness, she carried light to others.

And perhaps this connection between India and Israel was never accidental.

Both societies understand something very old and very profound: that ancient wisdom still matters in the modern world. That human beings need not only technology and security, but also inner strength. That resilience is not only military or political. Sometimes resilience begins with the ability to breathe, to remain present and positive, and not collapse emotionally.

Today, yoga has become part of the emotional fabric of Israeli society. Soldiers practice it. Students practice it. Survivors practice it. Families practice it. What began thousands of years ago in India became, for many Israelis, a quiet source of grounding during one of the hardest chapters in our nation’s history.

On June 21, the world will once again celebrate the International Day of Yoga, an initiative India brought to the United Nations and to the global community.

Across Israel, thousands of people are expected to gather to practice together, including at the celebration organized by the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv, which will take place at Namal Tel Aviv on June 21 at 6:15 PM, where everyone is invited to join.

So thank you, India.

Thank you for standing with us.

And thank you for giving the world, and Israeli society in particular, something nobody can take away from us:

Yoga, and through it, the ability to breathe. To endure. To heal. And eventually, to begin again.

With gratitude,

An Israeli friend

Suzy Donskoy was born and raised in Colombia and moved to Israel at 18. She served in the IDF International Relations Unit. After her military service, she traveled to India to pursue yoga instructor training. Suzy graduated with honors from Reichman University’s Government School, where she was part of the Shlomo Argov Fellowship in Diplomacy and Leadership. She currently serves as Commercial Officer at the Embassy of India in Israel.