Boston’s Jewish and Indian Communities Forge New Connections Through Business and Civic Leadership Gathering
BOSTON— More than 50 business, civic, and community leaders from Greater Boston’s Indian and Jewish communities gathered recently for an evening dedicated to strengthening relationships, celebrating shared values, and building new opportunities for collaboration between two of the world’s oldest civilizations.
The event, co-hosted by Get Konnected! Founder and CEO Colette Phillips and Meher Foundation Founder Meena Bharath, brought together prominent leaders from both communities for conversations centered on cultural understanding, entrepreneurship, innovation, and civic engagement.
Among the featured speakers were Benjamin Sharoni, Consul General of Israel to New England, and Shri Raghuram S., Consul General of India in Boston, who highlighted the longstanding ties between India and Israel and the importance of fostering those connections at the local level.
The gathering underscored a unique aspect of India’s history: its longstanding tradition of welcoming Jewish communities and its rare distinction as one of the few nations with virtually no history of antisemitism. Today, India and Israel maintain strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural partnerships, with collaboration spanning technology, business, education, and innovation.
Phillips said the event reflected her organization’s broader mission of creating meaningful connections across communities.
“Get Konnected! is about building bridges across cultures, getting people to know one another,” Phillips said. “When people come together and truly learn about each other, barriers break down. We begin to find common ground, celebrating our cultural similarities rather than focusing on our differences. We build bridges of understanding, not walls of separation.”
She added that she was proud to partner with Bharath to bring together “two communities that are both very close to my heart.”
Sharoni noted that the relationship between Israel and India serves as an example of how shared values can create strong partnerships across borders.
“Israel and India are natural partners — in business, in innovation, and in our shared commitment to democracy and human dignity,” Sharoni said. “It is heartening to see these bonds celebrated and strengthened right here in Boston.”
Raghuram echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the deep historical ties between India and the Jewish people.
“India has always welcomed people of all faiths, and our friendship with the Jewish community is one of the oldest and most cherished in the world,” he said. “Gatherings like this give me great hope that our two communities will continue to grow closer in the years ahead.”
The event attracted a diverse group of influential leaders from the business, nonprofit, academic, and faith sectors. Attendees included Sushil Tuli, founder and chairman of Leader Bank; Raj Sharma of the Sharma Group at Merrill Lynch; Rakhi Kumar, senior vice president of sustainability at Liberty Mutual; Nav Singh, former managing partner of McKinsey New England and board chair of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; Robert Leikind, executive director of the American Jewish Committee New England; and Nikhil Goray, Americas SAP practice leader at EY.
Also participating were healthcare executive and angel investor Sumitra Sivaram; Rabbi Bill Hamilton of Congregation Kehillath Israel; Debbie Coltin, president of the Lappin Foundation; Dr. Jennifer Skolnick and Jason Skolnick; Lino Covarrubias of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest; and Dr. Ernest Fraenkel, MIT professor and co-founder of Kalaniyot, an organization focused on combating antisemitism on college campuses nationwide.
For Bharath, the evening demonstrated the power of bringing communities together around shared experiences and values.
“India and the Jewish people share more than ancient histories — we share values of family, learning, resilience, and community,” Bharath said. “Events like this remind us that when we come together, we are stronger. The friendship between our two peoples is a model for how diverse communities can thrive side by side.”
Organizers said they hope the gathering marks the beginning of deeper collaboration between Boston’s Indian and Jewish communities, creating new opportunities for business partnerships, cultural exchange, and civic engagement throughout the region.
As both communities continue to play influential roles in Greater Boston’s economic and cultural landscape, attendees described the event as an important step toward building lasting relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for the future.
