...a religious Jew so they would not know what one looks like, would be unable to identify the two characters in the caricature as such and would therefore not draw negative parallels. Is that simple and logical enough for you? I just love it when right-wing chickenhawks get all worked up and hysterical about everything. What is it with your perpetual anger? go get laid and chill.

somehow I don't see religious Jews accepting food from total strangers. As far as I know they don't accept food from their less religious family members, let alone strangers. But you are welcome to seek possible excuses. Just maybe India is being overun just now by the ultra-Orthodox crowd. I think I'll drop a note to the Indian Consulate and see what they have to say. BTW, in India, English still remains one of the official languages, that's why when you call a tech support or customer service, somebody in India answers.

Hitler's Cross restaurant - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitlers'_Cross Swastika - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6269627.stm I feel that india is getting increasingly intolerant of any minority especially christian and jewish(whom they feel are closely linked to christians). Some states like rajsthan have laws specifically restricitng their movements. The indian christian community still vehemently supports israel but i guess the majority (over 85% of the population) dont.

I don't think the sign was intented to be racist. Maybe the sign was chosen simply because the man reading the book represents a typical traveller reading a magazine (also note the frown that he is wearing, which appears a bit sinister) . I seriously doubt whether many people even know what the Torah is (I assume it is a Jewish religious text after reading this article?) There are hardly any Jews in India, and most of us don't (to be honest) even know much about your religion, let alone want to criticise it.

The Jew on the right may be a stranger to the Jew on the left. And the Jew on the left is about to eat the harmful food because the Jew on the right, who looks religious, told him that the food is kosher. Unfortunately, people don't always tell the truth, and this sign is telling Jewish tourists to beware. But anyway, check the Indian embassy and see what they say.

I dont really know the significance of the picture or whether they are Jews in there, however I can guaruntee that nobody has added it out of anti-semitism. Hardly anybody in India, let alone the Indian railways know anything much about Judaism or have any real interest in being anti-semitic. For that matter India is perhaps the only country that has given refuge to a (small) group of Jews for hundreds of years and has never persecuted them. Anti-semitism doesnt exist in India for the general public or within the govt/railways, some leftists/muslim fanatics might be anti-semitic but that is there in every country and not specific to India. My guess is that the railways or more likely the person or company sub-contacted to do the artwork and put up the signs found the picture somewhere on the Internet and just used it. That is stupid, yes, and perhaps needs to be removed, but the only thing stupider is the lady who travelled in India and still thinks that the country is racist or anti-semitic.

Another Idiot who doesnt know what he is talking about. He talks bulls**t like it is fact. For example how does he know whom the Indian Christian community supports ? Did he go and take a poll? Anbody familiar with geopolitics can tell you that the majority of Indians (hindu, sikh, christian etc) support Israel though not blindly and the question of anti-semetism doesnt arrise with most people in India because they dont have much idea about jews and judaism in the first place. If you talk to 100 Indians and show them the signs 99, if not 100 would not know that those are Jews being depicted . So while it is right (if the sign is really depicting orthodox jews in an inappropriate way) to inform the people who have put it up clearly out of ignorance and not malice, it is just stupid to blame bash India and Indians in general for this. If you do that you might lose the few well friends and well-wishers that you have including so many Indians like myself who like Israel. And then maybe #63 and Iris can spend their next vactions in the other friendly countries in Asia - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan come to mind. Regarding the two links posted by #63: The first one, a resteraunt by Hitler's Cross, is a private enterprise started by a group of people who perhaps wanted the publicity that their name would bring. They were forced to change it after widespread outrage BY INDIANS as they realized they would lose customers and goodwill if they did. Those are the actions of 4-5 stupid people and do not represent India. See the big picture, there might be anti-semitic or just stupid people in the US and India, but both countries are still the best 'big' friends that Israel as a nation can have. For that matter I saw some really orthodox looking Jews attending the holocaust denial conference in Iran, would that be enough proof for #63 that Jews in general are Anti-Semitic ??? :-) The second link, about the Swastika ban, shows his arrogance and ignorance of Indian civilization. The Swastika has been a sacred symbol of India for over 4000 years. The Nazis just took it, inverted it and used the inverted form for their sick agenda. Banning the Nazi swastika, i dont think anybody would oppose, but banning the genuine Swastika would be really unfair, bigoted, ignorant and even racist. You see inverted crosses being used (at least in horror films) for devil worship, does that justify banning the christian cross worldwide?

Racial profiling is NEVER acceptable, whether it be of Jews OR Muslims. The Indian Railways should switch to stick-figure icons to represent their public service captions so that no one group of people will be singled out. This is a case where a little political correctness could and SHOULD be applied so as not to make different groups of people feel offended or intimidated. If its not okay for Jews, it's not okay for any group no matter their reputation, and this includes Muslims.

As long as I don't get drugged they can have Rabbi in micky mouse costume.India is a major tourist hot spot I'm sure their not trying to offend but protect. Remember the travel warning.The talkbacks are amusing though huh?

May be it is just a sick mind's interpretation.. .....If some body think that there is some thing against Jewish culture............We wish they are not intensionly trying to dismay a friendly country and a culture favouring Israel and it's existance-- with a lot of historic and prehistoric relations.Even if it is the picture of two Jewish people... be proud of the kosher and vigilent care of the culture of Judaisam which is well Adorable.. If the Complained really belives that the picture is against Jewish culture,it could be just an Infuriority complex of a minority which may need a healing which...a very minority feels after visiting a beautifull and peacefull place like India and Compairing to their mind's darkness

i have never been in india;but the only indians i know in paris are not antisemitic,they are even philosemit...so i would be very surprised that the indian authorities intended to target us.i think that a bastard who don't like us took advantage that the indians doesn't know us to propose this drawing for the indian railway company...i hope i'm right,i prefer to be positive.

I would request my Israeli friends to cool down, and Indian members to stop coming up with conspiracy theories. Some person asked the sign to be made, and they sought an illustration of an unfamiliar (to the average indian) person/ stranger from a book, ergo the jews reading the torah. The persons who put it up probably didnt even know it was the torah and jews. In other words, its a plain case of lazy stupidity - which is all too common across the world, and even in india, not anti-semitism.

its actually one jew trying to offer food to another, so its jew vs jew! why was the picture chosen? its simple really, the publishing agency tried clipart for anything with food in it, and that image, for whatever vague reason, shows a platter of food in front. gee what a big hype over something so small! but i understand that jews might have been offended, as an indian, my apologies. most indians are generally really pro-israel. we like your kickass take no prisoners attitude (a stereotype i admit), and contrast it with our own govts peacenik response to terrorism. cheers

I didn't know whether to laugh or frown at this posting.

Indeed it is shocking that a picture which can hurt religious sentiments is put up on a Public Transportation System...I have convinced this has been done deliberately to catch the attention of Israeli tourists travelling to the popular holiday state-Goa. Thousands of Israelis travel there and there is no doubt that this is the handiwork of a Moslem idiot... Genuine Goans...the locals are very tolerant , easy going and good people and I have a high regard for them...I have enjoyed my trips to Goa...especially Anjuna, Vagator, Ozra... I would suggest that Israeli tourist continue to visit Goa as before and not be too occupied by this act.. Shalom...Viva Goa..

Folks: As a Hindu Indian who grew up in India, I can honestly tell you that I cannot recognize in this picture that the two characters are Jews. Most of us have never seen a Jewish person wearing Jewish religious icons. Heck, we don't even know what those icons are. Either somebody just borrowed this picture from somewhere to illustrate the sign (the guy in a black hat with thick glasses and bushy moustache and beard looks like the caricature of a villain in Hindi movies. All he needs is a cigar in his mouth to complete the caricature), or some Muslim dude is trying to be clever and knowingly put pictures of his hate objects, the Jews, on the sign knowing fully well the majority of Indian people, the Hindus, cannot recognize that these are pictures of Jewish people. Take it from me. There is no anti-semitism among the Hindus of India. We don't even know what the word means. We admire the Jewish people and Israel. I wish our Govt. would show half the courage the Israelis show in fighting Islamic terrorism. And by the way, how many of you recognized the insult and protested when pictures of Hindu Gods were pasted on toilet bowls in Australia? Peace

Are they truly Israelis? I travelled many times using Indian Railways and saw many times the said signs. I thought those persons in the picture were two Indians. And only now I understand that I am wrong and those two people were jews. Very interesting! Thanks for such a revelation.

1) There are more than 99 Jew Indians, and there is a many-centuries-long history of Jews in India. 2) Many, many Jews visit India for business & pleasure, as do many non-Jews -- all of whom would be influenced by this depiction (and characature) of Jewish men as dangerous. 3) This is not even that subtle of an association - it's blatant (esp. when compared to the other sign shown in #59), & even subtle associations can be very powerful - sometimes more so. 4) It's doubtful the designer (presumably educated) was unaware they are Jews, & even if s/he was unaware, it is the job of Railway administrators to double-check (like proofreading) text and images before distributing them. 5) Whoever thinks this kind of "misinformed" (to be generous) association has never been the victim of the Judeophobia born of it - I have, and it sucks, to say the least. 6) If it showed a man who might be seen as a depiction of The Prophet (and I mention him with honor and respect), it's likely that there would be riots across the world, with possible physical violence or threats thereof; no Jew is suggesting rioting and no Jew is inciting violence over this poster. We just want it removed, want to know that, starting today, there will be adequate oversight in the Indian ministries so that something like this, whether it singles out and hurts Jews or any other religious or ethnic group, won't happen again. Beyond that, a public apology might also be a classy and affirming of the India Railway's good will.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3337206,00.html 'Refrain from drinking tea with strangers' Recommendations formulated recently by the Israeli Embassy in India and the Jerusalem department for Israelis overseas included guidelines such as avoiding physical contact between men and women in public, and a suggestion for women to wear less revealing attire, particularly shorts and tank tops. Moreover, travelers are also advised to refrain from drinking tea with strangers and accepting sweets, lest they contain drugs. Women are advised not to roam the streets alone at night. Such an act is not customary in India and may be dangerous

FREMONT, CA (February 2, 2007): The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) was recently notified of a story by an individual who claimed that during her trip to India she saw a security sign on a public train from Goa to Mumbai that advised passengers against taking eatables from strangers because they could be drugged. The cartoon image with the sign featured two religious Jews reading the Torah. Although the Foundation has not been able to verify the authenticity of this claim and cannot comment on the specific incident further, if this incident is true, HAF urges the appropriate authorities in India to immediately remove the sign, investigate how this came to be, and appropriately charge the perpetrators. The Foundation reiterates a prior statement of the Israeli Consulate in India that India is the only country without a history of anti-Semitism and reaffirms that Hinduism believes in pluralism and tolerance, as inspired by an ancient Vedic hymn, “Truth is One, the Wise Call it by Various Names” and has no basis of anti-Semitism. The Foundation affirms the strong ties between Jews and Hindus over thousands of years, from the time Hindus on India’s west coast gave refuge to Jews after the Romans destroyed the holiest temple for Jews, to current times, when Israeli tourists are welcomed like all other tourists without the fear of anti-Semitism or terrorism that Jews face in many other nations. The Foundation also affirms the close and vibrant relations between Hindus and Jews in India and America, and the growing ties between India and Israel, and members of the Indian and Jewish diaspora worldwide. The Foundation stands strong against any form of hatred, discrimination and intolerance, and seeks to build relationships with other communities and organizations by promoting the ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. HAF will continue to work with Jewish groups and officials in the Indian government to resolve this issue.

I doubt that you'd find more than a handful of people in India who even knew what the Jewish faith is. This picture was probably just selected at random from stock art. As for me, I've worked with Israelis and it was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life - mostly for similar hypersensitivity about their self importance. Get over yourselves. If this "racist" picture reduces the number of loud, obnoxious Israelis visiting Goa and HP to get high and misbehave, then I for one will be glad . Oh, and just BTW, this Iris Alon woman needs to be told that she's an idiot.

Most Indian really don't know much about Jews, except that they seem to be in the middle of all the chaos that is the middle east. This idiot - Iris - is just a sample of the self important moron that is the Israeli tourist in India - Goa and HP are full of them.

cheap trick by the Jewish traveller to become popular. where does it say jewish in the sign. i should be offended if people eat beef. actually the guys who drug and rob passengers do dress like that. Matter now people will watch the signs. all these days we just related that sign to a stranger now because of your cheap trick we relate that to jewish.

You have to look at the warning sign within the context of the country in which it is set, that is India. India doesn't view Christians, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs nor jains as strangers since these people are plentiful in number. Jews however, are rare in India and thus are viewed as strangers. I don't think the warning sign is racist at all, just a silly mistake on the part of the sign maker. I don't know any Indians that are racist towards Jews.

Shalom Iris Shalom Ynetnews, In short it is racist and as an Indian myself, I am very sorry for the hurt that this sign has caused you. From some of the talkbacks, people feel that it is not racist. However, supposing a Jew/ Messianic Jew happens to board on a train that has this offencive sign and happens to be wearing a Tallit. This will cause instant haterad amongst the locals and may lead to a mob attack. At the time the mob may not remember that the characters in the sign are both Jews, they will have been psyched up by it that Jews are bad. Indian Railways may have become a profitable Industry but its minister Laloo Prasad Yadav needs to sort this out and ensure that this does not happen ever again on Indian soil.

If this sign surprises you, what about that: http://www.indiamike.com/india/photography-f58/only-in-india-the-weirdest-photo-t17753/ So, it turns out the sign was meant FOR Israeli tourist, as there are a lot of them in India (why orthodox Jews are pictured remains one of the mysteries of life I suppose),

I have visited Israel many a time, only once have I felt racism shown on me, but that was very small. This sign should be removed immediately. I have great solidarity with the Jewish peoples, since we both have the same formidable foe. I am ashamed, and truly sorry.