Archive · 18 Nov 2025
Pioneering Indian-Israeli Farmer Eliyahu Bezalel Passes Away
Eliyahu Bezalel, an Indian who moved to Israel, became a famous farmer there.
He won awards and shared his knowledge with others.
He loved both India and Israel and was proud of his Indian heritage.
Eliyahu Bezalel, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, passed away at 95
He started as a shepherd in Israel and became an award-winning agriculturist
Received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, India's highest civilian honor for NRIs, in 2006
His farm in Israel's Negev desert is a major attraction for Indian agriculturists and politicians
He shared his horticulture expertise with Indian farmers and lectured in India
- Who
- Eliyahu Bezalel
- What
- Passed away at 95
- When
- Sunday
- Where
- Israel
- Why
- Natural causes
Proud of Indian Heritage
Loved Israel
Indian Identity
Proud of Indian Heritage
Bezalel was proud to be Indian and taught his children to embrace their Indian and Cochini identity.
Loved Israel
He maintained strong sentimental links with India but lived and worked in Israel.
- Born
- 1926, Chendamangalam, Kerala, India
- Moved to Israel
- 1955, at age 25
- Awards
- Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2006), Kaplan Prize (1994)
- Farm
- In Israel's Negev desert
- Visitors
- Former PM H D Devegowda, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, M S Swaminathan