In 2025, a groundbreaking research group on Indian Jewish Studies was established at the University of Haifa’s School of Regional and Historical Studies. This first-of-its-kind initiative fosters collaboration among scholars, historians, and researchers dedicated to this fascinating field. Throughout the year, the group held four productive meetings featuring diverse presentations. The final gathering was held at the Moshav Nehalim Synagogue, a site of deep historical significance built around a Cochin synagogue ark that was dismantled and brought to Israel in 1954.

In 2026, an expanded twelve-member research team met for eight collaborative meetings at Haifa University, with many ‘Observer’ participants. About half of the researchers in the 2026 group are non-Jewish and reside outside of Israel, mostly in India.