India and Israel working together for water conservation, environmental preservation

June 24, 2021

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The Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Israel, Rony Yedidia-Clein, and her husband, Geoff were welcomed to Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh where they took part in several ceremonies. Here they are seen with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, center, and others on the weekend of June 21, 2021 International Day of Yoga. Photo: courtesy Parmarth Ashram

The Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Israel, Rony Yedidia-Clein, and her husband, Geoff were welcomed to Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh for the June 21, 2021 International Day of Yoga weekend.

While at the ashram over the weekend June 19 and 20, they participated in daily yoga and meditation sessions, special Ganga Dussehra Aarti ceremony, Sacred Yagya ceremony and many other activities within the Ashram. This was their second visit to the Ashram after the one they made in March this year.

The highlights of their stay were meetings with HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji, president of Parmarth Niketan, on a wide-range of topics – from environmental preservation to water conservation and protection, to Israel’s pilot collaboration with India to establish Agricultural Centres of Excellence throughout the nation, a press release from Parmarth Niketan said.

Rony Yedidia-Clein presented several topical and beautiful books on water conservation to Pujya Swamiji as she had come to know that protecting and working for water is His passion.

One of the books, “Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World” by Seth M. Siegel, proved to be a very popular offering, and its title – Let There Be Water – has become the mantra and inspiration for ongoing discussions about water scarcity concerns in the coming years.

“Without water there can be no life, no health and no yoga. Therefore, the Yoga we need to do together is Yoga for the Earth, which means that we must ensure sustainability in our water consumption and management,” Swamiji is quoted saying in the press release, adding, “India can learn a lot from Israel’s example of water conservation and management. I am glad to see both countries coming together for a more sustainable planet for all.”

Rony Yedidia-Clein noted the initiatives Israel has taken to share Israeli technology and knowledge for a more sustainable world, including better water and agricultural management. She said she enjoyed the peaceful, tranquil and vibrant environment of the Ashram and looked forward to more future visits.