Gorkha community holds vigil in Tel Aviv for caregiver killed in Jerusalem

Rajiv Acharya (40), an Indian caregiver from West Bengal's Gorkha community, was killed at the Jerusalem home where he worked after allegedly being attacked with a sharp object by his elderly employers' grandson, Avior Zaken, on July 23. Zaken, 31, has since been indicted on a premeditated murder charge, though the motive remains unclear; the Indian Embassy says it is monitoring the case.

On Friday, members of Israel's roughly 3,000-strong Gorkha community gathered under the "Gorkha Voice for Justice" banner at Tel Aviv's Levinsky Park for a candlelight vigil, lighting candles and observing silence in Acharya's memory. Sara Peri, who works with a caregiver-support agency, told attendees the community had stood by Israel through difficult times and now deserved the same support in return, framing the gathering as a call for justice for Acharya and his family.

Organisers said they were pursuing justice through peaceful, lawful means and pledged continued, respectful advocacy for the family. The case has also drawn attention to the vulnerability of foreign caregivers living inside private homes in Israel, with community representatives urging authorities to strengthen protections and create safer channels for workers to report threats or abuse.

With inputs of PTI