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June 2014 back issue
by Michal Fattal
In North East India, between Myanmar and Bangladesh, there lives a small group of people who have been studying
and converting to Judaism from Christianity, which most of their ancestors had adopted in the nineteenth century.
They call themselves Bnei Menashe, (sons of Menashe), and claim to be descended from one of the Ten Lost Tribes
of ancient Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire in the 8th Century BC.
The community's oral tradition tells that the tribe travelled through Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet and China before settling
in the north eastern Indian states of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam. Throughout their sojourn in exile, the Bnei
Menashe continued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher,
celebrating the festivals and following the laws of family purity.
Over the centuries they became animists, until in the 19th century British missionaries arrived to the area and
converted many to Christianity. As the missionaries translated the Bible into the local dialects and taught them how to
read, the Bnei Menashe discovered that their stories, legends and songs matched the biblical accounts. In their minds,
this confirmed they were descendants of the tribe of Menashe and some of them decided to cling to their Israelite
traditions.
An Israeli chief rabbi recognized them as a lost tribe in 2005, and yet getting permission from the Israeli government to
immigrate wasn't easy. In the recent years around 1,700 members of the Bnei Menashe have made aliyah
(immigration to Israel). Another 7,000 members of the Kuki, Chin, Mizo and Lushai tribes still remain in India, waiting
anxiously for the day when they too will be able to return to Israel, their promised land.
This story is about dreams, identity and longing. It follows the community of the lost tribe all the way from the villages
in North East India, through the preparations for immigration, the long journey to Israel and their first steps in of
intergration in the Israeli society.
Members of the Bnei Menashe wave the Israeli flag during a community event at the Hebrew center in Aizawl, the
capital city of Mizoram state in north-east India.
Avihu Singsit, a member of the Bnei Menashe community, walks across his still-dry rice paddies shortly before the
beginning of the monsoon season in Kaithialmanbi village in Manipur state, north-east India.
Olive Rei, a member of the Bnei Menashe community, prays as she lights Sabbath candles in her home in Aizawl, the
capital of Mizoram state in north-east India.
The Hebrew word "Hallelujah" is lit by a ray of sun during prayers at the local synagogue in Churachandpur town in
Manipur state, north-east India.
Women of the Bnei Menashe community work a sweet-potato field on April 29, 2009 in Sijang village in Manipur state
in north-east India.
Members of the Bnei Menashe community rush home just before the military curfew which is imposed every night from
dusk to dawn in Churachandpur town in Manipur state, north-east India.
A Bnei Menashe member folds a handmade Yarmulka, a Jewish skullcap.
With Israeli flags drawn on their faces, Vahneithol Touthang (L) and Lamneithem Khongsai, both members of the Bnei
Menashe community, play with bubbles made from the sap of the Zefropa tree after the Israeli Independence Day
ceremony in Churachandpur town in Manipur state, north-east India.
Bnei Menashe community members bid farewell from their families as they leave Churachandpur, their hometown in
Manipur state on their way to immigrate to Israel.
Wearing a prayer shawl, a Yarmulka (Jewish skullcap) and phylacteries, a Bnei Menashe community man prays at the
airport, on the way to Israel.
A Bnei Menashe group arriving to Israel's Ben Gurion airport.
Three generations women of one Bnei Menashe family sit on the beds at their apartment in the absorption center in
Givat Haviva, Israel, shortly after making Aliyah (immigrating).
A Bnei menashe young boy plays soccer at the absorption center in Givat Haviva, Israel.
Family members of Bnei Menashe, one of them serving in the Israeli army, light candles on the Jewish holiday of
Hannukah at their house in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, Israel.
Yaakov (97 years old) and Ora (84 yeasrs old) Manloon, a married couple of the Jewish immigrants from India,
members of the 'Bnei Menashe' community, get married according to the Jewish religion in Kiryat Arba settlement. As
part of the immigration process, Bnei Menashe people undergo Orthodox conversion in the framework of which they
have to remarry according to Jewish Law.
Two Bnei menashe young boys walk in between drying laundry at the absorption center in Givat Haviva, Israel.
