Bnei Menashe community

The Israeli cabinet has approved the immigration of all 5,800 members of the Bnei Menashe community, who currently live in Mizoram and Manipur.

Although they are not recognised as Jews under Israeli law, the community was acknowledged as the “seed of Israel” in 2005 by former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

• This marks the first time that the Jewish Agency for Israel is undertaking such a large-scale immigration project for this community.

• The Bnei Menashe claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, exiled after the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. In contrast, the Bene Israel Jews of India are believed to have arrived after a shipwreck on the western coast.

• Upon arrival in Israel, Bnei Menashe migrants will be required to undergo Orthodox conversion and are strongly encouraged to adopt an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle.

Source: IT