Bnei Menashe community

Israel airlifted around 240 individuals from Mizoram to Tel Aviv under “Operation Wings of Dawn.”  This marks the first instance of such a large-scale relocation during an active regional conflict.

About Operation Wings of Dawn
The operation, sanctioned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aims to relocate members of the Bnei Menashe community from Northeast India to Israel under an official government programme.

Who are the Bnei Menashe?
The Bnei Menashe community, numbering around 7,000, belongs to the Mizo and Kuki tribal groups spread across Mizoram and Manipur. Though migration to Israel has been ongoing since the 1990s, this is the first batch relocated through a formal Israeli government initiative.

Historical and Cultural Roots
The community traces its ancestry to one of the “Lost Tribes” of Israel, believed to have been exiled after the Assyrian conquest of northern Israel.  According to tradition, these tribes migrated eastward through regions like Persia (modern-day Iran) and Afghanistan before settling in Northeast India.Meaning and Identity
The term “Bnei Menashe” translates to “sons of Manasseh,” referring to one of the ten lost tribes of ancient Israel, whose descendants the community believes they are.