Amidst an ongoing ethnic conflict in northeast India, a community of approximately 5,000 people in Manipur and Mizoram is expressing a strong desire to relocate to Israel, believing it to be their ancestral homeland. The community, known as the Bnei Menashe, claims to be descendants of the biblical lost tribe of Manasseh, exiled from Israel in 722 BC by the Assyrian conquerors. They are eager to reconnect with their lost tribe and join the Israeli army in the ongoing war against Hamas.
Joseph Haokip, a 20-year-old undergraduate student in Manipur, expressed his excitement at the prospect of moving to Israel and fighting against Hamas. Haokip and his family recently returned to Manipur after seeking refuge in Mizoram due to the ethnic conflict. Another community member, Rafael Khiangte, a taxi driver in Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital, wishes to move to Israel with his family to reunite with his mother and connect with his ancestral roots.
The belief of being descendants of the lost tribes of Israel is shared by members of the Chin, Kuki, and Mizo ethnic groups in northeast India. According to PC Biaksiama, a Christian researcher based in Aizawl, the Bnei Menashe community claims that their ancestors were dispersed to China and eventually settled in northeast India.
The Bnei Menashe’s hopes of returning to Israel were initially met with skepticism. However, their numbers started growing in the 1980s, and in 2005, the chief rabbinate of Israel accepted them as Jews. Since then, approximately 3,500 community members have made aliyah, the Hebrew term for moving to Israel. The process involves Israeli authorities verifying documents, including conversion to Judaism certificates and conducting interviews.
Despite the delays in allowing the remaining community members to make aliyah, their enthusiasm remains unwavering. Leah Renthlei, a former teacher, resigned from her job to prioritize her religious practices and eagerly awaits her opportunity to move to Israel. Ngaikhochin Kipgen, a 70-year-old member of the Bnei Menashe, currently resides in a refugee camp in Mizoram and yearns to spend her final years in Israel.
Upon arrival in Israel, the Bnei Menashe are required to convert to Orthodox Judaism, learn Hebrew, and adhere to the community’s religious rituals. The community has assimilated well into Israeli society, with around 200 members having joined the Israeli military. However, there are concerns that economic benefits, such as higher income levels, may be a motivating factor for some individuals.
While some critics argue that the community should remain in Mizoram and be proud of their birthplace, the Bnei Menashe firmly assert that their sole motivation for moving to Israel is to reconnect with their ancestral land. Thansima Thawmte, the chairman of the Bnei Menashe Council in Mizoram, expressed the community’s strong desire for an aliyah and their hope that Israel will allow them to enter soon.
In conclusion, the Bnei Menashe community in northeast India is determined to relocate to Israel and reconnect with their ancestral roots. Despite facing delays and skepticism, they remain steadfast in their belief and eagerly await their opportunity to make aliyah.
