The saga of the Bnei Menashe, a dedicated community in Northeast India who uphold their claim as descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, is reaching a triumphant conclusion. Following a landmark decision by the Israeli government, the remaining members residing primarily in Mizoram and Manipur are set to embark on Aliyah—the immigration to Israel—over the course of the next several years.
This momentous approval signifies the realization of a cherished, centuries-old aspiration, born from the community's unwavering commitment to their unique heritage and their belief in a return to their ancestral home. The Israeli government’s final ratification of the Aliyah for the remaining Bnei Menashe population is targeted for completion by the year 2030, a timeline that has been met with profound happiness and thankfulness by the community and its leadership.
The Scale of the Repatriation Effort
The magnitude of this homecoming is substantial, building upon prior waves of immigration. According to Michael Freund, Chairman of Shavei Israel, the proposal was formally championed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Aliyah and Integration Minister, Ofir Sofer. Freund emphasized the profound significance of the approval, stating it was a moment when “the dream of your ancestors is coming to life.” Over the last two decades, an estimated 6,000 members of the community have already successfully made Aliyah.
The remaining population, whose lineage is traced to one of the ten lost tribes of Israel, is concentrated within the Kuki-Chin and Mizo tribal populations of the two states. Jeremiah L. Hnamte, a leader in the Kuki-Zoi Jewish community, confirmed that an estimated 6,600 Bnei Menashe remain in Northeast India. The phased Aliyah will commence with the first group expected to immigrate in February 2026, bringing approximately 2,000 members to Israel.
Logistics and Spiritual Preparation
The new arrivals will undergo the necessary formal orthodox conversion under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Plans indicate they will mainly be settled in northern Israel, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen communities in the Galilee region. Hnamte also confirmed that an official delegation of Israeli government representatives is currently in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, coordinating the complex application and religious processes with local leaders. The delegation includes representatives from the Israeli ambassador to India.
The positive sentiment surrounding the decision is shared by those already living in Israel. David Thangdim, a native of Manipur now serving as a community rabbi in Sderot, expressed that the joy is not limited to the Bnei Menashe but is shared by the wider nation of Israel, celebrating the fulfillment of a commitment. From Manipur, Naomi Khamzading of Buolvawl village voiced the community's joy, seeing the Aliyah as the realization of a biblical prophecy: “Now I will be able to join my sisters and brothers in the Promised Land.”
The Roots of a Distant Heritage
The Bnei Menashe tradition posits their ancestry stretching back to the era of King Solomon. After the division of the kingdom into Israel (ten tribes) and Judah (two tribes), the northern kingdom of Israel was eventually exiled and its ten tribes were dispersed, giving rise to the name “lost tribes.”
Hnamte's account traces the Bnei Menashe's journey back to the conquest of Jerusalem in 722 BC. Following exile and subsequent movement through Central Asia along the Silk Route and a period in China, the community finally settled in the Mizo and Kuki territories of Northeast India approximately three centuries ago. The Hmar and Kuki groups constitute the primary ethnic background of the Jewish community in Manipur.
This historical decision, driven by both religious conviction and an international commitment to the community, is a powerful moment, concluding centuries of wandering and finally bringing the Bnei Menashe home.
