Israel has taken a significant step toward completing the Aliyah of the Bnei Menashe community by approving a proposal to bring the remaining 5,800 members of the group from northeastern India to Israel over the next five years. This decision marks the largest single movement of this community to Israel since migration processes began several decades ago.
The Bnei Menashe are a small community from the northeastern states of India who believe they are descendants of the Menashe tribe, one of the Ten Lost Tribes exiled from ancient Israel around 2,700 years ago. Their migration to Israel has taken place in small batches over the years. Nearly 2,500 members already live in Israel today. The new plan aims to complete the process by 2030, including 1,200 individuals who previously received approval for migration in 2026.
Israel’s Cabinet approved the proposal during a meeting in Jerusalem. Officials described it as a historic and wide scale effort. The decision will bring a major change in how the Jewish Agency handles Aliyah for this particular community. For the first time, the Jewish Agency will lead the entire pre immigration process, which includes eligibility interviews. These interviews will be carried out together with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Conversion Authority, and India’s Population and Immigration Authority.
To support such a large movement of people, Israel is expected to allocate a special budget of 90 million shekels. The money will be used to manage flights, provide conversion classes where required, offer Hebrew lessons, arrange housing, and deliver other benefits that new immigrants receive. Israel’s Minister of Immigration and Integration Ofir Sofer presented the proposal to the Cabinet. The plan includes sending an expanded delegation of rabbis to India in the coming days to begin the first stage of the process.
According to officials, this will be the largest delegation ever sent for Bnei Menashe immigration. They will interview about 3,000 members of the community who have close relatives already living in Israel. This part of the process is expected to move quickly so that the first group can leave India soon. The remaining members will follow in stages throughout the next few years.
The government’s announcement explained that previous waves of Bnei Menashe immigrants were mostly settled in the West Bank. More recent arrivals have moved to towns in northern Israel, including places like Nof Hagalil. This city has a mixed population of Jews and Arabs and is located near Nazareth. Future arrivals will also be settled in similar regions, based on the new plan.
The Bnei Menashe community has long claimed that they are connected to the ancient tribes of Israel. Their customs include practices that resemble old Jewish traditions. Over time, their story has gained recognition in Israel. The latest decision by the Israeli government shows a strong commitment to supporting their request for Aliyah and giving them an opportunity to reconnect with their historical roots.
As thousands of families prepare for the possibility of a new life in Israel, the plan represents both excitement and change. For many members of the community, it is the fulfillment of a long held dream to return to what they believe is their ancestral homeland. For Israel, it is an important moment that reflects its promise to welcome Jewish communities from around the world.
The next five years will be crucial as both India and Israel work together to make the migration process smooth and respectful. If the plan proceeds as expected, the Aliyah of the Bnei Menashe community will reach completion by 2030, closing an important chapter in a journey that began many centuries ago.
