253 Members of India’s Bnei Menashe Community Immigrate to Israel
Some 235 members of the Bnei Menashe community in northeast India immigrated to Israel on Wednesday. Their immigration to Israel, called aliyah in Hebrew, comes after a government decision promoted by Israeli Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata, and the Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel organization.The Bnei Menashe, or sons of Manasseh, who currently live in Manipur in northeast India, claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago.
“Welcome to Israel. It’s good that you are at home. For years you dreamed about returning to Zion and now we have managed to make the dream come true,” Tamano-Shata said in greeting the new immigrants at Ben Gurion International Airport.
More than 4,000 Bnei Menashe already live in Israel. There are about 6,500 Bnei Menashe that remain in India that want to come to Israel, according to Shavei Israel.
