Sonia Manlun with her daughter

Sonia Manlun is at a crossroads. She is one of three Bnei Menashe studying to become a social worker in Israel. But she may need to take on a job cleaning houses at night just to make ends meet, cutting into her study time and jeopardizing her chance to help other Bnei Menashe immigrants with their own acute social, financial, and language difficulties as they integrate into their new home.

The Bnei Menashe are descendents of one of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel. 7,000 Bnei Menashe live in northeast India and Myanmar; 1,700 have immigrated to Israel thanks to Shavei Israel.

Sonia made aliyah with her parents in 1998 and now helps take care of them. She is also the mother of a toddler with another one on the way. Her husband was working in security until several months ago, when he suffered a work accident. He is currently on disability and unemployed.

Sonia is in urgent need of our help. She is now in the third year out of four of her studies at the Safed Academic College in Israel's northern Galilee. She needs $600/month for the next year in order to continue her education. It's a modest amount, yet it will mean a world of difference for Sonia and her family.

Sonia is one of the most promising young people in the Bnei Menashe community. We at Shavei Israel quickly saw her skills and motivation, and we offered to subsidize her initial tuition at social work school. She now lives in the town of Ma'alot with her family, her parents and her husband's parents. She commutes daily to Safed.

Please consider making a donation - however large or small - that will go to Sonia to enable her, with G-d's help, to complete her studies. You will be providing direct assistance not only to Sonia and the Bnei Menashe, but to the entire Jewish people, as we continue our mission of bringing them home and strengthening Israel.

Please click here to make your donation and include a note in the comments field reading "for Sonia Manlun" so we can process your contribution immediately.