It's now official: the Israeli government has passed the long-awaited resolution that restarts the aliyah of the remaining 7,000 Bnei Menashe in India. 

 

The first group of 275 Bnei Menashe (about 50 families) will arrive shortly after Hanukah, a holiday that demonstrates how, by staying true to one's beliefs and never giving up the struggle for both personal and national freedom, all obstacles can - and will - be overcome.

 

The Bnei Menashe aliyah has been frozen since 2007, the last time that Shavei Israel received permission to bring over a group. That flight included 230 Bnei Menashe; all told, in the last 15 years, Shavei Israel has made possible the immigration of more than 1,700 Bnei Menashe.

 

The Bnei Menashe, or "sons of Manasseh," are descendents of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The return of this lost tribe to Zion, more than 2,700 years after their ancestors were exiled by the Assyrian empire, "is nothing less than a miracle of biblical and historic proportions," says Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund.

 

But as we learn from our tradition, the Jewish people cannot rely only on miracles. The cost of the Bnei Menashe immigration falls squarely, and at this time solely, on our shoulders at Shavei Israel. We are not receiving any financial support from the Israeli government.

 

Transportation from northeastern India to Israel, including both domestic and international airfare, runs approximately $1,200 per person. Another $1,800 per immigrant is necessary to cover initial absorption costs, as well as to provide a modest grant to each arrival in Israel to assist them in getting started.

 

To speed the integration process, we will be opening our own private absorption center where the Bnei Menashe will spend their first few months in the country. During this time, they will learn Hebrew and become familiar with life and customs in the modern Jewish state. They will also undergo official conversion supervised by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, in addition to completing a variety of bureaucratic processes. Only then can they be granted full Israeli citizenship.

 

There is so much to do and precious little time remaining. Groundwork must be put in place in both Israel and India. Counselors, social workers, teachers and rabbis must all be at the ready on the day of the arrival.

 

"The Bnei Menashe are a blessing to Israel and the Jewish people," says Michael Freund. "They work hard, support themselves and their families, serve in the IDF and raise beautiful Jewish children

We now have an unprecedented opportunity to enable the Bnei Menashe to fulfill their most heartfelt desire: to join the Jewish people in the land of their ancestors.

 

As Hanukah fast approaches and we recall the bravery of the Maccabees, please contribute whatever you can to help these courageous Indian Jews succeed in their new life in Israel, standing tall like the shamash candle at the center of the Hanukah Menorah.

 

By contributing, you can bring an immigrant home to Israel. And by partnering with us in this Hanukah miracle, you can strengthen our people immeasurably.

Click here to make your donation today.