Why in news?
In late April 2026 Israel flew more than 250 members of the Bnei Menashe community from India to Tel Aviv as part of its ambitious Operation Wings of Dawn. The government‑funded programme aims to bring the remaining 6,000 Bnei Menashe living in the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram to Israel by 2030.
Background
The Bnei Menashe are an ethnic group who claim descent from the biblical Tribe of Manasseh, one of the ten “lost tribes” of Israel. According to oral traditions, their ancestors migrated east after the Assyrian conquest of the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BCE. Over centuries they travelled through Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet and China before settling in the hills of present‑day Manipur and Mizoram. Christian missionaries later converted many to Protestantism, but the community retained certain Jewish customs, including kosher‑style food restrictions and remembrance of the Sabbath.
Identity and religious practice
- Community name: In India they are also known as the Shinlung people. The term “Bnei Menashe” means “sons of Manasseh”.
- Population: About 10,000 Bnei Menashe live in Manipur and Mizoram. Roughly 4,000 have already migrated to Israel since the 1990s.
- Conversion and aliyah: To receive Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return, Bnei Menashe immigrants must undergo formal conversion to Judaism. The non‑profit organisation Shavei Israel facilitates their immigration, providing Hebrew lessons and religious instruction.
- Settlement and service: New arrivals are housed in absorption centres, such as the one in Nof Hagalil, where they learn Hebrew and integrate into Israeli society. Many young Bnei Menashe serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
Operation Wings of Dawn
In November 2025 the Israeli government approved a plan to relocate approximately 6,000 Bnei Menashe from India over five years. Each year about 1,200 people will be flown to Israel. The operation includes funding for airfare, conversion classes, housing and social support, at an estimated cost of US $30 million. The first major group under this initiative landed in Israel in April 2026. More flights are scheduled later in the year.
Significance
For the Bnei Menashe, immigration offers the chance to practise Judaism freely and reunite with relatives who have already moved. Israel views their return as the ingathering of an ancient diaspora and a demographic boost. However, the migration has also drawn scrutiny regarding cultural adaptation, political sensitivities in India and debates over the authenticity of ancestral claims.
Sources: The Hindu
