The long-awaited process to select members of the Bnei Menashe community in Northeast India for immigration to Israel has concluded, with the final list of chosen individuals set to be revealed early next year. Community leader Jeremiah L Hnamte confirmed on Monday that the names are expected to be announced directly from Israel by January.
Screening Process and Selection Numbers
A high-level delegation, which included nine rabbis, officials from the Jewish Agency for Israel, and diplomats from the Israeli embassy—even the Ambassador to India was present—was stationed in Aizawl, Mizoram, from December 1 to conduct the rigorous screenings. The delegation camped at the Thara Resort in northern Aizawl for over a week before departing on December 10.
More than 1,600 hopefuls presented themselves for the screening. This included over 1,000 applicants from Manipur and approximately 600 from Mizoram. According to Hnamte, the selection is likely to include 300 people from each state, totaling 600 individuals. Their departure for Israel is tentatively scheduled for February.
Priority and Personal Hopes for Reunion
The selection committee gave priority to applicants who have immediate family members already residing in Israel, particularly those who migrated earlier under the Aliyah, or 'Return to Zion', programme. Hnamte himself has a personal stake in the process; his daughter and one son migrated to Israel 10 and 5 years ago, respectively.
Expressing a heartfelt desire shared by many, Hnamte said he and his wife, along with their son who has not yet migrated, are hopeful of being selected. They aim to reunite with their children by joining the very first group scheduled to leave India in February. "We are keeping our fingers crossed for the announcement from Israel after their departure on Dec 10," Hnamte told reporters.
Historical Context and Future Plans
The Bnei Menashe community, identified as descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh—one of the ten lost tribes of Israel—has a unique history. Most community members were practising Christians before undergoing conversion to Judaism and receiving formal recognition from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. Today, they observe Jewish traditions, celebrate festivals like Sukkot, and have established synagogues in their local communities.
Israel formally endorsed the immigration of the Bnei Menashe in March 2005, when the then Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Shlomo Amar, officially recognised them as descendants of a lost tribe. This paved the way for their Aliyah. In a significant recent development, Israel has approved a plan to absorb nearly 6,000 more members of the Bnei Menashe community from Mizoram and Manipur by the year 2030, marking a continued commitment to this historic reunion.
The upcoming February departure represents a critical next step in this ongoing migration saga, bringing families closer to their spiritual homeland and long-separated loved ones.
