Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a plan to bring the entire Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India to Israel within the next four years. Speaking at an event for recent Indian Jewish immigrants in the Galilee town of Nof HaGalil, Netanyahu emphasized the strong bond between Israel and India, crediting his warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Netanyahu's Statement
"After years of strengthening the bond between Israel and India, thanks to the warm relationship with my friend Narendra Modi, I am thrilled to see the Bnei Menashe returning home. We are going to bring the entire community to Israel over the next four years," Netanyahu said. He added, "You are an inseparable part of the Jewish People, and Israel is your home."
Current Immigration Numbers
Approximately 600 members of the Bnei Menashe community have arrived in Israel since the beginning of 2026, with another 600 expected by the end of the year. The Israeli government has approved a proposal by the Immigration and Absorption Ministry to facilitate the immigration of the remaining 6,000 members over a five-year period.
Support for New Immigrants
Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer described the event as a deeply moving moment, witnessing community members fulfill a long-standing dream. He announced the establishment of an absorption center to support new immigrants, which will include Hebrew language instruction, integration into the education system, assistance in entering the workforce, and housing support.
Historical Context
Over the past two decades, about 4,000 Bnei Menashe have already immigrated to Israel under earlier government decisions. The current initiative aims to complete that process, with a particular emphasis on family reunification.
Who Are the Bnei Menashe?
The Bnei Menashe, meaning "Sons of Manasseh," are a community from India's northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur. They preserve elements of Jewish tradition, including observing the Sabbath and holidays, keeping kosher, and following family purity laws. Rising ethnic tensions in their home region have also contributed to efforts to facilitate their immigration to Israel.
They claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, exiled by the Assyrian Empire more than 2,700 years ago. According to tradition, Jews from India first arrived in the region after surviving a shipwreck around 2,000 years ago. Legend holds that the Prophet Elijah appeared to them, promising prosperity in India and eventual return to the Land of Israel.
Indian Jewish Community in Israel
Israel's Indian-origin community numbers roughly 10,000 to 15,000 people, with the Bnei Menashe forming the largest and fastest-growing segment. Older communities include the Bene Israel from Mumbai and the Cochin Jews from Kerala.
A study of international Jewish demographics released in May 2026 found that Israel could become home to the majority of the world's Jews within the next decade. At current growth rates, the report by the London-based Institute for Jewish Policy Research projects that Israel could cross the symbolic threshold of hosting the majority of the world's Jews as early as 2035.
